I think that in this song there are two types of cheating -- the obvious cheating on the older man with the younger, but there are also these lines:

She whispers that it's only for awhile
She swears that soon she'll be comin' back forever
She pulls away and leaves him with a smile



Which to me sound like she is making false promises to the younger man, because she doesn't want to leave the life of luxury she has with the older. So she is "cheating" him in a sense as well. She realizes that she is stuck in a place where she can either have love or money, but not both.

I think that the last half of the song sounds like she had plans for her life, to go out and marry rich and become wealthy, but it didn't change anything, so now she has given up a life of happiness for nothing really, because the money doesn't satisfy and neither does the old man (cold as ice).
And I don't think that her husband is saying it, I think she is reflecting on herself and coming to the realization that she didn't get what she wanted... (feels like a fool).

Every woman was once a young girl who imagined themselves as a princess when they were a child. It just so happens that her prince was a king. The idea to never want seems real, but it can be a massive war inside your mind to accept this, which is what this woman is going through after she has accepted this wealthy older man as her significant other. The grounds of marriage are based on the children's storys that were so dear to us. Such storys as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Beauty and the Beast are set ups for a life that is unhappily ever after. Just go through these comments on this website about this song and how massive an impact it was in failing marriages and relationships. We hinder our children too much and stunt their growth by protecting them from the realities of this world. If your in love and are thinking of marrying someone you should ask these questions:

Can you love for richer or poorer or sickness and in health or they cheat on your with another person?
IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ALL THOSE QUESTIONS, THEN YOUR A LIAR!

I love this..I love the Eagles' harmony and Glenn Fry just has a great voice, same with Henley and the other guy.

Keep Smiling :)

K.thai me up
I just think only the obvious cheating of civil civilization. How do we stunt our children? How do we protect them from the realities of this world?
Thanks for sharing.