Fleeing England
Mrs. Celestine Awe and her daughter, Lady James Rochester gazed at the horizon. After some time at sea, they were relieved to see land. The breezes off the Caribbean Islands were already welcome after the gales from the North Atlantic. To Celestine, they were almost home to New York and thank God for that. For Caroline Rochester, it was an entirely different matter.
The three young Rochester children, Edward, David and Celine were running on the deck. Caroline looked at them fondly. Caroline did not care for the upper class British ways of hiring a nanny and a governess. James felt that Caroline neglected her duties to the Thornfield region's social obligations. With Caroline's money, they could certainly afford to have all the help they needed.
In the last few years, James really didn't seem to take notice of his wife's daily life at Thornfield. After the birth of little Celine, he avoided his wealthy American spouse and stayed in London. Caroline was left to maintain Thornfield. The furnishings and artwork stayed the same, just as James' parents had left it. Caroline even left the master bedroom that had belonged to Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester untouched and refurnished a massive front room for herself. Caroline's money did take care of the repairs and the damage the damp did to the plaster. She also installed modern conveniences such as plumbing in the kitchen and gaslight in the main room, a reproduction of the old minstrel gallery from the burned down Thornfield.
Richard Rochester and his wife occasionally made the thirty mile journey to Thornfield for tea or dinner. Helen Rochester married a younger son of the Eshton family. They emigrated to America, to homestead in the new state of Wisconsin to make their fortunes in land speculation and agriculture and the new railroads that were booming across the new land. Caroline was most circumspect and gracious to Richard Rochester as she knew he made many journeys to London and would give his brother any and all information about Thornfield.
Caroline's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Awe, were frequent visitors to Thornfield. They were growing more concerned about their daughter. Dwight was outraged at how the new titled son in law's spending habits. The initial wedding gift of cash was gone. He was glad that Caroline's inheritance was set up in a trust. The principal was in New York under control of a board of directors and was doled out in an annuity based on the interest alone. If James Rochester were able to get his hands on the principal, it would be gone in a year on clothes, trips to Paris and women.
Dwight and Celestine realized that they pushed their daughter into flirting with the titled. Upon first meeting James, they were charmed. James, Baron Rochester had wonderful manners, seemed educated, dressed well, and was so attentive and interested in their lives. James exhibited a fascination about America and asked intelligent questions. The family was invited to Thornfield, the family home, to be guests at the engagement party of James' sister Helen. At the party, the Awes met James' brother Richard Rochester. Of course, Richard's fame as a naturalist and author preceded him. Richard's first book about Africa was on the center table in the ladies' drawing room in the Fifth Avenue Mansion.
Celestine did not grow up poor for nothing. Her shrewd eyes saw that James' expensive cravat was a little frayed. She observed the worn spots on the carpets, stains on the plaster, and noticed that the servants at the party did not know what to do. This was because they were hired for the occasion of the engagement. Otherwise, the house was sparsely staffed. The grand old family seat of Thornfield was putting up a brave front and the Rochester family could no longer afford its upkeep.
The brother Richard and the sister Helen were also quiet on the subject of their eldest brother. Privately, Celestine Awe wished that it was the careful Richard Rochester who was available to marry Caroline. Alas, Richard was already married, and to a local gentry family who had been friends with the Rochesters time out of mind. Richard and his wife had a toddler son and a second baby on the way.
It was painfully clear that Baron James Rochester was courting Miss Caroline for money, period. Celestine wanted a brilliant marriage for her daughter. Caroline, remembering her own father, recognized a drunk when she saw one. And, in her opinion, James Rochester was a drunkard.
At first, Dwight Awe was not as apprehensive as his wife. The name "Rochester" was an ancient name. His daughter would become Lady James Rochester and Baroness Rochester. Every young man had to sow wild oats. Surely, with Caroline's money and children in the house James would settle into being the Lord of the Manor and a decent husband. Thornfield II was a fine house.
Caroline, being only seventeen years old, was besotted with James. His elegant manners, his name and his attentive courtship overwhelmed. When her mother attempted to talk to her daughter, Caroline flounced out of the room. This was the first time she defied her mother in anything. What with Dwight being so enthusiastic and Caroline in love, a brilliant marriage took place in the ancient church that stood outside the gates of Thornfield.
That was ten years ago. Caroline never saw James more than twice a year. She had done her duty as a brood mare to the Rochesters-an heir, a spare and a daughter to present in London. A child every three years. James made it painfully clear that he was no longer inclined to co-habitate with "The American". At parties, he mocked her New York accent, and when drunk, would tell tales of a wife who insisted upon nursing her own children.
Caroline retained her tall slender form. Her hair was still the brilliant red and her eyes were bright blue. To all, she was a fine looking woman. Caroline watched over the Thornfield estates and saw that all, servants and tenants, were treated fairly. Even the gentry that she was obliged to socialize with admitted that "The American", Lady Rochester, was a well educated woman, a good mother and combined a shrewd business head with a good heart to make Thornfield prosper. As the gossip floated in from London, the local people, gentry and villagers alike began to pity Caroline and her children. "How old Edward would have hated this" they whispered. And, a few even mentioned that his widow, now Mrs. Jane Rivers, would be scandalized.
When little Celine was about three years old, Celestine Awe swept into Thornfield. Dwight Awe had communications from his London offices about his titled son in law that was not good news. Celestine had information from her social circles about James Rochester that was also disturbing. The letters from their daughter were always correct, full of news about the children, the parties, the business of running the estate. Celestine looked between the lines. Her daughter never had anything to say about James Rochester.
Until Caroline could not bear it any longer. An alarming message to her parents through a trusted friend in the American Embassy.
The practical Celestine Awe took one look at her daughter, the children and proposed a trip to America. James had not been home for months. The bills for his London house were mounting. Dwight Awe was angry, but he also knew that Caroline needed to be removed quietly. Then, he would act. In the meantime, he paid James' debts, paid the staff their salary at Thornfield and arranged to have his daughter brought to America.
The reason was given out that the grandparents wanted to have the children visit for the summer. The Awe family had a mansion east of New York City on the ocean. The children could spend a summer by the sea. Caroline was ready to argue that the Rochester children spent their winters on the Island of Minorca. James did not even notice that they were leaving. Caroline and her mother assumed a relaxed air. They did not want any rumor of panic to reach James in London. Caroline did not trust Richard Rochester, either.
They were really fleeing England.
It was when they were in Southhampton that Caroline asked her mother to book a passage to Jamaica. It was time, she said, that the mysterious grandmother in Spanish Town saw her grandchildren. Caroline also wanted to meet Jane Eyre/Rochester/Rivers.
Celestine broke into a pleased smile. It was time to find out the truth. The passage to Kingston Harbor was booked.