The following few days were wonderful.

Jane, Mary, Diana and Adele spent much of their time together. They went on walks into town and around the grounds, talked and laughed, played music and simply enjoyed being truly in each others company. Jane learned in their talks one day why Diana may have been discussing marriage so ardently, and seemed more than usually disappointed in her current situation. As the ladies had set out on an afternoon walk, Diana and Adele walked further ahead than Jane and Mary, and Mary turned to Jane with a rather grave countenance.

"Diana is unhappy, Jane. She has been trying to conceal it from you, for she did not want to influence the mood of the holiday here, but she is quite sad"

"It is of a romantic nature, is it not? That is why?"

Mary nodded, walking slightly closer to Jane as she continued.

"Diana meet a naval captain, a Captain James Franklin, not very long ago at a party held by Ms Oliver, well, Ms Grover now. It was not the sort of party in which any men of his distinguished character should have been, and so no one was expecting him to be there. Yet, Ms Grover claimed a close acquaintance somehow tied to knowing his sister, and so he arrived out of his own good nature as he was passing through town"

"Seems very good of him indeed"

"Yes. Well, he and Diana were quite compatible with one another. I have never seen her so taken with another person in my life. Rather touching, to everyone present. But anyways, when the party was over he was suddenly vanished, and I could tell Diana and disappointed, yet when it is so brief an encounter I think the heart heals faster, and so soon she forgot about the Captain Franklin..until he showed up at our door not two days later".

"He came to your house?" Jane asked, surprised, "Without having anyone to introduce him? Indeed, he must have been very taken with her"

"Yes. And he sat for tea for nearly an hour before he left, promising to return again. Which he did, for two months, weekly"

"Mary!" said Jane, still quietly "But surely that sort of behaviour lead her to believe, quite strongly, that he had marriage in mind? You concern me now that you say she is quite sad"

"Well yes, that is exactly the problem. Diana heard the news some time before we arrived here stating that he was intended to be married to a Lady Dorit of London, quite different to the dear Diana we all expected to hear him make an announcement with"

Jane glanced ahead at Diana, now pointing something out in a tree to Adele.

"But Mary, this cannot be right. There must be something sinister, or at least quite unfair in the matter. No man visits a woman weekly for tea for two months to announce at the end he is engaged to be married to a lady in London. If he is indeed a naval Captain, he would have no need for a wealthy wife. A marriage to Diana would be perfectly right, and it seems would ensure a great amount of happiness".

"There is no consolation in this truth, I'm afraid. It will always be open ended, always be a matter of what could have been. I only hope that her heart is resilient enough to open itself again"

"It will" affirmed Jane, "I thought my heart had closed for the rest of its life at one point, indeed I prayed for such to be the truth. But, it is not within human nature to be sad, or forever heartbroken. We search for people and things to love, it is what sustains us".

"Still" continued Mary, "I should like to see this Captain Franklin again, and let him know exactly what I think of him"

"It would be wise that we do not see him. Who knows what he may be subject to under our anger"

They laughed together as they made an effort to catch up to the others in the party.

. . . .

Later, Jane sat at her bedroom vanity. She struggled to take her hair down from the elaborate way she had pinned it up. She grinned at her own appearance when she next glanced in the mirror, for her hair was bushy and quite wild. She began to brush it out, but the more she brushed it, the worse it was. Trying with difficulty to flatten it, the door swung opened and Edward stepped inside, throwing off his tailcoat in frustration. Jane paused what she was doing to watch him, but he was completely absorbed in his own thoughts. He unbuttoned his waist coat and threw that off before laying back on the bed, breathing heavily.

"What has happened to you?" Jane asked, taking out her pearl earrings and laying them on the stand before her.

"I am dreading something I am afraid I will have to do"

Jane stood from the dresser and moved to the bed, laying opposite her husband, she too looking up at the ceiling.

"I must give John his notice"

Jane nodded solemnly, turning her head to look at him beside her.

"I just caught him struggling down in the kitchen to move a rather light box. I cannot allow it to go on. It would be quite unfair to his health, and irresponsible of me as his master. But I do not imagine a way I can tell him that will not wound his pride. No man of his age deserves to have his pride called into question"

"I know, I have seen it for myself. It has been painful each time to watch him try so hard to disguise it".

"But Jane, having served my family so well, for so long, it just does not seem as if we can cast him off, never to see or hear from him again. I just wouldn't feel right"

"No, of course not. Do you have a solution?"

"No, I don't. Besides inviting him to stay as just a resident, which would also wound his pride, I cannot think of anything".

Jane rubbed his arm affectionately.

"Do not worry, we will work it out. I know you want what is best for him, and that is exactly what we will figure out how to do, for that is what I want as well"

"And Leah?"

"Leah is still an excellent and capable worker. But I know she will not work if her husband does not. Still, as you say, she has been as valuable to me as John has been to you, and I have grown very fond of her. I cannot imagine sending her on her way and not knowing what becomes of her".

"I know" he agreed, placing his hand over hers. "So, as you say, a solution will come".

Jane rolled onto her stomach so that she was facing him. She placed one hand on his chest, feeling the light material of his shirt. The other she ran through his hair intimately.

"You need a haircut"

He chuckled softly and nodded. He pulled softly at the ribbon which tied her hair together, and as it came undone he laughed.

"Well, well, Ms Rochester, look at you!"

"I know, I know, I tried to flatten it-"

"No, I like it, you look quite wild. Truly otherworldly"

Jane laughed as he reached up and pressed his lips to her jaw. She grinned at him. He was always so tender, in every action he did. And yet, he remained so masculine- always protective of her, always having his focus on her. Yet now it did not seem so imbalanced as it once was, for she found herself with her focus on him most of the time too. Even this small kiss on the jaw conveyed so much. In this case, it indulged her, for he knew she liked being kissed there. It was playful, yet it wordlessly reminded her of how no one would ever know her like this again- never love her like this.

She kissed his lips lovingly before pulling back and looking at him.

"Edward, do you know a Captain Franklin?"

"A naval captain, or a captain of the militia?"

"I'm not sure, I couldn't say"

"Then why is it you ask?"

Jane relayed the story of Diana's heartbreak to Edward in full, and at the end he lay back, thinking to himself.

"What a disgraceful man- to lead a woman on in such a way. Especially a man of his rank, and no doubt fortune, knowing that anyone who knew and cared for Diana would consider it a reassuring marriage for many reasons. It was very wrong of him indeed. I can look into his identity, if it would bring any consolation to Diana"

"I am sure she would like to know, but, I am not sure it would do her any good. I think it is best to let him drift into her memories, rather then let him sit in the forefront of her thoughts. Sometimes more knowledge is not better"

"I agree with you. Sometimes it is best to leave matters of the heart alone"

"That isn't the response I would expect from my Mr Rochester, who is all fire, passion, and love".

"No, but a person that loves you does not put you in a position where you feel alone. Where is the heart in that?"

"No" Jane agreed softly, "They could not"

Jane lay with her arm behind her head, looking up at the ceiling. Her thoughts were full, but with nothing in particular. The night was still, with heavy snow that fell in sheets and covered the sleeping earth. The fire crackling was the only sound that could be heard over Edwards beating heart. If only moments of peace like this could last forever.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Still, Jane came to know who Captain Franklin was- even without going in search of him.

Three days after Christmas, there was a knock at the door. Edward had gone on an errand he had promised Jane, and so she found it quite odd someone came in the middle of the morning, for no one would be coming to see her. John meet Jane in the library where she had been reading, stepping inside and bowing to her.

"I'm sorry to distract you, madam. But there is a gentlemen in the sitting room who insists on seeing a member of the family who is hosting the Rivers sisters. He said his name was a Captain Franklin"

Jane felt her heart skip a beat. Standing, she placed her book on the table beside her.

'Thank you John"

Jane walked into the sitting room, stepping in silently so she could observe the man before he noticed her presence. He was perhaps in his early thirties with straight dark black hair and dark blue eyes. He was tall, and very thin, yet this was balanced out by his attractive and well-maintained uniform.

"Hello" she spoke.

He sprang out of his seat rather awkwardly and turned to face Jane, bowing as he did so.

"Hello Ms. Rochester. I am Captain James Franklin. I am sorry for intruding, I know that we are not at all antiquated and that I join you during a special time, but I fear I owe an apology, and a great one that cannot wait. Is your husband home?"

"No, indeed he is not. But I know it is not him you have come to apologise to, and I am afraid the intended Ms Rivers is not home right now either"

His eyes lit up as Jane spoke. Clearly he had not been expecting her to know his purpose in coming, and his cheeks flushed with either defence or embarrassment.

"Ah, I see, you know why I am here"

Jane walked closer to him and gestured for him to sit once again, he graciously accepted and looked at her in anticipation as an awkward silence filled the space between them.

"I was told, yes. And because of that, I cannot imagine what your intentions are here. With all due respect Captain Franklin, you treated Diana very poorly. Part of the reason she joins us for Christmas here was to get some separation from the hurt she was feeling at home"

"I understand that. I understood the reason she left. But I just need a chance to make amends"

Jane paused, and looked at him intently.

"Captain, I cannot speak for my friend. And I will not make decisions for her. She is to return any moment, and I cannot say whether she will see you or not. But, I will not let her be hurt any further. I only warn you to be wiser than you have been, and have more kindness then you have previously shown".

"Ms Rochester, you have every right to look at me in an unfavourable way. But please, I did not mean to cause her any pain. I hope you know it was not my choice, rather-"

At that moment the door opened and Jane heard footsteps out in the corridor.

"John, where is Jane?" spoke a familiar voice, and in hearing the reply, Edward appeared in the doorway of the sitting room. He looked to Jane, and then to the man she was sitting with.

"Hello" he said, with some apprehension. He walked to Jane as she stood, watching the man across from her stand slowly, looking sheepish.

"Edward, this is Captain Franklin"

"I see" he said, placing his hand on his wife's shoulder.

"Your wife has kindly allowed me into your home, Mr Rochester. I owe a guest of yours here an apology"

"Indeed, I believe you do. Whether she is willing to accept it is a different situation"

Captain Franklin hesitated at his words, sighing before continuing.

"I know what your opinion of me must be. And for that I am very sorry. I had hoped that our first impressions of each other would not be like this"

At that moment, Diana and Mary rounded the corner, removing their scarves and laughing together. As Diana's eyes fell upon Captain Franklin the laughter fell from her face and was replaced with a look of shock.

"Diana" he said quickly, "Diana. Please, forgive me for showing up unannounced. I needed to see you".

"We will give you two some privacy"

"No" Diana said quickly, "No, Jane. That is very kind but you do not need to leave. Surely what Captain Franklin has to say cannot be so private that it cannot be heard by my family"

The Captain shifted his weight uncomfortably before looking up at the group which had gathered before him.

"I will speak the truth in front of whoever you want. I just want you to know what that truth is".

Diana and Mary sat before him on a couch, but Jane and Edward sat on the side in two adjoining armchairs. Jane felt Edwards hand close over hers as the Captain sighed, and looked at Diana with pleading honesty.

"Diana. Forgive me, please. I did not intend to hurt you. You must know that all I told you during our weeks of correspondence was true, and nothing was said in flippancy. I left you because I was forced to, because I found myself entangled with a woman I thought I was free from. You see, from the time I was a young boy I have been promised to a Lady Dorit, the daughter of a close family relation. Our parents had always intended us to marry, and so it might have been. Yet, Lord and Lady Dorit died tragically when their daughter was only 17, and she was taken in by an aunt who violently rejected me as a possible husband. I was cut off from all contact with her, and came to accept that I was free from any obligation I had to her. Much time has passed since then. This is when we met, and we came to form an acquaintance"

"And yet, that does not explain why you then left unexplained, or why you are here now"

"Of course, just a few weeks ago, I received a letter from Lady Dorit. She informed me her aunt had recently died who had prevented the marriage, and that she still believed our agreement held as I have not yet married myself. I agreed to meet her in order to convey that our agreement could no longer hold, for I had come to love another person and much time has passed from when I felt obligated to keep it. But, acquaintances who saw us meet took it as a sign that we had finally taken the steps to marry. Gossip travels too fast, whether it is true or false".

There was silence for a moment, and the room was filled with the weighing of the situation. Jane herself felt torn between the two accounts of his word. On the one hand she believed his story, as it was an old and common one amongst well-established families. On the other hand, there was no reason he couldn't have imparted this to Diana before he left, and been honest with her. Indeed, it would have saved much pain, and saved the trust that had ultimately been broken between them. Jane remembered that feeling, and how difficult it can be to rebuild such a broken bond.

"Captain Franklin-"

"James, please"

"Captain. There were ways you could have told me. I would have believed you, I would have trusted your word. What concerns me now is that you were not truthful with me. I do not even know what your purpose is in coming here. If I cannot be with you, I did not need to know this history. I could have continued to try and move on with my life-"

"But that is it, Diana. I do not want you to move on with your life unless it is a life with me. I made a mistake- but that does not change all we exchanged with each other during those weeks"

Diana looked to her sister, and then to Jane.

"Mr. Rochester, Jane. Would it be imposing of me to invite Captain Franklin to dinner tonight? Indeed, there is much to be said between us, and it cannot be said here now in a few minutes".

"But of course" Edward said, "While you are a guest here it is your home as well"

Diana looked back to the Captain, who looked grave and defeated.

"I extend to you an invitation to dinner. Perhaps before that time comes we could take a walk around the grounds. There is snow, but it is not cold"

Nodding slowly, he replied, "I should like that very much".