Moments passed slowly as I stood as if a statue in front of Mr. Rochester. How did he get here? Was he the mysterious person who had brought my brother home for the holidays? My questions went unanswered, as they could only be found in my head.
"My dear Miss Allen, I fear I have bewitched you. For I do not know the last time that you did not speak in my presence" Mr. Rochester commented, his face most serene as he spoke. "Forgive me sir" I began quite seriously, I had regained control of my reason.
"I did not believe that bewitchment was still possible in England. You must know some elf or fairy, although I was under the impression that they all left a hundred years ago. For England is not wild enough to sustain them. Though, if you have bewitched me, sir, then you must be Eros" I replied.
"Me? Cupid? Ha! I would not be as foolish as he, he caused a great deal of trouble for no good reason. I would no do so much for any woman as he did for Psyche" he exclaimed.
I looked over to my Aunt, it seemed as if she was unaware of what we were saying. Indeed, for if I had been watching, I would not know what was being said either. Our conversation was like that of passing secret messages, alas, I know not what those messages contained.
"I believe that any man in love would do so much," I replied "For in the end it all worked out well did it not?" I asked, he scoffed, "I would hardly call it working out in the end, Cupid and Psyche caused themselves – and everyone around them – a great deal of trouble." he replied.
"But is not the cost of love, trouble? I have never read, nor heard of any lovers that had no difficulties. Indeed, for it seems as if love must have difficulty to prove that it is true. Had not Claudio thought that Hero was unfaithful, would he – if she was ever framed – believed in her fidelity? Alas, had it not been for their trouble, I do not think that they would have any love at all." I said.
"And if you fell in love, would you expect trouble?" he asked, I chuckled.
"If I had no trouble in love, then I would not believe that it was love at all."
"A bold belief"
"A realistic one, for I believe in reality. And reality states, that every person must know trouble, especially when in love. You would not know a person's true character without it"
"We'll see when you find yourself in love, for your soul has not been woken by the notion of it. For to you, it is only a word"
"Yes, sir. We shall see" I agreed, looking once more at my Aunt. Her look reminded me.
There was a question on my mind, and I needed to know the answer, "Tell me Mr. Rochester, whatever preempted you to come to Branhurst?" I asked. He looked to my Aunt, "I am here at the graciousness of your Aunt, for she was the one who invited me for the holidays" he stated. I looked to my Aunt in disbelief, she returned my gaze.
"Of course Molly. I invited Mr. Rochester after your letter in November. You had expressed your desire to invite him yourself, remember?" she told me. I nodded, "Why yes Aunt. I suppose that I was simply surprised." I said, walking over to the refreshments. Sherry, scotch and the like.
"I must thank you sir" I said.
"For what?" he asked.
"You brought my brother did you not?"
Mr. Rochester smiled, "Yes, your Aunt mentioned that he was in Shropshire, at Ludlow College. She asked me, when I came here, if I would go there and fetch your brother" he said.
"Is not Shropshire a little out of the way sir?"
"When asked, no place it out of the way. I just, change the direction of my horse" he replied.
"I was unaware sir, that you drove the carriage yourself. Though I overheard a conversation between my brother and my cousins. Apparently there was some kind of an incident with a carriage, and now that I know you brought him, I'm assuming that you know what it was about?" I asked, pouring him some scotch. I poured a glass of sherry for my aunt.
Mr. Rochester laughed heartily, "Yes, your brother considers himself to be some kind of Hercules. We were caught in the mud, and he insisted that he was as strong as an ox. Therefore, so as not to wound his pride, I allowed him to push the carriage."
"Alone?" I asked. "And yet, you say that does not wound pride?"
"Alone, and it does not" he confirmed, taking the glass from me.
"And I take it, he did not succeed?"
"No, he had to admit that he is not a Titan, and we – the servant, your brother, and I – pushed the carriage out of the mire" Mr. Rochester said, chuckling to himself, "Your nephew, Mrs. Polk, seems to take after your niece. He believes that there is hope for the most hopeless of scenarios" he told my aunt.
She smiled, "Yes, they take after their mother. My sister was always looking for what to be glad about, in any situation. Mary, on more than one occurrence, would try and comfort us all, despite the fact that it was rather hopeless" she said.
"I never knew that you were so encouraging Miss Allen" Mr. Rochester told me, as if a revelation had dawned upon him.
"Oh, no" Aunt Fanny intervened, "Mary is my sister. Molly was named after her, but everyone calls her Molly. That is, those who knew her when she was a child, she insists on being called Mary now" she announced.
Mr. Rochester nodded in understanding, "And do you prefer Mary or Molly, Miss Allen?'
"Mary" I replied "Molly is very childish, but Mary is mature."
"You never complain when I call you Molly" Aunt Fanny argued. I set my hand over hers, despite the fact that she was older than I, I found her as adorable as a child at times.
"You are my aunt, you knew me when I was still Molly. For you, it is a term of endearment. As is the case with all of my cousins"
Aunt Fanny smiled sweetly, "I'm so glad, for whenever I say 'Mary' your mother, my sister, is who I picture. Molly suits you so well." she said, placing a hand on my cheek. "Yes Miss Allen" Mr. Rochester added, "Molly does suit you well"
I grinned, and pulled away. "Indeed" I said. The clock struck 7 o'clock, and the sound of a commotion could be heard in the foyer. A heard a thump, and boisterous laughing.
The raucousness had caught Mr. Rochester's attention, and Aunt Fanny looked at the door. I soon realized that my brother and cousins had – most likely – caused some trouble. Seeing as Miss Gold was not here, I would have to take the situation in hand. I knew that my brother – if he had caused the commotion – would wish that he would have seen Hades, than me in a fury.
Sighing, I stood, "Excuse me Aunt, Mr. Rochester, I'm going to make sure that my brother has not caused trouble." I said, curtsying to the gentleman. "Molly, send the children to dress, for Miss Gold was invited to dinner by the Fosters, I need you to calm them down. Dinner is soon and they must be dressed." my Aunt told me. "As you wish, Aunt" I replied, leaving the room.
The state of the morning room was quite out of order when I entered. Apparently, George's friends – Thaddeus Dunkley, and Marcus Litchfield – had come as soon as they heard that he had come. They had, in an effort to impress Georgianna and Anne, had somehow managed to overturn the butterscotch colored chaise which was a favorite of Aunt Fanny's. They were in a heap on the floor, trying earnestly to clean up the mess from the table, which had also managed to be turned upside-down, the china all over the Indian rug.
When I entered, however, the three young men were terrified, and scrambled to appease my anger by restoring the room to how they had entered it. I informed Thaddeus and Marcus that they would be assisting George in the cleaning of the stables because of their behavior; and was soon on the other side of their pleas for forgiveness, for they all had been subject to my judgment in the past.
After they had put things to right, Thaddeus and Marcus left, sullen looks on their faces because of my promise: that I would tell Mr. & Mrs. Dunkley, and Mrs. Litchfield of their heir's behavior, and strange and unusual punishment was their dues. I did not mean it, for their own chastisement to themselves was enough for me.
That evening, the dinner table was alive with the warmth well known of Branhurst Hall. Mr. Rochester proved to be quite the amusing guest, and was all to eager to please the questions of my cousins. For Georgianna and Henrietta quizzed him on every diverse thing about his travels on the continent.
He was more than congenial, and answered their questions with delight. He told them of France, and Italy. He described everything with detail, leaving my cousins in raptures. At the end of the evening, I was convinced that my cousins already fancied him. A sorry state for them, for they were never very subtle when the fancied men.
William and Richard asked him about his politics, and debated with him on his opinion about the changing times and industrialism. Mr. Rochester opposed them, agreed, and challenged their ideas about various topics; causing for Georgianna and Henrietta to listen – for possibly the first time – about the government, and the changing northern part of England.
Anne and he spoke of France (in French I might add) and wondered at the remaking of it after the revolution. They discussed the uprising in the 1820s, and she listened to his opinion on the matter. No doubt, it was quite flattering perhaps to any other man than Mr. Edward Fairfax Rochester. For to many, and I have heard it myself, she was a beauty in both looks and character.
I wondered for a moment, at whether they would make a good couple. For I had always had the predisposition to matchmaking. I decided that they would not do well, for she was fragile, and he was brash. It would be like bringing a swallow and an eagle to be under the same roof. For the swallow is tender, and the eagle is powerful. Perhaps it was these conclusions, or perhaps it was jealousy that she was able to keep in conversation with him more than I had done, that I decided that they would be a terrible match. Although, it seemed that she was a rather desirable creature.
George then took his turn to converse with Mr. Rochester. Together, they discussed the law, for Mr. Rochester was quite informed about it, and George had – at one time – considered the law as a profession. "But if you become a lawyer" Mr. Rochester began to ask my brother, "Who will take care of your property, Livingston is it?" George scoffed, "Molly of course, or Eliza's husband. I have no desire to take care of Livingston, I haven't seen it since I was a small child" he replied.
"You would leave that to your sister to take care of? It is not a woman's obligation" Mr. Rochester said.
"Molly can handle herself, she loves Livingston. It is as if it was made for her to care for, and I hope that she marries a man who will love Livingston as well. For it will always be her true home" George replied, though his tone mingling with endearment, and something that was somewhat irresponsible. I decided that I would speak to him about it later, but my plans were thwarted when Mr. Rochester turned to me.
"And what would you say to that Miss Allen? As the person in question, would you rather take care of your family home than your brother?" he asked.
I, who had been silent up to this point, was already quite passionate about the subject. I decided to not only speak to Mr. Rochester, but also to George.
"I consider it, sir, as quite unfortunate. My brother is – though he does not know it yet – the most apt to care for Livingston. To leave it to me to care for, although he tells the truth I do love it, is quite out of place. I speak from an unbiased point of view, for although I believe that women should have the inheritance – I believe that only when there is no male to care for whatever living there is. The inheritance should not leave the female line, but the men should not shirk the responsibility by saying that the woman can care for it" I said, quite aware that I had probably said too much.
Mr. Rochester smiled, "Well said, well thought out. My thought exactly Miss Allen" I smiled in reply. "Thank you sir, though I don't think you were that surprised at my answer. You are quite accustomed by this time to my rather detailed replies." I said, he shook his head, and with a chuckle lifted his glass to his lips.
"You? You're so meek, its unthinkable" he said, earning loud laughter from the table. We stared at each other for only a moment; we then each returning to our conversations – neither speaking to each other for the rest of the night.
