They pulled in front of the Eshton's house, a large, manor house that Jane was surprised to see the young Eshton owned. It was meticulously groomed- the grass, the bushes, and the drive cleared in a fashionable cleanliness. As the carriage stopped the Eshton's came out of the house, smiling.
Mr Eshton was as Jane remembered, bright, pleasant and agreeable looking with a warm and genuine smile. His new wife was a very beautiful woman, with long blonde hair and bright green eyes. Her hair had been carefully tended to, curled, and brought to the side in a long platted hairstyle. Her dress was of a rich purple color with very elegant fabric and of a flattering style. She waved enthusiastically as Edward helped Jane down from the carriage.
"Rochester!" Eshton called, bounding forward to shake his hand
"How do you do? It has been too long, far too long since we have had the pleasure".
"Eshton you sound well! I hope that you are, I see your spirit has in no way been dimmed" Edward said, very happily.
"Not as of yet" Mr Eshton said, glancing at his wife.
"And Ms Eyre, ah, excuse me you are now Ms Rochester. I do not believe you have ever looked so well".
"Hello Mr Eshton, it is very good to see you again, I don't believe I have ever felt so well".
He smiled, Ms Eshton watched excitedly as they all reacquainted themselves, waiting for herself to be introduced.
"And this is my wife, Ms Anne Eshton"
Rochester bowed swiftly, removing his hat.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Ms Eshton".
"I am very happy to meet some of Mr Eshton's friends, it has been indeed very quiet since we have moved here"
"Which was not very long ago, my dear. But let us waste no more time. Come Edward, you must tell me all I have missed. Anne, you shall find a great friend in Ms Rochester" he assured her, smiling at Jane.
"Have a good tea, my darling" Edward said, smiling at Jane and giving her hand a quick squeeze before releasing it.
"Ms Eshton" he nodded to her before walking off with Eshton.
Anne turned on Jane, beaming.
"Oh Ms Rochester, I am so glad you are here"
"Please, call me Jane. It is an absolute pleasure to meet you"
Jane was pulled into the house, and directly into the sitting room which was situated directly at the front of the house, looking out at the elegant drive. It was a large, greatly decorated room with ornate detailing. It seemed very old, and distant from the young spirit Anne Eshton possessed. Large fabric tapestry's hung on the walls depicting biblical scenes of scorn. Reminiscent of an older time, the room was immaculate, yet void of individual character.
"I know" Anne said, humored, seeing Jane view the room. "This house is very elegant, quite outside of what newlyweds inherit. But timing simply fell into place with the death of Me Eshton's rather elderly aunt and we were given this house".
She paused, looking around as if she was seeing it all for the first time. In turning back to Jane she laughed,
"It still amuses me sometimes to imagine myself a married woman, in a distinguished family, living in this grand house".
"It is quite strange, is it not, to find yourself a married woman each morning?"
A servant entered the room with a tray of tea. With expert caution and care, she poured and served the two ladies tea. Jane, painfully aware of the expectations of the servant thanked her personally, and in seeing the shy smile of the young girl, she bustled off back to no doubt the cramped and warm kitchen downstairs.
"Jane, tell me, what did you expect in becoming a wife?"
Anne's voice was suddenly filled with a sort of small distress, a wish to clear something that has been sitting in her thoughts for quite some time.
"I do not believe I ever thought of myself in a transition from unmarried woman to wife. I just understood myself as moving from a life of bleakness to feeling utterly happy and loved. I felt that with love, all the duties of a married woman would fall into place. But I had quite an unconventional path to marriage"
Anne smiled kindly "Mr Eshton has told me as much"
"Well, because of the way in which we came to be married, I never gave much thought how it would feel to be a wife. It just felt-". Jane paused. "It felt like things simply coming into the way they were meant to be".
Anne sighed deeply, laying down her cup of tea.
"Personally, I think it extremely romantic. So many things to keep you apart, and yet the love was meant to be and so it prevailed".
Jane smiled, sipping her tea.
"And what were your expectations in becoming Mr Eshton's wife?"
"Well" Anne said, slowly. "We meet rather quickly, and we became engaged even sooner after that. Although he has never said as much I believe he was feeling a certain amount of pressure from his family to settle down and marry. I hardly had a moments notice to take in what was happening to me until we were uttering our vows at the church".
Jane laid down her teacup, surveying Anne.
"But this was not an unhappy realization for you, surely?"
"Oh no, Mr Eshton has been wonderful. I could not ask for a better suited husband to match me in temperament or in humor. He is so very funny".
"He was ever kind to me, even when I was only the governess, the only one in the room he had the right to avoid completely. Yet he always made me feel heard and respected".
"Oh no, he told me when you were pulling up what an intelligent creature you are, and how he enjoyed speaking to you. I can see it in your face too. I can see that you are kind, very good natured and honest"
"You are too kind".
Anne looked a little sadly at Jane as she spoke.
"You may think me bold, Jane, in telling you this. I can tell you and your husband are friends, as well as married partners, and I am not my husbands friend yet. As I say, we knew so little of each other before we wed, we are still learning so much of each other every day. I am perhaps more excited than I should be at the prospect of finding a friend in you. I have been a little lonely at times here".
Jane smiled warmly, "I have never had woman for a friend. Indeed the only other friend I have known outside of my husband is a girl I knew a very long time ago that passed away. I am very excited at the prospect of us becoming good friends".
Anne smiled, seeming to gain more spirit.