Mary doesn't have a right to rule Dev and his family's life, but they care about her which is why they want to keep her happy. As for the Norris "Misery" storyline, I doubt Dev knows about it (were the police ever involved?) and anyway it was a bit of comic relief and not to be taken too seriously. Mary's proved herself a decent person in the years since that happened.
Carla is a perfect example of the kind of women Maidmarian was talking about - she inherited the business from her dead husband - and she can't seem to go long without a man on her arm either!






