The next morning, Mr Rochester explained in fuller detail the specifics of situation of the family working on the estate who could not pay their rent.
He explained that the family were called 'The Millers' and that they had fairly recently moved from a larger nearby town into the quiet country landscape where the Rochester's house resided. The reason for such an uprooting was not clear, but Edward claimed that the reason could not be happy, for they left in quite dire circumstances. The Millers had 7 children, all born within one year of one another so that the oldest was only ten years old while the youngest was just three- so finding work to sustain the family had been absolutely essential, and the top priority of the move. Mr Miller had been recommended in town to come to find work in the Rochester estate, for their home had gained a reputation for taking on those who needed work, even though there was only a single couple living in the house. Mr Rochester said that Mr Miller had come to him in considerable distress, only one step above begging for a job.
"What did he ask you for in terms of work?" Jane asked, trying her hardest to tie up her shoes- the task was very difficult.
"Anything. He was willing to do anything" Rochester replied, bending down before his wife in order to help her.
"And you gave him the job"
Rochester nodded, "I gave him a job, yes. I asked him and a few other men on the estate to help repair a bridge that had fallen into disarray on the far edge of the estate-"
"But Edward, that bridge leads no where. It was built when there were gardens on the other side of the stream. Now there is nothing there, why on earth would you ask for it to be fixed?"
"Because, it was close to where Mr Miller and his family lived and I heard he was very skilled with stonework. The family took up residence in an old cottage on the very, very edge of our land. In truth, I believed it to be inhabitable, and so I gave it to the family for an extremely low cost, more so for Mr Millers pride above all else, and there they settled. Well, true to his reputation, Mr Miller was an excellent stone mason, and the job was completed nearly instantly. It was done perfectly. I was shocked, truthfully, at his ability to finish so quickly, and so well. He was clearly eager to show his skill, and that he did".
Mr Rochester stood up from lacing up the other shoe as Jane thanked him. He moved to the closet and rummaged through, his mind clearly somewhere else, looking for his green tailcoat.
"But this was only one job, is that why he cannot pay his rent?" Jane asked, moving slowly to take his tailcoat from the other closet on the opposite side of the room and bringing it to him.
"He has had other jobs, small ones around, here and there. He has been paid for his work, and he has been excellent. But it would be unfair to overpay him, to both his pride and to the others who work equally well and are paid less. With seven children, it is hardly surprising that the money has not gone into fees to pay off living on the estate"
He turned on his wife, his coat buttons done up wrong, his frustration clearly visible on his heavy face. Jane walked over to him, placing her hands on his stomach and looking up into his face.
"Jane what will I do? Cast them out into the streets with nothing? Give them an unfair advantage over everyone else on this estate? Be unfair as a master to people who look up to me? And yet, how can I live with such coldness towards a hardworking, proud man. God knows he is more useful than me, and more skillfull with his hands. How can a man like that end up unable to provide for his family while we live here in the lap of luxury".
Jane undid the buttons on his waistcoat and straightened the fabric, re-aligning the buttons so that she could do them up properly. She let her husband release his frustration without reaction, but once he was finished she looked at him honestly, and moved her hand over his.
"You are an excellent man and an excellent master to everyone on this estate. We will go now and meet Mr Miller and his family. Surely talking with them is better than not knowing the full truth of the situation. If the news is indeed bad, we can discuss it further then. Perhaps we will find this all has been a misunderstanding after all".
He looked skeptically at her and she rubbed the arm briefly that she held.
"I know" she said, gently. "I know".
She did not know what else to say, for nothing could shift the looming weight that hung suspended in the air. Jane could not pretend that there was not some desperate reason why dues had not been paid, and she did not want to see the faces of two deserving people hear that their home was to be taken from them and they would have to move on.
"Hey" her husband said softly, bringing her face up with his thumb and finger and kissing her forehead. "Thank you for coming with me today. You know I do not do well with such things alone"
"I know. I only wish I could be of some help too".
Jane stepped away from her husband to pull her shawl around her shoulders. Though it was now nearing the middle of May, certain days were still cold and the dark grey sky outside looked telling of a cooler day.
"Will we leave shor- what are you looking at?" Jane asked, seeing her husband eye her with a mixed look of warmth and pensiveness.
"I just think you look very beautiful is all" he said, revolving slightly on the spot. He advanced towards her, holding out his arm but Jane reached up on her tip toes and kissed his lips deeply. He turned her slightly so he could wrap his arms around her middle and broke the kiss by planting one on her forehead.
"Would you like to postpone our outing today by just a little bit?" he asked, one eyebrow raised.
"In order to do what?" Jane asked suspiciously
"In order for you to lie in my bed" Edward said, greedily, slapping Jane's bum lightly.
"Your bed, is it?" Jane asked, pushing him away playfully.
"Indeed. It is my bed when my woman is in it" he said, pulling her close to him again.
"And what about when it is my husband in the bed? Does that not make it mine?"
"Indeed, but seeing as I would be doing most of the work..."
"Hey! I cannot help that. I find it very hard these days to have much...momentum"
Edward laughed, burying his face in the crook of her neck.
"I know, I know, I know. And I love you for it"
"Come, we have a job to do. Stop delaying" she warned as she took his arm and walked them towards the door.
"Fine, but I am not happy about it"
"You are never happy about having to do difficult things" Jane reminded him, knowingly.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
The day was indeed brisk, and the wind was sharp when it blew. The walk to the Millers home was not far, but with Jane unable to move faster than a stroll, it took longer than it normally would have. Edward did not seem to mind however, perhaps he liked talking to Jane, but it as also likely he appreciated the delay in meeting Mr Miller face to face. The prospect was inevitable, however, for shortly their small cottage home came into view.
Jane remembered only coming across this place once since arriving in her new home. Since the bridge had been in such bad disrepair, and there was no other way to cross the stream besides going through it, she had been detoured from venturing over here again. From the last time she saw the place, it looked like a reborn place. There was life in it, Jane could hear children playing inside- they sounded happy.
Jane gave Edward one encouraging look as he turned to her, and he knocked at the door. There was a shift in the noise inside and the door opened, revealing Mr Miller. He was a short man, very broad in the shoulders and very strong looking. He had short, closely chopped brown hair and dark green eyes. His clothes were old, but clean, and well kept. His shoes were old too, but also had been recently cared for, for they had been polished and shined. His smiling face dropped instantly as he saw his master and mistress standing in the door. The child that had been clinging to him fell from his leg and was guided back lightly into the house.
"G'day" he said, his face flooding with concern and regret. The attempt to keep up a cheerful facade made Jane's stomach pang painfully.
"Good morning, Mr Miller. I was looking to speak to discuss financial matters with you"
"Indeed. I know why you are here. Mistress" he said, bowing his head slightly to Jane.
"William, who is it?" a woman's voice asked, reaching the door as well. Now all the children's laughter had stopped.
To Jane's surprise, Ms Miller was a dark woman with an accent that Jane was not familiar with. Her hair was cut closely to her head, her eyes were dark brown, and her dress which was old and frayed looked in worse shape then her husbands, and looked less well cared for. Jane suspected that she spent her energy on making her husband look presentable, rather than herself. Jane thought that the woman was rather beautiful, but her face too fell at the sight of Edward standing at her door.
"Good morning, Ms Miller. I am sorry to disturb you so early in the morning"
"No, all is alright. The children were already up. What is wrong. Mr Rochester"
"I was just looking to speak to your husband in private, Ms Miller"
"I am afraid our home holds no private space, sir"
"Then we shall use the surrounding grounds. They shall be of equal use to us, if you do not mind"
"No, not at all"
"Ms Miller" said Mr Rochester, turning to the frightened looking woman at the door's opening, "This is my wife, Jane. She wished to accompany me, to make your acquaintance"
Jane smiled at the woman, bowing her head slightly.
"It is wonderful to make your acquaintance"
"Please Ms, won't you come inside? Would you like some tea?"
"That would be lovely, thank you very much"
Jane did not turn around to look at Edward, but she watched Ms Miller send her husband a nervous look. When the door was closed behind them, the woman turned on Jane.
"I am afraid I do not have any biscuits to offer you, if I had known you were coming-"
"Oh no, please do not fuss for my sake. I know we have come unannounced"
Ms Miller smiled at Jane and busied herself at the stove. Jane looked around the little cottage and felt herself smile privately. It reminded her very much of her home back when she lived alone and taught in the little schoolhouse nearby. The walls were exposed stone, and the heart of the room was the large hearth that was not lit now, but was sure to illuminate the whole room when it was lit. There was a line over the fire where clothes were surely hung in winter to dry, but was currently empty during the summer months. In one corner of the one room cottage was a stove, where Ms Miller was now busying herself at the fire. In another, on the far side of the room, there were a great amount of small beds all crammed into the corner, with blankets neatly folded over the beds which were made perfectly. There was a large table which stretched most of the length of the opposite wall, still with breakfast dishes, but clean, and well attended. Jane turned around and saw Ms Miller observing her, looking a little apprehensive.
'I know it is not much- compared to your own large and beautiful home"
"I am very fond of your home" Jane said, "I had one very similar to it at one time, when I was a teacher. In truth, this is much more suited to my own personal style"
"You were a teacher?" Ms Miller asked, clearing two spots at the top of the table and gesturing for Jane to sit down.
"Yes, a governess actually"
"I have heard your story in truth, Ms. How you were Mr Rochester's governess at one time. But I thought you lived in the house?"
"Indeed I did. I mean after that, when I left. I taught many miles from here, and lived in my own house"
"Ah, I did not know. Oh dear, I have no sugar to offer you for tea either. Me and my husband do not take it in our tea-"
"I do not either, so it is perfect"
Jane was handed her cup of tea and thanked Ms Miller. She sat down opposite Jane at the table, her hands out in front of her, fidgeting nervously with her fingers. Jane felt very bad. She knew that Ms Miller must be worried, and that idle conversation with a stranger must not be what she wanted to deal with right now. Jane wished she could say something reassuring, something that would ease Ms Millers mind, but she could not, because she did not know the extent of what was happening between their husbands outside.
The awkward silence was broken by two children running into the house through a back door. The door banging opened scared Jane, but she smiled at the two kids that ran up to their mother.
"Boys, we have company. This is Ms Rochester, the wife of Mr Rochester, who owns this estate"
"Hello" they both said in unison. Jane smiled.
"Hello boys, how are you today?"
"I am thirsty" one little boy said, and Ms Miller smiled for the first time since Jane had laid eyes upon her.
"There's water in the pail, Jim".
Jane noticed that the boys seemed to be a mix of their parents. The boys did not speak with an English accent, nor the unfamiliar accent, to Jane, of the mother- it was a mix. They seemed very polite, and well mannered and were soon back outdoors, the door slamming shut behind them again.
"No matter how many times I tell them not to slam that door, they seem to forget"
Jane laughed, taking a sip of her tea. Before another silence could settle over them, Jane spoke.
"My husband tells me you have seven children"
"Ah yes. My babies. Five boys and two girls"
"Goodness. You must be a wonderful mother, they seem very happy and loved"
Ms Miller nodded with a confidence that had not been displayed before.
"My one job is my children, they are all that matters to me. And soon, I can see, it will be the same for you"
"Yes" sighed Jane, "I only wish I had your experience"
"Ah, I remember saying that too. The best experience is a mother, your own mother. Mine has now passed on, God rest her soul. But she was invaluable to me when I first was a mother. Her guidance helped me through the first few difficult months"
"You make me quite envious. I have never known my mother, she died when I was just three"
"Oh Ms Rochester, I am so sorry. I should have realised..."
"Jane. And it is okay, as I say, I never really got the chance to know her. I admit I am quite scared of my first few months. I have never had motherly support of any time in my life, so it is just me and my husband"
"Aye, but it seems you are very close, and I know Ms Rochester is very excited to become a father. He spoke to my husband about it one day, when he was repairing the bridge. My husband thought it was very touching, and indeed very rare for a man of his position to care so much".
But horror stretched over Ms Millers face and she put her hand over her mouth.
"Oh, m'lady. Forgive me, please. I did not mean to speak of your station as I just have, I am so sorry-"
"Ms Miller, please. I was not born into the station of which you speak. I grew up in a school for cast away young orphan girls. My wealth came as a result of my marriage, a marriage I would have entered into had Edward been the poorest man in England".
Jane paused, sighing and looking at her hands before continuing.
"I still feel out of step sometimes with my own life. I feel unworthy being called anything but "Jane". One of the disadvantages of having become very wealthy is that people who are exactly like me, such as yourself, feel a need to be very guarded around me, and I never get to truly know anyone besides the people who are, now, of my station. In truth, I find I have very little to say to such people. I like truth and honesty a great deal. And I admire people who can allow passion and truth to co-exist. So please, do not feel apprehensive in speaking around me".
Ms Miller looked a little dumbfounded. She stared at Jane, wordlessly until a smile broke over her face. She took a sip of her tea and nodded.
"I knew the very kind Mr Rochester could not have married just any woman".
"I'm sorry" Jane said, shaking her head, "I have shared too much"
"No" interjected Ms Miller, "I appreciate honesty too. Thank you".
Jane blushed slightly, because it had been the first time she had really shared these particular feeling with anyone, aside from her husband of course. But there was a rawness about Ms Miller, a truth in her actions as well as her words. Jane suspected she could be trusted with a great deal.
"So you are nervous then, for the arrival of your little one?"
"Indeed. I am a great deal nervous"
"But surely you have help in the form of relatives"
"Both my husband and I have no family. It is just us"
"Reminds me of me and Mr Miller. Well, he does have family, but they did not...well, approve of the match between us. He has not heard from them since"
"Well indeed, they have missed out on knowing a wonderful woman. It is their loss"
Ms Miller smiled brightly, and Jane felt a sudden warmth for Mr Miller. He had cast everything aside, surely reputation and family, for the woman he loved. It was immensely touching, and she felt that he could be called on as an ally in all that was worth fighting for in the world. This only deepened the guilty pit in Jane's stomach.
But then she had an ideal.
"Ms Miller, what if you were to help me?"
"Of course I would be willing to help you"
"I mean it in a formal way. Me and Edward did not intend on hiring a nursemaid or governess for the child, but I cannot deny that I will need help that he cannot always give, help with womanly things. I know you are exceptionally busy here, but your children would be more than welcome to come up to the house with you, play as they wish in the gardens or in the nursery. I would not need you all day either, you would be back in plenty of time to make supper for your husband. And it would not be forever, only for a little while".
"Oh Ms Rochester, the offer is far too kind. We are servants, and we have no right to reside in your house, the children with access to the nursery and gardens. I am more than willing to help without pay".
"But it is far too much work for no pay" Jane protested, "And I am woman of the house. If I see it fit that your children can play in my home, so will all the other servants. Besides, you will find our house staff to be kind, and non-judgemental in any case"
Ms Miller looked at Jane, pulled between the tempting offer and turning it down. She learned forward, and spoke lowly.
"Right now, my husband and I are facing certain financial difficulties.."
"Then this could help, only until you were on your feet again. My offer is not generous, for it is I who would need your help".
Several minutes later, Mr Rochester and Mr Miller's voices returned through the opened window. Ms Miller pulled herself out of the chair, and Jane rose with much more difficulty.
"Thank you Jane, for everything. It has been, well, a long time since I have had a lady to speak to"
Jane smiled, "Please, consider what I have said"
"Of course".
The door opened and Mr Miller stepped inside, taking off his coat absentmindedly and hanging it messily over the coat rack. Edward soon appeared, and by the look on his face, Jane could tell that he had not been harsh or severe with Mr Miller. Such made Jane feel much better.
"Ms Rochester, how was your tea?" Mr Miller asked, kindly.
"Wonderful, thank you. Your wife is a great pleasure"
Ms Miller looked very red as Edward took Jane's shawl from the rack by the door and handed it to her.
"Thank you, then, we will be hearing from you shortly?" Edward asked, looking to Mr Miller. The man nodded in return, smiling slightly and the Rochester's departed, arm in arm.