When Jane awoke hours later it was to the Mr Rochester shaking her gently.
"We're here, my darling" he said, warmly.
He turned swiftly back to the men who had just come from the inside of the hotel to the carriage.
"The name is Rochester, we only have the two trunks".
"Yes sir" they replied, undoing the luggage which was tied to the back of the carriage.
Jane handed her husband back his travelling cloak, reluctantly wrapping her own shawl, which was pitiable in comparison, around herself.
"Thank you Jane, you have warmed this cloak to the temperatures of Hades. Come!"
. . .
A few minutes later they opened the door to their hotel room, and Jane found herself shocked at it's opulence. Silk covered every furnishing in the room, heavy perfume filled the air, gold statues and detailing covered the room in every corner. The carpet was a rich scene of blues, golds, greens and pink- the fire crackled happily in a large hearth.
"What do you think?"
"I think this room is meant for Marie Antoinette. What on earth did you ask for this room for?"
He laughed heartily, closing the door behind him and hanging his cloak on a nearby rack which he felt through the air for.
"In truth Jane, they remembered my name at this hotel from years past. As I have told you, I was a frivolous young man that spent his money on the best things that wealth could buy. And so here we are. I did not bother to correct them however, because I knew it would greatly amuse myself to see how greatly this rooms grandeur puzzled you".
Jane shook her head, grinning slightly and throwing her own shawl over a nearby chair. She then lay down on the largest bed she had ever seen.
"Well then it is a good thing then this bed is so spacious, I will not have to be reminded you are here with me at all".
Jane sat up quickly, surveying her husband who stood before her.
"When you say you frequented this hotel in the past-"
"-It was because I was here on business" he assured her, "this bed was used for sleep".
Jane looked at him, her eyebrows still raised as he moved over her.
"Though, I must admit that is not what I intend this bed for tonight", he said, grinning.
"Oh really, is that so?"
"Are you going to torture me then, Jane, in refusing me?"
She shook her head, smiling. "No, for in doing so I would be torturing myself".
He chuckled, he always loved displays of her honest desires.
He felt for the ties on the back of her dress as Jane leaned forward for better access. She could feel already her desire burning within her core. She wanted him to move faster, to discard what she was wearing more swiftly. Skillfully, and with much practice, he undid her dress so that it slipped off with ease. He then undid her corset and removed her last layer of skirt before she lay before him in just her slip. Jane could feel her face burning, she did not know how much the fire was to blame. Feeling her with his strong hands Jane took her own turn in undressing her husband. She undid his cravat, slipping it from around his neck, before she removed the shift tucked into his pants. She paused to admire him and in doing so caused her husband to plant small, delicate kisses along her neck. Her hands found the way to his pants, working less efficiently then before- the hot kisses how being planted on her jaw was distracting. As she was able to remove his pants with some assistance, she fell back into the blankets again. She touched him, touched his most intimate area in a way that was gentle, teasing, and skilfully what her husband desired. She watched his body contort and flex at her touch, and suddenly he moved her hands above her head, positioning himself to enter her. His lips moved down on her lips as he slipped her shift above her head and cast it aside. He looked into her eyes as he moved inside her, but Jane felt immediately dizzy and sick.
"Stop" Jane cried out sharply, her face twisting into pain.
Instantly he froze, looking at his wife in surprise
"Jane, my darling, have I hurt you?"
"No" she said, her voice tense, "No, it was not you".
She closed her eyes, feeling a gentle thumb caress her forehead. She released a heavy breath, opening her eyes again.
"I am sorry, I do not know what came over me. I just felt suddenly dizzy and almost sick"
"Jane, why would you apologize for that? Come here"
He felt for her slip which he had momentarily cast aside and helped pull it back over Jane's head.
"No, no. I feel better now. Do not fuss over me".
He shook his head, "I know you do not".
He lifted Jane from the edge of the bed into his arms, kissing her forehead as he brought her around to the other side, closer to the fire, on the side of the bed she normally slept on. She climbed into bed, and in truth the warm blankets felt comforting.
"Jane how do you feel now?"
"Ridiculous in these silk sheets".
He smiled fleetingly, but soon his face was once again serious and concerned.
"You should sleep"
She looked into his honest, loving face and reached for his hand which he gave to her without thought.
"I am being very honest when I tell you that it was simply a momentary pain. I do not know why I feel so changed recently".
'Well, tomorrow, hopefully we shall know from the doctor. For tonight, you must rest easy".
Jane nodded, closing her eyes and feeling her husbands lips brush her forehead lightly.
Jane felt Edward climb into bed beside her, his still naked body was warm, and smelled distinctly of him. Jane cuddled into him as she always did, her face resting on his shoulder. She brought her hands to his chest and felt his strong arms envelop her in an embrace.
"It is still fairly early, I do not expect you to come to bed yet just because of me".
"I do not sleep well when you are not beside me, and I want you to sleep well tonight. Especially since we are away from home, in a strange bed and in terribly strange room".
Jane laughed, closing her eyes and shaking her head.
"You are my home".
"Mm. Remember you told me that Jane? When you returned to Thornfield after having left to visit your aunt?"
"I do indeed, for I did not intend to tell you and it embarrassed me when it fell from my lips uncontrollably".
"You surprised me when you said that" he reminisced, "Because I thought only someone in love would be induced to say such a thing in the way that you did. And I dared not believe that Jane Eyre could have been in love with me".
Jane turned onto her back, looking up at the strangely dynamic ceiling above her head.
"She was. Even more so then she trusted herself to realize".
. . .
They were quiet for a very long time, long enough that the comfortable silence had lulled Jane almost into a state of sleeping when her husband spoke very softly.
"Jane, are you awake?"
"Just. But by the sounds of your voice you are uneasy, and so you must tell me what is on your mind"
He sighed deeply as she propped herself up on her arm to face him. By the light of the now dim fire she could see that his mind was occupied and weighted.
"Jane, you have been so wonderfully hopeful about the doctors visit tomorrow. You have been so sure, and so encouraging about my sight being restored by this man. I know you did not intend to do so, but it ingrained in the back of my mind that in a way you will be disappointed if nothing is changed and he can do nothing to help. I cannot help but worry you will be disappointed, though you say you will not be".
Jane's hand moved to his face, she smoothed the scar on his forehead with her thumb and kissed it gently. She loved him so much in that moment she thought her heart may burst. His honesty, his ability to be vulnerable and trust in her was deeply reassuring.
"You are quiet"
"That is because I look upon you and I am overwhelmed with the love I have for you-".
She paused in frustration. When she spoke again it was with such honesty that it pierced her husbands core.
"Edward, how could you think that I would not look at you the same way if tomorrow we are told nothing will change. I married you for the man you are, I love you at every moment for the man you are. Your sight is not an element in deciding that. It is your soul I desire, and that cannot be touched by any outside force. Can you not see how perfectly happy I am with you? No, I will not hear otherwise from you Edward Rochester."'
He traced along her back absentmindedly, thinking over what she had said.
"You are right, Jane. I am just simply apprehensive myself"
"Shh" she soothed "I am here with you so that we may face this together".
He nodded, still looking fixed and thoughtful yet relieved all the same. He brought Jane close and lightly kissed her forehead. She moaned slightly as his lips searched for hers, kissing her lovingly. She moved back into her comfortable sleeping position and looking up at him, smiling.
"Thank you" was the heartfelt response.
Within moments, both the Rochester's were fast asleep.