When they arrived back at their home there was a great many worried-looking servants outside.

"It is alright" Jane said as they stopped before them, "We are fine".

Edward dismounted quickly in order to help lift Jane from the horse. He took her into him closely and then took Adele with his other arm to him.

"Eshton, thank you" Mr Rochester said, nodding to his friend. Jane looked thankfully at him too as he tipped his hat to them.

"I am at your service".

As they entered the house servants flooded to them, for until Jane properly looked at Adele she did not notice how dirty they both were, and how dishevelled they looked. There was dirt streaked over her white dress, on her face and even in her hair. Jane quickly said that she would assist Adele, clearing the crowd as she and Mr Rochester went upstairs with Adele.

. . .

Adele had been shaken by the event, but after getting cleaned up, and some genuine consoling conversation, she was almost fully herself once more, asking Mr Rochester to take her outside for a walk around the gardens to show her the different trees there.

"Later, Adele. You see that you are all cleaned up and yet Jane is not. I must make sure she is quite as clean as you are now"

Adele nodded "Of course, I shall play with Leah".

And with that, she descended the staircase, turning back to Jane.

"Thank you, for saving me".

Jane smiled sadly, putting on a bravely confident voice, "Do not be foolish Adele, you were in no danger with me".

When she had rounded the corner of the staircase, and the sound of her footsteps running down the steps were gone, Jane walked into her bedroom, wasting no time in quickly shedding the dirty clothes she had on. It was a way to try and push back all the emotions she was trying desperately to suppress . As she pulled on her robe and tied it around her waist she walked over to Edward and hugged him from behind. It was involuntary and she could not help it; The reality of what could have happened that afternoon washed over her and she was more thankful than ever to feel him and touch him. He looked at her over his shoulder ,surprised, and turned her around so that she leaned into his chest, her hands covering her face.

"Jane" he said meaningfully, "I am so sorry".

She felt a hot flood of tears rise to her eyes, desperately fighting to push them back. But she could not hide from him, and he gently guided her face to his, seeing her emotional tears.

"I do not know why I am crying" Jane said, her face cracking into a brief smile before wiping her eyes.

"Jane! Of course you are upset, it must have been terrifying", his gentle hands brushed loose stands of hair away from her face without even thinking of it. The look of concern and love which radiated from his look begged for her to share how she felt with him.

"It was. But it is over now, and we are safe. I guess it was just such a shock, and it all happened so quickly, I hardly had time to think. And then to imagine what could have happened-.

Edward's gentle thumb wiped away her newly fallen tears and he pressed his lips to her forehead.

"You mustn't say those things. You are my whole heart, and I cannot live without my heart. We are here, now, in each others arms. Adele is safe with Leah downstairs. That is what matters".

She nodded knowingly, yet did not loosen her grip on her husband. He held her close, cradling her in his arms.

. . .

Jane scrubbed herself clean in the drawn bath as Edward sat beside her, explaining how the events of the morning had unfolded.

"Eshton came over shortly after you left, and brought with him the news that he passed the carriage that was ordered to carry money to the bank in town on his way over to the house. I thought this was rather odd as it is not meant to be common knowledge. It was something I knew only from having been in London while meeting with the local magistrate. Then as we sat here talking over a drink I remembered that yesterday there was an understanding that a group of bandits on the edge of the country, which is also odd because there are much wealthier counties, arguably more desirable to raid not very far away. Thus it only made sense they had been tipped off that the carriage was passing through. I had an uneasy feeling, and Eshton agreed it would be best to ride into town, if for nothing else than to be at ease knowing all was well. But we were then informed by John as we saddled our horses that these bandits had been spotted riding into town and so we took off with mighty speed".

"But the other men who rode with you?"

"Same intuition, I suppose. Or perhaps by this time they had simply learned the situation. We certainly did not have the time to rally any supporters".

Jane nodded, sinking beneath the water and wetting her hair. Coming back up to the surface she looked at her husband.

"It is just so unfortunate such a senseless act happened, it was so meaningless. Those men that tore through caused such damage and harm. And yet they will ride off, never to think of this place again or the people they hurt".

Edward nodded, sighing deeply.

"Unfortunately that is the nature of crime such as this. Tomorrow we shall be able to see the full extent of the damage. There is no telling how far those fires spread".

Jane shook her head, leaning back against the tub and running the bar of soap through her hair.

"This is no so very uncommon in cities. Within the walls of Lowood or Thornfield you were not liked to be exposed to such things, but when I lived abroad in many different cities it was in fact quite common. And yet, I know you better than to believe your compassionate heart can simply turn off your care. I only ask you do not burden yourself. It is your blessing and your curse to care so deeply".

Jane looked at him, his smiling face observed her thoughtfully.

"Is there no end to how much I love you?"

"You can love me by handing me my towel", she said, pointing to the table where she had placed it.

He walked over to where she had indicated as she stood from the tub in anticipation. When he turned around again he looked at her and she covered her breasts.

"What is it that you are doing?"

"Waiting for my towel"

"No, no. You covered yourself up when I turned around, why is that?"

"I am...cold" she said, unconvincingly.

He stepped in front of her, smiling in disbelief.

"I cannot believe it. My own wife covering herself from me"

Jane could not hide the grin which spread over her face.

"You were taking your good time walking back to give me the towel so that you could look at me".

"And what is wrong with that?" he asked, leaning in to kiss her. Jane dodged the kiss and slipped the towel out from underneath his arm, quickly covering herself with it. She walked into the bedroom without glancing back, but anticipated the moment he would confront her. The moment came almost instantly. He swept her into his arms and sat her on the window ledge by their bed, which was at his waists height.

"Now listen here, Ms Rochester" he teased, "I am afraid such will not do".

"No?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer to her.

He intoxicated her with his kiss. As he pulled her deeper into himself she could feel her hips involuntarily thrust into him. He smiled through the kiss in feeling this, knowing that he had conquered her ability to resist him through teasing. Jane felt his hand run up her leg slowly until his thumb was touching her centre of pleasure. She gasped as he began to make small circular motions and soon found she could no longer kiss him. She pressed her face into his shoulder, feeling a pressure expand in her stomach. She gasped sharply, pressing her cheek to his. He bent his face, sucking her neck playfully. Her towel fell helplessly from around her as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

"Edward" she breathed

"Yes my darling" he said, kissing her jaw.

"Please take me, I need you".

He pulled back to look at her, love radiating from every atom of his being. She pulled his lips to hers as he lifted her from the windowsill onto their nearby bed. She lay before him, her arms behind her head. How much she loved him in that moment. He moved over her, discarding his layers of clothing with her help until he was left in only his shirt. He climbed over her, kissing her with more passion and attention.

She pushed her head back into the pillow as his lips closed around her peaked nipple, her back arched and she could feel warmth and comfort pulse through her body. She held the back of his head with her hands and breathed heavily. She reached for his shirt and with one swift movement was able to pull it off over his head. He smiled down at her, moving to the other nipple. He watched her intently as she tossed and turned in pleasure, gripping the blankets of the bed, or him. Her lips attempted to feebly kiss him, but she was too overwhelmed in her own feeling to achieve this. As he moved down further, his lips parting her most intimate area she cried out in pleasure. This was bliss, this was ultimate love. Laying there after taking as much pleasure as she could, Jane sat up, straddling him, placing her hands on Edwards chest and beginning her own trail of kisses along his firm stomach and shoulders. A low groan issued from him as Jane moved- for as much as he had learned to master her, she had mastered him too. He gripped the back of her hair lightly, learning into her touches and kisses.

"Jane, no, you must not. This is meant to be for you, not for me".

"There is no pleasure for me without you feeling the same" she assured him. He skillfully inserted his finger into her at these words, she knew that she had evoked something deep within him. She moaned helplessly, pulling back from the kisses she was planting along his collarbone.

"To touch you is for me to be pleasured, Jane. My pleasure is in yours"

His finger stroked inside of her in the most overwhelming way, and her argument was overruled. He grinned at her, how much she needed him, the power he had over her.

"I am yours, fully. Do with me what you will" he promised her.

"I just need you"

Jane was gathered to his arms for a deep and passionate kiss before she pushed him back into the bed gently. He lay on his back, looking up at her as she kissed every inch of him. His eyes rolled back in his head, he groaned deeply. She could feel her own desire building with each movement, each sound. How much she longed for him. She climbed a top him, inserting him into her in a unified sound of pleasure between them both. As she began to rock back and forth she looked into his eyes when she could, other times they were forced shut. He held her hips, helping guide them deeper into him. He kissed her lower stomach lovingly. When it had reached an unbearable amount of pleasure, Edward skillfully flipped Jane onto her back and moved atop her. As he moved inside her he heard her characteristic deep moan of happiness. He planted soft kisses along her neck as he started moving slowly, but she wanted more and indicated a faster movement for him. When he had obliged her, she fell back into the pillows again, feeling him fully rush over her like a wave over a shore. In one final extended exclamation of happiness, her world spun and she could feel nothing else but him.

She was indescribably happy.