The next morning Jane again woke before her husband.

It was a cold day with rain pouring heavily from the sky. She lay for quite some time, just listening to the sounds of rain on the roof. It was such a peaceful, constant sound, and she couldn't help but feel incredibly grateful for it. As she lay there, she thought of all her husband had given her, even in these first days of marriage. He had been exceedingly loving, gentle, and took such care in listening and responding to her. Momentarily she felt inadequate, wishing there was more she could do to show her gratitude. Immediately, the idea came to her and she gently removed herself from her husbands arms before standing and pulling his nearby robe around herself. She opened the door quietly and slipped out into the empty hall.

In truth, Jane had not much time to explore Ferndean house on her own. She had missed many small details of the house because she was often more concerned with the man she passed through the home with. But as she progressed down the hallway she couldn't help but notice that it was an oddly grim house, with dark wood on the floor and walls. Emerald green carpets stretched over the floorboards and the windows remained small and out of sight, only casting light high up so that the rest of the hallway remained quite dark. As she reached the end of the hallway she pushed opened the door of the library and stepped inside.

The library, out of all the rooms in the house, looked to be the one least attended to. A thick layer of dust lay over all the books, tables, and chairs in the room. Things seemed disorganized and out of place, and according to the dust had been so for quite some time. Jane saw one book that was laid on a table next to a large armchair, which sat in front of the hearth in the room. She imagined that it was read by Edward some long time ago, perhaps while on a hunting trip, which Jane gathered was the only time Ferndean was ever used by the Rochester family. He had perhaps laid it down here while being called away for some reason and was never given the chance to return to it. Of course, if had been able to read, if he had not lost his eyesight, this room would have perhaps been the brightest and best used space in the home, and the book wouldn't have remained unfinished. But as Jane wiped the dust from the cover of the book to reveal the title "Flora and Fauna of West Africa" she was reminded that her husband would never be able to return to finish the book. Well, at least not on his own.

Determined, and feeling happy, Jane gave the book one final shake in an effort to remove any lingering dust and left to return to her bedroom. As she entered the room she saw that was stirring and when his eyes opened she smiled, and sat on the end of the bed beside him.

"Jane?"

"Yes my love"

His face softened into a smile at these words, at being addressed in such a way.

"How did you sleep?"

"I slept as soundly as I ever have" she smiled, allowing his wandering hand to take hold of her waist and draw her near.

He seemed surprised to feel his robe instead of her skin and looked at her, puzzled.

"And yet you've not spent your morning in here with me, where were you?"

Jane laughed, kissing his cheek. "It is of no matter, you shall know soon enough".

He raised his eyebrow at her, but then sighed, saying "I do not like that I have to trust you . Just as I don't like the feeling of his robe as opposed to the feel of you and your skin"

He pulled her forward into a deep kiss by tugging lightly on the tie around the robe, and with ease the knot came undone and the robe slipped from around her.

Not wanting to remain outside of the sheets with no robe, Jane broke the kiss to climb back into bed beside him, laying the book in her hand on the side table.

"And how was your sleep?"

"Jane, my darling, at one time I wanted nothing but calm sleep as I have been given these past days. Sleep that would drive worries from my mind and allow me momentary peace of mind. But now I find that I do not wish to sleep at all, for there is not enough hours in the day for us".

Jane blushed, not expecting such an answer. She kissed his cheek and ran her fingers through his mass of curly hair.

"No, I believe you must be right" she said.

Jane reached for the book on the nightstand and placed it into her husbands hands.

"What is this?" he asked, surprised.

"Tell me what you think"

"It is a book, of course Jane. But why have you given it to me? You know very well I may as well use all the books in this house for fire kindling, for my eyes do not serve them any purpose".

Jane took the book back from him.

"No, you have no use for them yourself. But seeing as you have in no way lost your ability to hear, I shall read them to you".

He could not hide the apparent happiness on his face at this prospect. For such an intellectual creature to be deprived of literature, of books, it was too large of a shame.

"So, I have taken this book, which it seems you may have been reading before, "Flora and Fauna of West Africa", but I will go and find any book that you wish if this does not suit".

He laughed as she sat up, kissing her shoulder.

"By God she is real, she is flesh and blood. How blessed I am for her".

Jane turned to kiss his lips briefly before opening the book and beginning to read.