Page 155 of The Governess of My Heart
“Someone is trying to blame you, and it is time we find out who it is and end this matter.”
“But if they read my diary, no one would believe me. I wish I had refused this marriage as I am losing my senses everymoment here. I have no right to be his wife, nor a part of this family or to be a mother to those wonderful children.”
“I do not know what to say. I wish you had not given in to the blackmail, but over the past few months, I have understood that fear can make you do many things, just like how it made me leave my home and employ myself here. I cannot judge you, Lady Isabella.”
“I understood your past today; you have been very brave. After all your struggles, you have found happiness with Mr. Darcy, and then you found your father.”
Elizabeth bit her lip as she was in no mood to discuss Lord Anderson at the moment.
“I should have ended my life long ago; until today, I had some hope that I could resolve this by myself. But once Lady Martha revealed the secret about you and Lord Anderson, the words Philip said to his mother made me realize he would never forgive me. He could not bear that she had concealed the truth about your identity from him, the truth about an employee here. Philip mentioned that his mother broke his trust, and if he cannot forgive her, he will never forgive me; he would believe that I am the only reason Sophia died. I cannot live a life like that,” Lady Isabella said.
“You cannot predict the outcome of this. But did you even realize the risk you took by keeping this a secret? Whoever is threatening you could be in this same house; you have put the entire family in danger, including the children.”
Lady Isabella wept in shame, understanding the truth in Elizabeth’s words.
“What am I to do now? You will not allow me to die, but I don’t have the strength to live. If at all she committed suicide, it is only because of me.”
“However painful the truth is, we must face it. We cannot risk the safety of this family; please come forward with the truth.You can no longer go on in this state; come with me. Trust me; whatever happens, I sense the truth in your words and will support you,” she said, guiding her down the stairs.
Lady Isabella knew that her whole world was about to collapse all over again, but she had never imagined that the governess she had disliked for months was the only reason she was stillalive.
Chapter 45
Darcy had never felt so uncomfortable being seated in Ashton Park in his whole life. But now, as he sat in the study along with Elizabeth, Lord Ashton, and Lady Martha, he found no words to explain the tension he felt in the air. The morning had started as usual, but he was surprised to receive a note from Lady Martha requesting his presence at Ashton Park immediately. He was extremely agitated and certain it had something to do with Elizabeth.
On his horse, he raced to Ashton Park and was glad to see her waiting for him at the house entrance. The expression on her face scared him.
“Elizabeth, what is wrong?” he asked in a hurry as she ran up to him.
“Thank you for coming; we need you here.”
“What happened? Are you unwell?”
“Nothing is wrong with me, but a lot has happened since last night, and it has nothing to do with Lord Anderson.”
“You are scaring me; what happened? Did someone try to hurt you?”
She held his hand, reassured him, and led him to the study. Within ten minutes, he became aware of all the horrific details of the blackmail and Lady Isabella’s attempt to end her life.
“Philip, I do not know what to say. How could this happen to our family?” Darcy finally asked.
Lord Ashton was silent.
“None of us have slept a wink since last night. I have not disclosed this to anyone except my brothers. I strongly feel that the culprit is from Ashton Park,” Lady Martha said.
“I feel so, too. I still cannot believe it; we all thought it was an accident. Forgive me for asking this so bluntly; could it have been a suicide?” he asked and watched the agony on Lord Ashton’s face.
“I do not know. According to Isabella, the blackmailer has a letter stating that she committed suicide. She is gone, suffered, and died in a way no woman should have, not her. She loved everyone, and I cannot believe Isabella did this to her, fooling me for so long.”
Elizabeth expected Lady Martha to vent her anger against Lady Isabella, but to her surprise, Lady Martha was silent.
“So, you saw someone in the garden?” Darcy asked Elizabeth.
“I thought I did; again, I was not certain about anything. But I must confess I doubted something was going on with Lady Isabella,” she said, looking guiltily at Lady Martha.
“I am not upset with you, Elizabeth. Honestly, I do not know whom to be angry with more than myself. Someone has been threatening a member of this family, and she did not trust us to help her; it only shows that I have failed to treat her with the respect she deserved. I do not want to judge what she did, nor the complication of her relationship with my son. I have failed to protect her in this house.”
“But I can say for certain, mother. I can never forgive her; one way or the other, she is the reason Sophia is dead.”
