*-Of course I don't own any of these characters, except for Cedric Hargrove. The rest are all mine.
*-Reviews are always welcome.
Chapter 2- Jane
It has been just under a year since I had left Thornfield, my heart broken beyond repair. I still loved him, I would always love him. But I could not trust him, who knows what else he has not disclosed?
I did not want to leave Thornfield. For the first time in my life, I was respected and appreciated, not demeaned or abused. And I was loved by a man who I thought only existed in fairy tales, not in the life of a penniless and plain orphan.
It hurt to leave; they had become the family I had always wanted. But I needed to leave; I could not live with a man I loved, knowing that we could not go on as we were, pretending that he was not already married. So I left, and even though my body was at Moorhouse, my heart was at Thornfield.
I don't know how I did it, but somehow, I survived. Perhaps it was the kindness of Mr. Rivers and his sisters. They treated me, a total stranger, as if I was family. When I was offered the possibility of teaching, I jumped at the chance. I knew that by making myself useful would help me to move on. At the time, I didn't know that would include my introduction to Cedric Hargrove.
"Mr. Hargrove, it has been months since you visited us, we have been wondering where you have been?" Diana smiled warmly as he kissed her hand.
"I have been busy, Miss Rivers, but for you, I would take a rest from my work".
"Diana has been enchanted with Mr. Hargrove since last Christmas" Mary explained quietly to me.
"Is he as enchanted with her as she is with him?".
"I don't think it is quite as mutual as Diana would wish, but perhaps it maybe one day. Mr. Hargrove is quite the catch, there have been many young women in the area that would be happy for his attention, but he seems to be uncatchable. You see, Mr. Hargrove's uncle is one of the most affluent men in the county, but he is always travels to do business for uncle, never staying long enough for any young lady to catch his attention".
"Miss Rivers, your brother told me you had a visitor" Cedric's attention turned to Jane and Mary.
"Mr. Hargrove, this is our cousin, Jane Eyre. Jane this is Mr. Hargrove".
"I didn't know that you had any family besides your brother and sister".
"It was recent discovery for everyone".
"Well then, Miss Eyre, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance and I do hope that I will have the pleasure of your company beyond this evening".
That was just the first evening. Cedric and I have spent many evenings together since then. I thought Diana would be upset, but her heart has already settled elsewhere, with a Mr. Putnam. He is not Edward, but he understands and respects me, without demands that I alter who I am. He has even proposed marriage. I told him I would consider his offer.
"Jane, take a walk with me this evening" Cedric pleaded with me as I cleaned up from my students. I knew why he wanted to walk with me; I wasn't ready to give him an answer.
"Cedric, I must clean up, I cannot leave this mess behind for tomorrow".
"Are you still unsure about your decision? Jane, I am not him, I will not lie to you about my past".
"You know nothing of Edward" for a moment my eyes flashed "I am sorry, Cedric, but I must clean up, I will see you tomorrow night".
"Until then, my darling" he kissed me before he walked out.
An hour later, I had just finished cleaning, when I heard a set of footsteps.
"Cedric, I told you, I had to finish…" I was about to turn around when a string a pearls was wrapped around my neck. I closed my eyes, feeling his fingertips on my neck.
"I am sorry, fairy, that I hurt you, I never meant to hurt you" he whispered, his breath tickling my neck.
"Why have you come here?" I asked, holding myself back. Part of me wanted to welcome his embrace; another part of me wanted him to disappear.
"For you, Janet, we all miss you. Adele keeps asking when you will be coming back to us, old dame Fairfax has been a little down since you left".
"How is Mrs. Rochester?" I asked.
"Bertha is gone, she started a fire intending to kill me, she only killed herself in the process".
"You think I will come back to you?" I asked, feeling hot tears dotting the edge of my eyelashes.
"We were meant for each other".
"Were you the one who has sent the flowers?" I asked.
Earlier this afternoon, as I sent the girls off to lunch, one of them returned with flowers in her hand.
"For you, Miss Elliot, from the gentleman" she handed me the bouquet.
"What gentleman?" I asked, peering at the empty road.
"I don't know" she replied. I sent her back to her classmates, but still I wondered who they were from.
"Yes".
I was grateful for the sudden knock on the door.
"Jane, are you in there?" Sinjun asked.
"Yes, come in" I replied, separating myself from Edward.
"Jane, Mary and Diana wanted me to escort you back to Moorhouse tonight, they were concerned about you being alone tonight with the storm coming" The thunder was heard in the distance.
"Oh yes, give me a moment to gather my things".
While I gathered my belongings, I heard the conversation between Edward and Sinjun.
"Sinjun Rivers, Miss Eyre is my cousin".
"Oh yes, I discovered that when I was looking for her. I am Edward Rochester; Miss Eyre was employed as the governess for my ward".
"We know much about you. Jane has been quite thorough of her description of experience".
"Has she now?" Edward asked. I heard the change in his voice and I knew I had to alter the course of the conversation.
"Sinjun, if you don't mind" I walked out, carrying the small satchel.
"Of course" I accepted his arm, leaving Edward standing there. I knew I had to, for my own heart; I could not love him again, not as I did before.