Page 149 of The Governess of My Heart
“Stop accusing someone dead. Do you even care to understand the struggles my mother must have faced after returning to London and having married you? I have one question: answer me. Did you ask her to keep your marriage a secret to safeguard your reputation.”
Lord Anderson was silent. Lady Martha and Darcy were shocked by her question.
“Elizabeth, what are you inferring?” Darcy asked her.
“I do not doubt this; the only reason she would have kept everything a secret was if she had promised to do so. As a woman and as her daughter, I have a feeling that she did. Am I right, Lord Anderson?” she asked, fuming.
The way she addressed him formally with a hint of sarcasm made Lord Anderson furious.
“I did not ask her to, but as I said, the idea to get married was hers, and when I initially refused, she promised me that she would keep it a secret until I returned to claim her hand. I still do not think that is the reason I kept it a secret.”
“Of course, you would not because promises mean nothing to a man like you. You had all the wealth and connections in the world but could not make one trip to see her and seek her out. How could you?” Elizabeth cried.
“Can’t you see, I did what she wanted me to do? She accused me of taking advantage of her, wanted to save her father’s business, and wanted to marry someone else because she could not wait for me. Why don’t you see that?”
“She did everything. What about you? What did you want? You act as if someone forced you to love and marry her. Are you not ashamed to say this?” she asked in fury.
“Enough!” Lord Anderson cried, and for the first time, Elizabeth sensed that he had lost control of himself in anger.
“Lord Anderson, I will not have you treat her disrespectfully,” Darcy intervened.
“I am not disrespecting her; she is the one who has no respect for me. Someone must remind her of the same.”
“Respect is earned, sir, and not demanded,” Elizabeth cried.
Lady Martha could not stand it any longer.
“Mark, this will not do. You understand her thoughts after reading the letters, and nothing has changed in her opinion about you, and honestly, I feel the same way. There is no use inarguing, and we should decide on the pressing matter at hand. When are you traveling to London?” she asked, looking at Darcy.
“I am ready to leave any day, depending on Elizabeth’s wishes. She has already written to her sister and aunt regarding the developments here.”
“They know that we are engaged,” Elizabeth said, trying to calm herself.
“I would like to come with you,” Lord Anderson declared.
Elizabeth looked at him with irritation.
“Why?”
“Because as much as you want to know the truth and blame her death entirely on me, I want to know why she concealed everything from me and died this way while she could have saved every one the misery and rightfully stood by me as my wife today,” he said without diverting his gaze from Elizabeth.
“You are welcome to stay at our house, Lord Anderson,” Darcy said.
“Where is she staying?” he asked, referring to Elizabeth.
“She intends to stay at her friend’s house, Mrs. Davis, who helped her in town when her uncle’s family was away, but I doubt her uncle will allow it.”
“Sarah looked up to her brother; she often said that if he were present, her father would not force the marriage upon her. She loved her family without any expectations from them; it was one of the qualities I admired about her.”
Elizabeth tried hard to stop herself from arguing with him. She felt he had two alternate personalities, one defending himself in vain and the other unable to forget his regard for her mother. Darcy decided that they would leave for London in a couple of days, and Lord Anderson was to join them.
As they got up to leave, Lady Martha stopped them.
“Elizabeth, Lady Anderson knows the truth about you, and I am not willing to keep anyone else in the dark anymore. I will be speaking with my son and his wife now.”
Elizabeth nodded, and from the grim expression on Lord Anderson’s face, she realized that Lady Anderson would have been devastated. As much as she did not like his wife and daughter, she felt sorry for them as they were victims just like her.
Darcy requested Elizabeth to walk with him in the gardens, and she agreed.
