Time for chapter two! Thanks so much for all the kind reviews, it really surprised me how many of you took the time to read/follow/review *hugs*
I'm very curious what you think of this!
2.
John had gone back to the room everyday for a week, but no one entered again. He didn't know anything about the cleaning schedule and he wasn't that interested. Somehow, he hoped to find that maid, Anna, again. Although they only had a short conversation, he had liked her presence. She had been honest and seemed smart. She had been polite too, but it had been nothing like the chats he had with Mr. Carson, his Butler, or Mrs. Hughes, the Housekeeper. It wasn't only a conversation about work. She seemed genuinely… interested. He hadn't spoken like that since Vera died. He almost hadn't spoken to anyone, really.
The day after their encounter, he had decided to take a walk into the village. He had been drawn to the local bookshop. There, he had found a copy of Jane Eyre, but it didn't look anything special. He talked to the shopkeeper and asked for a first print. The man had promised to make a few enquiries in London, the next week.
Now he had a small parcel in his hand, waiting for it's new owner, but she never came.
He didn't know what to do. He could place it in the bookcase for her to find one day, but he didn't like to think that this special book would sit in between the trashy novels his wife had collected. He wasn't sure she would find it, because he had told Anna it wasn't there.
After two weeks without seeing Anna, John decided it was time to take some action. In a nonchalant way, he asked Mrs. Hughes for the cleaning schedule of his late wife's sitting room.
"I just want to be sure I'm not disturbed while I'm there," he gave as an excuse, and Mrs. Hughes did not ask for more explaining. She was happy to inform him.
It was only a few days later when he entered the same room, while he knew Anna would be in there. She made herself ready to leave, when John started, "Please, remain where you are. Don't go running off. I have something for you."
She looked calm, and slightly surprised when he handed her the parcel.
"I don't understand, My Lord?"
"It's that book you were looking for. It's nothing special… I like to support my employees in their reading, " he told her. He started walking through the room, trying to act confident.
Anna opened the brown wrapping paper and sighed. Her soft white hands skimmed the books' cover. "It's beautiful,.. it's old," she said, and opened it to the first page.
"It's a first print?!" she gasped, and looked at John in astonishment.
"Yes, it is. I hope you will treasure it."
"But your Lordship, I can't take this. It's much too expensive. I wouldn't know were to keep it. I would be afraid to ruin it!" She tried to convince him, but remained calm in her tone of voice.
"Well, it is yours now, so that's up to you," he responded with a satisfactory smile.
"I do love it, but I can't take it to my room. The other maids will see it, and they are curious creatures. They will ask me how I got this into my possession. It's not something an ordinary housemaid owns and... I'm afraid…. someone will steal it."
She really looked quite upset when she mentioned the last part. John understood he shouldn't joke about her situation now.
"Why don't you keep it here? No one ever enters this room, except for you and me. You can come here after working hours or on your half day off,… if you like?"
He could see Anna liked the idea, but hesitated.
She spoke her mind then. "Mrs. Hughes told me you don't like to be disturbed while you're here. So I won't know when I can come…"
"I'm sorry. I needed an excuse to find out when you would come here to clean. I didn't tell her about the book. It might be best not to raise any questions. I hope you don't mind?"
"No, not at all My Lord. I'm very thankful and I can't wait to start reading." A smile spread across her face. "Thank you so much!" she added with all her heart and hugged the book to her bosom.
Then, Anna handed him the book and John placed it on the chaise lounge.
"Please feel free to sit here whenever you want, Anna," he smiled back at her, finding her eyes locked on his chest.
Only after a few silent seconds - that didn't feel uncomfortable at all - she turned to leave.
John remained in the room. Taken aback by his own sudden feelings, thoughts raced through his mind. He looked around the room to get some air, but couldn't stop picturing Anna in the chaise lounge with her new book. He thought about her blond hair, wrapped up in a bun, her black dress, without cap and apron, her feet up, her shoulders pressed against the back of the chair. Something stirred in his stomach. He only talked to her two times and only for a few minutes. He tried to stop his own mind from going even further, but the image of her eyes and the silkiness of her white skin haunted him for the next days.
Three evenings he checked the room, but found the book in the exact same place as he had left it. Somehow, he couldn't stand it, but he wanted to give her the time she needed. He imagined it wasn't easy to work all day and still have energy to read a book.
The fourth evening, he was luckier. The book had been moved. A bookmark was placed between the pages. He was glad she had started and left the room in peace that night. He didn't feel like visiting the next days. It was a busy time in the estate and he retired to bed early.
When he returned to the room once more, it was without thinking. It was past midnight and he wanted to stare out of the window, to see the ground in a moonlit glow. It was something he liked doing when there was a cloudless sky.
He knew immediately she was in the room. Candlelight flickered over the walls. She had put it on the little table next to the chair. It was not far from how he had imagined it. Only, she was fast asleep.
Without making a sound, he put another chair near her. He sat down and studied her for a few minutes. She looked very comfortable. One hand was draped over the book.
He was afraid she would wake up with a painful back if she stayed there all night, so he decided to wake her. Slowly, he lifted her hand and took the book from her lap. She started stirring.
"…Mr. Rochester…mmm…" she said in her dreams. John chuckled.
"Anna?" he said softly. He kneeled next to her and had to resist the urge to brush his fingers through her hair. He softly squeezed her hand.
"Anna, it's time to go to your room."
Slowly she opened her eyes, blinking against the light of the candle.
"Oh, Mr. Bates,…Sir…Sorry, I…." she stuttered. Again, he smiled at her sweetness while she sat up right.
"Don't apologize Anna. Now go up to your room and have a good night rest. You must be exhausted."
"I am your Lordship, but the book is so beautifully written. Tomorrow is my half day off, so I can take my rest then."
"I don't know about your plans, but take the book with you if you like," he suggested.
That idea made Anna smile. "I will, thank you."
He made to leave the room after that. "Goodnight Anna."
"Goodnight," he heard her say, when he closed the door. He waited for a second before walking to his room. John brushed his hand through his hair and sighed.
"John, watch what you're doing here. Leave the girl alone." He said to himself.
But he couldn't. He couldn't sleep and thought only of her pretty eyes and kind voice. Even when he woke her, she had been sweet to him. The one time he had woken Vera in the morning, she had thrown a pillow at him and there had been nothing but cursing and yelling.
He didn't want his mind to go there so soon, but he pictured Anna next to him - in his bed, waking up. Yawning and moaning softly when he would kiss her awake to make love. He didn't think he would feel like this, ever.
The young housemaid had entered his heart and soul.
I'll post chapter 3 on monday!