Dear Readers, Yesterday I said that I will not be posting anytime soon but I think I might be wrong because, I am seventy percent sure that the writing bug has bit me again. I completed my new chapter in less than two days and to me what I wrote makes sense. Please, tell me in your reviews if you like it or not and be kind enough to ignore any unintended errors or mistakes. Guys, this one is an important one so, don't be shy about your opinions. I always enjoy hearing your thoughts about my writing :)
Chapter X - The Revelation
"It indeed seems like a drinking day Father."
Father Bennet refilled his glass and sat down beside Mr. Darcy.
"Does Miss. Elizabeth know about any of the things that you have told me?'
"She doesn't. I had not decided to tell you about any of this but the present circumstances have forced me to acknowledge my mistakes to you. I must tell her soon it can't be forestalled any longer."
"Has Miss. Elizabeth suffered in a similar way to Georgiana?" Mr. Darcy perceptively asked reading the posture of the man he had seemingly known all his life.
"She has. Maybe her suffering is even greater because Georgiana was deceived by the false promises of a charming man where as Elizabeth was forcefully imposed upon by a man despite her staunch refusal. There might even be a child."
"According to Mrs. Jones Georgiana had just started her courses so, the possibility of her carrying a babe are slim but she must still be removed from their village as the villagers have already started gossiping about her misbehavior.
As if there is no responsibility to be placed upon a man who has resorted to seducing a girl who is not even half his age!
A mere child in all practicality. Neighbors are saying he seduced her by bringing her ribbons.
Ribbons!
Like a naïve mare stolen from its master on the promise of some sweet apples. It is foolish but still innocent."
"Drink some more of the whiskey. What has happened can't be changed but we still have the power to protect the girls. That will have to do for now." Father Bennet half-heartedly consoled the bereaved yet angry man sitting in front of him.
"I can't let her be raised in any other home then in my mine. We will tell everyone that she is my mother's sister's daughter. That should be enough." Darcy said as he paced angrily across the room clutching his forehead at regular intervals.
"Yes, that shall do."
"It shall not." Father Bennet gently rebuked;
"Not unless there is some other female relation of yours residing in Pemberley. Georgiana is young but not so young that people will unquestionably assume you to be her guardian. There might be talk. People will gossip.
This is why I know that Lizzy can't stay with me forever."
Lizzy knew something was bothering her uncle greatly during the dinner that night. He was as courteous as he ever was but she could not ignore the sweet cloying smell that clung to his clothes. The smell of liquor. One of the girls at the Lambton Institute had stolen some wine from Sister Kitty's study and then had been thrashed quite badly by rousing everyone at midnight by her loud unabashed proclamation of love for the barber's boy. The boy she ran away with after a few weeks.
Sometimes love was true and sometimes love was nothing but trouble as in case of her mother.
"Silly unredeemable girl !" Sister Mary had berated but that silly romantic girl was now quite happy with her portly husband. Much happier than she had been with them certainly.
Sometimes people deserved happy endings and they got them too. Maybe Jane would experience such happiness in life. Maybe Elizabeth herself would find some measure off contentment like Charlotte. Maybe things would fall in to place and everything would be alright.
"Where has your mind wandered now my Lizzy?" Father Bennet asked looking at her now they had finished their dinner.
"Nowhere Father just musings of a tired mind. You on the other hand seem a little troubled day. Can, I ask what distresses you so?"
"I need to tell you something Lizzy which may make you judge me harshly. Although, your censure may be well-begotten I request you to be merciful to an old man.
I do not request you to hold on to your anger but I do request you to let go of it after awhile just not for my sake but also for yours. We must all reap what we have sowed but do not let your anger corrupt your heart."
Elizabeth nodded warily and Father Bennet stood up and moved them to his library.
He then as Elizabeth had assumed got himself a glass of a bronze colored drink and then served Elizabeth her very first glass of wine in her entire life. It tasted sweet yet bitter. A contradiction of flavors just like life.
"I met your mother when I was nearly your age not too young for the world but easily led by my passions as young people are wont to do. I believed I loved her as much as I was capable of as a young man in a priest's robes. It was not a deep infatuation or a deep abiding love as it should have been but rather a testament of my curiosity towards a woman who was as different as anyone could be from me. But, my curiosity didn't last long and I now selfishly satisfied with my curiosity moved on to the next phase of my life. My rebellion was over and the life I had chosen had finally started. This life suited me and gave me purpose and I wholeheartedly believed that I had made the right choice despite the gravity of my past mistake. But, my resolve was yet again shaken when Father Lucas told me your news and hinted that you might be mine. It was something that I had never envisioned happening in my life but it was still a blessing because God made you my flesh and blood. You were mine because he willed so." Father Bennet sat down on his silently cracking knees and put the right hand of his daughter in his own hands.
"Can you forgive your father Elizabeth?" he now shamefully asked looking at the sweet face of his beloved daughter whose eyes were now marred red with misery and her face trailed with the burden of her silent tears.
"I need to go to my room." Elizabeth said softly and then abruptly, standing left the room where she had not so long ago learned to play chess with a kind yet clever man who was her uncle.