Crossword Genius

Within wedlock, educated woman catches French disease? On the contrary (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

marital

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'catches french disease? on the contrary' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'within wedlock educated woman' is the wordplay.
'within' indicates putting letters inside.
'wedlock' becomes 'mal' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'educated woman' becomes 'rita' (ref to play and film Educating Rita).
'mal' going around 'rita' is 'MARITAL'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for marital that I've seen before include "Relating to union of husband and wife" , "related to union" , "Connubial" , "alliance" , "Of a wedding" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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