Jane and Adele were waved off by Mr Rochester as they started their journey towards town. Jane would have suggested a walk, but it was too cold and the ground too frozen. She remembered that Adele enjoyed a walk, and seemed to talk most openly and honestly when she was doing so. And yet, the conversation towards town was more mature than Jane initially suspected. Adele had thoughtfully asked her what her life was like away from Thornfield in the year she had left.
"So, you fled because you did not wish to be lied to?" Adele asked, sadly.
Jane paused before she answered, it was the first time someone had asked her the question so directly. And yet, she did not wish to lie, especially to Adele, for she was part of her family and had every right to know. Jane had thought for so long that Adele turned her gaze out of the carriage window, seemingly deciding that her question would not be answered.
"No, I did not wish to be lied to. But, more importantly, I could not marry without trust. And Mr Rochester, in those times, could not trust me in the way he should have. You will learn as a woman, Adele, that many men will try and make you believe that your thoughts and feelings do not matter as much as they do- and you must promise me to resist every single you are faced with that".
"Of course Miss Eyre, you have shown me how to do it'.
Adele did not understand how profound her words were, but Jane could not stop her thoughts from running over the power of her words.
"You have shown me", Jane thought.
. . .
It was still quite early in town, and yet the bustle of midday was already occurring. Men and women flooded the streets, people traded across crowds and spun fabric far out into the streets. There was no amount of life like that in town. As Jane glanced at Adele, who seemed to be unphased by the variety of life, it occurred to her that perhaps Adele was much more comfortable with city life then even she was. She had, after all, grown up in Paris, and though Jane had never been there herself, she imagined it to be the very epitome of city life. In casually asking her if she liked town, Adele smiled at Jane.
"Oh yes Ms. Eyre, very, very much. It reminds me of my childhood in Paris".
Jane smiled, "You know Adele, you need not call me Ms. Eyre anymore. I am no longer your teacher"
"Would you prefer then?, Ms Rochester?"
She shook her head, "No, you may call me Jane, if you like. That is what friends call each other, is it not?"
The look on Adele's face was quite new. It was a look of maturity, a look of happiness and pride. Perhaps she had never had a mature friend, and perhaps she had never had a friend like she expected to find in Jane.
"Of course, Jane", she added, unable to contain her smile.
They entered the fabric store first, Adele's brimming excitement not allowing for any other option. The men in the fabric shop had become increasingly more friendly to Jane in the last little while since they learned of her substantial wealth, and yet Jane paid this extra attention no mind. She could not imagine pretending to respect someone who treated people with little money like secondary human beings. For that had been Jane, for so long.
Jane and Adele joined the line of women who stood before them, Adele scanning the shop excitingly.
"What colour do you think I should get? And what style? For if I choose to have puff sleeves we will need extra fabric"
Jane shook her head, "Adele, you do not need puff sleeves"
"Oh but I do, it is the latest fashion"
"Well there you may have me Adele, for I know nothing of the latest fashion".
"And yet, you dress much better now, and look far more beautiful then when you wore your heavy grey dresses to my schoolroom"
Jane shot her a sideways look, "It was practical, Adele. And besides, there was no one for me to impress"
Adele raised her eyebrow at Jane in an exaggerated way and she grinned.
"I wasn't intended to impress anyone", she corrected herself.
The owner of the shop saw Jane and Adele in the back of the line and awkwardly shuffled from around the counter.
"Ms Rochester, always a pleasure, always a pleasure".
He pushed his small and plump face towards Jane's, smiling awkwardly with a great lack of genuineness.
"Good morning" Jane replied, politely.
"Ms Rochester" he said, leaning towards her, but speaking just as loudly- she stepped back uncomfortably. "Please, come to the front of the line, you do not need to stand with all these people".
"No thank you" she said firmly, stepping away from him and holding her ground. "We shall do very well to wait our turn".
The women standing in front of Jane had hushed their conversation and half looked back at her, ready for her to leave the line and no doubt complain to one another about her inconsideration when she had gone. Yet at hearing her resolve the looked at one another, their faces softening, and quickly they returned to their conversation. The owner of the shop had once again bustled off back to the counter and resumed his duties there, looking disgruntled.
Suddenly,there was a loud explosion outside and the sound of close gunshots. Everything went very quiet. And then there was screaming, and orange flames rolled through the streets. Adele looked to Jane, her eyes wide with fear. The shop owner rushed to the door and looked out, his face suddenly filling with panic.
"Good god, they are blowing carriages, the fire!"
As the group in the shop began to panic, Jane took Adele's hand firmly and looked her in the eyes. "Adele, do not let go of me. We need to get out of here, now".
Jane pushed opened the shop door, and immediately was meet with smoke, fire and the smell of gunpowder. Barrels, wheels, and wood were on fire, and carriages consumed in flames were in the streets . People were screaming and crying, calling out for people and pouring from shops. Jane turned to her side and saw that the building next to the fabric shop was on fire. She wrenched the door back opened and cried out for people to move, that this building would soon be engulfed in flames and there was the rush of people from the shop, pouring into the thickening streets. Jane could see strange men, unfamiliar men walking into the town bank, armed. She had breathed in smoke, and coughed furiously as Adele cupped her mouth.
Wordlessly, Jane pulled Adele along, running towards the end of town, towards home. If only they could get out of the city, then Jane could stop and check on Adele, then she could process what had happened. But there were too many people, and too much confusion to make it very far. In the distance Jane could hear horses, men and then the firing of guns. Starting to panic, and unable to see what was coming, she pulled herself and Adele into a narrow alley between two houses and peered out from around the corner.
"Jane I am so afraid, what is happening?"
"I do no know, Adele. But stay close to me and we shall be okay".
As the sound of horses came closer and the riders came into view, Jane was filled with relief and great horror as she saw a group of men riding towards the city, armed, aiming at the group of strange men now herding people in the streets with their guns, telling them to get out of the way. Mr Rochester came into view first, his face stricken with fear and panic-his impressive horseman skills allowing him to head the group with Mr Eshton, the latter looking sickened and grave.
"EDWARD!" Jane called.
His head immediately turned to the source of the sound in just enough time so that him and Mr Eshton broke away from the group that continued to ride towards the centre of town. Gunshots sounded at an increased rate as Mr Eshton pulled up short in front of Jane, who quickly hoisted Adele onto his horse.
"It's okay miss Adele, we shall be home before you know it" he said encouragingly.
Jane felt a strong hand grab her arm and pull her up onto the horse. Mr Rochester's arm secured itself around Jane's waist and without another moment lost they were off, tearing away from the site. As they quickly rode, Jane saw the flashes of other men on horses headed in the opposite direction, no doubt looking for their own loved ones. Jane said a silent prayer that all was well, that no one was injured, and that the only damages would be to buildings, and not to people.
"Edward" Jane said, squeezing the hand that secured her waist against him, suddenly returning to her senses, "How did you know to come?" . She knew her voice sounded shaky, and she coughed viciously.
He squeezed her hand back reassuringly, talking into her ear. "You are safe now, Adele is safe too. We will be home soon".