Hello all!

Thank you, very much, for all your continued patience.

And thank you, thank you, for all the incredible messages I get, and for those posting as a guest. I cannot see your name but I am immensely grateful for the love and support. Receiving messages from you truly makes my day.

I hope you are all well, and feeling happy!

More coming soon! xoxoxox

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As the pair reentered the ball room, Jane caught sight of Mary and Lady Denver standing off to the side engaged in private conversation. For a moment Jane had the great urge to walk over, for she did not want Lady Denver saying anything upsetting to Mary about being a mother without a husband. But as she turned, set on her goal, Edward grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"No Jane" he said seriously, "There is no need. Look at Mary, she appears happy enough talking to Lady Denver".

At that moment Mary's face broke into a smile and Lady Denver tapped her arm gently with the fan in her hand. Jane sighed, rolling her eyes at her own rashness.

"Thank you. That would have been foolish of me, and never could have ended well. I am just so worried that Mary will encounter unpleasantness tonight that will set her back".

"Well, as far as I know she has not experienced anything like that, for I think she is too intent on her task to notice anything else. Earlier, I overheard her asking Lady Denver if she had heard anything recently of Father Andrew"

"Did you indeed?" Jane asked, "Lady Denver sees father weekly, if not more often than that. Of course she would think to ask her. How did she sound?"

"A little dejected, but trying very hard to hide it"

"Hm"

"It is too bad, Jane" Edward acknowledged, "For I think they would have made a good pair, Mary and Father Andrew. Life can be very unfair at times".

"It is all immensely unfair. Everyone deserves happiness. Especially someone like Mary who has suffered greatly at the hand of another. She has now been forever denied the possibility of a normal life, of contentment, and none of it was her own doing".

"You never know, love" Edward suggested, "For I understood myself at one time to be doomed to nothing less than a life of utter misery. I was to be forever plagued by a mistake which consumed every good feeling in my life. Look at all I have now. You do not know what is in store for Mary, so we must hope for the best".

Jane nodded, squeezing his hand.

"I think our goal from now on should be to try and encourage her to feel more connected with her son"

"You do not think that she shuns the child because he is also the son of her attacker, do you?"

"I am almost sure that is part of it. But she is also afraid, and confused and thinks herself unfit for the work involved. Look how hard it is to raise Henry, and there is two of us!"

"Indeed, for I know that the kind nurses who have been hired are not the-"

"Jane! Mr Rochester! where have you been?" Diana asked, coming up short in front of the pair, "We have been looking all over for you. You suddenly vanished on us."

"We did not vanish" Rochester said, "We were attending to one of your ill guests"

"Ill? Who is ill?" Franklin asked, catching up to them.

"Blanche Marcus"

"You were with her all this time?" Anne gasped, making her presence suddenly known, "I saw you exiting the room with her but that was some time ago. Why should you stay with such a person so long?"

"She was unwell, and laboured with more than a physical affliction. It would have been cruel to leave her alone while she was in such a way. Even her sister would not see to her. We left when her husband came into the room".

"Oh Jane" Anne said, "I would not have one ounce of time for her, nor one second. I do not know how you can stand it"

"Well thankfully she did not demand it of you, darling" Eshton said, "I think she knows who to go to if she wished for sympathy".

"At any rate" Rochester cut in, "Jane does not need to be harassed by you lot for having been more thoughtful than any of us would have been".

She grinned at her husband.

"But I should think you hate Blanche, Rochester?" Eshton said, "I certainly do. All those long gatherings we attended with that crowd at one time. How tedious they were, and primarily because of her".

"I pity her" Edward said simply, "I do not hate her just for being prideful, vain and selfish. Those are the qualities of ninety percent of the wealthy people here, I am sure. She is no different from the rest".

"Indeed" Franklin said, leaning in and speaking very low, "Half of the people here are detestable and the other half ridiculous. I forgot how tiring hosting truly is".

"And which half are we in, Captain Franklin?" Anne asked, smiling "Are we detestable or are we ridiculous".

"Neither ma'am, if you are willing to forgive my mathematical blunder".

"But of course".

"Oh Anne" Eshton rolled his eyes, "Of course you forgive him. You could not stay mad at any person if you tried. Surely you would forget that you were supposed to be upset with them".

"Be careful Mr Eshton" Jane warned, "I think you are creating your own experiment here that you may not like the results of".

He laughed heartily, but as he looked to his right he groaned.

"Well, despite how much I have enjoyed a break in speaking with you all I must return to Lord Pierce, for he expects me".

He turned on his heel and Anne followed. Shortly after the Franklin's did the same. Once again, Jane was left alone with Edward.

Jane watched Franklin move through the crowd slowly, for he was stopped by people continually as he walked. His charm and his friendly disposition allowed him to flit between people with ease, feeling none the more burdened for having spoken with them all. Still, there was something strange in the encounters. The men who stopped him were not young, nor kind, nor connected to him in any way. The conversations were not long, almost as if the people stopping him wished to account for some part of his supposed reputation before allowing him to leave once more.

"Edward?"

"Yes darling?"

"Is Captain Franklin a popular man?" she asked quietly.

"I do not think he is unpopular by any means, though he is certainly not as well known or respected as his family was. What makes you ask?"

"Well, I find that for a sea captain there is an oddly numerous amount of people here. I know he and his family are well connected, but Eshton went off to speak with Lord Pierce whom I know is an exceptionally busy man, too busy to come to a simple ball if there was not something important in it for himself".

"You make a good point Jane. As you say, his family was well connected, but he himself never really was. From what I understand he never could make it into school, which is why he joined the military. Before his parents passed away I imagine they would have been disappointed by his choice. They were all writers and thinkers and academics through and through. Even a distinguished career in the military would have seemed a let down to them. I think it more likely, then, that the people gathered here tonight wished only to see the inside of this house".

"Really?"

"This house has quite the history. It used to be a house used almost exclusively for high class gatherings. I am sure many people here are wishing to relive some of those original owners all came from a long line of Duke's and Duchesses, and so to be invited into this home was to be invited into the lives of near royalty. Somehow, along the line, there were no more heirs produced and so the house passed into the ownership of Captain Franklin's family. Immediately all the parties stopped, for Franklin's family are all conservative, and had a strict understanding of overindulgence and extravagance"

"Ironic, given that they chose to move into this house with such an importance placed on modesty"

Edward laughed, "Well, you point out the rather glaring contradiction of their lived life versus their values. The parties did stop, however, and the mythology of this house ended too. I believe his family focused on expanding the library and putting money into charitable institutions instead. Strangely enough, I know that there was great talk of this home passing to a new family with the death of Franklin's parents"

"But why? They have two sons"

"Three, in fact. Franklin has an older brother of which I know nothing and he speaks very little of, so I cannot say why it was assumed the house would not pass to him. You have meet Franklin's younger brother, unfortunately, and as we know all too well he has always had a reputation for being a grimy waste of space. Surely there would have been a reluctance on his parents part to allow him to inherit the house. For Franklin, well, he was a sailor. Traditionally sailors settle down far later in life than Franklin has, and I have a feeling if he had not meet Diana he would still be on the seas for quite some time. So, in that case, the house would not have passed to him either. But, here we are. He is married and did indeed inherit, so people were all too excited to see the interior of this rather remarkable home".

Another dance started, and couples moved on and off the floor with seamless ease. The amount of people around Jane and Edward thickened as a larger number of people moved from the dance floor back into the crowd. Jane saw Anne and Eshton move onto the dance floor and she was happy to see that Anne looked very well.

"Poor Diana feels quite lost within this grand home" Jane explained, "Moving from small Moor house to this great mansion was, and I believe still is, a huge shock to her. I am sure that knowing its grand history did not ease her nerves in coming here".

"Houses like this are far too much work for a young married woman trying to run it all on no experience. They are built for long family lines, armies of servants and socialites. I do not blame her for her anxiety in moving here".

"I understand the feeling" Jane said, "Seeing as I went from being a servant to being a mistress overnight myself".

Edward looked at her curiously,

"And yet, in my case, I had all the help I could have asked for along with your full support, which made things far easier. Besides, when we were first married it was only Ferndean I was trying to contend with, and there was only John and Leah in the way of servants"

"Ferndean" Edward said with dislike "What a prison that was. I am sorry we spent any time there. I should have whisked you away at once to better places"

"Do not say such, for I do not feel that way at all. I am rather fond of Ferndean"

"How could you be fond of such a place as that?"

"Well, because it was where we married. That house may have been dark and damp, and in many ways uninviting, but it never felt that way with you there. Tucked away in the woods I felt isolated, and free to be alone with you. We could have been the only people in the world there and I would not have minded in the slightest. It was where I felt fully at peace for the first time in my life".

Edward softened, looking thoughtful.

"Of course when I think of those days I am fond of Ferndean, but the time I spent there without you...that year of endless misery had tarnished the house too much for it to ever be a home. When we were there together you felt more like a dream than ever, a dream that would depart at any moment, and I would be left alone once more, for I could not imagine being so suddenly happy in a place where I had been so wretched".

Jane nodded,

"It was all for the best. I cannot imagine a more wonderful home to the one we live in at present"

"No indeed. The only way it could be improved would be to have more children running around in it" Edward said.

At these words Jane felt her stomach turn slightly. She had not thought of having more children since Henry had been born. He was only four months old, surely Edward could not be thinking of having another child at the moment. She did not think she could do it, not right now.

Edward did not seem to notice Jane's slightly fallen demeanour as he continued talking. Before much time could pass, however, Lady Denver stepped in front of them and demanded that a carriage ride should be made ready for her, that she was tired and ready to retire for the night. Mr Rochester, with much reluctance, promised Jane to return soon and was off to arrange Lady Denver's passage home.

. . . . . .

The night continued on through lighthearted socialising. Jane meet more people than she could remember by the end of the night, names and faces and families and occupations blurring together all too easily for her to truly remember anyone in great detail. She guessed this was a trait of the upper class, to remember names and faces. She never had to, for she only ever knew the teachers and pupils of Lowood or Moor house school that she saw everyday. After she and Edward had danced the final dance and the crowd began to disperse for the night Jane felt truly more tired than she had felt in a long time, even with a new baby.

Edward was caught saying goodbye to many people as they left, for like Jane, many people found him interesting and engaging to talk to. He kept his wife close to make sure that all those speaking with him acknowledged her presence too. At first this had seemed to be a kind gesture that ensured she could not become bored or excluded from conversation, but when Jane realised all the energy it took to maintain polite and surface level conversation she rather wished she could have collapsed into a chair in the corner without being noticed.

'Hello, are you Ms Rochester?!"

The voice rang out was loud and sharp, and it took Jane a moment to realise who it was coming from. Before her, appearing seemingly from thin air, stood a girl with wide eyes and who was bursting at the seams with excitement. She was young, perhaps only twenty years old, a similar age to Jane. Her light blonde hair was curled and fashioned into tight buns on the side of her face which gave her the appearance of a small child. Her cheeks were deeply flushed, her light blue eyes small and crinkled. Her dress was a white, and the frills around the neck, collar and wrists moved long after she had stopped moving herself, adding to the appearance of her trying to flap away like some bird. Her beaming smile was bright, and genuine, but was almost too much so. Jane had the impression that she was the sort of person who would not know when it was inappropriate to smile, as if she would be the person to smile during a funeral.

"Hello" Jane replied, "I am indeed. Have we meet before?"

"No. But I hope that will be fixed very, very soon. I am Annabelle, I am married to Martin Lacey. I was so excited to come here tonight and meet you. We only just arrived, and to think the ball is ending! We were delayed, you see, because we just had the most amazing dinner before coming here, began a discussion with my housekeeper and were so late because of it. Then we were lost on the road and delayed even further so here we are. But I mention this because I am so glad you are still here, for I wanted to meet you very much".

"I am glad, then. My husband and I are actually staying with the Franklin's at present, so we are here regardless of the hour, you would not have missed us."

But as soon as these words slipped from Jane's mouth she immediately regretted them. She had a sinking feeling that she would be seeing Annabelle Lacey again before returning home.

"Ah!" she cried, clapping her hands together, "Good. I am so glad. I have heard so many wonderful things about you and I wish to be your friend. Are you looking for a new friend at present?"

Jane thought that it was a very odd question, implying that a person chose when and where they wished to make friends. Stunned by the nature of the question, Jane tried to form an appropriate answer. Edward had now turned, alerted by all the loud and high-pitched sounds Annabelle was making. He introduced himself in order to save Jane from needing to respond at all.

"Hello Mr Rochester, you are Mr Rochester are you not?"

"I am indeed"

"I thought so. It would be very odd for you to stand so close to Ms Rochester as a married woman if you were not her husband".

"Right, and who are you, sorry? I do not believe we have meet"

"Annabelle Lacey, how can I forget to tell that to people? It is my name, after all"

Edward's face immediately dropped and Jane just managed to stop herself from bursting into a fit of laughter.

"You would not happen to be married to-"

"Mr Rochester! What are you doing talking to my wife? Is she bothering you? Do you want to take her off my hands by chance? I would not object!"

The instant laughter that erupted from his wide, opened mouth was startling. The man who had approached had jet black hair swept ineffectively to the side so that some hung down and stuck to his forehead. His face was quite large and the glasses he wore were small, so small that it looked like his face was engulfing them as he spoke. His cheeks were a blazing red, and he seemed out of breath in spite of only walking a few paces towards them. Jane suddenly had a better appreciation for her husbands fallen face.

"Lacey" Edward said, disregarding the dismissive and rather annoying questions he had asked, "How do you do?"

"Better than nothing" he said, his laughter winding down as he wiped his eyes. No one else around them was laughing.

"Lacey, may I introduce you to my wife, Jane Rochester"

"Huh?" he said, adjusting his glasses awkwardly on his face and looking at Jane, "Is she? Are you?"

"I am" Jane answered, wondering if faking a dizzy spell was too dramatic a way to exit this conversation swiftly.

"Interesting. When did you get married?"

"Last May" Edward answered, his patience wavering.

"So...well let me see now...that would make you...make you married for... a year and a month, no, I'm sorry. A year and three months!"

"Yes" was the blunt and unimpressed response. Jane stifled a laugh again.

"Have you any children?"

"Yes, a son"

"A son, well well, excellent work Ms Rochester, all men wish to have a son first, even if they are not willing to admit it"

"I am not sure it was my doing sir, and thus I am unable to take the credit-"

"And so that means that you were married for...for...let me see, married in May of last year, combined with the present date...a year! You were married a year when you had your son"

Jane was starting to feel rather uncomfortable but her husband looked positively enraged. This was an immensely private conversation to be having out loud.

"How wonderful! Annabelle cheered, her hands wringing together once more, seemingly to entirely miss the ridiculousness of her husband.

"Well, indeed it was very nice to see you again Lacey, Ms Lacey, but myself and my wife must retire now and see to our son. He has been alone tonight for far too long. Goodnight to you"

"Yes, goodnight" Jane said, nodding to them both. Mr Lacey raised his hand in objection but Jane was whisked away too quickly to see anything else of his response.

"Just keep moving, Jane" Edward said, all temperance now lost from his voice. Jane laughed into her fist as they made their way through the final stragglers of the crowd who were saying their last goodbyes.

. . . . .

Henry had been asleep when they arrived upstairs and they decided that to move him would surely wake him and cause him to cry. So, they agreed to simply go and retrieve him when he began to cry during the night and then he would remain in their room.

Some time later, Jane sat cross-legged on the bed. Edward was washing his face in the water basin as she consumed herself in deep thought. She was absorbed in all events from the night, unable to settle her mind after all she had seen and learned.

"Did you enjoy yourself tonight, love?"

She looked up and saw him and smiled.

"Indeed, very much. I forgot how much I enjoyed dancing"

"You should enjoy it, for you look so happy when you are dancing"

"Only because it is with you" she said, and Edward nodded knowingly.

He pulled back the sheets and got into bed, waiting characteristically for Jane to crawl in beside him, but she did not move. She only turned so that she was facing him, hands joined before her. He looked at her curiously, and waited for her to explain herself.

"Edward, do you want another child?"

The look that instantly clouded his face was a mix surprise and confusion.

"What?"

"Do you want another baby?"

Edward tilted his head ever so slightly, his eyebrows creasing.

"Right now? Jane, if you want to lay with me tonight you only have to say so-"

"No" she replied quickly, "I do not mean in that way. It is only that you have said to me twice recently that you wished for more children to fill our home and the short distance of time between these comments made me wonder if you had expectations of me that I was not fulfilling".

"Jane Rochester, come here".

Jane knelt up and was pulled into her husbands embrace so that she was straddling him, arms around his neck. She looked into his face, waiting for him to speak.

"I want to do everything on earth with you. Of course I want more children with you, but I have no expectation for you to be producing a baby every nine months. Such is madness. Right now, you and one baby is quite enough for me".

Jane nodded, closing her eyes and pressing her forehead to her husbands.

"Alright then, now I know".

"But.." he said slowly, bringing his lips to Jane's so that they hovered enticingly just before her mouth, "If it were to happen, because you were making love with me, I would not object in the slightest".

Jane smiled into the kiss he planted on her lips.

"Remember what happened the last time? When Franklin came knowing on the door?"

"Yes" he grunted, "And although that was highly disappointing and very bad timing, I did make it up to you that night"

Jane shook her head, "You are unbelievable"

"You know what, Jane? I think I have had a change of heart. I think we should try again for a child, right now".

"No" she said pushing off of him, "Absolutely not".

"Why not! You asked me a minute ago if I wished for another baby and now I tell you I do"

"I asked you, but I did not say I would consent to it if you said you did"

"Ah" he said, pushing her down against all the pillows, her arms pinned above her head by his strong arms, "I see".

Jane smiled and with some difficulty, given the way she was restrained, kissed Edward. At the touch of her lips on his he instantly released his grip and allowed her to wrap her arms around his neck, deepening their kiss. Jane ran her fingers through his hair and sighed happily.

"You see, do you?"

"Mmm" he confirmed, his low masculine voice singing in her ears as he kissed her again.