Page 116 of The Governess of My Heart
Mary decided and prepared to do the right thing for her sister’s sake.
The next morning, they met at Oakham Mount, and Darcy immediately showed her the bookmark.
“I apologize for demanding you to meet me in private, but I know this bookmark was painted by the same woman I have been acquainted with for the past months in Derbyshire, the one employed in Ashton Park as Miss Elizabeth Smith. Do you deny it?”
“I don’t, sir. Miss Smith is my sister.”
“But why? Why does she have to live a life in disguise?”
“Because she did not have a choice, and I was the one who pushed her to run away from home,” she said with tears.
One by one, Mary revealed all the happenings that led to Elizabeth’s decision to leave Longbourn.
Darcy was enraged when he heard about the horrific plan of her parents to ruin her.
“She had no other choice, and there was no one we could trust at that point, and our uncle in town was away. Had she spent another day in Longbourn, that horrible man would have ruined her for life. My parents behaved cruelly towards her, and to date, I cannot forgive them.”
“How do you correspond with her?”
“My letters reach Lizzy through Charlotte, Sir Williams’s eldest. Mariah has been helping me regarding this.”
“So, you knew who I was since the day we were introduced, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“Does she know I am here?”
“No, she does not.”
“Why?”
“Because I chose not to inform her.”
“Did you fear that I would ruin her employment there?”
“Good Lord, no, it is because…”
“Because she told you about my proposal?” he asked, realizing how close the sisters were.
Mary nodded.
“Sir, may I ask you a question?”
Darcy nodded.
“Do you still love my sister?”
“I do not know what she informed you about the nature of my proposal. But the truth is, I love her and will forever; there is no place in my heart for any other woman.”
“Do you think she is indifferent towards you?”
“I have pondered this since the day I declared my feelings to her, and I still cannot believe she does not care for me. The reason I left Derbyshire was to allow her to be at peace without enduring my presence.”
“Forgive me, but if you love her deeply, you must know why she refused you.”
Darcy’s heart raced.
It cannot be true.
