Hello all my lovlies.

I am so sorry this chapter has taken so long to publish. I have had a lot of life changes recently and my goodness I've been busy. That said, I've been thinking about this story and constantly musing on what's coming next.

I hope you all are doing so, so well. Please let me know how you are and what you think of this chapter!

All the very best,

xoxo

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By eleven the next morning, all of the Rochester children were up, dressed, and had eaten their breakfast. It was much later than usual, but given the previous day, there was little mind payed to it. They had all been very excited to see their father who wasn't home when they had arrived at the house, and even with all the guilt Edward was feeling, he could not help but soften at their reponse to seeing him after spending a week apart. They had run into his arms and all at the same time began sharing their thoughts about London, and the house they were residing in, the rainy carriage ride there, and how they had all slept in the same bed.

"Daddy?" Henry eventually asked, his tone becoming more serious "Did you know that mommy fell?"

He was looking up at her, taking note of her split lip and bruised cheek with the kind of innocent acceptance of her story that only a child could have. Edward had looked to his wife who smiled gently at him.

"Yes, Henry. Your mother told me what happened"

"She hurt herself" James lamented, but as he walked over to her she scooped him up in her arms and rubbed his back.

"Well, I feel much better today" she reassured him, and Edward realised that perhaps she was telling the truth, or as much of the truth as she could share, because she hated lying so much. The thought of such sent a rush of love through him.

On a regular morning, Jane wouldn't have allowed their children to roam so freely, nor be such a disruption to the staff who, despite her voiced concerns, said they were absolutely no trouble and brought a wonderful new energy into the home. But that morning Edward had things to discuss with his wife, details of her attack which she had not shared the night before but that were important, and so the children had more free time than they were used to.

As Jane and Edward sat together at the breakfast table finishing their morning tea, their children in the sitting room across the hall with the limited toys they had been allowed to bring, when Eshton arrived unaccounced from next door.

"Hello children!" he called in surprise, hearing them first and then seeing them as he stuck his head into the sitting room, "Rochester, I didn't know that your family-"

But he stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of Jane sitting at the table, no longer because she was there unexpectantly, but because of how she looked. The bruise under her eye had darkened overnight and the cut on her lip was more pronounced as it began to heal, and although she had tried her best to soothe the redness, her efforts had been mostly in vain.

"Jane" he said lowly and seriously, looking between her and his best friend, "What's happened!?"

"Jane was attacked" Edward explained, "A man came into the house looking for jewlery and was waiting for her in our room"

But Eshton looked like he did not know what to say. He only lingered in he doorway with his mouth parted, not able to speak.

"Christ. Well what is being done about it? Where is the man now?"

"I wanted to speak to you about that" Edward said meaningfully, but Jane shook her head, turning to Eshton.

"The man was taken away to the local station and as you can see I am well enough. Surely the police will see to his arrest?"

"Yes, but I have to make sure of that" Edward said firmly before turning looking back to his friend "As you can imagine, I am not eager to leave my wife again-"

"Leave it to me" Eshton said at once, "I will handle it"

"What exactly do you mean to do?" Jane interjected, watching as Mr Eshton now moved into the room in order to make himself comfortable at the table.

"I do not want you worrying about this, love" Edward explained, "Like any criminal he must atone for his crimes, but I will ensure this particular crime is answered to"

She opened her mouth to reply, but Eshton spoke first.

"It will not be an inconvience, Jane, nor is it outside of my normal duties as magistrate to investigate this criminal. Obviously I wish to see this man punished for his crime because of our friendship, but I have a duty to see that this man is punished so that this does not happen to anyone else. That is what I will be handling, and it is routine as far as my normal duties are concerned".

"Oh, I see" Jane said thoughtfully, but before she could say more Glenn rounded the corner, bowing swiftly to Mr Rochester,

"Sir, I was wondering if I might discuss with you the matters of which we spoke yesterday? Though I do not wish to disturb your company..."

"Nor I" Edward said, standing up, "Jane, darling, can I leave you with Mr Eshton for a little while?"

"Of course" she assured him, and in looking up at him he had a clear view of her battered-looking, but beautiful face. He rubbed her shoulder gently before departing, closely followed by Glenn who immediately began speaking of repaired carriages, and horses, and the house staff left behind by Eshton's unce and how they would interact with the Rochester's staff once they arrived. In spite of his enthusium, Edward wasn't fully listening.

"Glenn" he said, eventually turning on him, "I'm sorry, but I have a rather pressing matter to see to. Could we discuss these arrangemens later?"

"Of course sir, of course. You can come and find me at any time".

"I appreciate it. Thank you".

But instead of returning to the dining room, Edward climbed the stairs to the first landing where the only door led to the room his oldest daughter was occupying. He reached forward and knocked, and a moment later he heard a call for him to enter, so he turned the knob and stepped through the threshold. She had been sitting at a writing desk with a pen in her hand, but in turning to see who had come into her room her face lit up at once.

"Hello father"

"Hello, sweetheart. Might I sit?"

"Of course"

He drew a chair from the corner of the bedroom and placed it before Adele, noting that it's age had compromised it's structual integrity.

"Do be careful" she warned, "I'm not sure that chair has had an adult in it for some time"

"Noted"

When he reajusted and looked up at her, he could see that she already watching him, curious what he might say.

"Adele, I wanted to come and thank you for all you did for your mother yesterday. You must know how grateful I am that you were there to be a support to her when I could not be. And I know you helped steady her, and helped prepare all the other children for the journey".

"Oh, but of course" she said quickly, "It was all so horrifying, mother being attacked in the way she was. I wanted to help, but in truth I am not sure she allowed me to as much as I could have".

"What do you mean?"

"Father" she began, her face darkening, "I was not there to see it, but I was told after by Jenny, in a moment of her own shock, that mother fought that man off all by herself. As bruised and battered as she appears to be, she left a mark on that man too. I saw him as he was dragged down the hall. The other children were still sitting at the table so they saw nothing, but I heard all the noise and so I stepped into the hallway. I believe mother must have broken his nose, for it was spewing blood everywhere".

Edward felt a swelling of pride inside himself, and in spite of himself.

"But she never let on as much" Adele continued, "Or, at least, she did not talk of the incident as if it was anything at all. If it had been me, I am not sure anyone could have stopped me from talking about it. But I am worried for her, she seemed so...composed. I think something must be very wrong"

"Your mother would not want you to worry about her, that is all", he eased her at once.

"But I do worry"

Edward smiled knowingly.

"Jane is the strongest person I know, Adele. She is exceptionally strong. But she has always known when not to be strong with me. Can you understand such?"

She nodded,

"Then, please, do not worry. I will take care of your mother"

"Very well".

He rubbed her arm before straightening up in the chair.

"But are you left frightened by yesterdays incident? It would be quite understandable if you were".

She looked up at the ceiling, thinking.

"At first I did not know what to think, so I asked mother if she felt unsafe in our home, and if that was the reason we were leaving so suddenly, but she told me no, that one bad man with bad intentions did not make a place unsafe. I have thought a lot about that since. I think she must be right. One man must not make us fearful of our home"

"Your mother is right. The truth of it is that bad people and bad things are everywhere, and if one was to fear them all, one would never feel safe in their lives again. But I promise you this, Adele. I will get to the bottom of how that man entered the house and I will prevent it from ever happening again. You need never feel unsafe in your home again".

"Oh, I know that" she said quickly, and the absolute conviction in her voice warmed some of the icy and hardened shame which sat in Edward's throat at having let this happen in the first place,

"On the ride here I told mother how furious you would be, and I know I am right. I know you are furious, for if you had been there I know you would have prevented anything bad from happening" but she stopped herself quickly, looking regreful as she continued "But I do not mean to imply, father, that this was your fault because you were not there"

Edward smiled weakly,

"I think we both know that is not true, Adele. But promising that nothing of this sort will ever happen again is the best I can do now. That, and see that the man who attacked your mother never walks free upon this earth again".

"How will you see to such?"

"Mr Eshton is traveling back home today to go to the prison and speak with officers there about arranging the criminal's hearing. Once that is done, I will become involved in his conviction".

"Will such be dangerous?"

"Only to the man who attacked your mother"

Leaning back in the chair he had drawn up, Edward looked around the room they were currently occupying. He had not been very concerned with it when he had first arrived, but now he was able to see that it, like the rest of the house, had the air of being reglected yet recently made clean and habitable. He had noticed upon arrivial that this room in particular had clearly not been used in quite some time, and it had not been a nursury in many, many years, but now it made a pleasant enough room. The focal point of the space was the large four poster bed which was made of a dark mahogany and which rested against the middle of the back wall, lined on either side with shelves with a rather odd assortment of old children's books and toys. The only window in the space along the side wall had a rather spectacular view of the trees behind the house, especially from the desk Adele was currently sitting at. Apart from this, there was only a large wardrobe which over-shadowed the rest of the space on the opposite side of the room.

"This is rather a strange home, isn't it?"

"It is" Edward agreed, smiling at his daughter.

"This uncle of Mr Eshton seems like rather a strange character. This room is filled with childrens things, and was evidently a nursuey at some point, and yet there is an adult bed here which must have been used at some point while the children's toys and books were still here. And earlier, I was looking in a room which I believe is meant to be a study, but everything is such a mess there, in spite of him having staff to help him organise the space".

"Well, oftentimes lifelong bachelors develop strange tastes, and strange standards for themselves"

Adele grinned,

"Do you think we shall ever meet this man?"

"Put it this way, I would not be surprised if he showed up here one morning unannounced at the breakfast table".

And the look on Adele's face actually made Edward chuckle,

"Well, I think it would be nice if we all took a walk shortly to familiarise ourselves with the city a little. What do you say?"

"Oh, I would love that!"

"Good" he nodded, "We'll be heading out within the hour".

"Well then I must change" she concluded, standing up and moving to her still unpacked trunks, "My first walk out in London"

"We will be aquainting outselves with the neighbourhood Adele, not finding you a husband"

"I do not want a husband. But I do very much wish to try out my new city dress".

"When did you get a new city dress?" he asked, positive that his wife had not bought her this.

"Well, it is not entirely new. I have had it since last year but I wanted to save it for a special occasion, like being in town.

Deciding it was best not to contest this, he stood and left the room.

. . .

The walk did everyone good, for the children were all bursting with excitement at the sight of such a grand city. Though they clung closely to their parents as they took in all the newness, they couldn't contain their awe that life could be so different from one place to another. The walk had another purpose, however, for Edward wanted Jane to feel comfortable with the part of London they were currently residing in. When they had stayed in town before, they were in a rather different area and he did not want her to feel disorientated if she needed or wanted to step out for something. That said, he wasn't entirely sure that the walk had the desired effect, for his wife was distracted, except for the razor sharp attention she kept on their children in the crowded streets.

When they returned home, Eshton came back over to the house with his wife and children. Edward was glad to see them, for he was glad that Jane would have someone to talk to, someone she trusted, and the children would have someone to play with while he and his friend discussed what exactly to do about the man who assaulted Jane. Anne had evidently been pre-warned of Jane's condition, for although she was not surprised to see her friend in such a state, she did look upset.

Leaving the ladies to themselves, the men sat down in the dark and cramped study where Eshton listened to Edward's story of what exactly had happened to Jane, though in truth he left out many of the more personal details which would have betrayed his wife's trust. Eshton's expression, serious and stern, was a testament to their friendship, and it did not change after the story was finished.

"I do not know what to say" were his only words,

"There is nothing to say. There is only what must be done"

"To that point, Rochester, let me assure you that I will see to this and I will see to it in a way you would approve of. Nothing will be left undone".

"I know that" he said appreciatively, "And I thank you for it"

"I will leave first thing tomorrow, but I will send a telegram before hand telling them to expect me. When I know exactly who and where the man is, and when his hearing will be, for I promise you there will be a hearing, then I can tell you everything and you can arrange whatever you need to from there. Jones, the man who runs and operates the jail, is a decent man and very good at his job. In him you will have a trusted ally".

But as reassured as Edward was by his friend's words, he could not be easy. He nodded, but then he ran his fingers through his hair in agitation,

"James" he started, and Eshton's head turned at the use of his christian name which was so rarely spoken between them, "I want nothing more than to be able to deal with this man on my own, but the only thing on earth that could stop me from doing such is Jane asking me not to, and she has done exactly that".

"I know you do" he said lowly and seriously, "But there is no need for you to be involved at this stage. You will have atonement for your wife, but for now you can trust me with this much. When the time comes, you will have your say".

. . .

That night Jane was already in bed asleep when Edward arrived in their room. She had only gone up perhaps ten minutes before him, but she had not had a very solid night's sleep the night before, and so he was glad to find her resting.

He was quiet walking around the room undressing, and then redressing for bed, taking care to not disturb her sleep, but the moment he lifted up the covers to get into bed, Jane stirred.

"I'm sorry, darling"

"No, no, I did not mean to fall asleep"

"Well, you've had a long few days. Go back to bed".

But Jane's face fell slightly, and she hoisted herself up on the pillows so that she was sitting up straighter.

"Edward, you do know that I am well, do you not?" she started somewhat hesitantly, "Because I have the feeling that you see me as a china doll, or something else of the sort, and I do not want you to"

He reached for her face, cradling her cheek in his hand.

"A lot has happened, Jane. I just do not want things to be too much for you"

"See!" she said, pointing a knowing finger which he could not help smiling at, "You are treating me like a china doll"

"What exactly is a china doll? I've never been quite sure"

"Do not distract me"

"I'm sorry" he said lowly, but then she grinned ever so slightly and he could not resist the temptation to pull her into his arms.

"I do not mean to treat you as anything other than my wife" he said seriously, "And I certainly do not mean to treat you as some delicate bird who cannot fend for herself. On the contrary, I heard that you fought off your attacker single handidly and broke his nose in the process. It's only that you seemed distracted on our walk today, and I just want to make sure that there isn't anything left unsaid between us"

There was a thoughtful pause, but Jane shook her head.

"No. There is never anything left unsaid between us" she assured him "I am still preoccupied with thoughts of yesterday's events, so I am quiet, but you know all of what consumes my mind".

"Okay, sweetheart" he whispered, kissing her forehead, "That is all I needed to know"

But he lingered a moment, hesitating before pulling back, and in that moment Jane's whole body felt flooded with warmth, and safety, and comfort at the well-remembered reassurance which moved across her mind.

"You trust me"

It wasn't a question. Early in their marriage, when they had known eachother less and were still forming the foundation of their relationship, there had been times where, for whatever reason, one had withheld information, or feelings, or thoughts from the other with the intention of protecting them, but that was a part of their relationship which had long since passed. Jane trusted her husband with everything she possessed, both in mind and body, and he trusted her in equal measure. It was freeing to know love in that way.

"Yes" he replied with absolute certainty, "Unconditionally"

"Mmmm"

She couldn't say more, for raw vulnerability in light of all that had happened stopped her words in her throat. She was suddenly painfully aware that the love she felt for her husband was a thing of fantasy for most women, and the realisation was overwhelming.

She stroked his cheek with her thumb as she thought and he waited patiently. When she spoke, his brow creased in concentration ever so slightly.

"I never knew what trust was until you entered my life, Edward"

And then his brow softened at her words,

"In my childhood I always felt so alone because I was alone. Neither my aunt nor my cousins had any care for me, and even Bessie, whom I loved, I could not trust, for she had broken it many times in running off to Ms Reid to tell her of all the things I did that she would not have been approved of"

"Why would she have done that to you?" Edward asked genuinely, "Knowing what that woman was like?"

"I am not entirely sure. Perhaps because she feared, like everyone else, that my passionate nature would ruin my life"

He pressed his lips to her cheek as she continued.

"Then I arrived at Lowood where I quickly came to trust Helen and Ms Temple with that uniquely blind trust of chilhood, because it was necessairy to believe in someone or something to not go mad in such a place. It was not equal, however, for I was inferior to both in more ways than one".

"But you were only a child, Jane"

"I was, and still I was conscious of the fact that trust, when not recopricated, leaves much to be desired. I knew that it was not quite the same as having someone's confidance in return".

"Mmm" he said throughtfully, "And then?"

"I remember understanding my arrivial at Thornfield Hall to be a new beginning, or rather a fresh start for myself. I was hoping for the best, hopeful that I would make some new aquaintance to pass time with, and yet I was reasonable in reminding myself that true relationships are rare in this world, and much limited by circumstance. And perhaps I was right to be slightly guarded, for once again I found myself to be in a situation where everyone was older than I, or more experienced, or better established, and though I was grateful to be in a new situation, I was not entirely content. In truth, I found no one that I felt truly comfortable confiding in, so most of my thoughts went unexpressed"

"I know that she was somewhat limited, but I thought you liked Ms Fairfax, Jane? Did you not think to confide in her?"

"I did like her. I liked her a great deal. She was kind and fair to me as I got my bearings within the house, and she kept me from feeling too lonely on those nights where she would host me for tea in her parlour. But I did not feel like I could trust her with my thoughts, for the one occasion I did try to express my feelings of restlessness to her, she did not quite understand them"

"What time was this?"

"Oh" she smiled to herself, remembering the somewhat awkward encounter of nearly ten years ago, "I was standing at the end of the long passageway in the upstairs of Thornfield Hall. It was one of those cloudy, almost misty but not quite wet evenings which come at the end of grey afternoons. I had been looking out over the grounds, reflecting on all I was grateful for in my new situation but also feeling guilty that I was not happier or more content as a result. She found me there in front of the window and she stopped to ask me my thoughts. When I explained them, censoring quite a bit of my restlessness, I expressed that women ought to have the same activity and stimulation as men in order to keep their spirirts high, and she looked at me as if I had ten or so heads before advising me to go and take a walk".

Edward chuckled, shaking his head,

"I believe Ms Fairfax did regard a walk as the highest form of mental stimulation a woman should risk".

"Well, actually on this particular occasion she was right. It was that night I met you on the road while on my way to post a letter, and from that moment on I never wondered again if a woman could live a fulfilling- or engaging, or stimulating life, for you awkened such things in me that I never dreamed could- mmm"

Her husband's soft lips pressed into her throat after each word, and each kiss was infused with so much feeling that it was impossible to proceed without distraction.

"Edward?"

"Mmm?"

"I love you so much, but I have to finish telling you what I want to say, because I want you to always know it"

"Okay, darling" he said softly, "My attention is all yours".

"When I met you, you showed me all sorts of things, revealed all sorts about passion, and desire, and what it is to be seen and heard by another person. But you also trusted me. You did not view us as master and servant, nor man and woman, rather you were the first person in my life who allowed me to be an equal. You handed respect to me in such a way that a person who had never known a moments kindness from anyone before was able to sit in your presence and trust you without reservation. That act healed so much within me that I did not even realise was wounded".

Edward opened his mouth but Jane shook her head, laying her finger against his lip.

"Yesterday, I was able to fight off my attacker because you have always made me feel strong. I did not hesitate to act, because you have never made me question my ability to make my own decisions. You protecting me over the course of our marriage has never been a substitute for me being able to protect myself, and that has made all the difference in the world".

He reached forward, taking her chin between his finger and thumb with such a delicate touch that it sent a shiver down Jane's spine.

"Kiss me" he said, so lowly and so seriously that Jane's heart fluttered wildly, "Kiss me or tell me that I can kiss you so I can stop my heart from feeling as though it will burst".

She climbed on top of him with his help as she wrapped her arms around his neck. The moment their lips met, they both sighed in relief, for it had been the first real kiss they had shared in far, far too long. It was deepened at once, both breathing in the other's intoxicating and familiar scent. His hands adjusted her bottom, raising her up to his mouth as her nails scraped along his back. But then the kiss was broken, and Jane gasped lightly as his lips brushed tenderly along her throat. She closed her eyes against his mouth, dipping her head back as his tongue trailed her pulsepoint. And suddenly she was choking back emotion, for she could not help the comparison her mind drew between the touch of the man who attacked her and her husband. She hated herself for even thinking of it, but the difference was so striking, and her mind had made the connection without her persmission.

When he drew back he noticed she was not looking at him, and so he lowered her chin until she was looking into his eyes,

"What's is it?" he asked, surprised and worried.

She shook her head,

"It's not that anything is wrong. It's only that every part of you is so loving. Your mouth, your hands. It just struck me how different it was from- but I do not want to think of him again. It was just the contrast which made me think of it. I'm sorry".

"Do you know" he began, kissing his wife's cheek, and nose, and forehead in reassurance, "On our wedding night, with you asleep in my arms, I made a silent vow to love you with everything I possessed for all of my life, and that even that would never amount to all the love that you deserved. I couldn't have known, however, how easy, or rather difficult, you would make my vocation. I cannot love you as much as I wish I could. I cannot hold you half as much as I want. I cannot kiss you a fraction of the amount I would if I was free to".

She smiled, but then turned serious again,

"Tell me you know that I love you in the very same way. Tell me that I have told you so enough"

He smiled softly

"Jane, you have loved me in more ways than I knew was even possible. You have carried and birthed our children. You have loved me far beyond what I ever deserved. You have said it, and shown it, every day of our lives together".

She drew him to her by the front of his shirt, playing wih his hair as he wrapped his arms around her waist. He hoisted her up effortlessly so that they were at eyelevel, and while one hand held her around her waist, the other played with the strings of her nightgown.

"Do you want me to take this off?" he asked

"Please" she said, but then she stopped his hand, hesitating.

"But I have a rather large bruise on my chest"

"That's alright, darling" he reassured her, but he waited for her to agree again before he slowly pulled the strings apart and allowed the gown to fall around her waist. She did in fact have a bruise, under her collarbone and above her left breast. It was dark and shadowy, but the area around the bruise was beginning to yellow. For a moment she did not know what his reaction would be, but Edward dropped his mouth to kiss her there gently, and his lips were an instant balm to the foreign and hostile mark covering her skin.

He trailed his fingers up he inside of her leg, circling her knee slowly as she readjusted herself on top of him.

"Now" he said softly, grinning as he hovered close to her enthuastic mouth, pulling her bottom lip down gently with his thumb, "It is time for you to listen to me- because I want you to know my thoughts too. I want you to know what you've done for me".

She watched him seriously, her arms still around his neck while he rubbed her lower back in slow, steady motions. It was in that moment that he felt the sheer intimacy of their skin touching, of her breasts against his chest, their stomachs resting against one another, the warmth of the embrace.

"You said, Jane, that I healed something in you that you did not even know was wounded, but you do not know what it is to be healed of something which you have felt bleeding inside of you for years and years"

He reached for her chin, holding it between his finger and thumb.

"You were wiser than I in not giving your confidances away to people who were not deserving of it. That allowed you to remain hopeful, for it did not make you jaded or embittered. I was not so wise"

And then his countanace turned, and Jane could see it was sadness which had changed it.

"You do not know what it is to be made sick by your own shame, but for so long I knew no other way of being. I was such a deplorable wretch who knew I could never deserve a loving and honest relationship with a loving and honest woman, and so I resigned myself to those I could have without self improvement. That low and base existence, and those I spent it with, convinced me that no one else better existed in the world, and that kept me from needing to act better than I had been. For them, I was even seen as a good man, for I did not cheat women out of what they were owed, and I did not treat them cruelly, and I never raised a hand to them. It is a shocking moralistic judge and jury, but knowing that within my condemned existence I was better than some perhaps preserved the smallest shred of hope within me that not all was lost".

And then suddenly he was smiling, a quiet and personal smile of his own which always had the power to stop his wife in her tracks.

"And then you, Jane Eyre, walked into my life with your grey frocks, and your bonnets, and your modest eyes bent on the carpet, and you were unlike any person I had ever met. But you did not view me with the soft and gentle compassion that I thought would revive my soul. You looked at me honestly, and fairly, and although And though you did not judge me for it, I knew you never would have accepted my behaviour for yourself. I believe that is why it was so easy to trust you, and to love you. You were not willing to sacrafice an ounce of your own integrity, or your standards, and I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life living up to them".

Jane reached for his hand, pulling it up to her mouth so that she could kiss it gently before lowering it into her lap.

"I know I have said as much to you before, but it makes me feel so increadibly small that out of every single human being in this world, I found my person in you. It seems so unlikely, and yet I don't think it ever could have been another way".

"No" he agreed softly, kissing her forehead, "No it never could have been another way. Not with you and I both in this world".

But Jane dropped her face, and Edward was confused for a moment until he tucked his finger under her chin and raised her face to him again.

"Thank you" she whispered seriously, "I do not know what I would do without you. You are my whole life".

He ran his fingers down the braid which was platted down her back, feeling more guilty and angry, and hurt than he had felt since first learning of her attack.

"I am your husband, Jane. You should not be thanking me for what I promised to do".

"I am thanking you for more than that" she clarified, her eyes bright with meaning. "I know you are much angrier than you will ever let on to me, and I know that if you had it your way, you would be walking around outside right now, your thoughts inpenetrable and your mind made up on what to do next. But you are here with me, and you have made me feel at ease again".

"What I want is to be here with you. Though I cannot deny that you do know me"

Jane smiled to herself as she leaned into her husband's chest, but she could not stifle the yawn which suddenly moved through her.

"Time for sleep?"

"I think so" Jane agreed, "What time is it?"

"Who knows. Does this room have a clock?"

"Perhaps...although it must be somewhere not very obvious. I could not find it earlier either"

As Jane slipped under the covers, Edward stood and reached into his jacket pocket for his pocketwatch. Squinting in the dim light, he read the position of the arms.

"It is nearly one. Christ. The children will be up in a few hours"

He rubbed his forehead before stretching slowly, the muscles of his back flexing and then relaxing in the soft candlelight. The moment he got under the covers he pulled Jane against him, groaning sleepily into her skin. Warm and at ease, she cuddled into his embrace- more comfortable in that moment then she had felt in quite a long time. She was almost asleep, and if she had chosen to, she could have drifted off after the question passed lazily over her mind, but she was curious, and so she asked it.

"Edward?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Did I really break his nose?"

He grinned, and she could feel his smile against her skin.

"You tell me"

"Well, how does one know if they have broken a nose?"

Edward laughed aloud this time, lightly first, and then heartily, guiding her lips back up to his as she smiled.

. . .

Early next morning, while the sun was still rising, Edward was laying awake in bed. He had woken to the sound of some unknown noise in the hallway, but his mind was not easy enough to fall back asleep.

Jane was still asleep beside him, peaceful, and easy, and beautiful. He was grateful to find her resting, and to know that she hadn't moved once throughout the night, except for where the blankets had fallen off of her. This had left Edward with an extensive view of all the marks covering her body, and it was because of this he could not rest. He was fixated on every mark, knowing each represented his failure as a husband.

He bent his lips to her shoulder, kissing her softly before pulling up the blankets to cover her. It wasn't a cold morning, and she did not need the blankets for warmth, but Edward knew if she was awake she would tell him to stop looking, and so he did.

An hour passed, and the sun was bright and warm as it rose. The glass of the window had been hastily cleaned a few days prior, and so the smudges still streaked across the panes casted a heavy, thick, haze throughout the room. It was easy in this light to see all the flecks of dust swirling lazily in the air, and it was in watching these that Edward reflected on what their day would look like. Franklin, Roberts, and Eshton were arriving in the morning, but Eshton would be leaving shortly after to handle the business of the day. Surely everyone would want to see Jane and the children, but he would ask her first to see if she was up to that flurry of attention. Though, admittidely, they would all know what had happened soon enough.

If he had not been so consumed in his thoughts, Edward would have realised his wife stirring beside him, but he did not, so when she spoke he was surprised.

"You look rather thoughtful"

He turned around,

"I am, rather"

"Aren't you always?"

"Well, a wise woman once told me that a man should have an occupied mind"

"Perhaps she should have specified what exactly was allowed to occupy his mind. You look concerned"

He grinned, but her look prompted him to explain further.

"I was wondering whether or not you would want everyone to come by today or whether you would rather wait for a few days"

"Because everyone would see me in this state?"

"No" he said, brushing her face gently, "It is because it is tiring to explain the same event over and over again. Especially when that event is a difficult one to talk about"

"If I know Anne, and I believe I do, she will already have told everyone everything. I will not have to repeat myself, even if people cannot help but stare. But thank you, all the same".

Edward kissed his wife's forehead, noting that her eyes closed slightly as he did so. He watched her until her eyes fluttered opened again and she looked at him intently, a new thought clearly on her mind.

"Did you sleep well? You look tired"

"Mostly" he admitted, "I woke up early this morning and could not fall back asleep, but my sleep was quite deep".

Jane frowned,

"I hope it will not be a long day today, then, for it was a late night"

"Well I don't mind the lateness of nights spent with you. The restful sleep I did get was because you were back in my arms".

"Mmm" she said softly, kissing his cheek, "Do you know, while you were away I had begun to think that our bed at home is entirely too large. With you gone I didn't know one truly restful night, nor a warm night. I thought I would be crushed by the weight of all of the blankets".

He chuckled to himself, looking into his wife's warm and flushed morning face.

"I know I have said this to you already, Jane, but our time apart will never happen again in the course of our marriage. I will never again be voluntarily be separated from you, and I will not have you separated from me. It was a mistake to begin with and it's one I will never repeat"

"That is not true" Jane said, shaking her head, "It was not a mistake to be apart, for you are helping a man who cannot stand up for himself and that makes me exceptionally proud to be your wife".

"I couldn't be doing this- or, rather trying to do this without you and your help. This is a joint effort".

"Yes, in the sense that I want to do everything I can to help you. I know that if anyone can do this, it will be you".

He took her hand and brought it to his lips in thanks, loweing it to his chest.

"I think you need a haircut again"

He chuckled in surprise, shaking his head.

"You always think that"

"That is because you always do. Your hair grows so fast" she reasoned, running her fingers through it, "And now that you are in London on official business I cannot have you looking scruffy. What would people think of me?"

He smiled down at her, and in that moment his mind was so consumed with contentment that he hardly heard the next words his wife spoke.

"-And is a good thing we are now in town" she was continuing, "for you can go to a real barber"

"Oh no" he said, creasing his brow, "I prefer the way you do it. Going to a barber is a complete waste of money"

"Very well" she said, amused, "I shall do it tonight"

"Thank you"