skeleton in one's house

— Her cousin and her rash promise to him are the skeletons in her house: he tyrannizes over her, and she is obliged to consent to much evil, for the cousin has embarked in railway speculations, and involved the house, of which he is the manager, in very hazardous operations, and run himself personally into debt, and he claims May’s interest to shield and uphold him and to get him taken into partnership.