"Miss Eyre, you have a letter," Eleanor piped up at the classroom doorway. Glancing up with not a little dread intertwined with anticipation I looked at the envelope in the Eleanor's hand. I don't like surprises and seeing as the only communication I received from the outside world was on email, this was definitely a surprise. The letter was sealed in a professional plain envelope with a gilded typeface in the corner and on the address. Definitely an intriguing surprise.

"Thank you, Eleanor," the 10 year old grinned infectiously and handed me the letter. "Have you finished your homework yet?" This child was known for procrastination of a high degree.

"No, Miss Eyre," she smirked at my groan and bounded out of the room.

Shaking my head at her antics with a little envy, I peeked at the return address.

Thornfield Hall, Millcote, England

"Hmm," sounds ritsy. Getting intrigued more and more at the sparsness and mystery I slid the envelope opener through the top. Naturally the paper within was rich and nice. The writing was an accomplished cursive instead of the typeface I expected. Old fashioned and ritsy.

"Ms. J.E." I nearly dropped the paper. It was an answer to my ad. I'd forgotten all about it.

"We may have an answer to your ad, Ms. J.E. If you can prove and fax us your qualifications we may have a position to meet your cryteria. A young lady, aged 10 years, previously of Paris, France is in my charge and in need of a governess. She is fluent in both English and French and a very active child in need of one such as your ad described. Your role would be teacher and caretaker along with her current nurse, Sophie. If this meets your interest please reply directly.

Yours,

Melanie Fairfax

Housekeeper, Thornfield Hall

"Ok," that was all that came to mind. I'd written the ad on a whim one day. The monotomy of every day life in the school here had overwhelmed me and I'd sent out the ad online. "Reply directly? In a second. First, let's check out Thornfield."

I went to the computer and looked up what I could find. Owned by a Edward Fairfax Rochester. Same name as the housekeeper? Okay. Nothing about the kid or anything. Man exceedingly rich apparently but lives abroad. So free rein on the kid's education? I'm bored and this sounds challenging and different. Gonna miss my kids but need something new. So since I gotta go talk to my boss now let me explain myself to you guys.

I'm an orphan. Even better an unwanted orphan . My name is Jane Eyre. My mother was a wealthy unhappy woman who slummed and fell in love with a happy poor preacher. She found happiness and got rid of the money. Nice trade off in my opinion - not in her family's. All except her big brother, my uncle, John Reed. About six months after the scandal and marriage I was letting Mom know of my newly discovered existance. Three months later I was born and Mom died of Childbirth Difficulties. My father was distraught understandably but didn't let me know. The two of us were happy enough until he got pneumonia during my third year. Uncle Reed had kept in contact and been great to me as the only living survivor of his great and wonderful sister. My father died that summer and Uncle Reed took me in. Naturally, with my luck, he passed on near my 7th birthday. Aunt Reed and the little Reeds' had been civil before that and turned into a Disney movie villians after his death. I was sent to the spare small bedroom and treated like dirt. Mostly it was neglect and being ignored but for my dear cousin John Reed Jr. He 'punished' me for living in 'his' house once so terribly that a doctor was sent for. He threatened for child services and to avoid scandal again I was shipped off to boarding school at age 10.

The school I currently teach at. Been here for over 10 years. 7 attending school and 2 years at the local community college for my AA teaching degree when I returned to pay off my debt. At first the school was stingy and neglectful. The tax man was sent for and changes were made. It got tolerable. It was all I knew and better than what I had left. I returned to Lowell school after graduating the college because I loved children and wanted to make the other cast off children feel better. For a while it was enough but last summer the walls closed in and my life got small. I needed out. See exciting...not so much. Maybe Thornfield Hall would quench this new thirst for adventure.

My boss wasn't happy and the students cried. BUt the fax left and so did i less than a month later.