Page 201 of The Governess of My Heart
“Not long, I told her a day before we returned here.”
“I questioned her mother’s character and insulted her honor; she knew my secret, yet she did not say a word in return. How could she, Mark? How could she?”
“Because she never looked at you or Beatrice as her enemy,” Lord Anderson said with guilt for letting Elizabeth endure so much pain.
Miss Anderson was paralyzed by the truth, and Lady Martha took pity on her as she sank into the chair.
“Mark, I think this is enough for this evening. I don’t think any of us have the strength to discuss anything else at this point,” she said.
“Please excuse me, as I intend to stay at Ashton Park tonight,” Darcy said, leaving the room. Lord Ashton and Lady Martha took Miss Anderson to her room.
“I sincerely hope the secrets in our family would stop startling us like this,” he said to his mother.
“This is vexing, Philip. We might have lost Elizabeth forever, and Fitzwilliam will never let this rest,” she said worriedly. Miss Anderson was oblivious to anything they said and seemed to be in a state of delusion.
As for Darcy, he sat beside Elizabeth, watching her, cursing himselffor what happened, and Lady Isabella could feel his distress.
“Mr. Darcy, if she wakes up and calls for you, I will send a word. Please do get some rest,” she said.
“I do not wish to rest. Did she eat anything?”
“No, she had some water; however, the doctor asked us not to press her as she may feel nauseous. I am certain she will feel better tomorrow and have an appetite.”
As Darcy said nothing and stared at her, Lady Isabella felt sorry for him.
“Did you send a note to Miss Darcy? She must be worried.”
“Yes, I will right now. Please do send a word when she is awake,” he said and left her room reluctantly.
Later that night, Elizabeth opened her eyes and found Lord Anderson half asleep on the chair in her room.
She looked at him and realized that if not for her father, she would be dead, and she could not imagine Darcy’s plight if something had happened to her. After weeks of chasing the truth, Elizabeth finally realized that living with regrets was not worth it. She came to understand the value of the people around her more than ever. She had almost died in the fire and resolved not to hurt those who loved her under any circumstance. As she shut her eyes and relived the horror she had undergone among the flames, Elizabeth understood that life was fragile and started weeping.
The sound of her sobs woke Lord Anderson, and he was beside her in worry.
“What happened? Are you unable to breathe? The doctor has not left Ashton Park for the night, and I can call him,” he cried, unable to understand her distress.
Elizabeth slowly composed herself and looked at him earnestly.
“Papa! Will you walk me down the aisle?” she asked, addressing him so for the very first time.
Chapter 56
Lady Anderson sat in Elizabeth’s room the next morning.
“How are you feeling?” she asked Elizabeth in a low voice, ashamed to be in her company.
“I am well. Is Miss Anderson all right?” she asked. She understood everything that had transpired the previous evening from Darcy. The very fact that Miss Anderson tried to kill her own mother along with her in the fire shocked Elizabeth.
“You still care about her after what she has done?” Lady Anderson asked in astonishment.
“Her hatred for me blinded her so much that she lost control of her mind. It pains me to think that she put your life in danger as well just to harm me. As horrifying as it is, we must understand why she did it, and I forgive her. I doubt whether she was in her right senses yesterday,” she said.
“No one can look at it like you do, especially your father and Mr. Darcy. She is in a state of shock now, and your father is angry with me for having revealed the nature of her birth.”
Elizabeth was silent.
“You knew my secret all the while; why didn’t you mention it while I hurled accusations at you and questioned your mother’s character?”
