Much later that night, Jane entered her bedroom to find her husband sitting up in bed with his eyes closed but not asleep. He looked worn, but not unhappy as he sat there pondering over thoughts of the day.

Jane undressed without saying anything, taking off her dress and letting down her hair so that she felt immensely more comfortable. She bathed her face in cool water and dried it with a cloth before looking at herself in the mirror. She thought that she looked tired. The lines under her eyes were more pronounced than usual, and she was perhaps a little bit pale, but she did not linger on that thought for long. Instead, she rose from her seat and moved towards the bed, climbing in and pulling the blankets immediately up around herself. She turned onto her side and closed her eyes before she felt her husband sink into bed beside her.

"Are you too tired to tell me of your day?" he asked, his voice heavy and thick with a need for sleep. Jane smiled to herself and turned over.

"Are you too tired to hear of it?"

"Perhaps, but I will try very hard to stay awake".

"Very well" she said, moving onto her back. Edward tucked a piece of hair away from her forehead as she began speaking. "My day was well, for tea was better than I imagined it would be. Lady Denver had quite an intimidating house".

"How so?"

"Everything was covered in the same monotonous cold grey stone. There were two tall watchtowers which flanked the house on both sides, and there was absolutely no natural growth at all besides the grass that was cut so closely to the earth that it may have been no grass at all. There was not another sign of human life surrounding that house, the servants were obedient and silent- that is what it was, the house was so eerily silent in every way".

"And was there a drawbridge?"

"You tease me, but it is not too far off from the reality of that place. Regardless, she took me into her house and I saw Father Andrew"

"Did you?"

"Indeed, I believe he spends much time with her, counselling her in her life's affairs".

"I would not be surprised if it was the other way around" Edward said fairly, "But their families are very old acquaintances, for Father Andrew comes from much money"

"Does he indeed? I never would have imagined"

"Well, I think that is the way he likes to be seen, as humble and able to sympathise with those less fortunate than himself. But yes, he comes from an immense amount of money. I only made the connection the other day while talking to Eshton".

"Interesting" Jane pondered

"But continue, what did he say to you?"

"Not much. In fact, when he learned of my presence he took off faster than a bolt of lightening. Not more then two phrases passed between us before he was out of the front door and off. But of course, I imagine that I know why".

Edward nodded knowingly, "What can be said, Jane? He loved Mary, or if he did not love her he certainly felt an attraction to her. But she was with child, and he could not take her and her situation into his life, so now he must be iron and rock to us all. I am not surprised, though I am sorry for them both".

"Not only that" she added, "But Edward, I read something about him today which really surprised me, and now I cannot get the thought out of my head"

"What is it?" he asked seriously,

"Just after dinner, I received a letter from Anne, who heard from Mr Eshton in town that he was now engaged, and had been bound to this woman, at least in their families intention, for quite some time".

"Who could he possible be engaged to?" Edward asked in surprise

"An Eliza Spencer, the daughter of a Duke in Westminster "

Edward shifted his weight to that he was pressed up against the headboard, arms crossed in thoughtful contemplation.

"There was an Eliza Spencer who was introduced at court not five seasons ago. She was indeed very beautiful Jane, with red hair, and fair eyes, and natural curls which made her the primary talk amongst all of the ladies. But nothing ever came of her debut. She never married, never became attached to anyone- could it be the same person?"

"I do not know, though Diana told me her only reputation is that she is a beauty, and that this proceeds her everywhere she goes. If you say she is very beautiful, it is likely she is the very same person"

"How strange. Father Andrew does not seem to be the type to marry a noble woman. Though he comes from money, Father Andrew has not lived that life of luxury in so long. He is, I believe, a countryman at heart, for he was absolutely miserable in Bath".

"Is it possible that we simply did not know him well enough to understand that he perhaps cares more about these surface things than we originally thought?"

"What do you mean?"

"That he understands beauty and status and wealth to be far more important than we thought he did"

"Well" Edward began, his hand rubbing the small of his wife's back, "Does it change anything now?"

"No" she answered, "I do not believe it does. The reason that we all softened so quickly to his awkward and sometimes even foolish demeanour is that we thought him to be one day attached to a member of our family. Now that he is not, and apparently is promised to another, I do not see how it can matter to us anymore".

"Perhaps I softened to him for such a reason. But you, Jane love, softened to him because you saw in his person a kind soul who was in need of honesty and guidance. That does not change because he is no longer a person of particular interest to your cousin. I know that you cared for him initially because you wished to see him succeed in this place, and I do not think that so much has changed now".

"Well, that does not matter anyways" Jane confessed, "For he will not even so much as look at me now".

"His loss" Edward replied kindly, "But continue with telling me of your tea. Father Andrew said hello but left quickly, then what".

"Well, Lady Denver asked why I thought she had called me to her presence, asked why I thought she invited me when she could have invited other women more suited to her class and status. And then, she said something that was truly confusing to me. She said that you and I may be of use to her in some way one day. When I asked her what she meant by this, she only told me that I would learn in time, possibly".

"She is very presumptuous to call you to her home for tea, ask you to speculate why you are there but then not tell you"

"I'm not sure what all of it was about, but indeed it was strange. Regardless, our conversation after that was one that was honest, and good. She told me of her husband, Sir Denver, that they married young and she could never give him a child. She told me she believes that he had many other children with woman in town, and that is why he would spend months away from the house at a time and only returned when there was some urgent business to deal with at the house".

"As you know, that is unfortunately the practice of many husbands. Lady Denver may have particular reason to suspect her husband though. He is rather infamous for his ways in London, and has been I believe since he was a young man. When I first heard her name when she came to the house, I wondered if she was his wife".

"I cannot imagine she would lie about such a thing, but she also did not seem to be too much bothered by it. I hope such is the case. Whether or not time has softened the effects of her heartache or she has always taken a more passive stand on it, it surely is better than feeling conflicted all these years later".

"Do you know, when I saw you round the corner to the house today, all flushed with happiness at the prospect of being with your family again, I was reminded for perhaps the hundredth time today that I never have to be one of the husbands who wonders or worries where his wife is"

Jane only smiled, "You tease me in saying such".

"I do not take it for granted, Jane. You know my past. You know me to be a man who was not always as faithful as I should have been, despite the circumstances. I do not trust easily".

"No, you were not" she affirmed, "But now you are. And I know it. And I do not take it for granted. Though I know both men and women escape to cities to hide amongst the crowds, I have never for a moment considered that man would be you".

He dropped his head to press his lips to hers appreciatively. He was all warmth and love as he drew back, brushing his lips against her forehead. Jane brought her hand to his face, brushing her thumb gently over his under eyes.

"You look very tired".

He dropped his head again to press his mouth to his wife's, this time with more passion and intensity than before. Jane smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him into her.

"I would rather kiss you" he said breathily between their connecting mouths.

She slowed his kisses, running her fingers through his hair as he drew back to look at her. He kissed her behind the ear, sending fluttering through her entire body before he lay down beside her. He drew her into his chest, her bum resting against his stomach. He sighed in his contented masculine way and closed his eyes, but Jane's mind was still running.

"Edward?"

"Yes love"

His voice was mumbled with his mouth pressed against his wife's shoulder.

"Where do you find cheating men and women in London?"

"Hotels, brothels, theatres, back alleys, carriages, streets and other places".

"Oh" said Jane quickly, nodding in surprised understanding. There were still some points on which she was largely innocent.

Edward chuckled, kissed her shoulder and was asleep instantly.

. . . .

Summer ended and fall entered the countryside of England with an almost unnoticeable ease. Leaves turned slowly on the trees until one day, in looking out of some window, a person may have believed the very world was on fire. Flowers budded their last brilliant bloom as the days clung onto sunshine for as long as possible. The warm wind turned cooler, the cloaks were aired from the closet and fires were lit in the day.

Adele stayed at the Rochester's home until the last possible moment, until her returning to school was necessary and almost last minute. It warmed Jane's heart to know that she was excited to return, that she said she had much to tell her friends, and that she knew that Christmas was really not very long away. She was happy, and so Jane held back her own tears as Adele got into the carriage and headed down the drive.

Henry seemed to be growing and changing everyday. At five months old he was as sweet and content as any parents could wish their child to be. His hair grew in thicker and curlier and his dark eyes, so like his fathers, brimmed with understanding and curiosity for the world. More than ever, Jane felt that time was slipping by with her son faster than she could appreciate it and she never wanted to be away from him.

At the same time, Jane felt incredibly happy to be alone in her house with her husband again. Because of all the socialisation they had done in the past few months between hosting their own friends and then staying at Franklin's house, Jane had almost forgotten that by nature she was not inclined to be naturally communicative. Edward was the exception, and always had been. His presence was nothing but an addition to her comfort and happiness. Indeed, it was not so easy to forget how much she loved him when he showed his care everyday in small gestures. On one particular morning he had placed a note in her book so that when she opened it, his words of wishing her a good day fell out onto her lap. Overwhelmed with feeling and a great love for him, she walked into his office to tell him so.

Edward was sitting at his desk, scribbling notes onto a large piece of paper when he heard the door open and then close. In looking up he saw his wife standing there, and he in turn surveyed her curiously.

"Jane, darling, are you well?"

"Oh yes" she said, suddenly realising how foolish she perhaps was in rushing in here to tell her husband what she felt. He had looked more busy than she had expected him to. Her pause in speech to think on this caused him to drop his pen and observe her.

"Is there anything I can do for you, then?"

"No, not a present" she said.

Edward stood and advanced towards her but she put her hand on the knob and turned it to leave.

"I will see you at dinner-"

"No, no, no" Edward said in reaching her. She only smiled as he took her hand off the knob and closed the door again, smiling. "What is it?"

"It can wait, you are busy"

"I am not. And at any rate, I am far more interested in you than any work in this room".

Jane bit her bottom lip in thought, but then grinned at herself.

"If I tell you, will you promise not to act in your normal way"

"What do you mean by that?" he asked, his smile almost turning to laughter,

"You know- the way you act when you are amused by something foolish I do"

"Now that-" he said, wrapping his arms around her waist, "-is something I could never agree to. I find you far too attractive to not be amused by you from time to time".

But Jane only looked at him and smiled,

"I was just sitting in the library thinking about you-"

"Were you indeed?" he asked, in the amused tone that Jane only moments ago asked him not to use.

"And I was thinking", she paused, unable to hold back her beaming smile, "-I was thinking about how happy I am, and it is all because of you and what you have given me and what we share together. It is because of our son sleeping in his room, and it is because of Adele not wanting to leave us, and so many other things- but you are at the centre of them all".

Edward cupped his wife's face in his hand and drew her into a deep kiss. He pressed her gently against the wall and wrapped his other arm around her waist. Jane wrapped her arms around her husbands neck and ran her fingers through his hair, pushing into his scalp.

"Jane, love" he breathed "You cannot continue with that or I will not be able to help myself"

But she only smiled honestly, looking into his face.

He nodded,

"Come on then" he said, lowing her gently from the wall and taking her hand in his.

He lead her upstairs, Jane rubbing his hand in hers as they rounded the corner at the top. Henry would be sleeping in his nearby nursery, but other than that the house was peaceful and quiet.

Jane had not noticed the sky turning a dark grey, nor did she hear the rain smashing upon the window but she realised both when she stepped into her room. The cool grey light which was dispersed throughout the whole room was not cooling, nor was it steely, but it was calming and peaceful. Jane walked over to the window, large as it was, and stared out at the wet landscape. It was difficult to make out the detail of the trees and paths through the water which streaked panes of glass, but even that in itself was beautiful. Jane felt arms around her, and then lips pressed into her neck. She leaned back into her husbands arms, still focusing on the blurred and distorted landscape before her.

As he pressed his lips to her jaw, Jane closed her eyes and smiled to herself.

His hands dropped from around her waist and moved to the back of her dress. He fumbled with the clasp so that it took longer than normal to remove, but Jane only smiled at his mumbled frustrations. When her dress had hit the floor she turned around to smile at the man she loved with her whole heart. She pushed his jacket from around his shoulders so that she was free to remove his shirt underneath. As soon as his chest was exposed, Edward lifted his wife into his arms and brought her over to the bed. She landed on the mattress with a light thud, smiling as Edward moved above her. He kissed between her breasts, sucking her nipple though the thin material of her under dress. She gasped, arching her back under the sensation swelling in her head.

Jane sat up, resting on the edge of the bed so that Edward stood before her as she undid his pants. She kissed his stomach, moving her mouth lower as he groaned deeply in satisfaction. He tangled his hand in her hair before pulling her mouth back and kissing her hurriedly.

Moving over her once again, he pushed himself into her quickly in one sweeping, powerful motion. Jane gasped, but the sound was masked by her husband's moan. She grinned, and silenced her husband.

"Sh, sh, sh" she laughed, kissing his lips as he pushed into her again. He smiled too as she lay back down, closing her eyes and trying to control her own sounds.

"Who are you to tell me to be quiet?" he asked playfully, kissing her forehead as he thrust into her deeper. Jane put her arms around his neck, bringing him closer to her. She did not last long as her husband varied his pace between shallow quick thrusts and deep slow movements. Jane bunched the bed sheets in her hand before she was hit by the absolute overwhelming feeling of dizzying pleasure. She shut her eyes tightly, feeling her husband shudder against her, and then release himself within her. Smiling, Jane kissed her husbands shoulder as he fell beside her. Opening her eyes, she looked upon Edward and thought there was no more beautiful sight in the entire world. He turned his head so that his eyes fell upon her. His face broke into one of his radiant grins before he closed his eyes again, drawing his wife into a close embrace.

. . .

Jane was not sure how much time passed before she spoke again. The rain continued to beat upon the window and run down the glass in a hypnotic rhythm, the sky remained grey, and such were a sufficient enough lullaby to almost lull Jane to sleep, wrapped as she was in her husbands arms. Her eyes felt heavy, but she would not allow herself to fall asleep. Not in the middle of the morning as it was. But then again, Henry had cried most of the night, and although Edward was the one up with him he had woken Jane every time he rose or returned to bed. Because of this, and because of his silence, Jane thought he was asleep, but he kissed the back of her head and squeezed the hand that rested in his.

"You know" he said softly, "We have been married one year and five months".

Jane nodded,

"I know we have".

"Imagine, Jane, if you had chosen not to advertise on the day that you did. Or imagine that my duties to Thornfield Hall did not call me back to that old mansion on that cold November night? Imagine both of our souls living in the world and yet not being together. It is a seemingly impossible thing to imagine".

"It was not chance that I was called to Thornfield and you were called back to it. You were placed in my path as I was placed in yours. God did not put two souls such as ours into this world to not be together".

"No, I suppose you are right" he affirmed, moving his large and warm hand to her stomach.

Jane pressed her back closer against his chest and sighed, breathing in his scent and feeling a calmness pour over her.

"I wish everyday could be this" he said thoughtfully, "Just you and I, until we were needed by our son- then we could be together with him. I am afraid I do not want to share you with the rest of the world. Is that selfish of me?"

She shook her head in reply,

"Are you unhappy with our life right now? I do not mean in general-" she said quickly, stopping him from interjecting "-I know that you are very happy. I mean, are you unhappy with how much time we have spent away from home lately? Though you are always polite and gentlemanly, I know that you are by nature not necessarily the type of man who wishes to be constantly surrounded by company. Lately, it is all we have known in our lives. Frankly, being here in our home again with you made me realise that I miss the days that are this, and only you and I".

Jane turned over, looking into his genuine, attentive face. Edward smiled to himself, running his thumb affectionately over Jane's cheek.

"Jane, love. If you are tired of visiting in other peoples homes and you just wish to be in your own, there is no shame in that. It is quite tiring to be outside of your routine in an unfamiliar house".

"I know"

"But you feel like you must help at a distance" he said knowingly, "Which makes it difficult to be completely at peace in your own home. You have been thinking much about your cousin lately, and about Lady Denver, and about everyone. Though it is natural for you to be concerned with everyone who you care about we have a baby here who demands all of your attention,"

"And yours" Jane said fairly,

"Indeed, but I do not have the natural desire to aid everyone as you do".

Jane smiled a sideways grin, squinting suspiciously, "Do you not?"

"That is besides the point. I do not want you feeling as if you have stretched yourself too thin".

"I would never. In truth, when last we spoke your words resonated in my mind for quite a long time afterwards".

"Which words were those?"

"You told me that I could not help others where I had no energy to do so. Besides, Henry and you are the most important people in my life. I could not lay my head down at night and sleep well knowing I had abandoned you in any way".

"You are incapable of such an act Jane, it is simply not within your nature"

"No" she answered forcefully, "Especially when it comes to you, for I am drawn to you with a force that is quite impossible to understand".

But he only smiled and kissed her again before propping his head up on his elbow. Jane twisted one of his curls around her finger, looking at the wall behind his head.

"I suppose I thought that if I helped with Mary's pregnancy, and then Diana's marriage, and Lady Denver's loneliness that all of these things would come to an end, and everyone would be happier. But I am learning now that life will always present challenges, and for me to feel like I must help in all of them is rather silly of me".

"It is not silly of you" Edward argued, "You are made to feel that way because you help others so naturally and so well that eventually people come to expect it from you. It is entirely unfair".

Jane smiled briefly before turning over and bringing her husbands arm around her protectively. She rested her head on his shoulder and traced her finger up and down his arm lightly. He kissed her cheek sweetly.

. . .

Henry's cries roused them from their dream-like state. Edward, able to dress faster than his wife, had gone in to tend to their crying son while Jane put back on her different layers of clothing. As she was sitting in front of the mirror fixing her hair there was a rough rapping on the bedroom door.

"Ms Rochester, I am sorry to disturb you. There is a visitor for you downstairs and she seems quite frantic".

Jane stood up quickly opened the door to see Jenny standing before her, eyes bent on the carpet and hands held in front of her.

"Ms Jane" she said quickly, "I am sorry to bother you, but she seemed so distressed I thought I should tell you".

"Who is it, Jenny?"

"It is Ms Eshton"

Jane nodded,

"Tell her I will be straight down, in the meantime, please make sure she is comfortable"

"Yes miss, of course".

Jane pushed opened the door of the nursery and saw her husband walking in the middle of the room, bouncing Henry on his shoulder. He turned when he heard the click of the latch and looked upon his wife.

"Edward, Anne is downstairs and Jenny said she seems quite distressed"

"Why? What has happened?"

"I do not know yet".

"Eshton is out of town, from my understanding. Perhaps I should go down. Henry needs to be fed, darling"

"Then I will feed him and come to join you when I am finished. Thank you".

"Of course".

He wrapped his arm around Jane's waist as he kissed her forehead, handing Henry to her. He was gone in an instant.