Jane could see the burning anger on her husbands face as he stopped them far away from their encounter with Mr Tibs. He turned to Jane, shaking his head reproachfully.

"I am so sorry darling"

"Why should you be sorry? You have nothing to be sorry for"

"He is a disgusting man. The way he was eyeing you. I have half a mind to go back there and grab-"

Jane took his hand, "I am well, and so are you. Do not let him see that he has upset you so, it surely was his intention in stopping you"

Edward looked over at the spot where the encounter had happened, only to see Mr Tibs talking with another man, making over-exagerated gestures and being quite loud.

"Jane why must you always be so level headed? That man deserves any violence that comes his way"

"To make up for when you are not, and perhaps that is so. But you, Mr Rochester, are not that kind of brutal man"

"I was at one time, witch. You reformed me without my permission". He sighed "I promise to tell you more of my dealings with that-man, when we leave here. I promised to withhold nothing from you"

"I shall listen with opened ears"

He smiled at her, and then leaned in close to her.

"You know, I do not like being unable to freely kiss you here"

Jane smiled, shaking her head. When she looked up she saw that several women standing in front of them had turned around to look. Jane took comfort in them surely not being able to have heard what he said to her, thus they simply looked like a loving couple. The women smiled forcefully before turning back around and talking in close whispers again.

"Come, let us get a drink, you must be warm"

. . .

While at the drink table the Eshtons found their way to Jane and Mr Rochester once more. After explaining everyone had arrived, and that any latecomers would be greeted by the servants, Rochester pulled Eshton aside to mention the presence of Mr Tibs to his friend.

"I wonder what they could be discussing" Anne said to Jane, curiously sipping her drink. Jane stepped closer to her and spoke in a lowered voice.

"We just encountered a Mr Tibs, do you know him?"

"No, I cannot say I do. Perhaps mister Eshton does"

"I do not think he does either. Edward knows him from a long time ago, and Mr Tibs claimed he came on behalf of the invitation to the ball being extended to include the Militia with whom he was staying"

"Oh Jane, but what is wrong with him? Do you think he poses a danger here?"

"He is no gentleman. He was excessively rude to Edward just now, and was a brute in conversation. He just eyed me top to bottom, God knows what he was thinking, trying to get a reaction from Mr Rochester. I fear no young woman here is safe, and I am sure that they are discussing that now".

They both glanced over at their husbands who looked puzzled and concerned. Eshton caught Anne's eye and looked back at Edward before advancing to his wife.

"Anne, I am sure Ms Rochester has filled you in. Mr Tibs is not the only problamatic man here in attendence that I have noticed and I fear they cannot stay. Though I am not sure how to take care of it. We can wait until they drink a little more, then they will be easier to deal with. But there is no assurance of time in such a method-"

"But my dear, how did this happen? We did not invite such men"

"It is not your fault Ms Eshton, with a ball this size it is not uncommon for people to make an appearence who were not invited. I fear it is unavoidable in many ways. I promise you that it will not reflect badly on you. We shall take care of it"

Mr Rochesters words seemed to comfort Anne, and she nodded, reassured.

"Thank you Mr Rochester. I do not want a scene"

"And no scene there will be" confirmed Eshton, "Come Rochester, we shall deal with this now. I know some men who will help us"

Edward looked to Jane for permission to go. He had promised her that he would not leave her side and she could see the betrayal of his promise was pulling at him. But Jane nodded, answering firmly.

"Be safe, I shall be with Ms Eshton"

He nodded,

"Thank you darling, I shall be back soon"

And soon the men were off, absorbed by the crowd.

. . .

In the time Edward was gone, Jane meet with some of Anne's friends. They were all pleasant and happy girls, very contented with their appearence and very happy to have to chance to find a husband at the ball. Jane had an odd moment where she realised that she was married, so happily, at a young age. She perhaps should have been in the same situation as the girls here, scouting the room for a husband and being aware that every action she made would be observed and taken in account. But then again, without being Ms Rochester, she never would be here at all.

It was not until these women had spoken at length for some time, and had run out of things to say, resorting to talk of town markets and the weather, that Mr Rochester returned with Mr Eshton, who looked proud and accomplished.

"Trouble has been diverted" he promised Anne, "Now we can relax at our own party"

"What happened to them?"

"Well, me and Mr Rochester took care of them. You need not know the details"

"Come then, let us have a dance! We have been too long without one" Anne said, grinning at Jane and dragging her husband away.

Anne walked to the front of the room, smiling around at the gathering as any good hostess should.

"Hello ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming. The dancing shall begin now, with the first dancing being the Fair Mode"

"Come Jane" Edward said beside her, tugging her arm lightly,

"Edward, no!" Jane said, lowly, "We cannot go up the first dance, everyone will be watching"

"Perhaps. But if we wait, people may think you were building up the courage all night to dance".

"But I have been" Jane interjected, yet her husband smiled and took her hand.

"Come, I shall be with you".

Jane had no reason to resist any longer. Her husband took her hand affectionatel, leading her onto the dancefloor. She stood across from her husband, her hands at her side. At first she was self conscious of those standing around her, and she felt her heart beat increase so that she could feel the pounding in her throat. But she looked at her husband and he smiled in a way that was reserved for only Jane. He winked at her as the band started and they moved together.

. . .

Jane had never danced before, but by the end of the song she could tell that she would want to continue to dance often in the future. It felt so right to dance with someone she loved, it was a joy to feel eachothers hands touch, to move together around joined hands, to turn away from eachother only to turn back and grin. The beautiful music filled the hall with happiness as the onlookers watched, some smiling slightly, some looking on with a more critical eye- of who was dancing with who, who could make a suitable pair in the future. It was a small political, sometimes innocent and sometimes loving act. What could be more wonderful.

As the song came to a close with the pull of the violin string in a long and low note, the couples clapped formally, turning to the band and directing their clapps and smiles to those in the loft above them. They nodded respectfully and laid down their instruments on their laps as the couples turned back to one another.

"Ms Rochester. You are the most beautiful dance partner I have ever had"

Jane blushed, smiling shyly, "You must say that, because I am your wife"

"I say it because it is true, look", he tilted his head and Jane turned to see the crowd looking at her, some looked surprised, others looked impressed, and some beamed happily at her. She turned back to her husband who was chuckling softly,

"If you were not married, Ms Rochester, you should not have to worry about having a dance partner for the remainder of the night"