Hello all!
I just wanted to say thank you, so much, to you all.
I realised that this week I have been writing this story for two years. Two years! Honestly, writing this story has given me such an important therapeutic outlet, and knowing that the story has resonated with you has been incredibly touching. I am so grateful for you all, so thank you- from the bottom of my heart.
This chapter is a long one, but more coming very soon!
Love to you all,
xoxox
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Edward put his arm around Jane's lower back and looked to make sure that the door was close before sitting back and sighing. When he spoke his voice was low and cautious.
"I was speaking with Eshton earlier, for he seemed rather unhappy. I asked him what was wrong, and he told me that he suspected that Anne had a miscarriage a few weeks ago. He found a sheet covered in blood when we went to the laundry in search of one of the servants. They would not give him a direct answer as to what happened, for they claimed they did not know"
Jane closed her eyes regretfully.
"Oh no"
Edward nodded,
"Eshton said that her inability to keep a child is creating some distance between them. Primarily because Anne did not tell him, and he was upset that she does not confide in him".
"He must be patient with her. I know that such much be hurtful to him, and so he has a right to be upset. And yet, Anne is only hiding this because she is so ashamed of herself".
"She has no reason to be ashamed".
"You think that way, Edward, because you are far better than any man I have ever meet. But a woman's only job is to have children, to be able to provide her husband with an heir. If a woman cannot do that, she is useless in the eyes of a marriage".
He shook his head,
"I know that it is what society demands, and what the marriage contract may demand formally in writing, but surely real relationships must transcend the convention, Jane".
"For some. For us, at least. I know that I still would have been valued as your wife, even if I could not have given you a child. But Anne takes pride in being a wife- it is all she has ever wanted, and the only training in life she has ever known. I am sure she is devastated and embarrassed. If what Mr Eshton suspects is true, she has lost three babies now".
"I am sorry for it" Edward said genuinely, "Truly sorry".
"I am most sorry that she must be suffering alone at present, with no one to confide in. I cannot imagine how I would have made it through the loss of our child without you" Jane said, looking up into her husbands face, "Truly".
He kissed her temple, pausing before drawing back. Jane took his hand in hers and brought it to her lips before lowering it and holding it in hers.
At that moment, one of the servants stepped into the door to announce that dinner was being set on the table. Eager for some food, and to see Captain Franklin, the pair stood and advanced into the dining room.
. . . . . .
This room was similarly fashionable to the others in this house, with its tall windows and long table of handsome dark wood. The lights were low in the room, with candles along the table providing the only light. The minimal amount of servants working in the house did not take away from the immensity of the food which had been prepared. Soup, meats, breads, cheeses, tarts, and other dishes were spread over the table in a way which only showcased the ridiculous amount everyone would need to eat in order to finish it all by the end of the dinner.
"There you two are, we could not find you".
"We were securing Henry for his nap" Edward said, "Or else we could never settle him tonight"
"God forbid" Franklin commented, smiling.
Jane noticed Anne looked down at her plate at the mention of Henry, and so she changed the subject.
"It is very good to see you, Captain"
"And you, Ms Rochester. It has been far too long since I have seen such happy company".
Edward helped Jane into her seat before sitting down beside her.
"What have you been doing in London, Franklin?" Mr Rochester asked, laying his napkin on his lap.
"Well, I was originally in London to see the new list of navy recruits that Captain Lockeart asked to me to see to. But now I am only too thankful I was here, for I can be of use in the present situation".
Eshton signalled to his footman that he had enough soup so that he moved on to serve Anne.
"Now that we are all here, fill us in Franklin. What did you learn of today".
"I did not learn much. The man who I wished to speak to was a Captain Ashbury. He is in charge of new recruits into the navy and is thus in frequent contact with General Baron who approves the new recruits into the army. General Baron would be the man who could identify which soldiers have recently abandoned post without notice. Captain Ashbury, however, was occupied today with a personal matter so I could not speak with him. I have, however, set up a meeting with him at nine o'clock tomorrow and if you, Eshton, and you, Rochester would like to come. Ashbury is a decent man, and will be of service if he can".
As the footman was drawing back from Jane's bowl he lost his grip on the ladle he was holding and dropped hot soup onto her front and side.
"Good God man!" Eshton cried from across the table, "Ms Rochester is our guest, and the soup is very hot!"
"No, no" Jane interjected quickly, "I have so many layers of clothes on I did not feel a thing.".
Edward stood up and handed Jane his napkin so she could sponge herself off.
"Madam, I am so sorry" the footman said painfully, "I do not know how it happened. It was an accident, please. This is only my first night. I am terribly embarrassed-".
"It is quite alright, it was only an accident" Jane said, looking at him kindly.
"Thomas, go on" Eshton said, "There will be no more serving for you tonight".
"No, wait a moment" Jane said, "Could I please see your gloves?"
The boy nodded nervously, handing Jane one of his gloves with a slightly shaking hand.
"This was not your fault" she said examining them, "For these are the wrong gloves. There is no traction for you to hold onto the dishes with".
"Well who gave him these gloves?" Eshton asked, spinning around to see the Butler with an upturned face looking forward blankly.
"An oversight, sir"
Eshton sighed angrily, then shook his head.
"Ms Rochester, I apologise again. Thomas, please go and find the proper gloves downstairs and then rejoin us"
"Yes sir" Thomas said, moving out of the room quickly towards the servants quarters.
"I am just going to go and quickly change, I will not be very long" Jane said. Anne rose across the table, laying her napkin down and looking all too eager to escape the conversation for a few minutes.
"I will assist you"
The girls were seen off by the gentlemen who stood at their departure. Once around the corner of the dining room Jane heard Franklin say,
"She is a good sport, Rochester".
Anne only smiled,
"You know you are a good sport, Jane. I am glad you noticed about the gloves, for poor Thomas has only started, and the mean butler here is not very kind to him, I'm afraid".
"Then why do you simply not go out in search of someone else?" Jane asked, but Anne only shrugged passively.
"He has worked in this family for generations. Mr Eshton indeed moved him here after being the butler in our home in the countryside, for he was too intense and too contrary. I believe he has grown even more so since being moved to the city. Oh Jane, I am truly sorry. Your dress is so lovely too".
"It is nothing that a little soap and water will not fix".
"Well give me the dress immediately when you are changed and I shall have the ladies downstairs clean it for you".
They reached the bedroom door and Jane pushed her way inside. It had been made up for the night with a warming fire and fresh sheets. It looked rather lovely and modern in this light. Anne smiled appreciatively at the room as she closed the door.
"This house really is lovely, is it not?"
"Truly" Jane replied, "I like it a great deal".
"It belonged to Mr Eshton's aunt. But she was widowed, and none of her children survived past childhood. She left the house to Mr Eshton's mother, and when we married, Ms Eshton offered us either this home or the one in the country".
Jane looked up at her friend as she rooted through the closet looking for another suitable gown for dinner.
"You sound as if you may have preferred this house to the one in the country"
Anne smiled sadly, dropping her hands from sorting through the fabrics.
"I believe I would have. I grew up in the city, so I have a fondness for it that many others do not. Besides, I believe the first time we meet I told you that our home in the country feels too large, and too impersonal, for I cannot change one thing in terms of the decoration without Ms Eshton commenting quite angrily on it. Mr Eshton also wanted his children to grow up in the country, and-" she stopped herself quickly, "Well, that has not happened for us yet".
Jane walked over to her friend and placed her hand on her shoulder,
"Take courage, Anne. You have been married to Mr Eshton for but a year and a half. It takes many couples longer than that to conceive a child. You must not put so much pressure on yourself for something that is completely normal, and completely natural".
"I know" she said, sounding as if she was trying very hard to contain frustration from bursting out of her, "But I hate to disappoint my husband. He so wants a son, and with another wife I am sure he would have had one by now-".
"Anne" Jane said firmly, "Your husband does not want another wife. Not even if it meant he could have a son".
"Do you believe that?"
"Of course, Anne. Your husband cares for you very much. He wants your happiness as much as he wants his own"
She blinked back her emotions and pulled Jane into a tight hug.
"Thank you, Jane. I am so foolish sometimes. I do not know what I would do without my dear friend".
"Your feelings are never foolish, Anne. And you shall always have me. But be careful!" Jane said, smiling, "I do not want to cover you in soup!"
"Oh!" Anne said, leaping back and moving towards the closet again, "Well, on that note, let us get you changed again for dinner in something equally becoming. Though it would not matter what you wear, for your husband looks on you always in the same way".
Jane blushed very slightly,
"You know" Anne continued "When Mr Eshton told me of Mr Rochester's state before you entered his life- always travelling, never feeling at home anywhere, never feeling settled, I cannot imagine what comfort and ease you brought him. How much he must have loved you for it".
"I brought him less comfort then he brought me, I am sure".
"And you never-" Anne grinned, "Well, perhaps it is none of my business"
Jane looked to her friend curiously.
"That is not like you to be shy"
"Well, I do not wish to pry"
"You are very welcomed to pry"
Anne paused, considering, and then continued,
"When you first meet Mr Rochester, and he was the master of the house, did you not even for a moment think he could be anything... more to you?"
Jane laughed,
"No, indeed not. He was cross, and changeable, and prideful to a fault. But overtime, we became friends- true friends. He was the only person in the world who I felt saw me for who I was, and appreciated that person, and wished for my happiness just the way I was. I fell in love with him slowly, and with no intention of such being the case.".
"My goodness. It sounds like a story out of some fairy tale book"
"I do not mean to make it sound so".
"Well, regardless, I have never seen you two not married, and so it is the most natural thing in the world for me to see you in that way. And I have never seen something I wish to strive for more".
Jane burned with embarrassment. It was often the case with Anne, Diana and even Mary that they used her marriage as a mirror to hold out to themselves. Jane wished she could have told them that all love was different- that it was unfair to draw comparisons between them. They were all married and they loved their spouses, and were loved in return. That was enough. But before Jane could assemble an answer, Anne was shaking her head.
"These will never do for a formal dinner. And now Thomas has ruined the beautiful dress you brought"
"Oh Anne, I am amongst friends. I am comfortable wearing any of these dresses I brought-"
"Nonsense. Just one moment"
Before Jane could respond, Anne swept from the room. Jane slipped herself out of the stained dress she was wearing and laid it on the vanity near the door. The door opened again, and in walked Anne, shielded behind a large and billowing purple dress.
"Here we are. This is quite beautiful too. Lilac suits you equally well".
Jane smiled,
"Thank you, Anne. But where did this come from? Is it yours?"
"No, indeed. These belonged to my cousin when she was much younger. She has since had many children and will not fit into these anymore. The very sight of them makes her long for her youth. Slip this on and I will help you with the back. These laces are so tricky, it always takes my maid so long to do them up on me. It is quite a tedious process".
"Anne, I really do not-"
"Jane, do not argue with me. It is wasteful for these dresses not to be used, is it not?"
"Yes. But perhaps they could be given to women who do not have much clothing to wear. That would surely serve a more meaningful purpose-"
"Jane!"
Seeing that she was losing this battle, and wishing to return quickly to dinner so that her absence was not too long, Jane agreed. After Jane had stepped into the dress, Anne pulled the laces closed one by one and Jane found she could barely breathe.
"Goodness. I am not sure I have ever been held in so well by a dress"
Anne glowed pridefully.
"A woman never has an excuse to have a large waist- not that you do Jane! You are indeed a glowing portrait of a feminine figure. I just think women look so flattering when their waists are small".
"Mhm" Jane said, trying to adjust to the tightness.
"Anne I will not be able to sit in this"
"You will, look, sit here".
She indicated the side desk which Jane lowered herself into.
"See, you look lovely".
Jane stood again with some difficulty and walked over to the mirror, horrified by what she saw.
"Anne, I absolutely cannot wear this", she lowered her voice "Look at the top of the dress! It is far too revealing".
The dress was far lower cut than Jane was used to. The neckline fell gracefully off the shoulders and dipped lowly into her cleavage, which had been greatly exaggerated by the tightness of the bodice.
"The dress is modern and beautiful. I am wearing something very similar. It is not revealing at all! All the new ladies being introduced in London this season are wearing this design. Now come, I am sure dinner is getting cold".
"I shall be cold if I remain in this dress, for there is no fabric-"
"Jane!".
. . .
A few minutes later, after descending the steps with increased care due to the restriction of the dress, Jane swept back into the dining room feeling highly self-conscious. She entered so quickly that the men barely had time to stand after registering hers and Anne's return before they were all sitting again. Jane could feel everyone's eyes fixed on her before Anne spoke.
"I hope we did not detain you for too long, gentlemen"
"No, of course not" Eshton replied, "We were merely discussing our plan for meeting the Captain tomorrow. I am sorry again, Jane, for your dress".
"It was only an accident. I am very well"
"I should never have thought of the gloves" Franklin said, "It is a wonder you did Jane, for otherwise I fear Thomas would be in much trouble at present. Don't you think it is a wonder, Rochester?"
"I am afraid that I do not find it very surprising. I am never surprised by my wife's empathy. Jane is an intensely thoughtful person who has been subject to similar experiences in her own life in a way that makes her always sympathetic to others".
Franklin looked confused,
"I was a servant at one time" Jane reminded him, "So I have seen what it is like to be intimidated by a person who you have no right to speak up to. Though the life that I live now is very different from the one I had lived before, I do hope that it does not make me blind to the people who are so often overlooked by those they serve. I would be very disappointed in myself if such was the case".
"Of course" Franklin said sensitively, "I think we could all live better by your example, Jane. I know for myself personally that there have been times where I have taken advantage of the help in my home because I assumed it was my right to have it".
"People do not appreciate their servants" Eshton commented flatly, "Especially those raised in a certain way"
"Well, not perhaps actively. But when a man wakes up and finds he cannot dress himself, or that he cannot saddle his own horse for riding, then I am sure he would find a new appreciation rather quickly" Rochester said, wisely.
Franklin laughed,
"Was that a personal attack?"
"No, why? Does it seem as such?"
"I have never been able to care for horses, and I am helped each morning with my dressing" he said, smiling wryly.
"Well, I am indeed very grateful for my lady servants" Anne said, "There is no way I could get ready without her. Women are forced to wear such complicated garments that there is no way she could dress without help".
"But Jane, you did not have a ladies maid as a governess?" Eshton asked, "And as I recall, you were able to dress yourself well enough".
Anne looked slightly embarrassed,
"Well, my dresses then were significantly less complicated than they are now. Servant dresses are designed so that a woman can get dressed in the morning without assistance".
"Speaking of the morning" Franklin called, "I meant to ask you Anne, before I forget, have you heard of a man Mr Nickles? He spoke of you this morning when I told him I was staying in this house"
"Oh yes! He is such a sweet man. Mr Eshton and I know him from my mothers sister..."
When the other three were sufficiently occupied within their own conversation of Mr Nickles, Edward learned into his wife and spoke very lowly.
"If I could kiss you right now for looking so lovely, I would".
Jane looked at him appreciatively. He was aware of the fact that she was feeling very insecure at that moment, and in his easy, genuine way he set her at ease. He took her hand under the table and held it in his.
"I am afraid I look rather silly"
"Silly" he said softly, "You look no more silly than a duchess would look if she sat here".
Jane blushed, and his face hardened slightly.
"Though I must say, I am not in favour of such a garment if the result is to be the men of this table looking at you in the way that only I am allowed to".
Jane sent him a disbelieving look as the conversation across the table dissolved.
The dinner carried on until it had turned quite late. Just as they were finishing, one of the maids came with news that Henry was beginning to fuss. Edward excused himself from the table to attend to him so Jane did not have to leave again, and she spent another few minutes with the gathered party. When the clock struck nine thirty, Anne claimed she was tired from the days journey and wished to return to bed early. As Mr Eshton and Captain Franklin were still drinking, they moved into the lounge, urging Jane to tell her husband if he wished to come back down, they would be more than willing to share another drink. With this promise, Jane went upstairs to find her husband and son.
Anne and Mr Eshton had gone through the trouble of obtaining a bassinet for Henry and setting it up in a room down the hall from where Jane and Edward were staying. Though this was very kind, the room was too far away to hear if Henry cried during the night. Indeed, for people who were not yet parents it may have been easy to overlook such a thing. But when Jane went into that room, she found that neither Henry or Edward were there and in walking down the hall she realised that they were also not in their bedroom either. Assuming they were gone for a walk, Jane returned to her room and began undressing. Though she managed to slip off her dress with relative ease, the corset was much harder. Twisting awkwardly, her arms swinging behind her back, Jane tried to untie the corset but found she couldn't, constricted as she was. Sighing, with hands on her hips, she decided to lie down on the bed until help arrived.
One minute or ten could have passed before the door was opened and Edward stepped inside. He did not see his wife at first, but when he did, he moved over to her and crawled over her. Jane looked up at him, smiling.
"What is happening here?" he asked, kissing her neck affectionately and pushing her down into the covers. "How kind of you to wait so that I could take you out of this".
He tugged playfully on the corset laces. Jane shook her head,
"I am stuck in it"
"Stuck?"
"Mm"
"Well, I think I can help you there" he said, and in one gentle movement Jane was on her stomach, face pressed into the mattress.
She felt the corset being loosened string by string until it was pulled apart, and she could take a deep breath again.
"Ahh" she groaned happily into the blankets, "Thank you".
"Good God Jane, look how you were sewn into this thing"
He smoothed his hands over the deep ridges left in her back and kissed her there sweetly.
"Anne told me there was no excuse for a women to have a bigger waist than what a corset could provide, when pulled small enough"
"What is she talking of? You are small, corset or no corset"
"Perhaps I will never wear one again" Jane said dreamily, turning over so that she was now facing her husband.
"Works for me" he replied, kissing her lips, "I will have easier access to you".
Jane sighed, putting her hand up to touch his face. His hands rested on either side of her, containing her in his arms.
"You do know how much I love you, do you not?"
He smiled softly and kissed her forehead.
"Because, do you not remember when you first proposed to me at Thornfield all that time ago, and I was determined to keep you at arms length for I did not wish to sink into a bathos of emotion regarding you?"
"Is that what you were doing?'
"Mmm. It all seems so silly now. So pointless when I have long since fallen into such with you so helplessly".
He lowered himself down onto her mouth again and kissed her, but as Jane tugged on his waistcoat and pulled him closer to her, the kiss was deepened instantly. He began to unbutton his vest, Jane helping by making quick work of pushing it from his shoulders. He untied his cravat, pulling it from around his neck and discarding it on the floor as Jane sat up to unbutton his pants.
"Edward, wait"
"What is it?"
"What about Henry. We will have to go and get him if he wakes-"
But his lips silenced her.
"We can be very quick. He is sleeping at present".
Jane nodded and pushed his pants from around his waist without hesitation. When he stood before her, no longer covered by any clothing, she lifted her arms so that he could pull her shift over her head. She fell back onto the bed, her husband standing before her as he mounted himself and entered her in one swift movement.
She closed her eyes as the sensation of him filled her senses. A quick, stifled breath escaped from her as Edward grunted in satisfaction. Together they moved, establishing a pace that was mind numbing in its satisfaction. Slipping too much on the satin sheets, Jane pulled her husband to her for a kiss and turned them over so that she was on top. As she manoeuvred him once more inside of her, he moaned a deep masculine noise that made Jane's heart leap.
"Darling" she said, lowing her mouth onto his in order to quiet another noise, "Shh, Shh"
But the smiled dropped from her face when he husband took her hips and pushed himself further inside of her, and she felt the painful expansion of want and need in her stomach return in full. Jane rocked in and out, her waist steadied by her husband who was spread out before her, trying to control himself so that he would not finish before she would. But he did not have to wait long, for Jane felt her limbs begin to shake, and in one final deep thrust, she had broken over the edge of desire and felt it flood the very marrow of her bones.
"Ahh" she moaned, laying down on her husbands chest and waiting for all to still again. His heart was racing, and his breath was shallow, but she could not bring herself to do anything besides listen to the sounds of him. When she lifted her head, she looked at the man before her, pushing back his curls and holding them down against his head so she could see his face in full. He was looking back at her with such a profound expression of love, and pride and happiness that the smile slipped from her face into a more serious look. Edward turned her over gently, hand in the small of her back, and kissed her passionately, his hand cupping her face warmly.
"I think that if the world was looking for the perfect specimen of man, they would need to look no further than you".
Edward chuckled lowly, his laugh rippling through him.
"I am not sure about the truth of that statement, Jane. But it is very sweet of you, all the same. It is nice to know that you find me physically attractive, in spite of my many shortcomings"
"I did not say you were the most physically perfect specimen on the planet" she corrected, "Just the most perfect".
He laughed, burying his head between her breasts and kissing her there before pulling his face back to hers.
"Well, I would not want to be a specimen on display for the world, and I certainly do not want that for you, in spite of being far more qualified for such a thing than I am. I like being the only person in the world who knows this part of you- who knows you in this way".
"I could not be this way without you"
Another soft kiss, and then the sound of a slamming door to rouse their attention. Voices could be heard fighting, though they were muffled enough to not be able to make out individual words. After this had gone on for some time, it was clear that it was Anne and Mr Eshton. Edward rolled to his wife's side and propped his head up on his arm. Jane covered them both in a blanket and sighed, looking at her husband. There was no way to tune out the argument next door. At times it was low and hushed and at times it was loud and passionate. Jane had never heard two people fight in such a way, and how unlike them it was to fight at all.
"Did Anne say anything to you when you went upstairs to change?"
"Only that she thought Mr Eshton did not want to be married to her anymore if she could not give him a child".
Edward paused thoughtfully.
"I know you told her that was not true"
"Of course I did, but there is no way to make someones self worth sufficient enough if they do not believe it for themselves".
A door slammed in the hallway again and then Jane could hear a babies cry.
"I will get him" she said, sitting up quickly.
"It will take you three times as long to get dressed as it will take me. I will be right back".
"Thank you" Jane said, receiving a kiss in reply.
He paused before standing up,
"I wish I could have stayed here all night, taking you again and again and again".
She went to speak, but bit back her reply, unable to form a coherent sentence though the flood of feeling. Edward grinned at the blush which spread over her face and kissed her briefly before dressing and leaving the room.
Jane took her clothes off the floor and folded them neatly in the corner of the room on a large dresser. When that was done, she pulled on her nightshirt from the corner of the bed and bathed her face in water. When Edward had returned, and Jane had fed Henry and gotten into bed with him, she noticed that her husband was still meandering around the room, picking up cushions and peering under them.
"What are you looking for?"
"My nightshirt. Have you seen it?"
"Yes, it was over next to the closet"
"I looked there"
"Hung in the closet by mistake?"
"I checked there too".
"Still in the trunk?"
He walked over, opened it, and closed it again.
"Perhaps it was not packed, forgotten in the quick move this morning".
"I thought I had seen it though, Edward".
"Well it does not matter" he said, "I will look tomorrow when there is more light. I am too tired to search right now".
Jane lowered herself into bed, laying Henry beside her. She waved her finger in front of him so that he gripped it tightly, smiling brightly up at her. Edward slipped into bed so that Henry was resting protectively between his two parents.
"I am very tired too" Jane said yawning,
"I know. It has been a long day".
Edward reached over and pressed his lips to her forehead, but Jane pulled his mouth down to her by the chin and kissed him softly.
"Goodnight my sweetheart" he said, "Sleep well"
"Goodnight", she said warmly.
"And goodnight to you" he said rubbing the stomach of his son affectionately, "For the sake of your poor mother and father, please sleep well and all the way through the night".
"One or the other" Jane corrected, "I do not wish to ask for an unreasonable amount from him ".
Edward grinned and blew out the candle on his bedside table.
. . .
Jane woke up in the morning to the sun shining through the opened window. In this new room she had forgotten to pull the curtains closed, and so when the sun came up, she could not get back to sleep. Turning over, her eyes fell upon her family sleeping beside her and an instant and complete ease fell over her. Henry was still bundled in his blanket, encased by one of his fathers arms and fast sleep. Edward similarly was sleeping soundly, his curls had bunched together in sleep so that they hung down in front of his eyes. Jane brushed them back gently before relaxing back into bed. She did not mind laying still for some time, even if she could not fall asleep. It was enough to be in the stillness and silence when she was so happy.
She drifted in and out of a light sleep for several minutes, or perhaps several hours, before Henry began fussing on the verge of great sobs. Jane she sat up quickly and picked him up in her arms.
"Good morning my love, how are you?" she whispered.
Jane rubbed his back and kissed his cheek
"Shh, do not cry. You will wake your father, and he deserves a little more sleep. Come, have another lay down with me. Perhaps you can have a few more minutes of sleep too".
Jane lay down with her back against her husbands stomach and her son laying before her. She closed her eyes to try and rest longer only to feel her husbands arms encircle her. He buried his face in her hair, and immediately fell back into a deep sleep. Feeling very warm, Jane noticed that Edward was sleeping in his robe. She tried to push off the blankets, but was not successful. Instead, she shook her husbands arm which lay under her.
"Edward. Edward, you are too warm" she said, pushing herself away from him.
"Mmm" he grumbled, pulling her back.
"Edward, you are too warm" she repeated.
"That is because I am in this robe" he mumbled, almost incoherently.
"I noticed. Why?"
"Because you are in my nightshirt"
"No, I am not. We could not find it last night, remember?
Without opening his eyes, Edward pulled back the blanket to show Jane the excess of material she was swimming in. She twisted to look at him.
"Why did you not wake me to tell me?"
"Because you looked too peaceful to do that to" he said, reaching forward and kissing her lower back.
"I do not know how it happened. It is so strange, I should have noticed getting into bed. What is the matter with me?".
But he only grumbled that it did not matter and then fell into silence once more.
Jane, lifting her son gently, put him into his fathers arms and left the bed. She located her own nightshirt before pulling off her husband's and laying it on the end of the bed. She walked over to a clock on the far end of the room and saw that it was now seven. The men were scheduled to set off at nine in order to reach the Captain friend of Franklin in time to speak with him. There was not much time to be wasted, and already Jane heard steps in the corridor outside. She dressed herself first, savouring greatly the feeling of her own, significantly loosened corset, and then tied her hair up out of her face. Standing, she smoothed her skirt and moved over towards the bed, shaking her husband awake.
"Come on darling, you must get up. Breakfast will be soon and you all have an early set off today".
He turned over slowly onto his back, rubbing his eyes lazily.
"I am so tired Jane"
"Some tea will rouse you, I am sure"
"And I would much rather spend the day with my family rather than a naval officer".
Jane sat down beside him on the bed and looked at him thoughtfully.
"I know. Thank you, so much, for helping Anne in all of this".
"Oh Jane" he said, "You must not give me such an honest, innocent look. It surely will break my heart in its genuineness".
"I do mean it" she insisted, "It means a great deal to me that you would do this"
"Of course" he said, touching her face lightly.
. . .
Half an hour later, Jane, Edward, Mr Eshton, Anne, and Captain Franklin were all seated at breakfast. Jane could not help but notice that both Anne and her husband seemed quite quiet, but Franklin spoke enough for all of them so that it did not feel awkward. Perhaps he had not heard the fight that had ensured the previous night, for he was clearly unaware of the unusual atmosphere of the table.
"-well, I told Diana that if she or Mary wished to go into the town for the day, such would be quite alright. Diana is always so worried that she will not be home for something important, but then again, it is rare we have visitors this time of year".
"And will her brother come and stay with you soon?" Anne asked,
Jane looked up from her plate of breakfast, almost dropping her fork from her hand.
"Diana and Mary's brother, St John?"
"Yes.." Franklin said slowly, clearly surprised Jane recognised the name "Do you know of him? I have heard very little of the chap".
"I know him well" Jane answered, "Is he planning on coming back to England to stay with you?"
"I do not think so. From my understanding, St John Rivers is a devout man who is on a mission which will most likely claim his life. But Diana did receive a letter from him which said that he missed the civilisation of England, and I believe she read it as he missed the society of England".
"Perhaps certain people" Jane replied, "But St John is a man who held his acquaintances in such a high regard that almost no one meet his standards-"
"Except for you" Franklin interjected, "Diana told me that he held you in such a high regard that asked you to marry him".
Eshton's coughed on his tea.
"Surely not".
"He did ask me to marry him. He thought I would be a good missionary wife to him- fit for labour and hard work in India".
"For goodness sake" Eshton said, "To drag any poor woman there would be a tragedy indeed, but you Jane"
She only smiled,
"Edward, you are awfully quiet just now" Franklin said, grinning.
"That is because I have little to say on the subject"
"I find that hard to believe"
Edward sent him an amused look.
"It is true. I do not know the man, but I do know that he and his sisters were very kind to Jane when I could not be there for her. For that, I am very grateful".
"But if you ever did see him..." Eshton teased,
"Then St John would know exactly why I refused him" Jane interjected, "He would see where my heart lay, and why his proposition of a loveless, but productive marriage were so impossible to me".
Anne smiled at Jane,
"I too was proposed to before I accepted Mr Eshton"
Eshton rolled his eyes,
"You were not, Anne"
"Indeed I was" she argued, "A Mr Williams. He was so very romantic. He was a farm hand, on my uncles estate. I spent one summer there when I was sixteen, and I believed myself to be very in love with him. On the day of my leaving, he confessed his feelings and asked me to marry him-"
"Oh Anne" Eshton dismissed, "That was not a real proposal. You were children, and you never could have married him. He was a farm hand"
"Well it was real enough to us" she said, sounding slightly hurt.
The butler stepped into the room and stood in the door.
"Sirs, the carriage is ready when you are"
"Right" Eshton said standing, "Come along gentlemen, we better get this underway'.
Edward stood, kissing Jane on the cheek as he rose.
"Goodbye darling, have a good day. Thank you for looking after Henry"
"You too. I look forward to your return".
Eshton gave Anne an odd pat on the head that was simultaneously affectionate and dispassionate.
"Goodbye Ms Eshton" Edward said, bowing to her,
"Goodbye Mr Rochester"
"Ladies" Franklin said, tipping his hat.
Anne looked slightly dejected as the men swept from the room out into the awaiting carriage. It was not until after it had pulled away that she seemed to brighten up again. Smiling at her friend, Anne sighed.
"Shall we take a walk through London today? I fear I cannot be in suspense in this house all day long"
Though Jane had no particular wish to walk through town, she would not deny Anne the simple pleasure which would bring her so much comfort.
"Let me just get my hat".