A/N: Thank you for all of the reviews! I am trying to stick to Bronte's
writing style, so I know it seems long and boring right now, but it will
improve as the plot thickens!
Chapter 4: Unexpected Help
I sat still for an entire minute- a minute that felt like a lifetime- when suddenly, St. John spoke up.
"My dearest Jane received word that she had inherited a fortune, and also received word of the whereabouts of her closest relatives. Of course, she made haste to Morton to make our acquaintance, and to divide her fortune amongst us," he explained eloquently, with a smile on his face.
Nathaniel looked to me, and I dumbly nodded my confirmation. Never had I been so astounded in all of my life, but I hurried to add, "Yes, that is true. I was invited to stay at the Rivers' house and grew very close to my cousins. When I heard about St. John's upcoming missionary work, I was very interested. When he proposed that I accompany him as his wife, I happily accepted." I smiled and I could feel my face flush with gratefulness for St. John and his quick thinking. What Nathaniel took this as, I cannot venture to say, but he smiled knowingly and did not question me further.
A few minutes later, the ship began to rock from side to side. I felt my stomach jump inside me and I could tell by the look on my husband's face that his stomach was behaving in the same way. His face turned a pale green as we stood, quickly excused ourselves and made our way back to our small cabin. I wanted nothing more than to lie quietly on the bed and hope the feeling went away, but that proved to be impossible by the noise St. John was making as he retched into the chamber pot. I sighed, resigning myself to an unpleasant and sleepless night. I felt no inclination to tend to poor St. John, and luckily, my slight illness seemed to excuse me from this wifely duty, though it was not my illness that disinclined me.
The next morning, there was a knock at our door. I scrambled to make myself look halfway presentable and called out, "Who is it?"
A soft voice answered, "It is Nathaniel. How are the Rivers' feeling this fine morning?"
I glanced at St. John, who had finally passed out, and then replied, "I am still a little queasy, and I fear St. John will not be well for some time."
"You must join us for lunch, Jane," Nathaniel said. "The fresh air will do you good."
I smiled, though I was doubtful as to how much good the air would do. "I have to get some sleep now, perhaps I will see you later," was my only response. There was a pause, then the sound of footsteps softly retreating.
Chapter 4: Unexpected Help
I sat still for an entire minute- a minute that felt like a lifetime- when suddenly, St. John spoke up.
"My dearest Jane received word that she had inherited a fortune, and also received word of the whereabouts of her closest relatives. Of course, she made haste to Morton to make our acquaintance, and to divide her fortune amongst us," he explained eloquently, with a smile on his face.
Nathaniel looked to me, and I dumbly nodded my confirmation. Never had I been so astounded in all of my life, but I hurried to add, "Yes, that is true. I was invited to stay at the Rivers' house and grew very close to my cousins. When I heard about St. John's upcoming missionary work, I was very interested. When he proposed that I accompany him as his wife, I happily accepted." I smiled and I could feel my face flush with gratefulness for St. John and his quick thinking. What Nathaniel took this as, I cannot venture to say, but he smiled knowingly and did not question me further.
A few minutes later, the ship began to rock from side to side. I felt my stomach jump inside me and I could tell by the look on my husband's face that his stomach was behaving in the same way. His face turned a pale green as we stood, quickly excused ourselves and made our way back to our small cabin. I wanted nothing more than to lie quietly on the bed and hope the feeling went away, but that proved to be impossible by the noise St. John was making as he retched into the chamber pot. I sighed, resigning myself to an unpleasant and sleepless night. I felt no inclination to tend to poor St. John, and luckily, my slight illness seemed to excuse me from this wifely duty, though it was not my illness that disinclined me.
The next morning, there was a knock at our door. I scrambled to make myself look halfway presentable and called out, "Who is it?"
A soft voice answered, "It is Nathaniel. How are the Rivers' feeling this fine morning?"
I glanced at St. John, who had finally passed out, and then replied, "I am still a little queasy, and I fear St. John will not be well for some time."
"You must join us for lunch, Jane," Nathaniel said. "The fresh air will do you good."
I smiled, though I was doubtful as to how much good the air would do. "I have to get some sleep now, perhaps I will see you later," was my only response. There was a pause, then the sound of footsteps softly retreating.