The Rochester's coach stopped in front of the church right behind the one carrying the Captain, Diana and Mary. When Edward stepped out of the carriage Jane had a quick moment of seeing everyone gathered outside of the church before being helped from the carriage herself. Jane observed the vast variety of people standing around. There were very old couples, all of whom looked like they disliked the company of the person they were with immensely. The older women in general were dressed with an outdated over-formality that looked odd and out of place on a Sunday morning. Many high necks and frills around collars gave them the impression of being half-strangled by their own clothing. The older men talked among themselves, but the women remained silent. Perhaps they had had too many years of talking to one another to have anything new to say. Many families were also in attendance, with in some cases what looked like upwards of ten kids. The mothers called to the children running circles around the gathered group, looking frustrated and tired. There were young people too, surely male bachelors and single ladies who were batting their eyes in the direction of the young gentlemen that had no time for the glances being sent their way. They too talked loudly and happily to one another, standing confidently with their hands on their hips. Everyone it appeared was standing in a loose line so that they would greet Father Andrew before service began. Captain Franklin, Diana and Mary reached the Rochester's side and they all advanced to join the line. Most heads had turned to watch them.
By this time, Jane and her husband were well known to most people in the town, perhaps for their now infamous marriage more than anything else, but this did not matter. Jane thought that they would be the sight of much speculation, and they were. Though her husband was not the most handsome man present, he had, as he always did, an impressive and important presence without any conscious effort. It was the old pride that Jane had sensed in him when they had first meet- the self assurance that was unaware, and not at all motivated by any sort of vanity. It caused the group to look away almost as quickly as it had turned towards them.
Father Andrew looked up at the gathered congregation as he went to meet the next people in line and saw the Rochester's, waving enthusiastically before turning back to greet those standing before him. Jane, Mr Rochester and Henry stood in line waiting to enter the church with the others, fully aware of those watching them intently.
"Good lord, what have we gotten ourselves into" Edward said lowly to Jane, completely unimpressed with the situation he had found himself in. But his wife only smiled.
"Be good, just for a little while. Oh my bootlace, here"
Edward took Henry from Jane as she bent down to fix her shoe. He bounced him in his arms gently, speaking to him quietly. As Jane stood up, she saw many people watching Edward with his son, looking surprised and confused. It was not customary for a father to take care of his child- not until they were perhaps twelve years of age. The sight must have been baffling to some, but Jane only took her husbands arm and continued forward to Father Andrew.
"Hello father!" Diana said as the group reached him. He clapped his hands together, smiling brightly.
"Hello Mr Rochester, Ms Rochester, Captain, Ms Franklin, and Miss Mary. And of course-" he said, reaching forward to tickle Henry gently, "The man of the hour".
But Henry began to cry when Father Andrew approached him, and the priest was subsequently mortified. It took far too long to reassure Father Andrew he had done nothing wrong, and when they moved into the church to find a seat, he still looked quite shaken.
"Dearest" Diana snapped quietly at her husband who was trying to squeeze into the back row of the church, "What in heavens name are you doing?"
"Sitting down?"
"Back there? Good heavens, we are sitting in the front for the baptism. Get up, now".
"The front?" Edward asked, turning to Jane, "Why?"
"To be close to the font" Mary replied, quietly.
There were two pews at the front of the church empty, and presumably reserved for the baptism apart from two figures already seated there. When they turned around, Jane saw the Eshton's smiling at them and waving.
"Hello all!" Anne said, nodding to the group, "How are you? It has been far too long. What a pleasure to see all of you again. I did not expect it!"
Their excited voices were muffled by the low conversational buzz about the room.
"Very well! And yourselves?" Diana replied.
Diana and her husband sat down with Mary in the pew behind where Jane and Edward had moved besides the Eshton's . Anne turned around to ask Mary of her wellness, but Mary only mumbled some response that was inaudible and sat with her eyes bent on the floor. Anne turned slowly, meeting Jane's meaningful glance that promised she would explain later.
"Rochester" Eshton said, grinning "I never thought I would see the day where you were back in church"
"Nor I with you" he replied, raising his eyebrow. "I cannot imagine what transpired to have you in attendance today"
"Long story. But it comes down to women, and you know you must keep them happy".
"Goodness darling, you could be a little less straightforward" Anne said, looking to him and then back at the Rochester's, amazed.
"I dragged him kicking and screaming this morning. He only agreed to come when he heard you both would be here" she explained.
"I thought you all may join us back at our house after the baptism for a celebratory lunch" Eshton continued, "It has been far too long, and there is much to tell. Come, say you will".
"We would normally like to, very much" Rochester said, "But our servants have prepared a lunch for us in celebration, and it would be quite unforgivable to not attend, they have been up since dawn, I am sure".
"Then it shall be lunch at your place this time and ours the next" Eshton nodded affirmatively, "I cannot complain. Your cooks are far better than ours".
Anne was sending him a severe and horrible glance while Jane laughed with her husband silently.
"It is cold in here" Edward said, indicating Henry, "Do you think it is too cold for him?"
"I will get his blanket. Where did you put it?"
A pause.
"I did not put it anywhere, I thought you did"
"I had to feed him just before we left, so I asked you to find it"
"Well" Edward said, rocking his son apologetically, "I did not go and find it, I'm sorry, I did not hear you".
Jane looked at him, ready to say something else, but she realised the fact that she had woken him up in the middle of the night probably had something to do with it. So, she stopped and instead shook her head.
"I'm sorry, I should have been more clear. It is far warmer outside than it is in here. We can take turns walking him in and out when we need to".
"Well, let me see if the carriage has left" Edward said, standing, "There are always extra clean blankets in there since Henry's arrivial. I'll be back in a moment".
He handed their baby back to Jane and took off towards the church doors. Jane held Henry close to her, feeling to see if his hands were too cold.
"You see" Captain Franklin said, throwing his hands in the air, "That is how you have an argument, Diana. Rochester forgot, but Jane did not berate him, they have just solved the problem and moved past the issue with no hostility at all"
Eshton laughed heartily, and both Anne and Diana looked slightly cross with their husbands.
"If you ever think you will have the ability to communicate like Jane and Rochester, you are much mistaken" Eshton said, amused. "They are one of a kind".
Jane turned to look at those around her.
"Oh no, he forgot this morning because of me. I woke him up last night, and I am sure he did not go back to sleep for quite some time. Tiredness has made him inattentive, and that is my doing".
"See" Diana said, "So, it was not Jane forgiving him, it was him not getting upset at her"
"Oh please, imagine that" the Captain replied.
"I would appreciate if everyone would stop putting my marriage on a pedestal" Jane said, slightly amused and slightly serious, "It makes me feel as if I have far too much of a falsity to live up to. Besides, I am married to Edward Rochester, and if you know him at all you know that that means things are never dull ".
"Well then stop acting so perfectly and we will gladly take you off the pedestal" Anne teased, "It would give the rest of us far less to feel inadequate about"
At that moment Edward moved back along the pew, sitting down beside Jane.
"Here" he said, passing her a blanket to wrap around Henry. "I thought I should take this as well. You may get cold in here too, seeing as you are always cold- no matter where we are".
Jane felt her cheeks burn bright pink as he wrapped her shawl around her shoulders. Her arms were full with Henry, and she could not do it herself.
She was fully aware she was being watched intently.
"Jane, why are you blushing like that?" he asked amused, "What have they been saying?"
"Oh nothing, but you have just confirmed a theory for us" Eshton said,
Edward looked to his wife for clarification.
"Apparently, we are the perfect couple" Jane said amused, "Or so they all seem to believe"
"Well you are perfect to me" he replied, "Though I am far more flawed than you, so I know we cannot be perfect".
Jane looked at him, the corners of her mouth turning into a slight smile as Father Andrew moved to the front of the church.
"It is a good thing I love you very much" Jane said only loudly enough for Edward to hear, "Otherwise, I should be mad at you"
"Shh, Jane. This is a house of God, and we mustn't speak of anger. It is Sunday, after all"
"Don't you speak of it being Sunday to me-"
"Oh look, he is starting" Edward said, smirking. He reached for his wife's hand, and Jane did not push it away.
Father Andrew walked briskly through the church, completely unaware of his surroundings. He caught his foot on the floor and tripped, barely catching himself as the heavy bible in his arms pulled him forward.
"Oh my" he said flustered, straightening up "How very close".
Mr Eshton laughed, but quickly disguised it as a cough. Jane looked over at Edward, who was smiling and looking straight forward. She felt a slight squeeze to her hand.
Father Andrew walked to the altar and stood before the congregation,
"Good morning to you all. I would like to take a few minutes to introduce myself to you, seeing as I am new and I wish to know you all very well. I am Father Andrew, and I have just moved from Bath to be your Vicar here. It was a difficult choice, but since moving here I have meet many wonderful people. For example, the Rochester family here today to Baptise their son-"
"Christ" Edward said to himself, angrily.
"They invited me warmly into their home, and made me feel part of the community of people here. Mr Rochester, of whom I had heard so much about, was very kind to allow me use of his carriage for a ride home, for I had not obtained one yet, and it was a long walk back to the parsonage here. His kindness towards a stranger did not go unnoticed, and that is why I am honoured to be the priest to conduct his, and his lovely wife's, beautiful son's baptism".
Edward looked as if he had never been so unimpressed in the whole of his life. It was true that Mr Rochester's kindness to him had not been so far outside of the ordinary, for offering a carriage was not a big trouble. But, Father Andrew seemed to be touched beyond expression at such a gesture, and had made it clear in front of the whole congregation how much he appreciated it. When Father Andrew had turned back to the congregation to discuss his times for private prayers and confession, Jane rubbed her husbands arm reassuringly.
"Jane-"
"I know".
The service itself proved to be far easier than the conversation before. Both Jane and Edward had long forgotten about the watchful crowd's gaze when they stepped forward to have their son baptised. It was a special feeling, holding him together and recognising what they had created before God. Jane was humbled by the moment, as she knew her husband was, for neither had ever expected a family for themselves, let along a family like this one. It was hard not to feel the truth of their lives in that moment.
How had this ever come to pass? This thought consumed Jane as she sat through the final part of mass.
When everything had finished, there was a rush of people who came to congratulate Jane and Mr Rochester. Although Jane suspected most of the words were false and more out of nosiness rather than real feeling, some words were very sweet and kind. One older couple in particular who had congratulated them seemed especially touched, and wished them the vest best in their lives together. The Eshton's, Diana and her husband and Mary all were speaking to different people as Father Andrew approached them.
"Thank you, Father" Edward said, "For baptising our son"
"Of course. I was only about to thank you for allowing me the pleasure. I love baptisms, as I love weddings, they are always such joyous occasions".
Mary turned as they lady she was speaking to left, she leaned over to Jane and spoke lowly.
"Do you think Father may enjoy coming for lunch? I am sure he has no where else to be"
"But of course, you can invite him, if you like".
Diana smiled at Jane, but Captain Franklin looked confused.
"Father" Mary spoke up, drawing him out of his conversation with Mr Rochester, "Would you care to join us for lunch?"
"Oh yes" he said, smiling, "Very much".
. . . . . . .
As she got dressed for bed that night, Jane could not help but think over how drastically her life had changed- and how much she had changed. She thought about this often, but there was something about the group of people who sat at her table that afternoon that had stirred these thoughts again within her. She now had a group of people in her life she loved, and who loved her in return. She had friends who cared for her exactly as she was. She had seen so much genuine care and affection pass between the group who had come for lunch that she was filled with a notion of love that in her youth was not only foreign, but impossible to her.
When Jane's nightgown was slipped over her head she went to Henry's bassinet and picked him up.
"You did not think I would leave you in there for very long, did you?" Jane asked, kissing his head. "No, of course not".
She brought him to the bed where she sat with her back to the headboard and knees pulled up so she could rest him on her legs. His little hands gripped her fingers as she danced his hands back and forth.
"You did so well today. You did not even shed a tear while you were in church, and I was sure you were going to. If you had done so, you may have given your father an excuse to walk outside, and then he would have thanked you".
He smiled up at his mother, his cheeks crinkling his eyes. Jane kissed his forehead. The door then opened and Edward stepped inside, looking tired. Even the effort to close the door seemed to take more concentration than before.
"Look, there your father is. Looking far more tired than yourself"
"Oh please tell me Jane that is not the case"
Jane only smiled, "I can take the first round, I know you are tired".
Edward stepped out of his clothes, leaving them thrown lazily on a chair. He pulled on his nightshirt with an equal lack of gusto. When he collapsed into bed Jane sighed and put her hand on his back.
"What is wrong?"
"Nothing" he said, simply, "Nothing at all. Today has just given me a lot to think about".
"What sorts of things?" Jane implored, rubbing his back habitually.
"Sitting at our lunch table today I was struck by several different things. First, how strangely my life has transpired from the dark and grim one I always imagined and frankly, expected it to be. Secondly, I was struck by how truly, and indescribably superior you are to every other person in the room at any given moment, which is a lot given how much I genuinely enjoy the company of everyone gathered here today. But I do not know why I am so surprised still, for I do know how exceptional you are".
Jane stopped rubbing his back, and he looked up at her.
"You do not have to stop that, you know"
"But you must stop the flattery" Jane said, "You know very well that I am not far superior to everyone that was gathered here today. You say that because your love for me biases you, and I would rather not hear it".
He turned over to look at his wife,
"You are very bad at accepting compliments"
"Only when they are untrue"
"No, it is all of them" he said, "And they are not untrue! They do not need to be with you".
Jane leaned forward and kissed his cheek,
"I love you"
"Ah, there is my wife, after I have broken her down into submission. Here-" he said, sitting up and holding out his arms to see Henry. "Let me hold him for a little while, you lie down".
Jane did not contest his offer. She pulled the blankets over herself and lay facing her husband and son. Edward was feeling his soft head of hair smiling.
"I think it is getting darker" he commented, "Surely his hair is darker than it was this afternoon".
"Well, indeed if he is going to look like his father it must be darker...and he must obtain a little more of it, but I think it will be curly too".
Edward smiled his proud smile that was remarkable in its ability to make one feel. It was reserved for special people and moments, however, and did not cross his face often. Jane marvelled at the image of him and their child together. How could life be more perfect than this?
"Tell me more of what crossed your mind today" Jane said, "I never grow tired of hearing what you think".
He smiled at her laying beside him and looked thoughtful for a moment.
"You remember when you told me Mary fancied Father Andrew?"
"Yes?"
"Well since you have enlightened me I see it clearly from her. Though, I cannot make out what he feels for her".
"I wish I could say it was love" Jane lamented, "I wish I could believe that, and if she was not in the situation she is in I would be confidant to declare it as such. But her life now will always be very complicated, and I fear this horrible attack on her has most likely sealed her fate of ever having a family like she so much desired".
"Well especially given his career. He is the beacon of moral order here now, and I am afraid to say it would take a very brave man indeed to defy what the community thought of his moral competency".
"I know" Jane agreed sadly. "And how can anyone besides that horrible man be held responsible?"
"They cannot be" her husband assured her, "And until we can locate him, I am sorry I cannot give you or Mary something more satisfying. Now that Eshton is back, perhaps we will have more luck in trying to track him down".
Jane held his arm, looking up into his face. "Thank you, truly. I know how much work you have put into finding him, and I know how thankful Mary is".
"It is selfishly motivated too" he assured Jane, "The thoughts of a man like that in this world when I have a wife to protect is unbearable to me. I want to see that man put away where he will never see the light of day again".
"Mmm" Jane agreed, closing her eyes momentarily, "I could not agree with you more".
Jane opened one eye, grinning at Edward.
"I find it funny how much Diana and the Captain fight. Did you hear them exiting the carriage earlier?"
Edward chuckled lowly, shaking his head.
"I heard Eshton trying to crack a joke to lighten the mood, and that is never a good sign".
"Do you think it could be a serious problem in future?"
"No" Edward answered quickly, "Not at all. They have just been together a lot recently, and Diana does not have a home to attend to at present to keep her busy. Nor does Franklin have any work to do as a military man. Idle people make for idle lives and that always leads to fighting".
Jane propped her head up on her arm, thinking.
"Edward, did it make you uncomfortable when they referred to us as a perfect couple? They do it often and we simply are not perfect".
"We are pretty close" he said, grinning at her,
"I am serious"
He placed Henry in between them, cradled safely between his two parents bodies. He was wrapped tightly in blankets which kept him warm and fast asleep.
"I do not like the attention, which you know, but the price for being a wonderful person Jane, is that people will always love examining parts of your life that is so different from their own. And, because I am far less good than you, but I am bound to you in marriage, I am brought into that examination too. I am not sure how personal it really is".
"I cannot help it" Jane said, smiling happily at him, "I love you. I love you more than I trust myself to say. I cannot hide it and I have no desire to".
Edward drew her to his mouth and kissed her deeply, cautious of the baby sleeping between them. Jane felt dissatisfaction spread through her when the kiss ended but pressed her forehead to her husbands reassuringly.
"Jane Rochester, you are everything to me. Everything" he said, cradling her face.