Note: Although this is a "what if" story, I am following the timeline of events as found in the book.
Chapter 2 – The Offer
The following afternoon Jane was finishing a watercolor when Bessie announced Mr. Wilson. Jane rose and extended her hand as he entered the drawing room.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Wilson; I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance."
"And I yours, Miss Eyre. Mr. Lloyd told me about your interest in taking over our little school." He paused as he looked at Jane's watercolor of a vase of yellow violas. "And you paint as well! Wonderful! I imagine you also have musical abilities? I myself play the piano, but only a little."
Jane laughed, "I also play the piano 'a little,'" and remembered playing the piano that first evening she spent with Mr. Rochester and his estimation of her talent.
"Well, Miss Eyre, if this is a good time for you, I would like to take you to see the school and Swallows Cottage, which will be your home if you take the position."
As they walked the two miles to the school they learned more about each other. Robert Wilson was 29. His parents were still living in a town one hundred miles north of Gateshead, along with his two younger brothers. They were not wealthy, but were well enough situated that they could send him to Cambridge University. Unlike Jane, his had been a happy childhood and he and his family were still close. Jane told him little of her upbringing, only that she had not had the happy family life he had enjoyed, but that everything had worked out well and she was happy and well settled now.
Walking along under the trees, Jane often glanced at him as he told her about his family. He was tall, with an athletic build, brown haired and brown eyed. Robert was not classically handsome, but his open, friendly demeanor naturally drew people to him, as was evidenced by how he was constantly stopped and greeted by his parishioners. It was obvious that he had earned their love and respect in the two years he had spent in the town.
As they finally walked up to the school, Jane could see that although it was a simple, one-roomed building, it was clean and well-maintained. Made of rough stone with a slate roof, there were two large windows, one on each side of the rough wooden door. Stepping inside, Jane saw a large rectangular table, with five chairs on each side, two on the far end and one at the head of the table. The room also contained an open bookcase with five shelves holding books and other supplies. The room was filled with light, giving it a pleasant aspect, one conducive to teaching and learning.
"As you can see, Miss Eyre, we have everything you need to begin teaching as soon as you wish, if you choose to take the position. I am more than satisfied that you are well qualified for the post and so the decision is yours. Will you consider … ?"
At that moment they were interrupted yet again, this time by the local doctor, Mr. James. Mr. Wilson asked Jane if she would mind walking to the cottage next door to the school and looking it over while he spoke privately with Mr. James.
Jane nodded in agreement and walked the few yards to Swallows Cottage which lay in the shadow of a large oak tree. Made of the same rough stone as the schoolroom and with a similar roof, it was also clean and well-maintained, with a sanded, well-swept floor. The ground floor room, a kitchen and sitting room combined, was simply furnished with a table and four chairs, a small bookcase which was obviously a mate to the one in the schoolroom and a cupboard with plates, cooking utensils and a modest tea set. Jane walked up to the second floor and looked around the bedroom. Also simply furnished, there was a bed, a chest of drawers and a comfortable, slightly shabby armchair in front of the small fireplace. Against the wall opposite the bed and beside the chest of drawers there was a washstand with a large pitcher, basin and several clean, new towels. To the left of the fireplace, opposite the foot of the bed, was a small closet.
Jane walked back down to the kitchen, sat at the table and, as she waited for Mr. Wilson's return, began to think seriously about her situation.
The day after her arrival Jane had written to Mrs. Fairfax to tell her all was well; Mrs. Fairfax had written back, thanking her for setting their minds at ease regarding her welfare. She mentioned that the house party had ended several days after Jane's departure and that Mr. Rochester had gone to London and was expected to return in a fortnight. It was assumed that he went to make arrangements for his wedding, as he mentioned purchasing a new carriage, although when Mrs. Fairfax asked if the carriage was to be for Miss Ingram, soon to be Mrs. Rochester, he just made a peculiar remark accompanied by a strange facial expression. Mrs. Fairfax assumed he meant yes, but since she still can't quite understand him even after all these years of working for him, she was unsure. Jane thought "I do not know why you doubt they will marry; I do not doubt it; it is all but certain."
Thinking of him marrying Blanche saddens Jane greatly, but she knows she must think of her own future now, independent of him. Yes, she did promise Mr. Rochester not to advertise, that she would wait for him to find her a new position, but could he find her a better position than this one? He would in all likelihood find her another position as a governess in another wealthy man's home – and if Lady Ingram and her daughter Blanche were any indication of the type of people he knew, she was bound to be miserable beyond anything words could express. It would be like going back to her childhood days at Gateshead. To be forced to live with ones who despise you and have no qualms or scruples about showing their utter contempt – can there be a worse fate? Jane thought not. And now that she had spent time living with people who valued her and who treated her with respect, like Mrs. Fairfax and Sophie, and even affection, like Adele, she could not bear to go back to being despised and ignored. Now that she had known someone like Mr. Rochester, who had treated her as an equal and had shown her great kindness. In fact, sometimes it seemed he even had a deep and genuine affection for her…
She shook her head as if to shake the thought of him out of her mind. She could not bear to think of him any more; it brought so much pain along with intense pleasure that it was unendurable. And it was wrong. He was soon to be married to another and she must accept it and put any thoughts of him and what it would be like to be with him always, to hear his voice and see him daily, behind her.
Jane forced herself to think about the real future before her and not the ideal one she wished to have. Now then … if she became a schoolmistress she would retain her independence and not be forced to endure constant insults and humiliation, for Mr. Wilson told her that he would give her free rein over the school, trusting that her years at Lowood trained her well as both a teacher and someone who could instill morals in the young girls in her care. Also, she would be living in an area she has known from her childhood. True, there are unhappy memories, but since her cousin John is dead, and her other cousins will leave Gateshead as soon as Mrs. Reed dies, why not stay here? She knows Bessie and her husband, Mr. Lloyd and now Mr. Wilson. If she were to allow Mr. Rochester to find her a position, it could be anywhere in England, where she would be totally isolated, all alone. To be all alone again, not just without the man she so deeply loved, but without even one person who wished her well…
At that moment Mr. Wilson entered the cottage and, interrupting Jane's musing, asked, smiling, "So, Miss Eyre, will you take the position?"
