Hello everyone,

So, here is the new chapter, finally!

I'm sorry that this took so long. I had four drafts of this chapter written, but none of them felt quite right. I was probably being too picky, but I was not happy with them. Even though this one is a little shorter than normal there is more to come soon. I am excited for the next little bit of story, but let me know what you think based on this chapter!

Much love to you always. I am incredibly thankful for you all- for your support, encouragement and love. It means the absolute world to me. Thank you, thank you.

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Jane slept so soundly that night that she might have slept until noon if not for the rain which beat hard upon the window. She wondered if her mind's partiality towards rain had woken her from her deep sleep just so she could lay there and listen to it, deeply pleasant as it was. The sun was almost fully risen, though its light was not warm or bright. Cloudy and grey as the day was, speckles of cold light were cast all around the room were it moved through the raindrops resting on the large windows.

Jane sighed to herself, recognising how comfortable she truly was. Edward's arm encircled her, holding her close to him as he slept soundly. She watched his chest rise and fall in perfect rhythm. Laying here like this, Jane was free to take in her husbands appearance without him casting her a sceptical look.

She could not help the smile which spread over her face as she observed him.

Jane thought that Edward's features had softened slightly during their time of marriage, most likely because the burden of keeping a secret was not pressing on him anymore and he was not plagued with the prospect of continual unhappiness in his life. And yet, his features had not softened enough to render him a handsome man. His brow was still square, his eyebrows thick and heavy. The scars left by the Thornfield Hall fire were invisible to Jane now, as much a part of him as his dark eyes or his thick curly hair. They did not make him less attractive, nor highlight the fact that without such scars he would still not be a good looking man. They were simply a part of him now.

Filled by a sudden rush of love, Jane untangled herself from Edward's arms and moved over him. Her movement was enough to wake him from his sleep. Burying her face in the crook of his neck, she planted repeated soft kisses that caused him to breathe in deeply before letting his chest fall again, closing his eyes.

"What sweet dream is this?" he asked, his voice thick with sleep. Jane drew back observing him.

"I may be regretting something at the moment".

"That is very unlike you. What is it?"

"I think I very much regret being mostly celibate while at the Franklin's house".

Edward's face stretched into the widest grin and he suddenly looked far more awake.

"Do you?"

"I do indeed. I have been laying here thinking about it as I have been observing you".

Edward shrugged,

"Well, there is a very simple remedy for that kind of regret" he assured.

Jane lowered her mouth to his, allowing him to pull her into the deepest kiss which deprived her of all her senses. She suspected this had to do with the fact that they would have wound up in this situation the previous night, but the hour had been late and they were both exhausted. Desperate need had been prolonged, and in spite of circumstance had simmered under the surface for the whole night. Now came the much needed relief.

Edward turned Jane easily so that she was laying on her back before him, looking up into his flushed and determined face. He slowly began rolling up her nightdress, his mouth following his hands as he removed it. He kissed up her leg, his hot breath hovering over her womanhood before he continued up her hip, her stomach, in between her breasts and eventually her jaw. He discarded the shift beside the bed.

"It is not fair" Jane spoke, barely above a whisper, "I have nothing to remove of yours"

He smiled, kissing her forehead and then behind her ear.

"But I suppose that's not necessary" she concluded.

He looked quizzical as she moved above him, pushing him back into the bed. She too began kissing at his leg, taunting him- teasing him into his desire. She paused at the top of his leg as he had, moving her mouth over his abdomen, and she could see him ball his fist in frustration. She unfurled his fingers and kissed his palm.

"Jane" he objected, his need evident.

"Hm?" she imitated him, but he only put his head back down in the pillows.

Jane continued to kiss up his stomach, resuming her path of kisses until she reached the base of his neck, a specially sensitive area for him. Jane lingered here, issuing deep groans from him. She would have remained at such all day, but when she moved to kiss his Adams apple he shuddered and sat up quickly, pressing his mouth to his wife's. Jane was moved onto his lap, straddling him as she wrapped her arms around his waist. His finger and thumb pulled her chin closer to him. The kiss broke suddenly and Jane was left staggered, her mind numb when his mouth closed around her breast and sucked her nipple.

"Ahh" Jane exhaled quickly, closing her eyes.

Edward's hand teased her centre of pleasure, but never pushed against her with enough force to satisfy. She moved her hips, trying to thrust down into his fingers so they moved against her with more pressure. He allowed this, helping her by adding more pressure himself. Jane felt momentary relief, only to have the stretching, pulling feeling in her stomach pulse against her ribs in desperation. She let out a moan of frustration which she knew would have an immediate effect on Edward. He never allowed her to be frustrated for long.

Removing his mouth from her breasts, he brushed his thumbs over her peaked nipples one last time so that she shuddered, sending ripples of warming sensations through her whole body. His lips closed on her forehead, a small action containing infinite love within it.

Edward lay Jane down before him very gently, supporting her back as she fell into the pillows. Face flushed, her hair puffy around her face, her complexion glowing, he mounted himself before her and entered his wife with one, long, agonising thrust. He moved slowly at first, her preference. He willed himself with every atom of his nature not to spill into her prematurely, a virtually impossible task, until she indicated she could not handle his pace anymore. With one jerk of her hips he sped up, hurtling them both towards sacred release.

And it came in one moment. He had one flashing second to see her contorting face, to see her shuddering body below, to hear her cry out for him before he was overtaken in what was a blinding sensation of every possible feeling in the world.

He collapsed beside her, his face resting in her hair. Neither had the mind to move or speak for some time. The overcast morning Jane had woken to had now turned almost grim, and had she not been so happy she would have perhaps felt its effects more than she did. But today, the light grey light which flooded the room with the sound of harsh rain was paradise.

Eventually, Jane felt her husband's lips press softly into her temple. His breath was hot on her neck, and his hair brushed the side of her face. She turned to look at him, smiling, trying to convey with her smile all she could not say in words. Instead, she picked up the blankets from around their feet, covered them both in it, and cuddled into his warm and protective frame. Pride emanated from Edward, who had no intention of going back to sleep but would remain still in bed until his wife woke again.

. . . . .

Hours later, Jane rose from bed when she thought there may be a chance of Adele walking around the house. There were light footsteps up and down the halls and seemingly tentative steps which stopped outside of their door, listening for the sound of movement. At almost the same moment there was the sound of Henry's cries, and so Jane and her husband divided and contoured, Jane addressing Adele and Edward moving into the adjoining bedroom to be with Henry.

"Adele" Jane said, sizing up the girl who stood before her, "Why is your dress covered in dirt?"

She blushed, swaying on the spot.

"I was trying to keep my room clean, as not to disappoint you or Mr Rochester while I stay here".

"Adele, this is your home. There is no need for you to clean here on your hands and knees".

"I know that" she said, "But after I left Captain Franklin's house, and my room was in such a mess, I upset Mr Rochester. I do not wish to make him upset again".

"He was not only upset with you Adele. He was anxious to get onto the road before the rain turned our passage to mud. Do not worry about disappointing him, such would be impossible. He is very happy to have you here".

"He told me so when he picked me up in the carriage" she said, happiness radiating from her, "And I know he meant it because he allowed me to sit with him on his side of the carriage and when I did not know a word in the book I was reading, he told me what it was".

Jane smiled, trying to knock the dirt off her nightdress.

"Well come, let us get you dressed and ready for breakfast. Aren't you hungry?"

"Yes" she said forcefully, "I am very hungry. But Jenny is waiting for me in my room. She said she would help me change"

"Very well, then straight downstairs"

Adele nodded, intent upon her task as she moved quickly back to her room. Jane followed her, and when she passed in front of her room on the way to the stairs Jenny came out, her face drained of all its colour. She went to speak, but looked back at Adele and stepped into the hallway before mostly closing the door behind her.

"Ms Rochester, I was wondering it was possible to have a moment to speak with you today, when you are not occupied. Though I know you are always busy, so if you cannot, I would understand".

"Jenny, we can absolutely speak today. Let us meet before breakfast, I can see on your face it is important".

"It is ma'am, otherwise I would not bother you"

"It is not a bother. Will you meet me in the library when you are finished dressing Adele?"

"Indeed, thank you" she said, bowing lowly and returning into Adele's room.

It was barely ten minutes before Jenny walked apprehensively into the library. Jane invited her to sit down but she looked as if, for a moment, she was about to refuse, too anxious to do so. Jane decided that prompting her would be the best course of action, as upset as she seemed.

"What is wrong, Jenny?"

"Oh miss" she said, evidently struggling to push down emotions that threatened to boil over, "I did not know who else to go to, who else I could tell. I did not come to you yesterday because this is not my story to tell exactly, but the person who is involved would never come and bother you or Mr Rochester".

"Please continue" Jane encouraged kindly, "I am sure you are acting very bravely on the part of your friend by helping her when you feel she is unable to act herself".

"But miss, I do not know what I would do if another living soul found out because of me"

"Jenny, you must know that I keep nothing from my husband" Jane explained, "And if necessity requires, I will tell him. But, your confidences are safe with us both, I assure you of that".

She hesitated, clearly torn between keeping the confidences and helping the issue at hand. At long last, she proceeded.

"I know that, miss. While you and the Master were away this past month there was quite a bit of free time around this home. Though we proceeded to do the chores each morning as instructed by Leah and kept the house in fine order in case you returned early, we had much of our own free time in the day which we all appreciated very much. I myself walked into the village often to stretch my legs and take in the afternoon air. On one particular day, however, I walked further than I normally did. I was feeling lightheaded, you see, and thought that it may do me good. As I walked through the town and past the main road I saw Rosie-"

"Our housemaid?"

"The very same. She was standing, looking as if she was processing large and difficult news. At first I did not think of interrupting her, for as I said I did not feel well myself and she looked occupied. As I went to turn around though, Rosie saw me. I think she thought I took her to be suspicious, because suddenly she rushed over to me and said she would accompany me home if I allowed it. I did, of course. As we walked, she spoke of only polite, light things- the weather, my mother who was ill last month, but suddenly she turned grim and looked frightened. Without me prompting her, she began telling the most horrifying story and I suddenly understood why she was waiting. While you were away-"

But at that moment the door to the library opened and Edward stepped in. He looked surprised when he saw his wife and Jenny sitting, his servant looking clearly flustered and his wife concerned.

"Pardon my intrusion" he said, "I did not realise you were in here, Jenny".

Jane suspected that he was looking for her to begin breakfast, but with Jenny so visibly upset he did not mention such a trivial issue. Instead, Jenny raised her head and said,

"If you did intend on telling the master this story, I would be willing to say such in front of him now".

Edward furrowed his brow, interpreting the importance of the situation.

"Let me go and ask one of the other girls to watch Henry and Adele, then I shall be back".

He vanished and reappeared within a few minutes, and after retelling the first part of the story so that he understood, Jenny continued.

"While you were away, Rosie explained she had spent a significant amount of time in the village, especially attending church there. Father Andrew had advised it of all of us in service the last time he visited, and many partook in the practice. Rosie said that she had meet a man there, a young boy who was studying the church. She said that a mutual acquaintance, an uncle of her sister through marriage, introduced her and the young man and they fell in love. He often walked her home after church, and they talked along the way of the different lives they had lead. I believe what he told her was all lies, but because she had no reason to doubt him she believed them".

Edward suddenly looked weary,

"She said that he made every effort to show his affection to her, the end of this being that he asked for a piece of her hair to take with him while he ventured to his uncles estate in a neighbouring county for a few days. It was during this time that she learned of his true identity. One day, while mending here, she was told she had a visitor. Entering Leah's parlour downstairs she found a well dressed gentleman who had clearly never stepped foot in a servants parlour before. Rosie was confused, for she did not know the man, but greeted him regardless. He told her that he was the Baron of Kent, and that his brother also held that title. This brother was the young man she had been meeting at church who told her he studying the law of God. The Baron said that having gone to the church one day to find his brother, he saw him talking with Rosie and followed them to this house where he knew she must have been employed. He came to threaten Rosie, and told her that if she ever saw his brother again he would have her thrown from this house and into the streets where she would be worse than what she already was. He left here that day without another word uttered, and Rosie was quite horrified. When the Baron of Kent's brother, the man who Rosie believed to be named Tom, returned to town she refused to meet with him. He came by the house several times, but Rosie had asked John and Leah to turn him away which they have done. I found Rosie standing on the street corner after she was forced to tell him in secret what had happened, and that they must never be seen together again, for although she loved him, she understood that threats made by a Baron had complete power over the claims of a house maid. He was furious, raving angry, and said that he wished to marry Rosie, and that his brother would pay for his threats. Oh, how anxious she is, and how afraid. Her mind cannot settle, and she fears some violent retaliation from the Baron hourly. She assured me that his anger was not to be underplayed".

When her story ended, both Jane and Edward sat quietly for a few moments.

Rosie had always been excessively quiet, and because of this Jane was not sure that she knew her very well. Even when the other servant girls walked together or spoke with Jane, Rosie always remained on the outskirts of conversation, not wishing to draw attention to herself. Jane highly doubted that this almost painfully quiet girl would be stirring up any scandal. It was probable, even likely, that going to church appealed to her a great deal, and meeting a nice and quiet young man there who was studying the church was almost too good to be true. Se was angry he had done a great disservice to her by lying, and as a result roped her into his complicated upper class drama of which she had no desire to be a part of.

"And you are sure, Jenny, that this is the correct occurrence of events?"

"Yes sir" she replied, "They are the exact events in the way that Rosie told them to me".

Edward nodded, looking thoughtful.

"Thank you. I shall look into this. For now it is best not to say that you mentioned this to either myself or to Jane. When the times comes for me to speak with her I shall make sure that we have something reassuring to tell her".

"Thank you" Jenny said, nodding to them both,"Miss, Sir".

She stood and walked from the room, clearly eager to return to her routine. When the door was shut, and her footsteps were no longer heard moving out of the foyer, Edward turned on his wife.

"The Baron of Kent, Jane, is no laughing matter. I am afraid if she is telling us the truth, this situation is an extremely serious one".

"And here I was thinking we were going to settle back into a peaceful life here".

Edward put his hand on the back of Jane's head and kissed her forehead.

"You tease me, but when I say he is a serious man I mean it. There is to be no peace until this matter is settled".