When dinner was over and everyone except for Mr. Rochester had eaten their fill. They came to the main hall to relax and tell stories about their past storm experiences. Rochester's little anxiety turned into a volcano of worry in an instant when he did not see his Jane or Adele sitting where they should've been. He knew, everything that was troubling his being led to wherever they were right now.

"Ladies, gentlemen, I must take leave to attend to matters of great concern now." He mustered a fast explanation.

Before he reached the kitchen, Mr. Eshton had joined him in the corridor.

"Dear friend, you look ashen. May I offer my assistance?"

"Perhaps."

Mr. Rochester rounded the corner into the kitchen where he found the head housekeeper drinking tea by the fire.

"Mrs. Fairfax, where is my governess and the child?"

"I thought that they went directly to the main hall for refreshments since it was too hot for dinner in here this evening."

"No! They are not there."

Mr. Rochester left the frantic housekeeper and maids in that room and went directly to the part of the house where Adele, Sophie and Jane's rooms were. His strides were wide and fast. Mr. Eshton followed at a trot to keep up. They found Sophie alone in her room sewing.

"Sophie, where is Adele and her teacher tonight?" Mr. Rochester demanded in Francais.

Mr. Eshton was familiarized enough with the French language to follow their conversation interpreted to English in his mind.

"They had gone outside to look at leaves on trees, Monsieur. I thought they were back."

"They...are...outside. In this cursed storm alone!"

Mr. Rochester said with certainty, not meaning it as a question. Mr. Eshton thought his friend might collapse into a chair. Instead, the master of the house turned on his heels and ran towards the stables at the end of the house.

"Robert!" He shouted.

They found the stable-master polishing a saddle at his station.

"Prepare my horse at once and one for Mr. Eshton."

"Sir, are you sure you want to be out in that weather?"

"Do as I say!" Rochester's tone of voice was on the edge of holding composure.

"Yes, Sir." Robert took a black bridle off the corner post.

Mr. Rochester got two riding cloaks from a cabinet and gave one to Mr. Eshton.

"It will be dangerous. The roads can get impassable and the brook floods with a swift current. I will not ask you to..."

"Never mind that, I am equally worried for those young ladies out there in the dark..."

"No, you cannot be equally worried for you don't know the depths of my innermost concern that only they exist within. I will do anything to get them back no matter what it takes."

"I understand, friend. I study human relationships and comprehend them better than most people. I'll ride into the storm tonight."

Robert came running up with a saddled Mesrour trotting behind him. A stable boy had a horse ready too. The men spurred their horses out into the thunder, lightening and torrents in the darkness.

They had no idea which way the teacher and her student had gone. They were prone to be in the lower gardens yet they should have been able to return to the house before the storm from there. Mr. Rochester knew that Jane was apt to wander in all directions across the estate's grounds, even as far out as the moors. He couldn't think straight, the storm was terrible, his horse was very spirited and lunged forward with every strike of lightening and burst of thunder. The riders did not find them in the gardens. Their next place to go was the southern side of Thornfield. Mr. Eshton shouted out a reminder that Sophie had said they were planning to gather leaves. Mr. Rochester thought of several likely places they could've gone. He missed Jane incredibly. He thought of the moment that they had first met, of the strange energy that held them together during their walks across his estate. He concentrated on that energy now to find her. Maybe it was the driving rain that caused him to think of the waterfall at the far side of the western hill. He turned Mesrour sharply and Mr. Eshton nearly fell from his horse while trying to keep up. The main bridge was flooded out. The men reigned their horses at full run alongside the overflowing edge of the brook.