Page 196 of The Governess of My Heart
“You know very well what is wrong. Look at the state of my daughter; her current state of despair and agony is all because of you. You and your dead mother have ruined our lives forever,” Lady Anderson spat out.
Elizabeth controlled her anger and understood that she had made a mistake in being in their company.
“How can you stand before us as though you are a part of this family? Are you not ashamed of your past? You came here in disguise, trapped a man like Mr. Darcy, then trapped my father.”
“I never trapped anyone, and you have no right to accuse me of such things. You have artfully avoided the truth for your own benefit.”
“And what is the truth? Was your mother even properly married to my father? She ran away from home, married him secretly, and left him for someone else. What sort of a woman does that, and you prove very well that you are her daughter, judging by the way you behave,” Miss Anderson yelled.
Elizabeth struggled to compose herself, and she did not want to make the situation worse than it already was. She turned around to leave, but Lady Anderson blocked her way.
“Mark might believe that you are his daughter, but I don’t. Who knows how many people your mother was involved with,” she said sarcastically.
“Enough!” cried Elizabeth. “Say whatever you want to about me; I do not care anymore. I will not have you insult my mother’s honor. Don’t you have a heart? My mother is dead, and you are slandering her to enrage me?”
“What did my mother say wrong? Your past is not honorable, you know that very well. You have convinced my father to accept you, and he is doing everything to please you,” Miss Anderson accused.
“He is not doing anything to please me. After all these years, he wants to do what is right, at least for my mother’s sake.”
“Who knows what your mother did to marry him so secretly? Maybe she was already ruined, and she tricked him into marrying her. Judging by the things you have done so far, I do not doubt it,” Miss Anderson said.
“Beatrice, that is enough; you leave now. I will deal with this girl,” her mother cried. Her daughter’s words had dangerously awakened the darkest memories about her past.
“Mamma! I don’t want to leave until I know she will stop this announcement.”
“I said leave now, as you vex me. You cannot obey a single thing I say these days.”
“But Mamma! I…”
“For heaven's sake, Beatrice, leave now and don’t make me hate you,” Lady Anderson cried, and Elizabeth knew very well why she was so livid with anger.
Miss Anderson slowly walked away; tears streamed down her face as left the shed.
Lady Anderson and Elizabeth stared at each other until they heard the door of the shed slam.
“See what you have done; you have finally made me upset my own daughter. My poor girl has not been herself since the day we came here. Now tell me, what do you need to leave my husband alone? How much money do you need to convince him to stop this announcement?”
“You only amuse me with your offer, Lady Anderson.”
“I am warning you. I will do anything for my daughter. How she acted today scares me as she is losing herself because of you.You have already ruined our lives, and, at least for the sake of her future, convince my husband not to make this announcement. You will stay as Miss Smith. Promise me that.”
“As much as I understand and sympathize with you, I cannot promise that. Whether he declares me as his daughter or not at the party, the truth will speak for itself. What difference would it make if I stopped him? You need not accept me as a part of your family, and I can clearly see that I never could. But you must accept that Lord Anderson will never let go of me now or in the future. I…” she stopped suddenly and slowly turned around.
Lady Anderson looked behind Elizabeth, horrified to see that the shed had caught fire.
“Good Heavens! How could this happen? Move now,” she cried and ran to open the door, which appeared to be stuck.
Elizabeth was horrified to see that piles of hay stacked inside the shed had caught fire, and the flames kept spreading.
“I think one of the lamps must have fallen. Do not worry; we will get out of here,” she cried. Elizabeth tried hard to wedge the door open, but it seemed stuck, and Lady Anderson yelled for help.
“Beatrice should not be far away; she can hear me for sure,” she cried and called out to her daughter.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth tried to contain the flames by throwing water stored in the shed, but nothing helped, and slowly, she began to realize the seriousness of the situation.
We could die in here. Oh! God!
Lady Anderson looked terrified as the flames blazed up to the shed's roof.
