Page 63 of The Governess of My Heart
I would begin this letter with my deepest regard for your health and well-being had the situation been different. I cannot express the agony I felt after receiving your letter. I have always believed in our love, and I wish I could say I still do.
But unfortunately, I cannot. Every hope I had in us has evaporated in thin air, and I still cannot believe it. I still cannot believe this revelation.
I cannot recognize the woman who wrote this, Sarah. Your words make no sense except ascertaining that my father was always right.
You just want money because of your current condition. I thought you were different from all the girls I met in London. But again, I was wrong. How could you even mention the thought of marrying another man?
Whatever your condition is, your decision shows me who you are. You may argue that your situation is altered, and you have no choice but to demand this from me, but I cannot sympathize with you.
It pains me to understand that nothing matters to you: our love, our dream, and the life we want to live.
I regret the day I met you. I regret the day of our union, which you hold against me. You find great pleasure in mentioning our union without any feeling of devotion. I am still wondering if you are in the right sense to write this letter. But do not doubt it, as it is from our trusted source.
Do not fret; I can settle this matter. I can settle this matter with you appropriately.
I will send a handsome sum to compensate for my reckless relationship with you. You could use it in however way you want to forget the pain I have caused you.
You may marry as you wish. Please fulfill your father’s wish and save his business. I am certain this is a pleasing prospect for you rather than being my wife. Yes, it would be easy for you to wipe away the memories you spent with me in every aspect of a union between a man and a woman.
As for this letter and the funds I am about to send you, this will be the last you hear of me.
I wish you a lifetime of happiness and joy. I would not add love, as the word means nothing to you.
Yours,
MA
Elizabeth’s hands trembled as she read the letter. She could not understand it at first, but then she realized what the letter was all about.
This was my father’s response when he found out my mother was with a child.
Elizabeth felt overwhelmed with distress and despair and could not imagine how her mother would have felt to read the same.
Whenever she had looked at the chain before, she had the slightest hope that her father was an honorable man and might have loved her mother in equal measure.
But now, she realized that her mother wanted her to know the true character of the man who had ruined her.
This letter only proves that he never valued her and abandoned her even after knowing that she was pregnant with his child. He sent her money for ruining her; it was that easy for him.
Suddenly, all the anger she had towards Darcy evaporated in thin air. Her anger turned to rage, and it was directed toward one man who was responsible for all her trauma:her father.
Chapter 22
“Elizabeth!”
He had said the name to himself a million times in the past two days. The next day, after the Ashtons left Pemberley, Georgiana and Darcy visited Ashton Park. Darcy wanted to see Elizabeth as much as Georgiana did, but she was too naïve to understand her brother's feelings.
“I am glad you decided to accompany me. Do you have plans with Lord Ashton?” she asked him without the slightest doubt.
“I do not have fixed plans,” Darcy said, unable to think of any excuse to accompany her. Lady Martha was surprised to see them.
“Well, my dear! I am glad you came. The children have been bored,” Lady Martha said upon their arrival.
“Are they not studying?” Georgiana asked as it was mid-morning.
“No, Miss Smith seems to be unwell. She is resting.”
“What happened? Has the doctor seen her yet?” Darcy cried without a thought.
