"It is not your fault, Jane. It is no one's fault".

Jane lay in her bed, her mind blank, and her thoughts bare. She surveyed the ceiling, for it was all her heart could bare. Her husband lay beside her on his stomach. He brought himself up on his forearms so that he looked directly into her face, his soft gaze never leaving her. Her fingers traced his jaw lightly. She needed him, but she could not yet speak to him. His voice was gentle, and low, and it mimicked the soft candlelight of the room. Whatever panic had slipped from him hours before was now replaced with concern, and a wish to heal.

"I should go and get the doctor"

"Why? What good would it do? The baby is gone."

"There is you to be considered".

"No".

Edward looked down, when he looked back at her his eyes were sparkling with tears. His thumb caressed her cheek as he spoke.

"My sweet Jane. When we have ten children, all running round under your feet and filling this home with laughter, this will all feel like a dream".

Jane nodded bravely, holding back the tears that came brimming to her eyes.

"My god, I have failed you"

"Shh, you have not failed. How could you say something like that?"

"Because what if I am not capable of bearing children? And I can never give you a child"

"You are the gift I have been given which is capable of bringing life into this world. We shall try again. And if it is not in God's plan for us to have children, I shall hold precious every moment I spend with you, until my last breath, and never wish for more than you".

Jane looked to her husband, and seemed for the first time to hear what he said. He smoothed her hair and kissed her forehead lovingly. A calm that had eluded her for hours began to once again feel familiar. In the smallest way, she was comforted.

Jane's thumb traced Edwards eyebrow as she cried slightly.

"I fear-" she began, "that my heart is broken"

"I promise you, I shall hold all the broken pieces until we can put them back together again" he assured her.

Her face turned to kiss the hand which caressed her face. Edward watched Jane as her eyes feel heavily with sleep- her body needed rest- her emotions had exhausted her, the pain had exhausted her. She was in his nightshirt, for hers, filled with blood, was soaking out of her sight.

"That's right" Edward encouraged, "Sleep my darling. I will be here when you wake".

. . .

And there he was. Every morning for a week.

Each morning Jane woke to the dazzling sunshine, she felt her head pounding with shame and guilt. She could tell her eyes were swollen from crying the day before and that her lack of appetite had caused her to be weak.

Diana and Mary tried very hard to disguise their concern. Though they did not see Jane for two days after the miscarriage, Mr Rochester arranged for Ms Eshton to come and take the girls out on various activities so that they did not just sit around the house, It gave Jane a quiet home, and him time alone with her. When they did see Jane they were of little comfort, for their shock and sadness was heightened in seeing Jane's state. They learned quickly that trivial pleasures held no power in cheering her, and although Jane did not mind seeing them, they did not take her mind away from what she had lost.

Edward stayed with her, loving her with untiring care. He sat beside her all day. Sometimes they talked, sometimes they sat in silence, with him only caressing her hand in communication. Some days she cried in his arms and other days she was silent, and still. He always seemed to know what she needed without asking. And yet Jane felt like such a burden. She knew that she was causing so much worry and concern. She saw her husbands face- saw his manner. In quiet moments she too could see he was devastated as she was, yet he could manage a certain strength that Jane could not muster yet. He ate little too, and was hesitant to leave her alone for too long. She communicated this to him, confided how she felt and how she wished she could not be such a worry. She was brought to his embrace and held close, being assured she was not acting in any way she did not have a right too. He understood.

Diana and Mary left finally at the weeks end. Though it was the intended day of their departure, there was a relative hesitancy to leave as their things were brought down to the carriage. Mr Rochester had gone down to see them off, assuring Jane he would be back. The opened window of their bedroom, and the breeze that day carried their conversation to Jane upstairs. She looked out the window at the carriage, and heard Diana ask, sadly.

"Are you sure there is nothing more for us to do, Jane is so broken"

Edward shook his head,

"I am not worried. Jane is a stronger woman than any I have ever meet. She needs time, and time we have".

Jane felt a surge of strength in her husbands words. It gave her back a partial amount of confidence that had been stripped from her.

"Well, you know where to reach us if such should change. Thank you for all you have done for us"

"No, thank you for coming. I have enjoyed meeting the women Jane has praised to the heavens, and you have certainly lived up to every expectation. I hope to see you again soon".

And with that, the carriage headed towards the road, with Diana and Mary Rivers headed for home.

- Thank you all for your great kindness to me with your comments. I know these were hard chapters, so I would love to hear your input on them! I always love talking with you guys and sharing thoughts, good or bad. Life has been busy, so thank you also for being patient with my odd posting schedule. Hope you are all well! -