In the week that followed Henry became quite good at crawling through extensive practice. Too good- in fact, because he often crawled away if not watched closely which proved to be greatly problematic for his parents because he was no longer content to be in their arms. Within one week, Henry wished to be constantly on the floor playing, crawling, grabbing items from all over the house and fleeing before being noticed. The upside to this was that Henry often tired himself out throughout the day by having so much exercise and slept soundly for much longer.
When December 15th arrived everything in the Rochester house really did look and feel wonderful for Christmas. Jane walked through the house multiple times, excited to see all the small touches within the decorations which made their house feel so special. The cooking too in the kitchen smelled delicious and made Jane excited for everything to come.
She had never really experienced a Christmas in her life before marrying Mr Rochester. At Gateshead she was allowed to sit at the Christmas dinner but she received no presents and was not allowed to participate in any of the festivities. Instead, she was ordered to remain in her room where she read of far off places that warmed her heart with the hope for a better life. At Lowood school they had neither the funds or the will to give presents to the girls. Instead, they had Christmas mass and warm soup instead of bread for supper. Then, at Thornfield Hall, the Christmas festivities were also greatly dimmed because Mr Rochester arrived home just before Christmas and there was not enough time to prepare a full celebration. At least then she was given a Christmas dinner with the servants, a warm fire, and the affection of Adele and Ms Fairfax as companions and Mr Rochester as her friend. It had been the closest thing to a family she had known up until that point, but now she understood how small that notion of family really was when there was an immensity of love before her in the shape of her husband and son.
The morning that their guests were all due to arrive, Jane spent her time walking the house trying to see if she could be useful anywhere. Although she folded some linens and helped peel some potatoes in the kitchens, it was not until her husband pulled her away and told her to relax that she sat with him and Henry on the couch in the sitting room, her husband's arm around her and her son in her lap.
"Was Henry easy to feed this morning?"
"No, not really. He was fussy. Why?"
"I thought he may be. When I was changing him he fussed too"
"It is all very well. He did not sleep well last night or this morning"
"How many times were you up with him?"
"Twice".
Edward nodded,
"Well, if you become tired today Jane with all the activity, you must tell me and you must take some time to yourself, please"
"Edward, I cannot take a nap in the middle of the day with guests arriving this afternoon".
"This is your house so you can do whatever you want to do. Besides, they are not the type of guests anymore that need your constant attention. They know John and Leah, they know their rooms and where to go if they need anything. They will not need you waiting on them hand and foot".
"Well, regardless- I wish to be helpful. Besides, I am not that tired".
"Fine. I will not argue with you" Edward said reluctantly, "But Jane, love, I am being serious. If you wish to have some time to yourself, do not hesitate to take it. Everyone will be here until after the new year so there will be plenty of time shared with everyone".
Jane ran her fingers through his hair and kissed his temple.
"I worry about you"
"Do you really?"
"Of course I do. You are my wife and you work with a furious passion at everything you do whether you realise it or not- all while being a new mother. Apart from that, you do not have a boundary for yourself to be able to say no to others"
"That is not true" she protested, "I say no to you frequently"
"I do not count because I am your husband, and also you do not say no to me all that often"
Jane surveyed him sceptically,
"I would not say that-"
"Oh Jane, I have known you for too long for us to pretend like I do not know you like the back of my hand".
"When have I had no boundary then?"
"The time you gave Jenny all of your pregnancy dresses for her sister"
"Yes, but she asked for some extra money to be able to buy fabric for her, and since I was not using the dresses I thought I should just give them to her so she could save the time of sewing"
"Which I thought was extremely kind of you and very consistent with your nature. But then what did you tell me right after you gave away the dresses?" he said, deeply amused.
Jane hesitated,
"That I just should have bought her some dresses already sewn because I was sure I would need those particular dresses again for myself".
"Mmm" he reflected, "Or that time that you spent the day touring Diana and Mary around town when you were very pregnant, sick, and in no fit state to walk but did not want to disappoint them?"
Jane bit her lip thoughtfully,
"Or the time you stayed up all night in your masters room, dripping with water, wrapped in his robe, obeying his orders to stay put when really you should have returned to your own bedroom".
Jane smiled,
"You make it all sound so very wrong when you say it like that"
"Well, it certainly did not feel wrong to have you in my room in my robe" he said cheekily. Jane shook her head.
"You must promise me to be good for our guests"
"What does that mean?" he grinned,
"As in on your best behaviour? Not telling stories like the one you just shared? It could be easily misinterpreted"
"Jane, no one who knows you could misinterpret that story. Besides, I never would have done anything to you that was not right. God knows I wanted to. Am I not always on my best behaviour?"
"Well, apart from when you are drinking aged wine in large quantities, chasing down men in the middle of the night with the intention of incarcerating them, planning a birthday party for me behind my back, or other such activities"
"Darling, you know that those are things most wives would find dashing, or at the very least charming?"
"Well, I found such things to be personally distressing more than dashing- and certainly not charming"
Edward laughed heartily, burying his face in his wife's neck and kissing her there softly. It was the kind of kiss he could not help- natural and spurred on by the emotion of love. His laugh and his lips sent warm waves through Jane. She learned into him, closing her eyes.
"But Edward, I do not want you to think I am ungrateful for everything you have done. I do not wish to make light of the fact that you have taken my family in as yours, you have gone out of your way to protect Mary, and to make everyone feel so comfortable in our home. I know that you prefer it when we just have our house to ourselves to care for Henry, but I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it".
He looked at his wife thoughtfully before responding.
"From the moment I married you, Jane, your family has been my family. Not only because I have a genuine affection for them but because what matters to you matters to me. What moves you moves me. I would not have it any other way than to offer them safety here".
"I know that. But I am thanking you because I know that you do such for me"
"You call me a good man, Jane, but I am incredibly selfish on one point. I always want you to myself. If I am considered good just because I am willing to share you with those I care about for one Christmas, I could bare with that burden".
"And do you not think that I view you in the same way? Edward, I rather think you are everyone's favourite during house parties. And it is not just now, it was the same before I meet you too. I used to watch you from a chair in the corner in Thornfield Hall entertaining all your guests. I saw how people simply waited all night to have a conversation with you, and without you to entertain them they sunk into discontent and boredom with each other".
"That is because they were rather terribly boring people with not much to say- besides Eshton, but his ideas of modernism and science were too much for that group to consider very seriously".
"Did you ever know what happened to those people?"
"No, I do not. I do know that the Dent twins married another set of twins, so I would love to see one of their family gatherings. And I know that Blanche's younger sister did indeed become engaged to that rich man from London who just presented his daughter at court last season".
Jane smiled, biting her lip.
"Interesting"
"It was, very. Especially seeing as his daughter was older than his new wife"
Jane raised her eyebrow in surprise as there was a knock at the door.
"Come in" Edward called, entreating the person to enter. A second later John stepped inside the door, bowing swiftly.
"Mr Rochester sir, your guests are arriving now"
"Thank you" Edward responded, "We shall be out momentarily".
As John left, Jane found a blanket to wrap Henry in so they could step outside and greet their guests. After having her own shawl wrapped around her shoulders, Jane and Edward walked out into the bright morning sun and watched Captain Franklin, Diana, Mary and her son Daniel spill out of the carriage one by one. They walked up the stairs happily, hugging each other in greeting.
"Hello, hello!" Jane said, hugging Mary, "How are you?"
"Very well, I should think. And you?"
"I am very glad now you have arrived safely. How is this little one?" she asked, touching Daniel's cheek softly.
"Fussy, after the carriage ride. But he will be well soon".
"Rochester, old chap" Franklin said, shaking his friend's hand vigorously, "How wonderful it is to see you"
"How are you then, Franklin?"
"Glad to be out of that carriage. What a ride that was- in parts the roads were completely filled with snow. It slowed us down a ridiculous amount".
Diana then moved to hug her cousin, squeezing her tightly.
"Dear sweet Jane and Henry, how wonderful it is to see your faces. I have missed you desperately"
"I have missed you too"
"Ms Rivers, Ms Franklin" Mr Rochester said warmly, bowing deeply to them both, "It is wonderful to see you ladies again"
Diana smiled brightly, "It is wonderful to see you too, Mr Rochester. We have missed you"
About to chime in, Mary sighed and looked very tired as Daniel began crying loudly, his face flushed red in anguish. Seeing this play across her face, Edward spoke.
"Here" he said, picking Daniel up from Mary's arms and bouncing him gently. "I will look after Daniel while you get settled in. I know you must be eager to get upstairs and unpack".
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. You go on, myself and Jane will see to this little fellow".
"Very well. Thank you so much, it is very kind of you"
Edward bowed as Mary and Diana walked inside arm in arm, their luggage being unpacked from the top of the carriage.
"Look at you Rochester. You are a real natural with him" Franklin said watching him entertain Daniel, "In preparation for becoming a father myself I have been spending some time with him and I must say- I cannot ever seem to soothe him"
"Well after eight months of having my own son, I should like to think I am making some headway".
"And how is Henry?" Franklin asked, turning to Jane "Growing daily I see"
"Almost hourly, I should think. How are you Captain? Was the trip here very long?"
"It only felt so in the moments where poor Daniel was crying or the girls discussed the dresses the packed for the visit. I cannot relate to such sentiments at all".
"Captain Franklin" bowed one of the footmen, "Please follow me to your room. Ms Franklin has already gone up"
"Thank you" he said, "I will see you both in a little while"
And off he went, following the footman up the stairs.
. . .
Within an hour the Eshton's carriage arrived as well. Jane, Edward, Henry and Daniel meet them on the steps too as they descended the steps of the carriage and happily meet their friends.
"Well obviously The Franklin's and Mary have arrived" Anne said, glancing back at her husband in a clearly annoyed way, "I apologise. We would have been here sooner but my husband decided to read a paper before we left"
"I was waiting on it for months" Eshton explained to Rochester, "And I took a skim. We are not very late"
"Not at all" Mr Rochester confirmed, "What was the paper about though?"
Jane smiled at her husband's curiosity as Anne turned around, still looking somewhat annoyed.
"And how is Mary?"
"She seems in high spirits, surprisingly content. They all went upstairs to unpack. Edward said he would watch Daniel for a little while for her for she looked rather tired when she arrived".
"And did you give any consideration to whether or not..."
"Father Andrew will be coming?"
Anne nodded,
"No, he will not be" Jane said, continuing to speak low, "I spoke about it with Edward. We both came to the conclusion that it would not do anyone well to have him here, especially if he is indeed engaged. Besides, we have not heard from him for many months now. I cannot imagine he expects our hospitality".
"Hm" scoffed Anne, "Well he has nerve. It is the same with us- he practically ran away from Mr Eshton one day in town when they were both there. And to think, all you and Mr Rochester did for him when he arrived quite awkward and friendless. All the books he was lent from your library!"
"Well, that is all water under the bridge now" Jane said, "And I just want everyone to feel at ease".
"I agree with you completely, Jane. But I must say, I am sure I will never feel the same way towards him. I do not even wish to see his face. I thought he was a better sort of man, someone who rose above the general grumble of what people say and think. He was so tame, so seemingly gentle and almost clumsily waiting for others to advise him in life. Why, when it truly matters, would he suddenly get a rush of inspiration to make his own choices?"
Jane shrugged,
"I cannot say. But he certainly did make a choice".
"Jane!" Eshton called, "Rochester looks good with another boy, does he not"
Jane turned around to see Eshton hanging over Edward with Daniel in his arms.
"Indeed. But then again, all men should have an occupation, Mr Eshton"
The men laughed heartily as Eshton clapped his friend on the shoulder.
"That will be you before long" Edward pointed out, "You best be ready for it when it comes?"
"Can I ever be?"
"No. But you will be a good father when all is said and done".
Edward walked to his wife and Anne, bowing.
"Hello Ms Eshton, how do you do?"
"Well, thank you" she said, laying her hand on her large stomach, "I am about seven months now. We will have a baby in February, hopefully".
"A son" Eshton said, "I can just tell".
"No you cannot" Edward injected.
"Ah, but as a scientist I have scientific intuition"
Edward scoffed as he took his wife's arm and began walking inside.
"Come, it is too cold outside for these little ones. You can both get unpacked and then come down for some tea with the others".
. . . .
Jane tried to get Henry down for his nap while she waited for their guests to unpack but he would not settle, so when an hour passed and everyone went downstairs she took her son with her. She rounded the corner of the sitting room to see everyone in good spirits, smiling and talking with one another.
"Jane!" Diana called, "Come and sit"
"I am coming!"
"I was just telling everyone, Jane, that Blanche Ingram gave birth to twins the other day" Eshton said, resuming his strain of conversation.
"Did she? That is nice to hear"
"Yes, and she is now vacationing in York"
"York?!" Anne asked, sounding very confused, "Why would she go there? And with two infants?"
"She did not take her infants" Eshton explained, "She left them at home with a nanny while she went, supposedly alone, but rumour has it that her old fling, a young man who is supposedly a Portuguese Prince, is also vacationing there"
"Do her children look Portuguese?" Anne asked slyly, but Eshton raised his eyebrows taking a sip of his tea.
"Well they do not have her blonde hair".
Mary bit her lip while Diana and Anne scoffed disapprovingly.
"That woman is such a hypocrite. Judging others and having such a high moral compass when she does not follow such things herself. At least her husband does not seem to care".
Edward smiled slightly over the rim of his teacup at Anne's indignation.
"Why would she choose York? I thought that people preferred to pick places more coastal- closer to the sea" Jane asked in her ignorance of travel.
"York is known to be a spot of many famous people, is it not?" Diana asked,
"Yes indeed" Captain Franklin interjected, "It is a very wealthy place"
"Wealthy enough so that those who wish to remain anonymous can afford to do so" Edward added, "It is easy to exist unnoticed in York, for there is a rather large and isolated portion which does not have anyone apart from aristocrats who are always up to something they need hidden".
"Well I personally think it is irresponsible to leave children who are merely a few days old alone without their mother or father"
"I agree, Mary", Anne added, "Very irresponsible indeed".
"Speaking of children, I seem to have about one hundred of them in my training at the moment. I do not know, but they seem to get younger and younger as the years pass"
"That means you are becoming old" Eshton said wisely.
"How does your new regiment come along?" Edward asked Captain Franklin, "Are they what you hoped for?"
"No, indeed. They are mostly young, silly and immature men who have lived lives of fashion and comfort. However, I will take any job over sailing around the world for the majority of the year, especially now I am a married man. Training has been difficult but I do feel like we are coming alone now- after months of this"
Eshton laughed,
"Well what does one look for in a sailor?"
"Obedience, loyalty, and the ability to work without becoming seasick".
"Well then, you can count me out" Eshton said, looking put off.
"I have never been on a boat!" Diana said, somewhat remorsefully,
"Nor I" Anne added,
"It is rather horrid" Franklin said, "It is men's travel, to be sure. Nowhere to wash, sick everywhere, the same clothes week after week. It is all very glamorous. You sailed from Jamaica, Rochester, you must have an opinion on the subject. Such is a long voyage".
"Well, sailing is the only way to travel long distances and thus it is necessary, but I would not call it the most comfortable form of travel. As Franklin says it is rather grim in terms of being monotonous. If you are not contended with reading, or drinking, or something similar it would be a rather tedious journey".
"And what did you do on your travels, Mr Rochester?" Diana asked,
"I read the complete works of Shakespeare on the trip there and I spent a lot of time on the way back just looking at the passing ocean"
"Good gracious" Diana said, looking genuinely affected.
"And I may have had a few drinks, here and there" he added, smiling guiltily at his wife who only smirked her disapproval.
"Jane, have you ever been on a boat before?" Eshton asked curiously,
"No, though it was threatened at one point that I had to take one to Ireland"
Edward grinned at his wife privately.
"Really? Why Ireland?"
"For potential work. But that obviously never came to pass"
"How horrible Jane, that you could potentially be so far away from us. As it is we all should be thanking you and Mr Rochester for bringing us together for Christmas. It is so wonderful to be together again".
"Of course! You are all family, and that is who Christmas should be spent with. I should know, I passed many without such company. I do not take any of you for granted".
Standing behind his wife, Edward put his hand on her shoulder affectionately. She received many warm and kind looks at her word, as well as some affirmations that Christmas is a time for family and friends to be together.
"Speaking of friends," Mary began, "Have you heard from our friend Father Andrew recently?"
Although she attempted for her voice to sound calm and unaffected, Jane could tell there was great expectation in Mary's aspect. There was an immediate tenseness about the room at her question, though Mary did not see Diana glance to her husband or Anne drop her eyes to the floor.
"No, in truth we have not for he does not come to visit us anymore. Perhaps it is his parish duties which keep him so occupied".
"That is likely" Mary said, sounding surprisingly unaffected, "The job of a priest is never done and so I am sure he is much tied up with it".
"To be sure" Anne added quickly, "To be sure".
"I do think a man ought to be busy. I learned that from my brother St John, another man of God".
"Is this the St John who almost made Ms Rochester Ms Rivers?" Anne asked, amusing herself greatly. Jane could not see her husband standing behind her but she was sure he did not look very impressed.
Jane smiled.
"He did not almost make me Ms Rivers. Diana and Mary can attest to that"
"Indeed we can, for it did not make our brother very happy at all. He sulked around the house for many weeks".
Jane blushed slightly as her husband sat down beside her, putting his arm around her.
"How romantic" Anne said dreamily, "Two proposals. If only every woman could choose between two gentlemen"
"Anne!" Eshton said, not appearing too happy.
Edward laughed,
"Dearest, you do not understand. As a woman, your only job is to become married. A marriage proposal is a validation that you have held up all of your feminine duties, that you are beautiful, respectable and pure. A multitude of proposals means that these qualities have not just been noted by your particular suitor, but different men who admire you at a far. It is very thrilling, I can imagine, to receive multiple offers of marriage"
The whole room dissolved into passionate conversation at what had just been said. Jane turned to her husband beside her and smiled, defeated.
"Do men think it is utterly romantic if a woman receives two proposals?"
"Only if they are the ones chosen in the end".
Jane laughed as Edward kissed her forehead.
She glanced over at Diana who was in a heated debate with her husband.
"No of course I did not get more than one proposal"
"Then why are you saying with such certainty that it is romantic?"
"I am just saying that I can imagine such-"
Henry began to stir in Jane's arms and fussed unhappily, screwing up his face and reaching up for his mother.
"He must be tired" Edward said, "Shall I take him up to bed?"
"Thank you, but I can take him up".
"You stay down here and enjoy everyone's company. It is my turn".
Jane smiled,
"Alright then"
He took his son and turned to the group,
"Excuse me for a little while".
He walked away out of the room, all eyes following him as he rounded the corner.
"I should join Mr Rochester" Mary said, "I should go and check on Daniel before dinner"
"And I should dress"
"Me too Anne" Diana said, "Jane, are you coming?"
"No, she is going to stay here and entertain us" Eshton said, "For I greatly enjoy her company and her point of view."
Jane smiled.
"I will stay down here for a little while longer. It will not take me long to change"
"Very well, we shall see you at dinner".
Within another few moments Jane was left alone with Captain Franklin and Mr Eshton. They moved next to each other on a couch across from the chair Jane sat in as she watched Mr Eshton curiously.
"You look as if you wish to say something"
"I do. But I am not sure I can fess up to it".
"Why don't you try?" Jane encouraged, "It always feels better to get something off your chest".
"I am not sure I am ready for a baby, Jane. I know it is fruitless to say because Anne is already pregnant, but I just cannot imagine myself being a father. I thought I understood what parenthood was- but now I am not so sure. For me, parenting is providing for your family. It is hiring a good nurse who is kind and helpful with raising the children. It is giving your wife security and peace in her house to make raising children as easy as possibly. Although this is the only thing I have ever seen done, I see and hear Edward with Henry and I want whatever that is- but the truth is I do not feel it".
"Well, you do not feel it yet, but I am sure Edward did not either before Henry was born. How could you?"
"I just want to be more excited for Anne's sake. She is always so excited, and so happy, and in truth I am more content seeing her happy than I am at the prospect of our baby".
"Do not be so hard on yourself" Jane said gently, "As a man of science I imagine you are accustomed to knowing outcomes and that such definiteness gives you comfort. This is a big change, and one which you cannot anticipate, so be content in knowing that much will come- good and bad, but that your love will make you treasure every moment of it".
Eshton smiled knowingly at Jane, a slight and almost indistinguishable one.
"Does nothing phase you, Jane?"
"There are things that phase me. There are thoughts which weigh on me in my private moments, but nothing that cannot be dealt with, so in my mind all is well".
Jane looked to Captain Franklin who was looking out of the window. When he turned back to Jane he only shrugged.
"I am thinking that with all this conversation of children me and Diana should have one on the way now too. There is no reason we shouldn't by now, really".
"Time my dear fellow!" Eshton said, "It certainly took time for me and Anne"
"I suppose. Diana hasn't been complaining about it, though I should hardly know if she were upset about it. She never confides such in me, only good things. Perhaps she just has nothing bad on her mind and I think alone about it".
Jane silently weighed the likelihood of this being the case of Diana before she was pulled from her thoughts.
"Jane?"
"Yes?"
"What do you think?"
She sighed,
"I'm sorry, I was distracted. Could you please ask the question again"
"Do you think that Diana would tell me if something was on her mind?"
"Oh. Well, I fear that I cannot speak for Diana. But perhaps the best thing to do is simply to ask her. Women tend to appreciate that greatly".
Eshton grinned and Franklin smiled in understanding.
"I want to reiterate what my wife said, Jane. I am very glad to be here for Christmas and so I must thank you and your husband for your hospitality"
"I am so glad you and your families are here, it truly means a lot to me. The Christmas we passed together last year was the happiest of my life, and seeing as I lived so long without family I do not intend to take a moment of this for granted".
"But Jane, you must not have always lived alone? Surely you had another Christmas with some form of family"
"No. I did not. Until I was eight I lived with my Aunt Reed of Gateshead and there I was excluded from every Christmas festivity"
"Mother to John Reed?!" Captain Franklin asked in surprise,
"Yes, John was my cousin"
"Good gracious, Jane. You cannot be serious. He was amongst the cruellest and most unkind I have ever come across in London-if you will excuse me for saying such".
"No, I agree with you, unfortunately. My cousin John was never kind to me, nor even decent, rather he was unfair and tormented me daily. I have another two cousins by the same Aunt, Eliza and Georgiana. I had a similar opinion of them as well until recently when I visited my aunt's home while she was on her deathbed. Both girls had mellowed in different ways and were far less cruel, perhaps because their brother was no longer around to influence them. Anyways, when I was eight my aunt concluded that I was troublesome, dishonest, and headstrong and sent me away to a charitable school. That was where I remained until I became a governess".
"And she left you none of her money?"
"No. I believe that because John's gambling debts were so great all of her estate upon her death was dedicated to paying such expenses off. Regardless, she would have left none to me of that I am certain".
"Jane, you have indeed had a very unfortunate lot in life".
"Well, not really! Not with all I have been given now. I count myself to be very lucky".
At that moment Edward stepped around the corner holding Henry.
"Darling, I think he needs to be fed. He is fussing too much to simply be tired".
Jane looked over at her companions before standing up,
"Excuse me".
"But of course".
They stood and bowed to her as she left, smiling at Edward and her son as she meet them in the door frame.