The whole day passed quickly, yet it seemed as if the clock had only moved five minutes each time she glanced at it. Adele was in no mood to sit and fuss about her hair, preferring to spend all her time twirling in her dress or arguing,
"But I am old enough to wear ze makeup!"
"I already said you could wear lip gloss," Jane replied, her voice edgy. Sophie watched with a frown from across the room. "I don't want to hear any more about it."
The topic came up roughly thirty minutes later when Adele was sure Jane had forgotten her ruling. After several rounds of the banter, Jane gave into letting the child wear a little eye shadow with her lip gloss in exchange for letting Sophie style her hair.
It was worth the compromise.
Hopefully Mr. Rochester would agree.
When the time came for Jane to retreat back upstairs to get ready herself, she felt exhausted. Carefully going through the boxes, Jane eyed the dark, dusty rose dress that lingered in the shadows of its tissue paper. The gold caught her eye as she moved about her room, the curling iron she had borrowed from Sophie heating up on the bathroom counter, while the gold dress hung on the back of the bathroom door like a beacon of rebellion.
Long sheer sleeves covered in golden beads came up to the shoulders of the dress before dropping down to a low v; all covered in the same pattern fabric. At the waist a creamy gold fabric hung down, blowing gently when she moved past it.
It was simply, compared to the red one, and elegant. It suited her tastes far better than the red one could.
I should know, she thought bitterly, I designed it.
Turning to the mirror, Jane picked up the curling iron and bit her bottom lip. She wasn't big on fancy hair and makeup, but this – this one night; she had been looking forward to this opera since she was a teenager. Singing along to the songs on YouTube in school, and dreaming that one day she could afford to see it.
She wanted to look her best.
[4:40pm]
I'm at your door. I brought a colour that will make your lips simply pop.
[4:41pm]
It's not like I know anything about lipstick. I called my ma and asked her what she could do. BTW she agrees with me. The gold dress is much better. XD
Smiling as her phone vibrated, Jane finished zipping up the gold dress and slipping on a matching pair of heels. Throwing her phone into a matching clutch, Jane headed for Thomas and the promise of matching lipstick.
Holding her breath, she poked her head out the door and made sure her employer was nowhere to be seen. He was going to see her anyway, but she really didn't feel like being teased dramatically before going out to eat.
When satisfied, Jane stepped out and jogged over to the door, feeling her hair bounce on behind her. Stepping back as the door swung back, she smiled and let the air out of her lungs.
"I'm so glad you're here, I'm totally hopeless at this stuff."
Thomas, who smiled at her gently, held out a small tube. "This is you being hopeless?"
Jane tilted her head to the side and rolled her eyes, reaching for the tube. "Ha-ha. Funny."
"Jane Eyre, the only woman in the world who has never purchased lipstick," Thomas mused, chuckling, tossing the tube to her. "There are worse things, Jane."
"You obviously haven't spent much time in the company of my employer's friends," she muttered, ripping off the plastic. "Want to come in for a minute?"
"I don't think it's safe for my health," he chuckled, smiling broadly. "You look very pretty Jane, but you don't need makeup. It hides your freckles."
Looking up at him from under her lashes, she squinted at him. "Aren't you supposed to say how it bring out my eyes or something?"
"Probably," Thomas nodded, "But then there will be nothing for your employer to say."
Glaring at him, Jane opened her mouth to reply when he turned and started walking toward the elevator.
"Have a good night Jane!"
"Thanks," she replied, finding it hard to be mad at him. "And thanks for the lipstick."
"Don't mention it!"
Stepping back into the apartment, shutting the door behind her, Jane tossed the plastic into the garbage and jogging back into her quarters. The lipstick was a dark plum colour, which surprised her, but somehow she agreed with Thomas' choice.
It brought out the hues of dark gold in the beads of the dress.
Looking at her long curls, which she had slaved over, the light pink and brown eye shadow highlighting her eyes, mascara on her eyelashes, the hint of pink on her cheeks, and the dark plum colour on her lips; Jane Eyre didn't look or feel like Jane Eyre at all.
It's too late now to straighten my hair, she thought in a panic – her thoughts turning to Blanche and how elegant she would look.
A loud rap on the door made her jump, and she put her hand to her chest and felt her heart racing.
I can't go out looking like this, she thought as his voice came through.
"Jane, are you ready?"
Opening her eyes, she felt her anxiety rising.
"Jane?"
"Coming."
Throwing the lipstick in her purse, she quickly brushed out her curls out; giving her a softer, more unearthly look – quite unintendedly.
Opening the door, Jane grasped her clutch as if it was her only lifeline, meeting his gaze steadily. "Ready."
His face revealed nothing, if he was impressed with how the gown fit her; he didn't show it. He offered her his arm, and she took it hesitantly, walking her to the door.
"Ah, wait," he said softly, returning to his room for a moment and appearing with a white coat over his arm. "I can't have you catching cold now, can I?"
"Do you have one for Adele as well?" she asked, watching him closely for any hint of emotion.
"I had it sent down earlier," he replied as he opened the door, eyeing her quickly. "I saw that you two decided on wearing matching eyeshadow. A little young to be turning her into her mother, don't you think?"
Taken aback, Jane felt the words leave her mouth before she had a chance to stop them. "I thought it was men that made whores of women, not the other way around." She felt the blush creep over her face and she felt suddenly ashamed – but was unwilling to justify her defense of unkind remark.
"Quite so," he said softly. "I'm sorry Jane, I should have said something so unkind when you were only trying to make it fun for her."
"Why say it all?" she asked, stepping out into the hall. "Never mind, sir, don't answer that. Just tell her how pretty she looks. Her dress matches your tie, and she is so happy to go with you. She loves you so."
He chuckled, though it sounded to Jane more like a growl, as they walked toward the elevator. "Is she the only one, Jane?"
"I am sure Blanche does as well," Jane said softly, keeping her eyes ahead. "Where is dinner tonight?"
"Ah," Mr. Rochester murmured, hitting the down button, before holding up the jacket for her to slip on. "That is a surprise, for my lovely one."
She mouthed her response and stepped inside the doors when they opened, finding the air stiff between them as it lurched downwards. "When does the show start?"
"We are catching the 8pm show, I believe. My box has been reserved, and then the cars will bring us back here. Oh, and there has been a change in the plans. I must remain in London for an extra day, you will bring Adele back with my lovely one tomorrow morning." He instructed her, facing forward the entire time.
"Yes sir, of course."
"Oh Jane," he sighed, leaning back against the elevator doors. "We are friends, aren't we?"
"I think we have already established that, haven't we?"
"Yes," he smiled, glancing over at her, "We have. I just wish you wouldn't call me sir. It makes me feel like an old man."
"You are an old man," she teased, smiling, "One of the benefits of hot yoga is to stall the aging process, isn't it?"
She thought she detected a hint of red on his cheeks as the elevator doors opened and Blanche appeared.
"Darling," Blanche cooed, followed by her family and friends. "You look good enough to eat."
Mr. Rochester chuckled, but didn't say anything as she wrapped her arms around him. "Oh, I thought you were going to were the red tie."
"I must have left it at the estate." He replied easily with a shrug, as Blanche was saying how she'd manage with the colour.
She felt her mouth go dry as she saw the colour, forcing her eyes to face forward to prevent her face from giving way what would be obvious on her features.
He was wearing a gold tie that was the exact same shade as her dress.
How could I not even notice his tie, she wondered, chancing a glance back. Jane felt foolish as she found him to be watching Blanche with a warm expression that made her stomach turn sour.
How could I be so foolish.