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Chapter 10: Her aunt
Charlotte and Mrs Gardiner stared at Elizabeth in shock. Before anyone could utter a word, Elizabeth threw herself into her aunt's arms.
"Oh! I cannot believe you are here. I am so happy to see you." She cried with joy and relief.
"I am truly sorry to hear what happened. I am so angry at your parents. How could they do this to you?" Mrs Gardiner cried with equal emotion.
Charlotte did not intervene. She realised something was amiss with Elizabeth's return. Elizabeth fought hard and controlled her tears. She needed answers.
"How are you here?" She asked her aunt.
"I returned along with the children yesterday. There was a letter waiting for me from your friend. I cannot explain how I felt knowing the horrible details about Longbourn. Oh! Lizzy! I am truly sorry. We should not have trusted them."
"I have been most anxious to see you since I became aware of the truth. Please tell me what happened to my mother. Who is my father?"
"Whatever you heard from your parents is the truth. You were born to their sister Sarah. Sarah Gardiner was the youngest among the siblings."
"Is she truly dead?"
"Yes! I am so sorry to say this." Mrs Gardiner said with regret.
"What about my father? They had so many accusations about things about my mother. They said she was unmarried when she was pregnant with me."
Mrs Gardiner looked at her niece with sadness.
"Lizzy, everything I say now is what I have learned from your uncle. Your grandfather Mr Stephen Gardiner was an established tradesman in town. He raised his three children by himself, as your grandmother passed away soon after her youngest was born."
Elizabeth listened with intent.
"Your mother, Sarah, was the youngest. Edward told me that his father adored her. She was Edwards's favorite sister too. When your mother was around twenty years of age, your uncle left overseas to learn business. In that period, your mother has fallen in love with someone. I do not know the details. When he returned, your mother was already with a child. She has refused to disclose who the father was and…"
"So, she was never married?" Elizabeth asked with a quivering voice.
"That is what Edward told me. Unfortunately, she died after your birth. Your grandfather passed away within a month of her demise. Mrs Bennet was carrying Jane at the same time. Mr Bennet and Mrs Bennet offered to raise you as their own."
"I do not understand. So, Jane is younger than me?"
"Yes, dear!"
"After Jane was born. They established themselves in Hertfordshire, where no one knew them. It was easy for them to raise you as sisters. Edward was unmarried then. Already burdened with the fallen business of your grandfather, he thought it was a wise decision as well. I am not revealing this out of pride, but your uncle bears the expenses for raising you. Your parents have not refused the money we send till date."
"You could have revealed this to me at some point." Elizabeth said with sadness.
"It was done to protect you."
"Protect me from the truth about my birth?"
"To give you a good life with a family, Lizzy. I never realised they treated you so poorly. I am certain your uncle would be enraged."
"Please tell me honestly. Did Uncle Gardiner detest my mother because of what she did? I know how my parents feel about it."
"He felt betrayed. I must be honest. He never recovered from what happened to her. As a brother, you could expect how he felt about her condition. She refused to divulge details about your father when she was alive. That angered him. But he sincerely wishes he had done things differently and been more supportive of her needs."
Tears streamed down Elizabeth's eyes. It is true. I was not born out of wedlock.
Charlotte held Elizabeth's hand.
"Lizzy, please do not be upset." Charlotte said.
Elizabeth did not reply. She had always hoped her aunt and uncle would have answers to all the questions about her past. But the details her aunt revealed only complicated and affirmed everything her parents had said.
"So, this is the truth. Everything my parents said about my mother is true. Does he hate her too?" Elizabeth asked her aunt.
"What..what do you mean?" Mrs Gardiner asked in confusion.
"Does Uncle Gardiner detest my mother too? Does he hold her in contempt?"
Her aunt hesitated.
"He could not forgive her at that period. But after her demise, he does regret it. Lizzy, listen to me. Come with me. I know Mrs Davis has been a great support to you. I am indebted to her for taking care of you. But now, you must come with me. I will write to your uncle immediately and request his presence. We must not let your parents get away with it."
"I cannot go back. I thought they were lying about everything. But now I know. The whole world can call my mother whatever they want. But I cannot detest her. She must have a reason to have kept the details about my father a secret."
"I understand how you feel. You must understand your uncle, and I always thought you were safe and happy in Longbourn. We never realised they treated you poorly. You do not deserve it. I never imagined that they would stoop to such levels of orchestrating a compromise. I understand perfectly that they never thought of you as their own." She said with guilt.
"Please come with me, Lizzy."
"I am sorry. I cannot. I am not upset with you. I have chosen a life. I do not want to live as a dependent on anyone else."
"But we are not like your parents. We have always loved you. We would never treat you the way they did." Mrs Gardiner pleaded.
"I know that. I do not disregard your affection and concern for my well-being. But I must find my way in this world. You can call me stubborn. But I have too many scars to heal. Please understand." He said with dejection.
"Lizzy, you asked your aunt many questions. I want to ask you one. Why are you here?" Charlotte asked with concern.
Elizabeth stared at her friend, unable to reveal the truth in front of her aunt.
"I quit my employment with them. They wanted to find someone with a little more experience, and I understood their preference."
Charlotte did not press her anymore.
"Do you think I can leave you without offering any kind of assistance? You think very ill of me, don't you?" Her aunt asked with emotion.
"I have very high regard for you. It is not that I do not trust you. I don't want to find comfort anywhere. I have known nothing but Longbourn in the past twenty years of my life. And one day, there was nothing left for me there. I cannot tell you how difficult it was to make that decision and leave. I feared everything and everyone around this world. I do not want to fear the world anymore. Please do not press me."
"Your uncle will never allow it. Please come and stay with us. You will change your mind."
"I want to be on my own. I hope you can understand my feelings. Give my love to my cousins."
Her aunt tried to convince her as much as she is good. Sensing how stubborn Elizabeth was, she left without a choice.
"Charlotte, I am sorry to come here without an intimation. Until yesterday, I never thought I would quit employment there." Elizabeth finally said to her friend.
Charlotte was silent for a few seconds.
"Was it, Mr Brook? Did he…?" She asked with hesitation.
"Good God! No! It was not him."Elizabeth cried.
Elizabeth quickly related the events of the previous day. Charlotte was enraged.
"He must be punished for what he did. How dare they doubt your words? I will go there right away, along with my husband."
Elizabeth stopped her.
"It is of no use, Charlotte. It is not worth your time."
"This is why I asked you to stay here." Her friend said with irritation.
"I cannot shun the entire world because of one experience I had." Elizabeth said.
"What about your aunt? She seemed very hurt about your denial."
"I could see that. I don't doubt her words about the past. But she said the details were what she knew from my uncle. I still feel there is something more to the story. If my mother did not get married and did not disclose the identity of my father, there must be a reason for it. I cannot go to my uncle's place because…."
"Because he never forgave her for her mistake."
Elizabeth nodded in silence.
"Lizzy! I want to support your decision. But tell me you will stay here and not look for another employment."
"I cannot, Charlotte. I need to find another position soon. I have no other choice but to trespass on your kindness until then." Charlotte chastised her for her words.
"All I want you to be is happy and safe. We are here to support you in all your endeavours. I hope you will change your mind and think about staying here."
A couple of days passed. A letter arrived from Mary. Elizabeth understood from it that her aunt had paid a visit to Hertfordshire.
Dearest Lizzy,
I miss you so terribly. I am unable to navigate my days without you here. There is no happiness, no insightful conversation, and nobody like you to give me comfort. I am truly selfish to disclose my sadness when I cannot fathom what you are going through.
I hope your employers are kind and considerate. I truly pray for your safety. I long for the day I will meet you. Sometimes I am tempted to come to town and meet you. But I do not want to give the slightest hint to them about your whereabouts.
I will not mention anything about the behavior of our sisters and parents after your departure. I have nothing to say about them. They are not worth discussing.
Yesterday, Aunt Gardiner visited Longbourn all of a sudden. Are you aware of her arrival in town? I did not get to talk to her in private. She met Mamma and Papa and had a heated argument with them about your disappearance.
She left in anger and did not say a word to anyone else. I hope you have met her already or will do so.
In case you plan to live at our uncle's house, I would be very happy. Please be safe and write to me through Charlotte.
Maria sends her regards. She is aware of everything. Be assured she will maintain secrecy. Mamma and Papa can betray you, but we will not.
I miss you!
Yours,
Mary Bennet
So, aunt has gone to Longbourn. I don't know how the meeting went.
She knew soon enough. When her aunt visited her that very day.
"I have been to Longbourn." She said in a vexed tone.
"I know. Mary wrote to me."
"I saw for myself how cruel your parents or I must say your aunt and uncle were. I cannot believe how easily they lied to me about everything that happened. I am sorry that we entrusted your welfare with them, Lizzy." She said with anger and agony.
"Did you think you could make them confess about everything? Why did you take the trouble of going there? They must now suspect I met you in town."
"Do not worry. I did not say anything about you being her. I met them feigning ignorance of your disappearance. They had the nerve to tell me you ran away with somehow. They said nothing about that man, Mr Collins visiting Longbourn. Nor did they utter a word about forcing you to marry him. I cannot repeat anything they said about you. I lost my temper and vouched to return with your uncle."
"Good God! Have you written to him already?"
"Not yet. But I plan to do so immediately."
"I do not know what he can do. I do not want to make matters worse for any of us." Elizabeth said.
"We must clear your name in Hertfordshire. They have spread such falsehood about you. I could see how much they hate you now, as you foiled their plans. I realise why you fled."
"Whatever it is aunt, I do not want to be a part of all this. I have left my home and family. I can never go back there. And what am I to get out of a confrontation? They would only repeat what they said about my mother and defame her. I do not care why she did not get married. If she withheld information about my father then it speaks volumes about the trust she had in her own family. I am not accusing anyone here. But I have nothing more to do with Longbourn. The only way I can find peace is by distancing myself from the life I have left behind. All I need is employment, aunt. If at all you want to help, please help me in that matter. That is all I am concerned about."
Mrs Gardiner left Charlotte's home in dejection. She knew only the details her husband had related to her about Sarah Gardiner. From him she understood, how angry and ashamed he felt when he had discovered her with a child. There was considerable bitterness between them until she died. Even though her husband repented his actions now, she could understand why Elizabeth refused to stay with her.
I must help her somehow. I must. Mrs Gardiner told herself.
Within a few days, she returned to Charlotte's house with a prospect.
"You are asking her to travel to Derbyshire?" Charlotte asked astonished.
"Yes! I have known Lady Martha for many years. Our families were very close before she got married. She owns a huge estate in Derbyshire known as Ashton Park. I wrote to her about seeking a position for Elizabeth. She readily accepted my request and wants Elizabeth to join as a governess for her two grandchildren. Mrs Davis, do not think I am indifferent to the thought of my niece not working at all. But I have given it a lot of thought and understand why she is taking this decision. I can vouch for her safety and well-being at Ashton Park."
"But she would be so far away from us. I don't think I can let her go that far."
"I will go." Elizabeth said without a second thought.
"Lizzy, do not be hasty. We can find a good position here. I cannot be peaceful after sending you far away."
"I think it is quite to my advantage, Charlotte. I will be far away from Hertfordshire. If I employ myself in town, I will have to live with the uncertainty of being discovered here."
"But you do not have to fear them anymore Lizzy. Mrs Gardiner is here. I am sure they would not dare to threaten or harm you in any way."
"I cannot risk it, Charlotte. It is for the well-being of you and aunt Gardiner I am leaving. I do not want to put you both in any discomfort." She said.
In her heart she knew, she was running away from trouble.
Maybe, had my aunt said anything different about my past, I could have stayed here. I cannot bear to hear my mother's character defamed again and again by the people who raised me. I do not want to meet them ever again.
It was decided that Elizabeth was to leave for Derbyshire within a couple of days. Her aunt discussed her responsibilities as a governess and told her about the family in general.
"Lady Martha Ashton is the mistress of Ashton Park. She is a widow. You will be taking care of her two grandchildren. A girl and a boy. They are twins."
Elizabeth listened keenly.
"The children lost their mother last year. Mr Ashton remarried a couple of months ago. A good governess is much needed for their family at present. I am sure you will be well there, Lizzy. Lady Martha and my mother were best friends growing up." Mrs Gardiner said with confidence, as much as she wanted Elizabeth to stay with her, she did not want to work in an unknown household.
Elizabeth needed no further reassurance. She made up her mind. By the end of April, she left Charlotte's home and started her journey to Derbyshire. She wrote to Mary about all the details.
"Remember Lizzy, you can always come back to us." Charlotte said, withholding tears.
"I know. I am forever grateful for a friend like you. I will miss you." Elizabeth said and parted ways.
As Elizabeth's carriage was speeding towards Derbyshire, Darcy was heading out of town as well.
What a surprise it will be for Georgiana when she sees me. He thought, on his way to Ramsgate.