Page 28 of The Governess of My Heart
“What…what do you mean?” Mrs. Gardiner asked in confusion.
“Does Uncle Gardiner detest my mother, too? Does he hold her in contempt?”
Her aunt hesitated.
“He could not forgive her at that period. But after her demise, he does regret it. Lizzy, please come with me. I know Mrs. Davis has supported you genuinely, and I am indebted to her forever. But now, I am here, and you have us. I will write to your uncleimmediately and request his presence. We must not let your parents get away with it.”
“I cannot go back. I thought they lied about everything, but I was wrong. The world can call my mother whatever it wants, but I cannot detest her. She must have had a reason to have kept the details about my father a secret.”
“I understand how you feel, and you must try to understand us; we always thought you were safe and happy in Longbourn. We never realized they treated you poorly, and you did not deserve it. I never imagined that they would stoop to such levels of orchestrating a compromise. I understand perfectly that they never thought of you as their own,” she said with guilt.
“Please come with me, Lizzy,” she begged.
“I am sorry, but I cannot. Please do not think I am upset with you. I have always looked up to you, and my affection for you and my uncle will never change. But now, I have chosen a life on my own accord and do not want to live a life dependent on anyone.”
“But we are not like your parents and have always loved you. We would never treat you like they did,” Mrs. Gardiner pleaded.
“I am well aware of that. I do not disregard your affection and concern for my well-being. But I must find my way in this world. You can call me stubborn, but I have too many scars to heal. Please understand why I made this decision,” she said with dejection.
“Lizzy, you asked your aunt many questions, and I want to ask you one. Why are you here?” Charlotte asked with concern.
Elizabeth stared at her friend, unable to reveal the truth in front of her aunt.
“I quit my employment with them. They wanted to find someone with more experience, and I understood their preference.”
Charlotte did not press her anymore.
“Do you think I can leave you without offering any kind of assistance? You think very ill of me, don’t you?” her aunt asked angrily.
“I have very high regard for you, and it is not that I do not trust you. I don’t want to find comfort anywhere. I have known nothing but Longbourn in the past twenty years, and one day, there was nothing left for me there. I cannot tell you how difficult it was to come to that decision within minutes and leave. I feared everything and everyone in this world that night. But now, I do not want to fear the world anymore. Please do not press me.”
“Your uncle will never allow it. Please stay with us for a few months, and you will change your mind.”
“I do not know what he can say to convince me to change my perspective. Please do not mistake me; give my love to my cousins.”
Her aunt tried to convince her as much as possible, and sensing Elizabeth’s stubbornness, she left without a choice.
“Charlotte, I am sorry to come here without an intimation. Until yesterday, I never thought I would quit employment there,” Elizabeth finally said to her friend after her aunt left.
Charlotte was silent for a few seconds.
“Was it, Mr. Brooks? Did he…” She asked with hesitation.
“Good heavens! No! It was not him,” Elizabeth cried with horror.
Elizabeth quickly related the previous night’s events, and Charlotte was enraged beyond measure.
“He must be punished for what he did. How dare they doubt your words? I will go there right away, along with my husband.”
Elizabeth stopped her.
“It is of no use, Charlotte. It is not worth your time.”
“This is why I asked you to stay here. See what has happened; what is the need for you to face all this?” her friend asked with irritation.
“I cannot shun the entire world because of one experience I had,” Elizabeth said.
“What about your aunt? She seemed very hurt about your denial.”
