Hello everyone,

I hope you are well, and staying healthy and happy. I have been working on school this summer which has slowed my writing a little, but it is finished now so I will have more free time to write more frequently.

I hope you enjoy this chapter! I love writing how everyone interacts amongst each other- all the different dynamics of the group together.

Thank you, as always, for the love and support. I appreciate it more than you know.

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When supper concluded, and the men finished their after dinner, they joined the women in the sitting room. Everyone split up to take part in individual activities rather than a group one and Jane found herself at a table with Mr Eshton playing chess. Though he was a very talented player, and Jane was significantly disadvantaged, she enjoyed their conversation nonetheless.

"I am assuming your husband told you about my incident today watching poor Daniel?"

Jane smiled as she moved her bishop.

"He mentioned something of the sort"

"Honestly I do not know what is wrong with me but being paternal is not natural to me, at all. Edward evidently is a natural, though I never would have imagined it, and even Franklin was much better than I. Most interesting was the fact that I really had no motivation to be. I know that we will get a Nanny to help with the child, so I do not feel it is pressing to become good at caring for an infant. When the child is older, of course, I can step in as a more natural carer- teach him things, help him learn, shape the way he sees the world".

"I am starting to believe that caring for children, no matter what age, cannot ever be natural. There is so much second guessing, so much wondering if indeed you are doing what is best for your child. As a baby it will be if they have enough food, or enough warmth, as a young person it will be if they are learning what they are meant to learn or growing in the way they are supposed to grow. Eventually it will be if they are marrying the right person, or beginning a family of their own at the right time".

Eshton smiled slightly, rocking his head from side to side in contemplation.

"I know you are right. You hear such things from so many other parents that it must be true".

He paused, and looked more thoughtfully at his opponent.

"Does my confession make me a terrible person, Jane?"

"No, of course it does not".

"You say such with so much confidence"

"It is not fair to compare yourself to others when you have not had the chance to know yourself as a father yet. There is not one formula for success as a parent. I do know, however, that both you and Anne will need each others support to make it through the more difficult moments".

"She needs me now, frequently" he replied frankly, knocking one of Jane's pawns out of the way.

"Only as much as you need her" Jane said, smiling, "And I see that you do".

Eshron glanced over at his wife who was sitting with the Baron and Mary on the other side of the room. He still watched her as he responded.

"It has certainly grown over our marriage. At first I was, at times, put off by her lack of independence but that has changed. Now she has just taken away mine"

"I believe that, like other men, it suits you".

"Probably" he laughed.

Eshton moved his pawn forward so that Jane was free to take it. He sighed angrily,

"I should have seen that coming".

He carefully considered his next move as he opened his mouth to ask another question but the loud laugh of Georgiana cut across the room. Jane sighed and looked to her chess partner.

"I do truly find it hard to believe you are related, Jane".

"Well, we most certainly are. But I believe this is a case of nurture, not necessarily nature".

"Ah! You are familiar with the idea then?" he asked, sitting up straighter.

"Yes, a long time ago Edward told me about the idea. It always interested me"

"And what side do you favour? Nature or nurture?"

"Neither entirely. I think that it must be a mix of both. It seems to me very likely that a person can be born with a tendency towards a certain inclination but I think it equally likely that the way a person is raised has a significant impact on the way they turnout to be. If you are raised by parents who are fundamentally selfish, that is your primary experience of how to interact with the world for a long time- then perhaps by the time you meet others who reveal to you that your parents are indeed selfish you have followed in their footsteps and you too have become selfish".

"So you are claiming if it is indeed nurture that shapes a person, that you need a certain level of self awareness to break free from the patterns you are brought up within?"

"I believe so"

"Fascinating"

He looked at Jane for a moment before smiling and shaking his head, observing her taking his rook.

"I've said it to you before. In another time and place, you would have made a rather good scientist"

"If that time and place means a moment where women can do more than be daughters, sisters, wives and mothers, then I agree. Women could be rather good at anything they wanted"

"Mmm" Eshton contemplated, not looking at Jane as he moved his queen one space to the left, "Women though, would complicate the work space for men. For good or for bad, women remaining home keeps everything running smoothly. For that reason, I cannot wish for much change myself".

Jane pushed her bishop across the board and tapped Eshton's king.

"Checkmate"

Eshton spent several frantic minutes trying to work out a way that he was not in checkmate. Eventually he called over Mr Rochester to verify his fate. The room watched in anticipation he carefully studied the board over his wife, his hand on her shoulder, eventually coming to the conclusion that Eshton was in fact in checkmate.

"The day has come, I suppose. I was bound to lose at some point"

"Looks like you have met your match" Rochester said, smiling at his wife, "Well done, Jane"

"Thank you" she smiled, holding out her hand, "Good game, Mr Eshton"

"Likewise, Ms Rochester"

Edward helped Jane to her feet and walked beside her to the other side of the room, speaking lowly as he did so.

"You have stumped Eshton. I have never see him look so surprised during a game of chess".

"I'm not even sure how I managed it, I am a terrible chess player"

"Apparently not. Eshton is rather good".

"Well it was not on purpose but now it looks as if you will have to take me on"

"Oh I assure you I intend to do exactly that"

Georgiana suddenly screamed a laugh in response to something Diana had said, making her look very surprised in the process. Jane smiled to herself as she and her husband sat down on a couch and watched the room around them. Everyone was immersed in conversation and so it offered them a chance to look on without being noticed.

There was nothing particularly noteworthy about the interactions of the room. Anne was comforting her husband who was still trying to work out his chess loss, pointing out the moves to her which lead to his checkmate. Mary was sitting with Baron Hogwood who was waving his hands lazily to emphasise some element of the story he was telling. Mary, who was always polite, was listening to the story attentively and responding politely but Jane could see in her minimal body language that she was not really engaged with it. When he laughed though part of his story Jane could catch a few louder words ring through the air, including "son, "horse" and "sell". Mary pursed her lips and smiled, waiting for his laughter so subside and his story to continue. Everything was rather normal except for Georgiana who sat at a card table across from Captain Franklin and Diana who were talking amongst themselves. She was leaning over the table, her breasts beginning to come out of her dress as she beamed at the Captain- quite unbeknown to him. She rested her chin on her hand and stared at him, her eyes slipping seemingly in and out of focus.

"Edward, look" Jane said lowly, grabbing his arm gently and glancing towards Georgiana.

She was starting to slump forward on the table, her face red, her eyes closing ever so slightly.

"At what?" he asked, looking at Jane before his eyes landed on Georgiana.

"Oh, Christ"

He looked to Baron Hogwood who was still telling his story to Mary, oblivious of what was happening.

"Is she...drunk?" Jane whispered, not experienced enough herself to know.

"I think she must be. She looks flushed. I do not want to step in with another mans wife, especially not when he is here but I can see something is on the verge of happening".

Edward stood up and walked slowly over to Baron Hogwood, placing his hand on the back of his chair. He bent down, said something lowly in his ear, and stood up again before the Baron barely spared a glance in his wife's direction. He looked at Edward, waved his hands dismissively, and eased back to his conversation with Mary without missing a beat. Looking surprised, Edward looked back to his wife before approaching Georgiana who looked as if she was about to speak.

"Georgiana" Edward said, "I was wondering if you would mind accompanying me for a moment?"

"Where?" she slurred, catching the attention of Diana and Captain Franklin across from her.

"Just for a moment-"

"No!" she protested loudly, "No! I am enjoying myself right here"

She banged her fist noisily on the table so that Anne and Mr Eshton looking up curiously from the other side of the room. Jane quickly stood up and approached her cousin.

"Georgiana, my husband did not wish to ask too much of you but I needed your help with one of my dresses"

"Oooh" she said, overlong in her response, "Mr Rochester, you are too polite. I do not mind that at all, Jane, come on".

She staggered as she stood, Edward helped steady her as she began walking towards the door. Diana looked at Jane seriously as she and her husband left the room with Georgiana, all the while her husband taking no notice of her departure.

. . .

As Jane and Edward helped her up over the stairs she swayed dangerously, her knees starting to crumple beneath her on the edge of one of the steps. Edward lifted her up in his arms and carried her over the remainder of the steps.

"You know something? You are not very attractive, Mr Rochester but there is something about you that is a very attractive. You must have had many women who wanted to marry you in your life. Why would you have waited on Jane?"

Edward shook his head, looking meaningfully at his wife.

"Georgiana, you do realise I am still here do you not?" Jane asked lightheartedly.

"My head hurts"

Jane opened the bedroom door so that Edward could carry Georgiana inside and set her down in front of her bed. Jane helped guide her down slowly to sit before she started grabbing at the front of her dress.

"I cannot sleep in my dress-"

"That is my cue" Edward said, "Come find me when you are finished, darling"

"Darling!" Georgiana snorted, "Are you calling me your darling? Your wife is right here"

"Thank you" Jane mouthed to her husband, rubbing his arm before he turned and left the room.

When he was gone, Jane helped her cousin out of the dress with some difficulty. Georgiana squirmed uncomfortably and complained that she wished to be in bed while simultaneously complaining that the night had ended too soon. Jane nodded in agreement, slipping her cousins arm out of her sleeve.

"How is your head feeling?"

"Mmm, it hurts- right here"

She jammed her finger into her forehead.

"I know. I think the best thing for you to do now is to sleep it off".

"What does that mean?"

"It means you fall asleep and wake up feeling better"

"Oh good" she said, finally stepping out of her dress and climbing into bed.

"Not just yet, Georgiana. I have to take out your hair. You cannot sleep on your hair piled in such a lovely way".

"Mmm" she grumbled, allowing Jane to stand over her and take the pins out of her bun.

"You know what has been bothering me, Jane?"

"I couldn't possibly"

"You. It sounds terrible to say but I think I am...I do not know. I think I am jealous of you".

She paused thoughtfully, looking pained as she thought over her words. Jane lowered her hands from Georgiana's hair and watched her sadly.

"I always thought that if I was not to be as good as you then I would have a life that was better than yours and that such would be a comfort to me. Now I see how wrong I am. You have wealth, a husband who loves you, a son your love-"

"Georgiana, please. You must not continue with such a thought" Jane said, resuming the unpinning of her cousins hair, "It would be wrong to think that way. We are cousins, not enemies competing against each other. You are happy. I know you are. You have everything you have ever wanted, plus more".

"True..."

"Besides, this world continues on because people are different- people value different things. I think that must be true of us, though we are friends. The different things we value allow us both to be happy and that is all that matters in the end".

"But I am not happy, my head hurts"

"I know, I am sorry. Here, your hair is done. Lie down"

Georgiana lay down and pulled the blankets up around herself. Jane picked up her discarded dress on the floor and smoothed it out, folding it up carefully.

"I am going to lay your dress over here"

"Mmmm" she replied lazily, turning over in bed.

"Goodnight Georgiana. Sleep well"

"Thank you, sweet Jane"

Jane nodded at her before closing the door as quietly as possible behind herself.

. . .

Outside in the hallway lights were being dimly lit along the wall by William, one of the servant boys. He was lighting a candle when Jane walked by him, stopping when she realised who it was.

"Good evening William"

"Evening Miss. How are you?"

"Good, thank you. How is your wife? I know that her sister passed suddenly this week. Was she able to go to visit her family?"

"Yes, miss. Thank you. Her own employer finally decided she could have time off. Mr Rochester even offered your carriage to take her but her brother came to collect her instead".

"Oh, I am glad. And how are you feeling? You must wish you were with her"

"I feel inadequate to help my wife, who loved her sister very much. I unfortunately did not know her sister very well. I only meet her once at our wedding which is why I did not go with her. I wish I could do more".

"Well, I am sure you are more support to her than you know"

In looking upon him, Jane could scarcely believe he was married. He looked no more than sixteen at the very most. He was tall and skinny, his limps seeming to drag behind him as he moved. His hair, which had no shape, hung in his eyes even when he tried very hard to push it back. His teeth protruded, very slightly, so that he always looked on the verge of speaking. His hazel eyes in some circles would have been considered remarkable, Jane thought, but they were lost upon those who would never take notice of him as a servant. Had he stood upstairs in a waistcoat and had a manservant to help move the hair out of his eyes, he would be the topic of conversation among many. His long, slightly awkward walk would have been corrected with intrinsic confidence and his stature would have no comment apart from how very masculine it was. It was amazing how little separated the lives of people when so many societal structures were in place to make people believe they were innumerable.

"I am not sure I can be much support to her at present. She is gone and is likely to be for quite some time"

"Why?"

"Because she is helping her brother in law settle affairs of family money. Though my wife's family is not wealthy her sister did inherit some land when she married. Now that she is dead my father in law wishes to take it from her husband, and my wife does not want such a thing. He is a good man, and without this land he could not farm. My wife is quite adamant that he keeps it".

"Then hopefully he will. A daughters love, so I hear, can wage much influence"

"Well, my father in law is not a man easily persuaded but my wife is a woman not easily led. It is hard to say"

"She sounds like a wonderful woman. I hope I can meet her one day"

"Of course miss! When she returns I am sure she would like to meet you too"

"She would be welcomed to tea anytime"

William bowed, and Jane looked to the candles in his hand.

"I am sorry, William. I do not wish to keep you from your work"

"You aren't miss, but I should get back to it"

He bowed and smiled as he walked down the hall, lighting candles along the way. As Jane walked by Henry's nursery she wanted to check on him but in turning the handle of the door she found it opened too easily and a moment later her husband stepped out, quieting her as he advanced.

"He was stirring but he was settled now"

"Is it wrong I was hoping he would be awake to see him?"

"Yes, because you were with him all afternoon and evening and you need a little break because we will be up tonight with him".

"Mmm, perhaps you are right"

"I am right" he said, drawing her to him.

"My God Jane, you smell as if you have been in a vat of wine"

"Do I?"

He nodded, grinning to himself.

"It must have been on her dress. I will go and change-"

"No, no, do not bother. Eshton and Franklin are playing their last card game now, and then everyone will be off to bed. By the time you change I am sure they will be done"

"No, perhaps not. Did you check on Adele?"

"She is asleep as well"

"Good. Well that is two settled for the night".

. . .

When Jane and Edward arrived back downstairs the card game had just ended between Mr Eshton and Captain Franklin, Eshton suffering the second hit to his ego that night in having lost again. Everyone sat for a few minutes and talked amongst themselves before it finally turned too late to remain up any longer. People advanced upstairs at their own pace, Edward sending Jane up before him while he dismissed the servants so they did not have to stay up and clean long past a decent hour for sleep. So Jane walked upstairs with Anne who asked briefly about Georgiana. When Jane had explained she was well and sleeping upstairs Anne nodded and they parted for the night.

Inside Jane's room there was a letter laid on the desk unopened. Looking more closely at it she realised that it was a personal letter so she brought it over to her bed and cracked opened the wax seal before unfolding the letter.

"Mr Rochester,

I was unsure whether to write to you or your wife regarding this letter, but when one is unsure I suspect it is best to address the head of the house. I hope to pay you a visit tomorrow morning, in part to wish you and your family Merry Christmas but also to have you help with my estate. I have been accused by one of my butlers of being unfair in terms of my wages, though I can find no indication of this myself. Although it has never been a problem before I am unhappy with his accusation. I am not skilled enough to verify myself so I am in need of someone I trust to look for me. I know it is Christmas Eve but I have carefully considered you are unlikely to have much to do in the morning so I hope my arrival will not be considered an inconvenience to you.

Yours,

Lady Denver"

By the time Jane had checked one last time on Henry and Adele she returned to find Edward was sitting on the bed reading the letter she had left there. After his eyes had scanned over the small, loopy handwriting he looked up at his wife.

"Do we know any more people that could possibly visit us this Christmas?"

Jane smiled and started to undress, unclasping the front of the dress so she could step out of it as quickly as possible.

"I do not think that letter has anything to do with needing her estate looked at. I think she is simply lonely"

"No Jane, surely not. She does not like company, she said as much"

"That cannot be true. No one in the final years of their life wants to be alone".

Jane climbed into bed, sighing happily as she relaxed into the blankets.

"Will you mind doing it?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Of course you do"

"In a sense I do not. It will take perhaps ten minutes at most and to refuse such a simple thing would be wrong".

Jane paused thoughtfully as her husband looked at her.

"You are wonderful, thank you"

He smiled to himself as he unbuttoned and discarded his waistcoat. Jane watched him intently, noting a change in the energy he normally had.

"This has not been the Christmas we anticipated, has it?"

"No, not entirely. It has been rather busy. Though I know you are happy you are also tired".

"I am very happy" he confirmed with all of the truth that he always moved through the world with, "I am thankful for our life, I cherish our friends, and I love my family more than anything in this world. But you're right. All of the socialising, on top of caring for Henry, has made me a little sluggish. I used to be so comfortable socialising but that has changed somewhat. I realise that before it was only a distraction for me to avoid the difficulties of my life. Now I do not need empty interactions to be happy. Most people host these parties to have a break from their wives or husbands and be around people they are more fond of. If my Christmas was just our family I could not be more contented".

Jane smiled as her husband looked warmly at her.

"I understand"

"Of course you do. You are carved from the same stone as me"

"But I really do love having everyone here, especially because until I meet you I never knew what family was. I have much lost time to make up"

"I know. If for a moment it seems that I do not want the others here too it is because I selfishly wish I was alone with you"

Jane reached forward and kissed her him sweetly before laying back in bed, Edward watching her as she did so.

"There is nothing more enticing in this world than the sight of you in that bed"

Jane smiled and closed her eyes, patting the mattress beside her. A moment later the feeling of her husband getting into bed next to her settled her instantly so that the only thing that her mind could process was happiness. She said as much to him which resulted in a kiss on her forehead.

"How are you feeling?"

"Stop worrying"

"I am not worrying. Just checking"

"Checking on what?"

"Your health"

"I promised you that if I felt I needed a doctor I would tell you"

"My concern for you is never going to stop, Jane, so I am afraid you will simply have to live with it"

"Well I feel good" she murmured sleepily, "A little tired"

"I can see that"

"You need to sleep too" she replied, running her thumb over his cheekbone.

"Mmm"

She turned into her husband's embrace and breathed deeply as he held her, one hand on her lower back and one behind his head. Jane placed her hand on his stomach and laid her head on his chest comfortably. The last thing she felt before she fell asleep was a kiss on top of her head.