When Jane returned from retrieving her things she found Edward speaking to Louis outside. She hung around the corner, watching their conversation from behind the door frame.

"They are wonderful horses Louis, you have quite good taste"

Louis beamed, nodding at his master.

"Thank you sir, I like horses so much. I take great pride in them here"

"I can see that. Perhaps you would care to accompany me the next time we are in need of buying a horse. I can feel this one is not young by any means, for its back is quite sunken, and as I am unable to see the horse for myself, I will need an expert with me"

"What about Ms Rochester?"

"Ms Rochester knows close to nothing about horses" Jane said, stepping around the corner. Edward looked to her, smiling at her reappearance.

"Indeed Louis, the first time me and Ms Rochester meet she bewitched my horse so that I was forced from it and she could save me by coming to my aid".

Louis' eyes widened with shock as he turned to Jane.

"Is this true miss?"

"Mr Rochester has greatly exaggerated the story, his horse was merely starteled coming upon me in a dark lane".

He laughed freely as Jane and Edward turned to each other, smiling.

"Do I have your word then, Louis, that you will help me? You see I cannot trust my wife".

"It would be an honor, sir" was the heartfelt response.

Mr Rochester opened the door of the carriage, helping Jane inside.

"Then I look forward to the occasion".

Louis bowed deeply and waved from the main door as they drove off towards town.

"That was very kind of you to offer that to Louis as something to look forward to, he looks up to you a great deal".

"It wasn't merely out of kindness, it will be helpful to have him along"

"Though you could easily choose a horse on your own?"

"Yes" he said warmly "Even so".

Jane smiled as he felt for her hand and yet a sad pang resonated in the pit of her stomach that caused her face to fall- he would be the most wonderful father. He was excited to be a wonderful father, to take care of a family. He had always been a natural caretaker. And she thought that she was about to hand that reality to him. She knew he had been genuine when he told her not to worry, that he had been hurt by her grieving alone, that he was speaking truthfully when he said he only wanted her and he would be happy. And yet she was painfully aware of a void that she was waiting to fill for the both of them. She imagined the feeling of being fully women she had experienced when she had looked in the bathroom mirror could not be so strong now if she were to look again. For now however, she pushed the thoughts from her mind and admired the view outside the carriage window.

. . .

Town was busier than normal on that particular day, and yet the arrival of the Rochester's carriage seemed to slow all the action. Heads turned as the carriage stopped and the door opened to reveal Mr Rochester. He extended his hand in order to help Jane down from the step and as she stepped out she could see the sheer amount of people who had stopped to stare.

"Have we drawn a scene?" he asked softly

"We have indeed, you would think Queen Victoria herself just exited our carriage"

He chuckled, "Then come, though I am proud to show you off I know that you are still no fan of attention", he held his arm out to her which she graciously took before he whisked her away.

The book shop was a rather quaint place. It was clearly underappreciated within the town for it was immaculate and almost always empty. Jane visited almost every time she was in town, and as a result she had come to know the shopkeeper by name- though he was neither a social creature or an introvert. He was simply busy and deeply interested in his work. As the door of the bookstore was opened and a small bell sounded the owner came around the corner to see who had arrived.

"Ms Rochester, hello" he said blandly, immediately turning back to the pile of books he was sorting.

"Hello Mr Jorde" Jane replied, "Where are your new books?"

"I am sorting them here now, if you would like to look at them I can make myself busy with another task".

Without waiting for a reply he abandoned his current task and disappeared behind the desk.

"Friendly fellow" commented Rochester under his breath. Jane smiled and silenced him.

"Shh, you must keep your comments to yourself".

"Then you must be kind enough to tell me which books are before us".

"Hm, let me see. 'The modern science of apparitions', 'The high and mighty-'

A groan issued from Mr Rochester

'The modern piano player', perhaps that one would not be so bad for myself"

"No Jane, for I can teach you better then a book"

"I will told you to it then" she said, feeling his hand on her shoulder reassuringly.

"There are books on world religions, philosophy, general theories of science"

"Shall we take them all?"