When they arrived back at the house Edward asked for Jane's help in drawing a bath. It took quite some time, for Jane was weary of carrying more than one boiling bucket of water up at a time and she forbid Edward from helping. Unhappily sitting on the staircase, he provided much entertainment for Jane.

Finally though, after the better part of an hour the bath was ready and she watched her husband remove his clothes. He did not look nearly forty, she thought to herself. His solid stomach and arms, his broad chest and shoulders and long torso were traits of a man almost half his age. She smiled to herself as he lowered himself into the tub, sighing deeply. He slipped his head under the water and soon emerged, his curls hanging heavily around his face.

Jane, wishing to be useful, took the soap from beside the tub, dipped it into the water and then began running it through Rochester's hair. He closed his eyes, greatly enjoying the sensation of being taken care of.

"I'm not quite sure if I should scold you for allowing your hair to get so tangled or kiss you" she teased, taking a nearby brush and combing through his hair as gently as possible.

"I would prefer the latter, despite perhaps being in need of the first"

Jane smiled and reached around to kiss him, but instead his arms wrapped themselves around her and pulled her close. He buried his face between her breasts, kissing her tenderly, the feeling running through her like ice, despite the thick material of her dress.

"The warm water is very relaxing Jane" he said, temptingly.

She could resist him no longer,she had no wish to. She made quick work of discarding her already wet clothes, and letting down her loosely pinned back hair. As she turned, she caught sight of herself in a mirror, fully naked. It was the first time she had seen herself naked since she had been married, and to herself she looked different. She did not know how, but she felt different too. Was it happiness? partially, but not quite. It was..pride? self assurance? full realization of who she was?.

As she surveyed her features, her hips, her lips, her breasts, she realized that these completely normal features felt precious. As she turned away from the mirror she understood, beaming to herself. She walked to the tub and stepped inside, Edward holding her hips and guiding her between his spread legs so that her back rested against him.

"I just caught sight of myself in that mirror in the corner" she said, looking to a mirror that he could not see. "It is the first time I have been myself fully in a mirror since I have been married and the strangest feeling came over me"

He raised an eyebrow, turning his face to look at her.

"What of, Jane?"

"You make me feel like a woman" she said, her own heart filling with the truth of these words.

Edwards face stretched into a perfect smile, half pride, half overwhelming love.

"Jane, my darling Jane, you must not say such things to me, for a fear I will not be able to control myself. Not with that sweet honest voice of yours, speaking to my hearts core, assuring me of what has passed between us"

She turned to face him, kneeling gently on his legs and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Then you must not make me feel such a way, for I find it makes it hard for me to control myself"

Grinning, he leaned forward to kiss her, she kissed back, pushing him lightly against the back of the tub. Edward wrapped his arms around Jane's waist and drew her close, running his fingers through her partially wet hair. As his kisses moved to her jaw, her collarbone, her breasts, she sighed happily, her hands cradling his head.

"I love you" he whispered, his dark eyes penetrating her very thoughts. She lowered her head, pressing her lips to the base on his neck and along his shoulder before resting her head there.

"I love you"

Edward paused from resuming his kisses, pulling away and smiling to himself.

"You are tired my darling"

He moved her hair away from her face, kissing her temple as he tucked a loose strand behind her ear.

"I am not so very tired" was the poor response.

"Come" he said, standing from the tub and stepping onto the floor. Jane soon followed, the towel he had for himself being gently wrapped around her. Within moments her husbands entwined hand in hers lead them from the room, and within moments she was in bed, her face pressed into her husbands shoulder in sleep, protected in every possible way.