Story is set on the first Christmas of Jane's marriage, which (in the story) was only a month or two ahead from their wedding day. Diana and Mary aren't married yet. More chapters to come
The sight of the gay flicker of snow merrily fluttering past the window made Jane's heart swirl with joy and anticipation, her first Christmas with her family, with a chance to bask in true festive spirits, not simply sampling it with a sip of sherry at the teachers' table at night, as were the height of Lowood's celebratory gestures.
She gasped as she felt a tiny sprig of Mistletoe shuffle against her head, "Merry Christmas, Mrs Rochester" whispered her husband in hushed excitement. Not seeing why she should contain her giddiness, she whipped round to face him and slipped the Mistletoe out of his hand, cocking it above both their heads. "And Merry Christmas to you, Mr Rochester" she said teasingly as she granted him a tender kiss.
"I cannot wait" she said as he settled back down beside her and she turned to face him, stroking his hair as they talked "for you to meet Diana and Mary, how wonderful it will be to sit around a Christmas table… As a family!" The last part of this sentence would have been squealed if Jane had not kept herself in check. "Hmm" Edward grinned, adoring the new sense of thrilled happiness he heard in his wife's voice "and Adele, too will be overjoyed, mostly at the thought of having gifts and sweetmeats showered upon her!" and at this he chuckled with endearing regard to the little ward. "And what about Mrs Fairfax? John and Leah, surely they must join us. The Turkey's certainly big enough, and there is still food unused and still fresh from – "
She cut herself off before Edward finished for her "from when I never took supper when you were gone".
She gazed at him with apologetic concern as he half-smiled and turned his face to one side.
"It's over" she whispered, caressing his face. "And anyway" she said, reinforcing a more uplifting tone "the Christmas supper you have coming to you will make up for any missed dinner in the past!"
He dropped his head back to face her: now he was smiling. "Is it snowing?" he whispered, his eyes beaming with a childlike hope. "Yes, merry little feathers are whirling downward in a soft, fluttering fashion, as if they are happily eager to lie on the earth" Jane replied as the concentration of trying to imagine what this scene may look like strained in Edward's eyes. "Just as you are eager to descend from heaven to melt in the warmth of your new found family" he smiled, beckoning her to lie in his arms.
She felt his good hand ascend, brushing warmly up her waist, chest and shoulder and skim her hair, smoothing it from her ear as he whispered, with happiness, sincerity and a hint of seductiveness: "lie with me, my little snowflake".
She slid onto him to devour his look of loving yearn with matching intensity. Nearing his lips, she whispered "my love…"
It was two hours before they descended to breakfast.