The next morning was a quiet one. Jane woke well before her husband and dressed quickly. That morning she wore a dress of emerald green and hair was done simply, but elegantly- pulled back from her face in loose curls. After she was ready she left the hotel room to venture downstairs and find some food. Where last night she felt so ill, this morning she felt quite well with her hunger fully restored. Jane walked down the hallway, grand stairs and into the main lobby where she was stopped by a man at a large and ornate desk.

"Madam, may I be of service to you?"

"I am looking to have a meal made for breakfast, do you know where I can be directed for assistance?"

The man looked skeptical and almost a little amused.

"And where is your husband, if you are indeed not traveling alone"

"He is in our room"

"It is usually the husband that deals with such matters, madam".

"I cannot imagine why that should be the case if we are both going to eat breakfast together".

A long, overdrawn pause ensued where the man slowly flipped through a large book, opening to the current days page before turning it to Jane.

"Sign here please, breakfast will be brought up to you"

Jane did so, checking off for a simple breakfast with tea. When she looked up once again she saw that the man was attempting desperately to obtain the room number she was staying in. When he realized his face drained of all color and turned to horror.

"Oh, Ms Rochester, please. I am so embarrassed. You must forgive my skeptical conduct, you must know-" he leaned in as if they were intimate friends sharing an inside joke only they could appreciate, "-there are some people staying in this hotel who are not so refined as you or your husband. It is hard to know at moments if they could even afford a breakfast they requested-"

"I am afraid I have no time to entertain an establishment that bases the respect they show to their occupants by the amount of money they have spent on their rooms. When can we expect breakfast?"

The man at the desk looked dumbfounded.

"Perhaps 30 minutes"

"Thank you"

And with that, Jane ascended the staircase once more without another word.

Jane was so wrapped up in her thoughts and anger that she stormed into the hotel room without remembering her husband was asleep. He woke with a start as she closed the door hard. He felt around the bed before sitting up, rubbing his eyes.

"Jane?"

Her thoughts broken by his surprised voice, Jane walked to his side and sat on the edge of the bed.

"I'm sorry, I was not thinking you were still asleep"

His face alight with amusement, he looked to her.

"Are you well Jane?"

"No, of course I am unwell, I am angry"

"Why?" he asked, feeling her fingers balled up and pulling them apart.

"I just went to obtain breakfast for us downstairs and I was met by a man on the front desk who treated me with utter disrespect until he realized which room I was staying in, and then his attitude suddenly shifted, then he tried to amuse me by saying how many people with less money were staying in this hotel and I left so angry at him and I do not understand why anyone should treat another person differently for any reason but especially because of financial reasons and I am so frustrated I cannot say".

Jane drew a sharp breath, laying back on the bed over her husbands legs. He looked down on her, smiling.

"It is not funny"

"No my darling, I do not think it is. I only find you irresistibly charming when you are angry"

Jane buried her face in the blankets, sighing.

Edward tried to touch Jane's shoulder but she slapped his hand away.

"Do not touch me"

"Jane!" he said in surprise, yet he had a very small smile spread over his lips.

"I'm sorry" she resolved, taking his hand and moving it to her back to massage. He chuckled to himself, shaking his head. As she felt the care of his touch she turned over onto her back to look at him and felt immediately guilty.

"Edward, what is wrong with me?"

"Nothing, not a thing in the world"

She felt like crying. Why the flood of emotion? Why had she been so impacted? So angered by the encounter downstairs? Jane had always prided herself on being a level headed person, on being in control of her thoughts and emotions, but this was unlike the Jane that she knew. There was a long pause of silence.

"Jane?"

"Mm"

"Can I kiss you?"

She sat up, wrapped her arms around her husband and felt his deep kiss. She did not know why she had slapped his hand away, she needed his touch, she needed him.

"There" he said softly "That is better, there is my Jane".

"I am so sorry. Lately I have-"

"Jane you don't need to explain. I just need to know you are alright, and not angry with me for some other reason you are not telling me".

"No" she said firmly. "I love you too well to hide anything from you, especially something that angered me".

"Then we shall say no more about it".

At that moment there was a knock at the door. Jane hopped off the bed and Edward covered himself in the blankets. The man from the front desk stood holding the breakfast tray in his arms, smiling a forced and unnatural smile.

"Here is your breakfast, madam".

"Thank you very much" Jane said, taking it in her arms.

"I hope you will enjoy it supremely"

Jane nodded and smiled briefly before closing the door behind herself. She carried the tray back to the bed where Edward was pulling himself into a seated position again, the blankets falling from around him.

"I hope you are hungry, there is enough food here to feed the British army"

"I am always hungry"

Jane smiled as she lay the tray on his legs for balance and made him a new cup of tea. She then set to her task of laying out provisions on plates before moving her husbands plate close to him and her own on her side of the tray. They ate together happily, not thinking of the day to come- simply enjoying one another's company. Jane thought she ate so much she would burst, for she was hungrier than previously thought. After commenting there were no scraps on her plate for him to eat, Edward rose and dressed. Jane could tell he was nervous, could tell that he simultaneously dreaded and wished for the appointment to come. She did not press him, for she knew his nerves would only settle once the job was finished. As she straightened his hat before walking from the hotel room she kissed his cheek sweetly.

"I will be with you at every moment"

He nodded knowingly.

"Come, let us go".