Page 134 of The Governess of My Heart
“Tell her that she is a disgrace to your race.”
“I wish I could, sir. But unfortunately, it is impossible, as the woman you speak of with such censure is no longer alive,” she said with tears.
She witnessed the shock and horror on Lord Anderson’s face as he heard her words. Every feature in his face struggled to comprehend what she had said.
“Wh…What?” he finally asked in shock.
“Yes, she is dead. So, if you have anything else to say to honor her character, I am willing to hear it,” Elizabeth said, struggling to control her tears.
“When did she die?” Lord Anderson asked with a ghastly expression on his face.
“Long before I knew she was my mother, and to be precise, she died after I was born.”
Lord Anderson collapsed into the chair in shock, and it was evident to Elizabeth that he was unaware of her demise.
“You seem to take the liberty of slandering her character along with mine but do not have the decency to let me know how you know her. Tell me, how do you know her? How do you know that this chain belonged to her?”
“Is your father still alive?” Lord Anderson asked, ignoring her questions.
“By father, if you mean Mr. Thomas Bennet, yes, he is still alive.”
“Then why are you here?” he asked.
“You seem to direct all questions at me but have not answered mine. How do you know my mother? Please answer me,” she cried.
Just then, Darcy entered the library in a hurry.
“Elizabeth, I was looking for you everywhere; why are you here? Good God! What is wrong?” he asked as he rushed to her side, seeing her distress.
“Fitzwilliam, this man… He knows my mother. He asked me about the chain but is not revealing anything more…I do not…” she cried in Darcy’s arms.
“Mr. Darcy, forgive me. Before I answer this young lady’s questions, you must know her original identity. She is not an orphan; she is…” Elizabeth interrupted him.
“Sir, he knows, and your sister knows. They know that I am not Miss Smith but Miss Bennet. I have not cheated anyone here as you claim, nor am I engaged to Mr. Darcy to trap him for his wealth,” yelled Elizabeth, witnessing the shock on Lord Anderson’s face, and Darcy could not believe her words.
“Lord Anderson, what is the meaning of this? How dare you throw such an accusation at her,” Darcy cried with rage.
“You know?” Lord Anderson asked in disbelief.
“Yes, I know, and Lady Martha knows, but you fail to inform us how you know Elizabeth’s mother. I cannot believe you took the liberty to talk to her in such a way. She is my fiancée, and I will not have anyone disrespect her; you have no right to question her integrity,” Darcy yelled, unable to digest Lord Anderson’s accusation.
“Fitzwilliam, he asked me whether Thomas Bennet was my father. I cannot believe it; he knows something about my past, but he has not answered any of my questions,” Elizabeth cried in agony.
“I know Thomas Bennet is your father because Sarah Gardiner married him,” Lord Anderson replied.
“What nonsense? Who told you that?” Elizabeth asked with rage.
“I am well aware of it, and you no longer have to lie. You owned to me that Thomas Bennet was your father.”
“You are so insensible in assuming things. I was raised as his daughter, but he is not my father, and my mother never married him. Her sister, Fanny Gardiner, married Thomas Bennet, and they raised me as their daughter. I was unaware of my past or identity until about seven months ago. Whatever you accused me of can never be true,” she witnessed him startle.
“She is telling the truth. For God’s sake, could you please tell us how you are connected to her past?” Darcy asked, unable to believe the turn of events.
“Did your mother ever marry?” Lord Anderson asked Elizabeth with a piercing gaze.
“No, she did not. The world shunned her for carrying me out of wedlock. She never married Thomas Bennet or any other man, and for all I know from my uncle, she truly loved someone and was cheated. She died after my birth, forever bearing the name of a characterless woman. Now tell me, how do you know her? How are you connected with my past?”
Elizabeth and Darcy stood hand in hand, determined to get him to speak.
