DISCLAIMER: I in now way own these characters and have used Bronte's wonderful text. I only hope my story may do it justice.

CHAPTER 1

Dusk was slowly fading into night as I rode Mesrour through the grounds that were all too familiar to me. Pilot was running just ahead of me and seemed to speed up the nearer we got to Thornfield. My absence from Thornfield had been no longer than usual. For whatever reason, I found society in London more interesting than normal but it did not entice me to stay through the whole of the season.

I found my visit to Oxford slightly more rewarding as my friend, John Eshton, enlightened me on some of his latest discoveries regarding sparrows. John's passion for birds is admirable and I wish I had been as disciplined in my studies as he was and continues to be. Still I can think of no one in England who knows me better than John so I very much enjoyed catching up with my friend. Of course he does not know everything about me but he has always been sincere and genuine and I value his confidence regarding my English affairs. He is a family man now, as opposed to when we met when he was completely engulfed in his career, with two daughters. I found by the end of my visit, my patience towards them dwindled as it normally does with young people.

As I got on Mesrour this morning, I felt a slight flutter in my heart. I can only guess that my age is beginning to make itself known to my body so I was careful to ride gently on my journey. This slow pace made my ride go longer than I normally liked, especially as night came so much sooner in the winter. Once I reached the Thornfield grounds, I found myself more at ease and let my horse go at a pace he desired.

I thought about Thornfield and how I longed to give it up, knowing this was not at all a possibility. As I quickly became lost in my thoughts, Pilot began barking. I looked up to see what small creature he had found. To my amazement the creature Pilot had spotted was a young woman who tried to hide herself in the shadows away from the road. She was dressed simply: her cloak and bonnet were certainly dissimilar to what the ladies on Bond Street were buying. She seemed such a small and shy thing. I hoped my horse would not scare her and kept on riding.

I knew this stretch of the road well and that it was often less than favourable for riders in January but I did not slow down. As I rode on, my horse lost its footing and seemed to slip.

"What the deuce is to do now!" I exclaimed. The horse and I tumbled to the ground. I swore under my breath. The horse was writhing but seemed to be unharmed other than startled. I on the other hand knew I would feel this one in the morning.

Before I could call him, Pilot ran off in the other direction. I prayed he would find no one to help so we could just get on back to Thornfield.

I sighed deeply and got up. The only part of my body that ached was my ankle. I could not really put any weight on it but it did not bleed so it seemed to only be a sprain. As I tried to disconnect myself from the horse, I heard a small, sweet, elfin voice ask, "Are you injured sir?"

"Blast!" I said under my breath. "No thanks to that damn dog, someone wants to come and be my saviour tonight." I turned around and saw her walking towards me.

"If you are hurt, and want help, sir, I can fetch some one either from Thornfield Hall or from Hay," she said. I could finally study her features a bit. They were not extraordinary but there was something about her eyes that seemed to strike me at that moment and I found myself wondering if she could do me some good. I immediately got rid of that thought as I desperately wanted to get on my way.

"Thank you: I shall do: I have no broken bones,--only a sprain," I said gruffly. Her eyes stared at me and I was struck by their moonlit glow.

She offered her assistance again. She could not have been more than 20 and knowing that it was getting dark and late, I told her again I was fine and to run along home. I had no need for a young girl to follow me home that night.

Still she persisted.

"I cannot think of leaving you, sir, at so late an hour, in this solitary lane, till I see you are fit to mount your horse." I looked at her to try and convince her that I was not in need of her help. She seemed startled by my glance.

"I should think you ought to be at home yourself, if you have a home in this neighbourhood: where do you come from?" I asked. I knew most of the neighbourhood but I had never seen this young woman before. Perhaps she was visiting a relation.

She said, "From just below; and I am not at all afraid of being out late when it is moonlight: I will run over to Hay for you with pleasure, if you wish it: indeed, I am going there to post a letter."

Her answer surprised me as she apparently lived at my house. Mrs. Fairfax was often in the habit of employing new servants while I was away. I trusted her judgement so let her do this freely. Still this young woman called Thornfield home and she could hardly have been employed there for more than a few months. I decided to out how attached she was to my estate.

"You live just below--do you mean at that house with the battlements?" and I pointed inquisitively to the shadowy towers that were making themselves evident in the moonlight.

"Yes, sir."

She clearly valued the place but I wanted to see how much about me she actually knew so I asked, "Whose house is it?"

She replied "Mr. Rochester's." She seemed friendly enough and clearly understood social norms regarding address of employers. Still I had to know if the servants had been gossiping and if she followed in this habit. I asked, "Do you know Mr. Rochester?"

"No, I have never seen him." There were perhaps two pictures of me in all of Thornfield, one of which was painted when I was a child. I was hardly surprised by this answer as my appearance is not something I like to display. I decided to see if she knew anything else so I asked, "He is not resident, then?"

"No," she said.

"Can you tell me where he is?"

"I cannot." A servant who did not know who the master was? Perhaps she was not a servant but the new governess. Mrs. Fairfax had told me about hiring a new governess in a letter. I decided to find out if indeed she was. "You are not a servant at the hall, of course. You are…" For some reason I stumbled over my words.

"I am the governess," she said before I could get the words out to finish my question.

"Ah, the governess! Deuce take me, if I had not forgotten! The governess!" I did not want her to find who I was this moment so I went back to my horse who seemed frightened by the fall. Tried as I might, I could not reach his bridle because of my ankle so I asked for her help. "I cannot commission you to fetch help," he said; "but you may help me a little yourself, if you will be so kind."

"Yes, sir." I looked to see if she had something I could put my weight on but she did not. "You have not an umbrella that I can use as a stick?"

"No."

"Try to get hold of my horse's bridle and lead him to me: you are not afraid?" This may seem like a silly question as this young woman offered her services so freely to me but one never knows with females and horses. She shook her head and approached the horse that was wild. My horse was not accustomed to new people and I knew her efforts were in vain so I began to laugh. She turned back to me and I said: "I see the mountain will never be brought to Mahomet, so all you can do is to aid Mahomet to go to the mountain; I must beg of you to come here."

By this point I knew I had no other choice but to see if she could physically help me out. I was unsure of doing this because of her tiny frame but her strength of spirit would hopefully will her body. When she came back to me, I said, "Excuse me. Necessity compels me to make you useful." I put my hand on her shoulder and my weight was soon on her. I limped slowly with her aid to my horse and grabbed the bridle before getting on the saddle. Naturally this was not easy because of my injury but I managed. Still I did not have my whip.

"Now, just hand me my whip; it lies there under the hedge." She quickly found it and I was ready to head back to Thornfield hopefully long before she returned. I said, "Thank you; now make haste with the letter to Hay, and return as fast as you can." I glanced at her face as I rode off. She smiled lightly but there was something curious in her expression like she had just made a friend.

As I rode back to Thornfield, I thought about the governess who lived at my home. She seemed sweet natured and gentle. I am sure Adele found any number of ways to vex her but even still, I am sure it took some effort. This young woman was so mild mannered and sincere. The only reason I kept my identity hidden from her was to prevent the unnecessary social greeting from happening. I wanted to study her before she learned I was her master and would conceal herself from me. What intrigued the most about her were eyes and the way they seemed to convey all her speech during our talk. I had longed studied people's characters through their eyes as they are often truer than the spoken word but this young woman's had me puzzled in a way I had never been before.

Before I could get lost in my thoughts again, I heard Sam call out: "Good evening Mr. Rochester. Welcome home." I was in my drive and, as always, Sam was there to put Mesrour in the stable. I stopped my horse and dismounted. I greeted Sam, told him to bring my things inside the house and made my way in to the house where I was greeted by Mrs. Fairfax. She saw me limping.

"Why sir! What has happened?" she asked. I told her I had fallen from my horse but I was not in any great pain. I also told her I was tired and wished to go to retire for the evening. I asked for supper to be brought to my room. She said she would and then asked: "When do you want to meet the governess, Miss Eyre?"

"Miss Eyre?" I said. So that was the name of the little elf that I met earlier.

"Yes, Jane Eyre. She is out now but should be back shortly."

"Tonight I am tired but tell Miss Eyre I wish to meet her tomorrow."

"Yes sir," and the kind housekeeper bid me good night and welcomed me home. Yes I was home and weary after my journey still I did not know how much sleep I would actually get as I never found Thornfield a restful place. I made my way to my chamber and dressed for bed. A servant brought my supper which I nibbled on before getting into bed. The night was calm for once but I wondered how long this stillness would remain. I turned on my side and closed my eyes. I began to think about my life at Thornfield. I hated so many things about it so I began to think about those eyes I had met earlier and how I adored them. I wondered what secrets, if any, they had and just what kind a person this governess was. With these thoughts, I drifted to sleep.