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E lizabeth was constantly amazed at her willpower and the beauty she witnessed throughout her journey from town to Derbyshire. She had never imagined that her life would change drastically within a few months.

Her aunt had arranged for a maid and her trusted housekeeper to accompany her during their journey. Several footmen accompanied them for safety. Mrs. Gardiner had ensured that her travel was comfortable and made arrangements for them to rest at the best inns on their way to Derbyshire.

Elizabeth relished the sight of hills and pastures rolling by during the journey. She had learned much about Derbyshire’s beauty from her aunt and welcomed nature's distraction as it helped her escape her own thoughts.

She knew the decision to leave town was the best she could take under the circumstances and fervently hoped that Derbyshire would offer her a life without further distress.

The journey was long, and after some days, they arrived in Ashton Park late in the evening.

Elizabeth was stunned by the size of the property, which was twice the size of Netherfield.

The housekeeper received them, and Elizabeth immediately felt a sense of warmth in her demeanor.

“My dear! It must have been a tiresome journey, even for someone as young as you. You can refresh yourself and rest if you wish to. Lady Martha has instructed me not to press you to meet her if you are tired.”

“I am not tired. I would be happy to meet my employer today, and I thank you for your kindness,” Elizabeth replied, touched by her thoughtfulness.

“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 live with 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.

Aunt Gardiner has informed her about my past?

“I am repeating your words. Please do not hold your aunt in contempt for this disclosure, as she wants you to be safe. In case you have trouble from your father’s side, she wanted me to be aware of everything so that I could protect you.

The very fact that you told the truth within minutes of our meeting only reaffirms everything your aunt declared about your character.

I am delighted to have you as our governess. ”

Elizabeth was overwhelmed by her words, as she was certain she would have to leave the place after the disclosure.

“I cannot thank you enough. I did not know what to expect once I revealed the truth.”

“Whatever has happened in your past need not decide your future. I promise to keep you safe and happy here. Do you still wish to go by the name of Smith?”

“Yes! I do not want to bear a name that is not mine; I might as well be a Smith than a Bennet.”

“All right then; be assured this will be between us.”

“Thank you, Lady Martha. I am truly grateful for your understanding.”

Supper passed swiftly as Elizabeth learned more about the family from Lady Martha. She was eager to meet the children the next day. She lay awake that night, hoping the future was not as grim as she thought it would be.

***

Meanwhile, in Ramsgate, Darcy doubted everything he had ever believed in life.

The past days were filled with agony and turmoil. Darcy had reached Ramsgate with excitement to meet his beloved sister, only to be succumbed by the horror awaiting him.

When he reached the house, he had rented, Darcy found his sister in her room.

“Georgi, I missed you so much,” he cried when he saw her. She looked confused as she seemed to be packing her bags. Georgiana froze upon seeing him.

Darcy’s eyes traveled to the bags she had packed and understood something was wrong.

“What are you doing? Were you planning to travel to town? Why didn’t you write to me?” he asked with confusion.

“Oh! Fitzwilliam, I am so sorry!” she cried, as she collapsed into his arms, and confessed what she had planned to do.

Darcy was horrified when Georgiana revealed her plan. She had fallen in love with Wickham and planned to elope with him.

“George said you would never approve of our union. But now that you are here, we do not have to run away to Gretna Green. Please forgive me and give us your approval,” she asked hopefully, and Darcy’s rage knew no bounds.

“I never expected you to be so foolish. What is wrong with you? You are fifteen. Is this an age to get married?”

“But I love him, and he loves me. Why can’t we get married?” she cried in anger.

“If he loves you, he will never ask you to run away. He would have come to me, and I am certain Wickham wants money. He probably wants to blackmail me for money once he takes you away.”

“George will never do that; I know him. You are lying; he said you have always been jealous of him.”

Darcy tried hard to control his anger.

"You are too na?ve Georgiana. There is nothing honorable about him for me to be jealous of. Father raised us both as his children, but I knew what Wickham was from childhood. Trust me, you are not the first woman he has promised to marry. He has cheated many women in Derbyshire and ruined them for life. You do not know his character.”

“You are lying, and I know you are lying out of spite.”

“Listen to me. When Wickham and Mrs. Younge return, tell them that you do not want to elope. Ask Wickham to go to town and see me. You will see the real Wickham then.”

“What if he agrees? What if he agrees to my demand?”

“I promise you he will not.”

“But what if he does?”

“Then, I believe that he is really in love with you, and we can decide your future,” Darcy said confidently, hoping his plan would work.

Georgiana left downstairs with confidence.

Fitzwilliam is wrong. I know George, and I can prove his intentions are pure.

She waited in the parlor, impatient for his return.

Darcy ensured his carriage was sent away, and Wickham was unaware of his presence in Ramsgate. In half an hour, Wickham and Mrs. Younge entered the house together.

“Dear Miss Georgiana, we have finalized all the arrangements for our travel. You seem to have found a wonderful husband in Mr. Wickham,” Mrs. Younge said, smiling.

“I am glad you are ready,” Wickham said, eyeing her packed bags.

“I am ready. But suddenly, I had a thought,” Georgiana said in an uncertain tone.

“What is that?” Wickham asked with irritation.

“What if we get married in Derbyshire instead of Gretna Green?”

Stupid girl!

“My dear, you know very well that we cannot. Your brother will never grant permission for our marriage as he does not like me. Once we are married, we can go to Pemberley.”

“But we can ask him now,” she said, biting her lips.

“What?” he asked in confusion.

“You could meet him in town and ask him for my hand. I am sure he will agree.”

“He will not. Now get up and let us leave before the servants come back,” he said impatiently.

Georgiana held his hands.

“Please, George, I know he will accept our marriage if you go to him. If we run away, we will always be held in contempt. It would be a disgrace.”

“Are you saying it is a disgrace to marry me?”

“No, but it is a disgrace if we run away.”

“Why are you so adamant all of a sudden?”

“I want to marry you because I love you, and I know you love me. Please let us try to ask my brother for his consent. If we run away now, I will lose him forever,” Georgiana pleaded.

“Miss Georgiana, listen to us. You do not have the intelligence to see what is good for you. You are too young to understand what Mr. Wickham is saying. You cannot make the right decision at this age,” Mrs. Younge said in a sweet tone, and her words hit Georgiana like lightning.

“You say I cannot make the right decision at this age?”

“Yes, of course. You are hardly fifteen,” Wickham joined in.

“Then, am I not too young to be married?” she asked with tears in her eyes.

Wickham suddenly realized that something was wrong. He looked at Mrs. Younge, and she nodded.

She immediately dragged Georgiana from her seat.

“No more talking. Let us leave,” she said firmly.

“No!” Georgiana cried and tried to free herself.

“George, help me; she is hurting me,” she cried in horror.

She was shocked when Wickham grabbed her by her throat.

“Listen to me. I cannot go to your dear brother because he will kill me when he hears how I tricked you into falling in love with me.”

“Tricked me?” Georgiana asked, unable to speak.

“Of course. Have you seen your face in the mirror? Do you think anyone would fall in love with you? Do you even know how to satisfy a man? I never loved you. But I love your dowry and the insane amount of money your brother will throw at me to get you back.”

“You scoundrel,” she cried.

“I am. We can discuss more about my character on our way to Scotland,” he said and tried to drag her out. Suddenly, the door opened, and he came face to face with an enraged Darcy.

The sight of Darcy sent shivers down his spine, and Darcy had never been that angry. The sight of Wickham holding his sister by the throat unleashed the beast in him. He pounced on Wickham and struck him with a deadly blow.

Georgiana fell to the ground and choked as Darcy continued the assault on Wickham.

“Fitzwilliam please… help…” Georgiana cried, choking in between words.

Darcy immediately ran to his sister and assisted her.

His men entered the room and captured Wickham, who was almost unconscious from the beating. Mrs. Younge stood rooted to her spot and understood she was in deep trouble.

Georgiana was completely ashamed of how easily she was deceived. She sobbed in her brother’s arms, unable to face him.

Darcy’s heart broke for his sister. He was not angry with her but hated himself for what had happened.

As angry as Darcy was, he knew that the only way to protect his sister’s reputation was to let Wickham go, and he did so, warning him to change his ways.

He wrote to Richard immediately, informing him of every detail of what had transpired in Ramsgate, and insisting that Wickham to be watched at all times.

After everything that happened, Darcy could not see his sister’s plight. Georgiana felt the same way; she was ashamed to even be in his presence.

He decided to send her back to Pemberley, where he knew she would be safe. He did not want to accompany her and assumed she hated him for what happened, as he could not protect her.

He lay awake in bed, unable to sleep.

I am so sorry, Georgiana. I failed to protect you.

You will be safe in Pemberley. You won’t have to struggle to face me; I will leave you alone.

Georgiana sobbed in her room, unable to sleep.

He looked after me like a father, and all I have done is give him pain.

I could have been completely ruined if not for Fitzwilliam.

I told my dear brother that he was jealous of someone like Wickham.

How could I? I hope you are at peace once I am at Pemberley, Fitzwilliam.

You do not have to look at your shameful sister every day.

Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Darcy were unable to sleep for a long time that night as a million thoughts engulfed them. For each, the next day was a new beginning in so many ways.