Albert and Helen (Spoilers, though I think in trailer)

Albert is a near-lifelong asexual and doesn't have a clue as to how love works. Plus, he's envious of Hubert and believes being married (as Hubert was) is the key to happiness. Only problem is that he wants to wed Helen not for romantic but for business reasons. He keeps his posing-as-a-man secret intact while there's a pretty young woman running the counter of his would-be shop.

As for Helen having her life in front of her, that itself took a dent after Joe knocked her up and then left her to fend for herself with the baby when he later split for America.



Challah if you hear me

But at the time, there certainly was something untoward about a man traveling with a woman not his wife. Remember that Hubert claimed that he and his wife had to marry to keep down the gossip about an unmarried man and woman living together.

Also, Albert seems to spend a lot of time thinking about whether to tell Helen that he is really a woman before the wedding or after. And really, Cathleen doesn't mind at all that Hubert is a man, so why shouldn't Albert at least imagine that such a marriage is possible for him? And why not Helen? There wasn't any real protocol for finding a woman who is willing to marry another woman in Victorian Ireland. Albert can't hit up the craigslist personals or go to a lesbian bar.

you really missed the point on why Albert thought of marrying Helen. there wasnt any love or sexual intent with that. Albert just saw the opportunity to live a life that Hubert had all those years. and he saw that with Helen who was then hoping to live a good life which Albert can eventually provide.