Page 31 of The Governess of My Heart
“Well then! You can meet her soon.”
Elizabeth bid a tearful goodbye to her aunt’s staff, who had accompanied her. She was shown to her room which was large and comfortable, located on the first floor with a view of the gardens.
A maid helped her dress, and later, she was directed to the parlor. Elizabeth felt intimidated by the size of the house and was more apprehensive about meeting her employer.
But her first impression of Lady Martha differed from what she had imagined. She was surprised by her employer’s disposition which was nothing but friendly. Lady Martha wore a pleasant smile and had no air of authority.
“I am so happy to see you here, Miss Smith. I hope you had a safe travel, my dear. You must be tired,” Lady Martha said with warmth as she held Elizabeth’s hands.
“Thank you, madam. It gives me much pleasure to be here. I am not very tired as we had a comfortable journey.”
They sat down, and Elizabeth found nothing but warmth in her employer’s gaze. There was no sense of scrutiny.
“Well! I am certain your aunt informed you about our family.”
“She did.”
“The children are already in bed and you can meet them tomorrow. My son and his wife are currently on their honeymoon. They should arrive in a month or so.”
Elizabeth nodded to the details.
“I would be happy if you join me for supper, Miss Smith. Or would you like a tray sent up to your room?”
Elizabeth looked at her with surprise. Though she had taken her meals with the previous family, she never expected such a household like Ashton Park to treat their governess the same way.
“You seem to be surprised by my request, my dear,” Lady Martha said with a smile.
“I was not expecting you to invite me to join you,” Elizabeth replied honestly.
“Well! You are expected to join us for meals. I am certain you have heard this from your previous employer, but when I say it, I mean it. You will be a part of our family, not just a governess.”
Elizabeth could sense that her words were genuine.
“Madam, I have been contemplating on something my entire journey here. I am aware that my aunt has painted a very amiable picture of me. But I cannot accept this position unless I disclose something more about myself,” she said with resolve. Though she had previously discussed with her aunt about retaining the same name as Miss Smith for her employment in Ashton Park, she had resolved to tell the truth the moment she saw Lady Martha.
Lady Martha looked at her intently.
“I am not Miss Smith. I have a past which I must admit to you, no matter what the outcome of this disclosure would be.”
She quickly explained what had happened in the past months and why she had left her home, not leaving any detail that would show her in a bad light. She explained about her parents and the truth about her birth. Elizabeth also revealed what had happened with her previous employment and details about her mother without shame, and Lady Martha listened without interruption.
“Please be assured that I am not telling the truth for want of your sympathy. I do not want to start a life here based on a lie. Please do not hold my aunt in contempt, and she did this to protect me.”
“Why are you telling me this now? Did you travel all this way fully aware of the risk of being sent back? What if I do not employ you anymore?”
“I understand the repercussions of my actions; if that is your decision, then I have nothing else to say, but leave. I can livewith that, but not with the fact of deceiving you of my original identity.”
To her surprise, Lady Martha smiled.
“You amaze me, Miss Elizabeth. I have hardly seen any young woman like you.”
“I do not understand.”
“Every single thing you disclosed today, I am already aware.”
“How could that be possible?”
“Your aunt wrote to me about everything. She did not want me to find out through any other source. Poor woman, she did not know that the source would be you,” she said with a laugh.
