Mr Rochester arrived home some time during the period Jenny was helping Jane get ready for the ball. Jane was sure that he was downstairs likely eating supper, or finding other way to keep himself occupied, knowing that she and Jenny were busy. She amused herself as she thought it was also very likely he was keeping a distance for his own sake, having little interest in watching women formally dress for an evening.

Mr Rochester kept no manservant for himself, nor had he ever had one. He had told Jane in one of their first ever conversations that he found it excessive, and that a man should be able to put on his own clothes or shine his own shoes without having to be waited upon. In those days Jane had found it surprising to hear a man in his position speak in such a way, and it was an endearing equality in a man that she had to fight with reason to find goodness in. In hindsight, the comment had been prophetic for there came a time in his life when he absolutely required assistance to be dressed, to walk, to read, to write. Now Mr Rochester did not keep a manservant because he had a wife for assistance, an experience that was a truly new one to him and one, she believed, still surprised him at times. She saw it when she fixed his tie or straightened out his tailcoat. How strange that a life can change so much.

Jane had not noticed the door open during her reflection, and so when she turned and saw her husband leaning against the door beaming at her, she smiled.

"Ms Rochester, how is it possible for you to become more and more beautiful every time I lay my eyes upon you" he asked, advancing towards her and placing his arms around her waist.

"Do you think I look the part?"

He kissed her forehead thoughtfully before drawing back.

"You are perfect. I shall look quite haggard beside you, Jane".

She smiled and shook her head as he began to undress before her, changing into his clothes for the evening.

"Never. You have a natural presence that is too great", and in a lower tone "Edward Fairfax Rochester's pride could never allow it".

He chuckled softly, "Well, tonight I fear we both shall attract some unwarrented attention, regardless of the presence that we have. I am sorry you shall be forced to endure that"

Jane stepped forward and helped smooth his cravat, re-tieing it as he pulled on his waistcoat.

"If such is to be the case, then let it be so. I will be happy there with you, as friends of Mr and Ms Eshton, and nothing else shall matter. I did not marry you because I thought I would be entering into the normal situation of wives. I married you for the exact opposite reason".

He smiled at her, his eyes shining and full of feeling.

"What is it?"

"Nothing. I was only thinking how beautiful you are"

Jane could not help but blush slightly. It was a phrase he often said, but she was always moved that he continued to say it with overflowing with feeling and honesty. He brought her closer to him by pressing his hand into the small of her back and brought their lips together in a slow sensual kiss. She suddenly felt the urge to abandon the whole ball and remain here with him, just the two of them- without the dancing, the hair, the shoes, the dress...

"I want you" Jane begged as the kiss dissolved, "all of you, without any of this". She lightly tugged on his cravat.

"Mmm" he said, his voice filled with a happy pride, "It has been quite some time now since we have made love, hasn't it?"

"It has been since yesterday morning" Jane said, grinning.

"Ah yes, last night you fell asleep in my arms as soon as you made it to bed"

"I suppose I was tired"

"Indeed!" he teased, kissing her forehead lightly. She looked up at him, and his look of immense love penetrated her soul.

"Tonight, when we are home, every inch of me is yours"

"I shall hold you to it, Mr Rochester. Now sit, I must comb out this black mass of curls".

. . .

Downstairs, Adele was sitting uncharacteristically still in the sitting room, waiting in anticipation for the night ahead. Jane knew she sat unnaturally still in order to not rumple her dress or make her hair fall out of place, and in turning to her husband they shared a knowing, humored look.

"Adele! Are you ready to go?"

She stood up quickly and beamed at them.

"Yes Mr Rochester!", as she moved towards them she stopped dramatically.

Oh, you both look tres magnifique! Together you are like a couple from the most romantic novel! You shall be the best looking people there tonight- that I am sure of".

Jane smiled, "Thank you Adele. You look very, very pretty".

Though Jane knew she did not need her vanity flattered, she did indeed look very well. The lavender coloured material that arrived for her had been skillfully made into a beautiful dress that was appropiate for her age, but in style was slightly older than any dress she had owned before. Her hair was curled in its usual way, but she had added little sprigs of flowers into her hair so that she looked quite lovely. In seeing her, Jane only hoped she had a wonderful time, perhaps would even make a new friend.

Edward slipped on his cloak and hat, "I will be back in a moment" he said, touching Jane's arm lightly before departing.

As he was gone to get the coach with John, Jane helped to dress Adele in her winters cloak. It was a wintery Christmas Eve, with white snow falling gently on the ground, but not sticking to it. As Adele spoke rapidly into Jane's ear, she could not help but pause a moment, unable to hear anything else but the quiet of the endless nature outside of their home. How quiet it must be in some far off wood, a place where likely no one was ever to trod, but existed independantly and freely. Jane smiled at the thought, of a wood covered in white, never a footprint to be made in the snow.

"Ms Eyre? Jane"

Jane looked back at Adele,

"Do you think it will happen?"

"Do I think what will happen?"

"I shall ruin my hair with this cloak around it?"

Jane smiled, shaking her head.

"No Adele, I believe you shall be fine. Besides, here is Mr Rochester, you will not have to worry about your hair anymore".

. . .

The carriage ride over was surprisingly silent. There was much on the minds of everyone in the carriage, and Jane felt her courage falter momentarily. Fear and nerves made her think that perhaps it would have been best to decline. Yet almost immediately she was reminded that to do so would have been unjustifiably wrong. In looking at her husband across the carriage, however, he smiled warmly at her, and his look restored her reserve. She knew he had been observing her, and that her unspoken thoughts were as transparent to his as his own and he only wanted to reassure her that all would be well. It had worked, as it always did.

"We must be almost there" he said, straightening up and looking out of the carriage window. Jane did not know how he could tell where they were in the almost dark, but she knew his sense of direction was far superior to hers. It was one of his traits that always amused her, he was never lost.

"Now Adele" Jane said, turning to look at her, "You must promise us to not eat too many sugary things. It has never served you well"

"No, for you I will not, seeing as you were good enough to let me come with you".

Mr Rochester looked at Jane, his eyebrow raised.

"Of course Adele, why should you say you were not aloud to come, you were invited by the Eshtons afterall"

Adele looked at Jane, pausing briefly before answering her,

"Well, at my school they told us that balls are wicked. They are places of indulgance and extravagance"

"Adele, a ball is not wicked. A person can act wicked no matter where they are. But a ball itself is not wrong. How could we take you to such a place if that is to be the truth of the matter?"

"Your only job here tonight is to enjoy yourself" Mr Rochester interjected, and she seemed to hear his words and take full heart. Jane knew she had seeked his approval for so long before she had ever come into their lives that his words of encouragement were music to her ears, always. And with those words the carriage turned, up the drive of the Eshtons house. Jane could already see a line of carriages approaching the door and her nerves threatened to overtake her once more. How truly strange this would be for her, for she was still small, quaint, quiet Jane Eyre.

As their carriage stopped in front of the door Mr Rochester exited first in order to help the ladies down from the carriage. First Adele shuffled off, jumping off the last carriage step and beaming up at the house. Then Jane. She stepped out, lifting her dress over the small steps as she descended them. Mr Rochester did not drop her hand as she was safely on the ground, but held it, smiling at her encouragingly.

"You have me", he promised, You musn't worry about a thing. They will love you, as is always the case"

Jane smiled, thanking him wordlessly and taking his arm.

"Ready miss Adele?"

She nodded and took his other arm with enthuasium.