'I felt he had not given her his love , and that her qualifications were ill adapted to win from him that treasure.' ~ Jane Eyre about Blanche Ingram.

This takes place a few years since the end of the novel.

Blanche Ingram - The Heart of stone Part I

Almost a year later, preceeding the events that brought Mrs Fairfax and the Rochesters together, Blanchè Ingram sat in the pleasant morning room of her London home on the fashionable Hanover square. The fire was blazing in the corner, the sun shining through the large windows and she couldn't help congratulating herself on her most excellent situation. Married on a whim to a gentleman of Parliament, there was nothing eminently out of the norm in her life. Contented, as she was married to a man of wealth and virtues, she seemingly had no further wants or desires other than to have a child, a little boy in particular. It was important to secure the future lineage of the Daubeny family and estates, she knew this would happen; it was just part of being a lady to an influential gentleman. A warming feeling came over her as it did of late in the mornings, she was pregnant, and of course, she felt the pride of most mothers at this stage of her pregnancy.

A maid came in with the newspaper, post and various magazine subscriptions. She instructed the maid coldly, to place it on the desk that was near the window; Blanchè had not endeavoured to speak with the maid further and so she dismissed her. Politely, the maid curtsied and left the room, leaving her mistress to her morning's idle reading as was her custom these days.

Walking over to the window, she sat at the desk facing the morning sun that was coming through. Reclining back onto the newly upholsted high backed chair (a chair she prided herself for selecting in good taste) Blanchè started with the newspaper deciding to defer reading her correspondance. Especting to read woeful tales of tragedy and the raptures of politics, a particular headline caught her eye in the familiarity of the name.

MR AND MRS ROCHESTER CHARITABLE TO GIRL'S SCHOOL.

Reading the familiar name in the headline prompted Blanchè to read on. The name Rochester had a particularly negative memory associated with it. Having been detered from a potential match with the afore said Mr Rochester on grounds of wealth, Blanchè had not heard from or of Mr Rochester since she rejected his advances. Blanchè's opinion of Mr Rochester since the time they had last met, had certainly not changed. She still found Mr Rochester unworthy both as a potential marriage partner and an acquaintance and so she had not taken any pains to correspond with an 'old friend'.

An intriguing article it appeared to be. For Blanchè was astonised at the woman who was in the picture with Rochester. She did not recognise her immediately, as her appearence she believed was one easily forgotten. But then, having thought about her time at Thornfield, she realised who that person was. It was that governess who was always in Rochester's drawing room, looking after his French ward who appeared in their company on a number of occasions. Adele her name was; Blanchè silently recalled as she stared at the black and white sketch underneath the headline. Of course, Blanchè had not bothered to learn or know that goveness' name. As her mother said, a goveness was a nobody and, to her liking this person would be a nobody and therefore beneath her notice.

The caption at the bottom of the picture stated:

Mr and Mrs Edward Rochester at their familly home in Fearndean -shire.

From the image, there didn't appear to be anything amiss. Blanchè was of course slightly taken-aback at the prospect of Rochester's marriage, but she remained indifferent as she knew about his depleated fortunes.

Bored with the picture now she started on the first paragraph. A single figure of three thousand pounds confounded her veiw on Rochester. She remembered how his fortunes were not as plentiful as he had first stated and yet he was being charitable with his money? This was confounding indeed and she pleased herself with the veiw that the newspaper exadurated and perhaps he had not given as much as it had stated.

Continuing to scan the text, she sought out the name of the institution that benifited from Rochester's patronage and she found out where the retched place was. However, the fact which caught her eye was the apparent reason as to why the Rochesters were charitably giving aid to a school that in Blanchè's opinion they had no connection to. The section continued to tell Mrs Rochester's story which gave Blanché no further comfort in her situation. This particular section was vexing as when she deliberated on a timeline of that year that she was in his company. Rochester, no doubt, was in pursuit of that goveness even when she appeared to have similar pursuits towards Rochester himself. Now, this had explained why that goveness was so frequently in his company, the mere presence of that person during her stay at Thornfield was detestable and now it appeared she had become Mrs Rochester.

Mortifying as it was to Blanchè, she continued reading. The matter was getting more and more intriguing by the word, and she was not going to stop reading now.

It was made apparent to her that the newly fashioned Mrs Rochester, through her charitable work for her cousin, had previously taught at this school voluntarily. Through her newly founded position in society, she had set about helping these impoverished girls, giving them the chance in life that she apparently had not been so fortunate with.

Somehow, Blanchè felt quite threatened by the likes of the newly fashioned Mrs Rochester. It became apparent that the new Mrs Rochester was like minded with many others that had encoraged a radical and liberal veiw on poverty. This topic was one that Blanchè had not given any thought. She did not believe it was necessary, her fortune and class shielding her from any potential threat of destitution. Her mother had instilled thoughts in her that the poor should look after themselves, the rich would look after themselves. Even though she had been ignorant as to the conditions the poor were living under, this article's perpectives on the school's conditions before the Rochesters had intervened did not move her. Nevertheless, she was not impressed by the Rochester's decision to give financial aid to a poor institution.

Though, she miss-understood Mr Rochester, Edward's, notion in helping an impoverised school. Blanchè reached the end of the article and she had one thought on the subject, that it was a show of Rochester's wealth. She now realised her mistake in believing Edward's wealth as less that boasted. A generous and charitable offer that was given to the institution by Mr Rochester led her to believe that perhaps his wealth had been wrongly devalued and perhaps she was wrong in her estimation of him. Coupled by the article's brief overview on the family's standing and wealth, she could not believe the statement that was previously made to her on the grounds that if Rochester were truely dimished in wealth, how could he finance this and why was the article quite positive in promoting his wealth?

However, Blanchè thought about his marriage to that goveness. Out of all the young and eligible young and rich ladies he could have taken as his bride he took a nobody. It appeared to Blanchè that he married someone who just wished to do good and was overtly charitable in her eyes. To her, this was detestable and entirely improper for a lady that had the coverted position as Mrs Rochester. Jealousy was an emotion she felt most sorely, Blanchè thought she would make a better suited Mrs Rochester.

Blanchè had ill judged Mrs Jane Rochester. She hated that goveness who had succeeded where she has not in becoming the hugely influential Mrs Rochester. She dispised her then and she dispised her now. At the time, she was glad her dalliance with Edward had not beome something more, but now, knowing what she had known from the newspaper she had deeply regretted her actions. Blanchè, at the time of that dalliance with Edward, had been out for at least three seasons. Despite this, she had to admit during this time, her marriage prospects were dewindling so a marriage into the Rochester family would have been encouraged. Especially now as she found the Rochester estate was prosperous, and of course the main reason of this charitable act was a sharing of wealth to look well in society. She shallowly could not think of any other motive Mr Rochester had in this charitable act.

Blanchè remained thoughtful for a while. Conflicting feelings confused her, but yet she remembered her situation now was happy and fortuious. Mr Daubeny MP, an older gentleman of fifty, proved an adequate partener albeit without the character of Rochester. Though, during that time her third season out and counting, Blanchè had thought to get her priorities straight. So it apeared to be an excellent alliance for the Ingram familly, to have a politian in the family in light of the inadequacy of Rochester's resources.

Not shifting her position, Blanchè came out of her thoughts as she looked though the various invites and entertainments for the ensuing week. She could not help but ponder on the fact that if she had marired Rochester, would she still be admired in London society? Would it have been the same as Mrs Rochester? Arguably, not. She thought. Mrs Rochester was not spoken of in town and from what she experienced at Thornfield, the new Mrs Rochester was shy and lacked confidence in company, akin to many govenesses that she had, only this goveness was more artful in ensnaring Mr Rochester and maybe conpromising him into marriage. As Mrs Daubeny, she was not spoken of or to by many prominent people, even though Mr Daubeny was an emminent member of the Tory party, she belived her position as Mrs Rochester would have been a far greater esteemed one due to the name of 'Rochester' being so imfamous and well esteemed in society.

Perhaps, with the name of Rochester, she may have enjoyed such sucsesses that she craved now. This thought remained with her for the entire day, constantly reminding her of how unsuccessful she was. She bore a grudge towards that goveness then and also now. More so now in referring to that lady's happy situation. Of course, Blanchè thought, that goveness didn't deserve it.

That was Blanchè finding out about the Rochester's marriage, definitely a bitter and unhappy character. Let me know what you think and review, it would be much appreciated.

Stay tuned for next week for part 2.