Page 4 of The Governess of My Heart
Tears swelled in her eyes.
“Mamma! I was trying to correct her flaws,” she said, unable to control her tears in shock and shame.
“Who are you? Who are you to correct her flaws?”
“I am her sister, and I am doing what you are supposed to do,” Elizabeth cried angrily.
“Be quiet! You are the last person to advise anybody in this world about morals. You and your uncouth behavior. You always wander outside even before we wake up, and I can accuse you of meeting someone and having an affair.”
“Mamma! Stop it!” Elizabeth cried, unable to bear the accusation.
“Enough! Don’t you dare utter another word to Kitty? You are not her mother, and she can do what she wants. Go to yourroom, and don’t join us for supper, as I do not want to see your face.”
Elizabeth ran upstairs and collapsed into the bed.
Her mother was always unkind towards her, but getting abused physically wounded her beyond measure. She wondered what she had done wrong to instigate such a reaction. She wanted to find her father and talk to him but did not have the strength to face anyone.
Elizabeth was utterly mortified by what had happened. She had always thought her mother hated her for her impertinence, but deep down, her heart whispered to her that there was some other reason.
She cried herself to sleep, unable to fathom what she had done wrong to get such treatment in life. The next morning, she met her father in the library and showed him her face. Elizabeth’s cheek was still red.
“What have I done to get this treatment from her, Papa? I know I am not her favorite child. As a sister, I corrected Kitty. Is that a crime?”
Mr. Bennet looked at her without emotion.
“Your mother told me what happened. She was angry and expressed it by slapping you; do not dwell on it. Now, leave.”
“Papa, are you serious? How can I tolerate such treatment from my own mother? I am not a child.”
Mr. Bennet looked at her with irritation.
“Yes, you are not a child. We have raised you for all these years with care and affection, but you are not grateful for anything. You always want to correct your sisters or point us out wrong; I am tired of that. Have you seen your mother behave like this towards any of your sisters? You are at fault, accept it and leave,” he yelled at her.
Elizabeth walked out of the library, and for the first time, she understood that her mother would never treat any of her sisters that way. She did not know what to do.
Why does she hate me?
She wondered for the millionth time in her life.
Chapter 3
Afew days passed, and Elizabeth did not talk to her mother, but Mrs. Bennet did not seem to care. Mary was the only one who had comforted her after that incident.
“I am sorry, Lizzy. It is very inhumane of Mamma to do that, and I don’t think you did anything wrong.”
Elizabeth looked at her sister gratefully.
“Sometimes I feel very lonely despite being in such a big family, and I must thank you for comforting me.”
“I may not say it often, but I love you very much. I think you are the best sister in the world,” Mary said with warmth.
Elizabeth embraced her sister with affection.
***
One morning, a letter arrived for her father, and it was from his distant relative, Mr. Collins. After reading the letter, Mr. Bennet had a deep discussion with his wife.
“You say he is a widower and looking for a wife?” Mrs. Bennet asked her husband.
