Page 20 of The Governess of My Heart
“I knew she wouldn’t be there. She is a coward, and I think she is lying dead somewhere. Good riddance! We took care of her for all these years for nothing,” Mrs. Bennet cried spitefully.
“We will be shunned amongst our acquaintances if we cannot find her.”
“We must think about a story to go with her disappearance.”
“What can we possibly say?” Mr. Bennet said.
“I want to slander her reputation and declare she ran away with some stable boy, but that will affect our daughters. I wish we could tell everyone that she was not born to us, but then we have to explain so many details about the past. Let us tell everyone she ran away to the Gardiners. Nobody would even bother to check about her whereabouts in town.”
“Won’t people ask why she did that?”
“I will handle it. If she is not already dead, I will definitely kill her if she steps into this house again. By now, she could havemarried that man and left us. I wish she had died along with her mother,” she sneered, and her husband said nothing.
Mary was disgusted by how her family behaved, as no one was bothered about Elizabeth’s disappearance.
“Listen, girls, this is what we do. She is not at Charlotte’s place, and we do not know where she is. But we will tell everyone that she ran away to Uncle Gardiner.”
“But they are not in town,” Kitty said.
“I know, but no one is aware of it here.”
“But Mamma, people will question why she ran away,” Jane asked.
“Let them assume whatever the reason is. If someone asks me, I will handle it. But this is the story; stick to it.”
“I have always had a feeling that she planned to shame us somehow,” Jane said.
“She advised me on improper conduct; now see what she has done. Maybe she ran away with someone in Meryton. She visits the bookstore often; maybe someone there,” Lydia said with sarcasm.
“Enough! That is enough! She is our sister, and you have no concern about her welfare. I do not think you have any right to question her decision. Tell me, Lydia, would you have married Mr. Collins or run away?” Mary asked with anger.
“Stop it, Mary. Go upstairs. That chit has horribly influenced you.”
Everyone went to bed at Longbourn that night, mentally prepared to erase Elizabeth from their memories forever. Mrs. Bennet was still angry and knew they had to suffer because of it. She hoped Jane would make a fortunate match despite the situation.
Everyone slept except Mary. She lay in her bed crying, missing her sister and hoping she was safe.
***
A couple of days passed and Elizabeth was restless despite her friend’s assurance that everything would turn out all right. Charlotte heard back from her friends about the position Elizabeth was looking for.
Several references came through, and Charlotte was satisfied with one family in town some distance away from the hustle and bustle.
Elizabeth and Charlotte were to meet the family that evening.
“There is something I need to discuss with you before we leave,” Elizabeth said.
“What is it?”
“I don’t want to be Elizabeth Bennet anymore.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I need to have a different name, Charlotte. I don’t want anyone to find out that I work in London. It would be very easy for them to trace me if I bear the Bennet name.”
“What if they do? We will not allow anyone to harm you. Your family has no right over you anymore after they declared that you are not their own daughter. Do not be afraid, Lizzy.”
“I know you will protect me. But if something like that happens, my chances of finding another employment are very remote. I want to live without any attachment to the past and need another identity.”
