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CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIX
“They claim you are Johnathan Myers,” Irene repeated. “And the whole town has lost its mind. The crowd in front of our house is worse than the one that gathered on your wedding day.”
“I have to sit,” Elizabeth breathed, pressing her palm against her stomach as she found a bench between two marble statues.
“Elizabeth, are you well?” Irene asked, kneeling beside her. “Surely, you are not—”
“I am,” Elizabeth replied. “I am Johnathan Myers.”
“My Lord!” her father gasped from the conservatory archway. “I did not want to believe it.”
Elizabeth looked away with a grimace. “Father, I—” She did not know what to say to him. “I am sorry I never told you.”
“Do not be,” he said as he walked over to sit beside her on the bench. “Secrets like this are not supposed to be shared for your protection.” He smiled and took her hand, surprising her. “I am not angry. I supposed I was even pleasantly surprised when I saw the paper. Irene and I traveled here as fast as we could to ensure you are well and also confirm the truth.”
“That makes me feel better.” Elizabeth sighed and hugged her father. “I have been Myers for four years.” Elizabeth’s exposure would certainly create more problems for her and Rhys, and she was nervous about his reaction because he had feared this.
“I am happy you are not in London,” her father said.
“Irene told me about the mob.”
Her father sighed. “Everyone has an opinion.” He took her hands in his warm ones and gave them a gentle squeeze. “I am here and will find a solution. I promise.”
“Is Mother upset?” She was glad her father and sister understood, but she doubted her mother would be pleased.
“She was,” Irene replied. “She left for Gloucestershire while Father and I came here because none of us could stay in London.”
Elizabeth’s insides clenched again. “I am so sorry, I brought another scandal to our family.”
“I do not consider this a scandal, Elizabeth,” Irene reassured her.
“And neither do I,” her father joined in. “Your work as Myers has been admirable, and although some disagreed with your opinions, your ideas were very bright and just what England needs.”
“Miles was very excited when he learned you might be Myers,” Irene told her. “I am sure he will have hundreds of questions when he sees you.”
Elizabeth noticed her sister’s color deepening at that moment, and before Elizabeth could ask if Irene was well, her father said, “Irene and Mayton are engaged.”
Elizabeth’s lips parted in surprise. “When?”
“He asked me to marry him five days ago.” Her sister’s blush intensified, and Elizabeth realized that Mayton was the man Irene had fallen in love with.
Elizabeth hugged her sister. “I am so happy for you, Irene.” She could feel her sister’s happiness, and that distracted all of them from the revelation that she was Myers and everything else. “When is the wedding?”
“Before the summer ends. I was going to write to you, but then this happened, and we had to come,” Irene explained.
“I understand.” Elizabeth stood. “You all must be tired after the long journey.”
“Oh, yes we are,” her father agreed, rising. “Where is Guildford?”
“He…is out, but he will return soon.” She could not tell her family about the recent events in Dorset now. They could perish from worry. Later, when everything was calmer, she would tell them. After all, the matter had come to an end.
She had the guest rooms prepared for them while they ate in the drawing room and told her about how frantic Society became after learning who she was. Like all news, she was sure this would be forgotten with time, but what alarmed her was what those she had criticized through her writing would do.
It was almost midnight when Rhys returned, and Irene and her father had already gone to bed by then. Elizabeth did not know where the Dowager was, nor was she concerned because she had many other things that occupied her thoughts.
Elizabeth raced to meet him in the front hall the instant she saw him arrive through the drawing room window where she had been sitting by and waiting. He opened his arms as soon as he saw her and scooped her up into his arms. Elizabeth felt as though it had been a long while since they last saw each other but it had only been a few hours.
They began to speak at the same time before laughing.
