When Jane woke the next morning she could tell it was still very early. Henry had not cried more than twice throughout the night, and her body seemed to be sceptical of all the time to sleep it was given. She opened her eyes, her face pressed against her husband's chest. From where she lay she could only see the top of the window, but she had no desire to move. She only wanted to remain here until she was forced from her comfortable bed.
She was grateful for this quiet time, for it gave her time to think about everything that had happened over the last few days. In truth, there was not much to think about, but still, it was her nature to mull things over in her mind repeatedly. All the stress and anxiety within the house had dissolved, Henry had fallen asleep, and all seemed well in the world. But there was still the question of Mary's future. Jane was forced to admit that even though Mary's pregnancy was because of force and not her own decision, no man would ever want to marry her now. She was 'spoiled', she was no longer whole and pure as a wife is expected to be. She would be safe at Captain Franklin's home until she gave birth, but surely she could not live there forever as she could not live in this house forever. Where would she go? Jane thought, her mind buzzing with questions that had no answer. Surely she would always have enough money, through both Jane's and her sisters marriages, to be comfortable, but it seemed now that there was no possibility for her ever having the life of a family she had always wanted.
Jane's thoughts dissolved and her surroundings were brought into clearer focus. She untangled herself from Edward, feeling the instant coldness hit her skin outside of his embrace. He stirred momentarily but was soon still again- his deep breathing resuming. From the way he had shifted onto his back, Jane had better access to him. She reached her hand up and traced feather light lines down his arm, across his shoulder, and down the line of his stomach. It was difficult to put into words what this level of intimacy meant, but it was something Jane did not even know existed before marriage. She never once thought he would push her arm away, or tell her to let him sleep. Indeed, when his dark eyes flashed opened he grinned sleepily at her before turning rather serious and focused on what she was doing.
As Jane traced her hand across his chest, Edward reached for the loose neck of her nightgown and tugged at it lightly so that it fell around her waist. His hand smoothed her collar bone, then he moved to cup her breast, not breaking his look of admiration as he did so. Jane's touches became more distracted as his became more intentional. Wordlessly, Edward moved Jane before him in a kneeling position and brushed her womanhood lightly, sending a shiver down her spine. He chuckled once to himself, looking to his wife in amazement.
"I was going to help you, but I do not think you need it" he said, feeling the wetness of her desire. Jane blushed, it was true, since having Henry she had been so busy that she and Edward had not laid with each other as often, but she thought about it far more than she admitted to. He reached up quickly, running his hands through her hair and kissing her cheek.
"No" he said, his whole face filling with a smile unlike anything Jane saw in another person. All at once it was searching, prideful, and amused. "Don't blush like that- like you are embarrassed in front of me"
Edward's voice was still horse with sleep and Jane felt a warmth spread through her she could not quite put words to.
"I am not embarrassed. Well-" she said hesitantly, "Maybe a little"
"Why?" he asked, pulling her onto his lap as he reached under her and slowly inserted a finger inside of her. Jane gasped, almost inaudibly and moaned quietly as he moved skilfully within her, stroking exactly where she was most sensitive.
"Why?" he repeated, looking at her expressive face with such love and admiration that it made Jane's heart ache.
"Because I think of being with you day and night, when I am alone and when other people are around. God- I cannot stop thinking about how much I want you".
He nodded, kissing her exposed jaw as she threw her head back.
"Then we think alike. Because I think of making you moan and cry out for me and I think of touching you, just like this".
Jane dropped her head onto his shoulder, her opened mouth pressed to his skin. She did not think she had the strength to hold up her own head, it spun with so much sensation.
Jane felt him smile against her skin as she felt the pressure within her reach an almost unbearable point. Wrapping her arm around his neck for support, she allowed the shocking electricity of pleasure to pulse through her body, radiating from her head to her toes.
"Ahh" she grunted, pressing her forehead into his shoulder. She gasped desperately.
He kissed her softly, drawing her face to him between his finger and thumb. Her breathing was still heavy, so she took breaks between his long, sexual kisses. She ran her fingers through his hair, finally opening her eyes. His head was thrown back, savouring the feeling of her running her hands through his hair.
"Lie back" Jane said, laying him onto his back by pressing on his chest.
She climbed over him as he pulled her hair loose from its tie, allowing it to fall all down her back.
"I am going to need that" Jane said, indicating the tie in her husbands hands. He handed it back to her, looking perplexed. She tied her hair up quickly and inelegantly at the back of her head before she bent down and encircled her husband in her mouth.
Jane heard her husband exhale in one heavy breath. She loved hearing him, how long he held his breath, how he exhaled sharply after not being able to hold it in any longer. How his low, sleep-heavy groans sounded more musical to Jane than the best symphonies of the world. His large and warm hand covered her back unconsciously as she pleasured him, applying different pressures and slowing her pace to an almost unbearable rate.
"Jane" Edward said breathlessly, gripping her shoulder, "Dear god, you will undo me"
And, just when she could feel a rippling sense of desire move over him she stopped. It took him a moment to regain his senses, but when he did he pulled Jane to him, turned her over and entered her so quickly that she had felt a rushing thrill shoot up her spine and through her core.
He rocked into her rhythmically, pushing deeper with every fast thrusting motion. There was something so sexually needing in his desperation, in the way he brought them both back to the edge so quickly and with master skill. Jane moaned loudly, only to be echoed by her husband. She clawed at his back, closing her eyes as her thumbing heart almost pounded out of her chest. But just as she was moments away from her finish, he drew out of her, comfortingly kissing her burning cheeks and chest.
Jane was frustrated with him- was he trying to get even for her stopping just before he was climaxing? But then she was guided into a kneeling position before him.
"Tell me if I hurt you" he said firmly, for they had not tried his position since she had had Henry and at times she was still sore. But when Jane felt him enter her from behind, there was nothing but pure ecstasy coaxing her core even deeper this time, and driving her to shaking rush of bliss in mere seconds.
Jane collapsed down onto her arms as her husband finished, filling her with himself before falling beside her, one hand resting on her leg, the other on his own stomach. Jane felt for his masculine arm and closed her eyes, feeling perhaps at this moment more tired than she had been in weeks.
"No, my darling" Edward said, kissing Jane back awake as she started to drift off to sleep.
"I wasn't going to actually fall asleep" Jane said, slightly stubbornly.
Edward nodded knowingly, smiling to himself. "If you fall asleep now it will only be much harder when you have to wake for breakfast in a few minutes".
"I have no desire to sleep" she said, turning so she could nuzzle sleepily into his shoulder, "I am with you".
He kissed the top of her head.
"Jane Rochester, I wish more than anything you could know how much I love you" he said, sounding very serious.
"Try" Jane entreated, reaching up and moving a curl out of his face.
He looked down at her, into her beautifully unsuspecting face.
"Your soul is the nation where I want to live" he said, "For it is far more beautiful than any place in this world".
. . . .
Henry woke just as they were headed downstairs an hour later, so Jane stayed to nurse him and rock him before handing him over to Jenny while she went down for a quick breakfast. When she stepped into the dining room she was happy to see the conversation was lively and happy. When she sat down everyone greeted her with genuine happiness, asking how she and Henry were. When the conversation between Diana, Mary and the Captain resumed, Edward leaned into his wife, speaking almost inaudibly.
"You look as if you have had a pleasure-filled morning"
She gripped his leg tightly, warning him from continuing. He grinned at her, but she flashed her eyes warningly.
"In other words" he said, less softly, "You look very beautiful".
The Captain looked up, "What are you two love birds talking about?"
"A good night's sleep" Jane said, before her husband had time to say anything. "Henry only stirred twice last night, it was wonderful. I feel like I have slept a full day".
Diana laughed, taking another bite of her bread.
"Well, you both are amazing with him. You know since being here I am astounded Mr Rochester at how much time you spend with your son. I mean, I remember first really interacting with my father when I was almost ten. Me and Mary spent far more time with our mother, and with the servants. But then again, in other ways I am not surprised at all, for you and Jane are far from a traditional couple".
Edward sipped his tea, shrugging easily. When he spoke however, his voice held far more conviction.
"Henry is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I cannot imagine why any father would not want to spend as much time with his son as earthly possible. I do not take for granted that for the vast majority of my life I had resigned myself to knowing I would never marry, and thus never have kids".
"You have that little girl Adele, do you not?" the Captain asked,
"Indeed" Edward said, "Though Adele has never considered me her father, for I am not. She has spent much of her life in France, a part of her life that I was not involved in at all, for she had people there to make decisions for her. Still, she is part of our family now and she is loved here very much".
It warmed Jane's heart to hear him speak of Adele in this way. In their early days and weeks of marriage Jane talked extensively with her husband about who he had been, and what led him to become such a broken person. She had always known, of course, for he had told her often when she was still only his servant, but there was something rewarding in talking about such things as husband and wife. It was hard not to discuss it, for he often ran his fingers along her cheeks and told her that she had stronger healing powers than any doctor, having healed his soul without leaving any trace of scars. In these discussions, Jane realised the barrier that had always stopped any sort of intimacy between Adele and him was caused by the gravity in which he looked upon the world. It was not Adele he hated, and it was not children he hated, rather he hated himself for who he had allowed himself to become. When last Adele was at the house, Edward had walked through the gardens with her for a very long time, asking if she wished to call him father. But her answer simple- she said that to her, he would always be "Mr Rochester" and her old governess would always be "Jane". To them, that was perfectly alright.
"Adele is wonderful" Diana said, "And I hope she will be back soon"
"She is too busy for us, I'm afraid! She hardly writes us anymore, for she is away at school. Very busy social life, I imagine"
"Then she is similar to you, Jane" Diana said, raising an eyebrow.
Edward turned to her, "You? A busy social life? Under what false delusion have you had me?"
Diana laughed, "Not of Jane's own accord, perhaps. But she was always so loved when she lived with us. People asked her round for tea constantly, and if it was not tea it was dinner, or for a walk, or children would run up to her door and ask if school could resume early"
"Well, I can believe that with complete confidence" Edward replied, smiling at Jane.
"She exaggerates-"
"No, it is quite true" Mary added after much silence, "She was very much admired".
Jane's cheeks blushed furiously. She hoped that it did not look as obvious on her face as it felt.
"Ms Rochester, I think you will find as you move though the world that very few people will have anything ill to say of you. I am married to a highly critical character, someone who is very picky about the people she is willing to call "good", and in her estimation, and indeed her equally critical sister, you are nothing but superb".
"It is strange, for until I meet Edward I had never meet a soul that liked me, and certainly had never known anyone who would have called me even decent. I remember when I first moved to Thornfield I was mesmerised by Edward's personal office. I did not know him for the first few months I worked there, for he was away. But I could not resist going back and looking at his very extensive collection of books frequently, and I began to take them to read. I knew it was not a particularly customary thing to do as a woman, but at that point I was positive I would never marry and was only interesting in making myself content and comfortable. I fear I am not content without books".
Jane could feel her husband smiling at her, but she did not look at him, instead the Captain folded his arms, leaning back in his chair and looking deeply interested.
"One day, when Edward came back from his travels, I had forgotten that I now had to ask for permission to read the books in his office. He came in and found me rifling through them one day and I was mortified. I apologised to him vigorously, saying I never should have been in his personal space, nor reading his personal books without asking first-".
"But I am positive Rochester did not have the typical reaction one may expect?" the Captain said, looking to his friend knowingly. Edward grinned,
"He was genuinely confused, and asked me why a thinking, intelligent woman would ever need to ask permission to read the books. I was stunned by him and knew from that moment that I was appreciated, for the first time in my life. It was such a humbling feeling".
Jane looked into her husbands face, and was reminded of the man he was back then, compared to who he was now. Despite how much had changed, that fundamental respect for her he always had and showed to her still ran through him.
"Were you not possessive over them?" Mary asked,
"No! I was only very happy to have someone to discuss them with. No one I had ever known had appreciated the pursuit of knowledge in the way I did, and I soon learned Jane's interest in books far out-rivalled mine. More wonderful still, she loved to learn by listening, and I took great please in telling her all I had learned of the world".
"Do you hear that Diana? Jane liked to hear of her husbands stories. I told you that my stories of travelling the world are very interesting-"
"Well, speaking of the wider world, I thought today that us ladies may go into town," Diana said, "leave the house for a little while".
The Captain looked as if he was going to say something else, but Diana had seen something in Mary's countenance that caused her to change the subject.
"Mary, soon you will need some new dresses and I believe there is a shop in town we can go to"
Mary did not raise her eyes from her plate as she responded.
"There is no need for such an expense. Jane would allow me to borrow her dresses, I am sure".
"Just for a walk, then! I am sure the fresh air would do us all some good" Diana continued, still trying to encourage activity.
"I am sorry, but I cannot leave Henry for any stretch of time. He is rather too fussy to leave with anyone else"
"But of course. I was not thinking. We can still go, Mary".
"No thank you Diana" her sister said firmly. "I have no desire to leave the house today. I told Father Andrew I would attend church on Sunday and that would be the first time I ventured outside. I would rather read, or finish my needle point".
Diana went to speak again, but Captain Franklin laid his hand her arm and shook his head. She looked very angry, but finished her breakfast in silence. Edward looked at Jane as the Captain too turned back to his plate. She knew what he was thinking- that he was thankful he never had to check her in front of people like the Captain just did. He was also thinking of how thankful he was that she did not turn as sullen as Diana now looked. The rest of the breakfast remained rather awkward, and was significantly less talkative than it had been before.
In her mind, Jane formed a plan to speak with everyone individually throughout the afternoon, for she had a suspicion that people were not seeing eye to eye on the matters at hand, and that far larger drama would surely come if it was not seen to immediately.