Edward lay awake in bed, Jane having fallen asleep before he had even entered their room. It was unusual for them not to speak before sleep but it was typical that Jane fell asleep before he did, and in truth he preferred things that way. Holding his sleeping wife in his arms, looking upon her as her slow breathing indicated a restful sleep, was one of the most previous things in the world to him. If other men wished for fame, or fortune, or power then he wished only for this. Having been married to someone who he could not even talk to, let alone touch and hold, it had given him much perspective in his life. What this marriage was was difficult to put into words but lived experience had given him an immense amount of gratitude. Jane was so gentle, so peaceful, so calm, that to be her husband was a privilege, and he never took her for granted.

Tonight she slept with her back to his chest, one of his arms acting as a pillow to her and the other wrapped around her waist, their fingers intertwined. He smiled at the thought that she liked to be close to him- needed it, in fact, when she slept. If he moved or rose she stirred and did not relax well enough until he returned to her. He would never say as much to her, though. She was intensely independent and set on remaining so throughout their union but knew that to express her desire to be loved by him was not a surrendering of her power. How much of an anomaly she was, a true individual in her own right and yet so joined with him. At times it felt as if they were the same soul, but of course this was not true. Her soul was far better than his, far more thoughtful, original, and lovely. It was unstained by vice but ruled by love. He was painfully aware of her superiority, and knew that his life would forever be devoted to being worthy of her.

He looked upon her now, seeing her perfections coexisting with her imperfections. It would be wrong, a falsity to not see her for exactly who she was, and so he had always looked upon her honestly. She had always said she was plain, and he had never argued with her because it was the truth when compared to others in the world. Still, even with her plain and simple face Jane held more charm and more love for him than any other face in the world possibly could. Her average appearance contrasted dramatically with the beauty of her soul and her mind in a rather amusing way. It would be impossible, a fruitless task, for her internal beauty to be translated onto the unworthy and incapable canvas of the human face, and what was possessing a beautiful face to untouchable goodness?

His thoughts were interrupted when she began to stir. She moaned softly, almost unintelligibly, before she turned onto her back, moving their interlocked fingers with her and laying them on her stomach. She exhaled one heavy breath before settling back into sleep where all was silent again. Edward smiled to himself briefly.

If only she knew.

He wanted to kiss her, to run his tongue along her soft bottom lip which protruded slightly more from her upper lip in sleep than normal. He wanted to wake her up, see her forehead crease in concentration as he loved every inch of her. He wanted her to look at him in her uniquely adoring way as they moved to the edge of sensation together. More than anything, however, he wanted her to sleep. She had been so tired when she finally did climb into bed that she would need all the rest she could get. So he was happy to lay there, holding her in an embrace, unable to extinguish the pride he felt for her.

And then she stirred again, her face creasing slightly in discomfort before she turned into her husband, disentangling their fingers and instead wrapping both arms around his neck. He smiled at her as she opened her eyes, sleepiness making her confused and disorientated.

"Hello" she grumbled

"Hello darling" he replied, amused.

"Did I wake you?"

"No"

"Then why are you awake? What time is it?"

"Shh" he soothed, "It's alright, sweetheart. Go back to sleep"

"Mmm" was her only response, eagerly burying her face in his neck and closing her eyes once again.

Edward smiled and pressed his lips to her forehead gently. She grumbled something else but he did not hear.

. . .

When he woke next it was because Jane stirred again. This time, however, it was light out so he could see her face more clearly. It was relaxed and happy, drifting between light sleep and being awake. When she slept deeply, Jane did not move one inch.

He smiled and closed his eyes again, noting they were still intertwined in the same position they had fallen asleep in, Jane with her arms around his neck and he with his lips pressed to her forehead. She yawned suddenly and her eyes opened slowly and reluctantly. He could not see this, but he felt her lashes flutter against his skin. She sighed and stretched, rubbing the back of his neck. She pulled back to look at him, her sleepy smile making his heart's feeling flood through his body.

"Good morning"

"Good morning" Jane replied, looking at him in her easy, peaceful way.

He took her chin between his thumb and finger and kissed her sweetly, moving her hair out of her face as he did so.

"What was all that smiling about?" he asked, pressing his lips to her cheek and then her jaw.

"Smiling?"

"Mmm, while you were asleep"

His wife grinned,

"I was having a dream. A very nice dream"

"Were you? Tell me about it"

"It was about you" she offered gently,

"Oh?"

"Mmm" she confirmed, "About how much I love you"

"Go on" he encouraged, half sitting up so that she was resting on his chest.

"Do you remember when we were first married and you used to take me on walks in the afternoon?"

"Mhm"

"And we used to lay under trees in the summer sun?"

"Yes"

"Well I was dreaming of that"

"Because you were up late staring at the snow, pining for summer?"

"No, because you are very clear for me in that memory. I often dream of you when I fall asleep without talking to you".

"I did not know that"

"It happens very rarely" she smiled, "But you always seem to be there".

Edward kissed his wife's temple.

"Why have you never told me such before?"

"Because it would be impossible to tell you what those memories mean to me, but I hold all of them in that deepest chamber of the heart where a person holds the things most dear to them"

"You know, the longer we are married the more I think I understand that kind of love that you hold for me"

"Really? Why?"

"I see, or rather feel, reflections of it in myself all of the time. Whenever you look upon something with your beautiful, natural, curiosity or whenever you hold our son, or whenever your eyebrows crease in sleep and I smooth them with my thumb, a kiss is the only poor substitute I can muster for all the feelings I have for you".

"Mmm" she said with the smile that had captivated him from the first time he had seen it move across her face. Curious and thoughtful, confidant and unsure, it was a spanned the complete nature of her personality.

He said nothing, but ran his thumb and finger along her jaw. She gazed warmly back at him until she lay her head back on his chest and looked out of the window. Large snowflakes fell gently from the sky, occasionally landing on the window and dissolving upon contact. Jane breathed deeply, her eyes fixed on the glass.

"Do you think we are to have more significant snow?"

"I do not know. I hope not. If we do our house guests will never be able to make it home".

"I know" she said, her voice filled with understanding.

There was a few moments of silence before she asked her next question

"Diana asked me yesterday at dinner if we had any plans for the New Year and it made me think. Do you think we should have plans? Should we not have some goal to strive towards? Is it irresponsible not to have some intention for our lives?"

"But we do" Edward said, "The most important one we could possibly have. We are raising a son which consumes all of our time as it is in between running this estate and caring for this home".

"But I do not consider raising Henry to be part of a 'plan'"

"No, but it is my experience that when people take on too much they overwhelm themselves and end up missing things, or never completing a task as well as they could have. Worst of all, life passes by without recognition and a person is robbed of their own experiences "

"Mmm, you are right".

"And besides, your feelings could also be the result of adjusting to parenthood. We have only had a son for eight months. It is perhaps not long enough to truly recognise that our lives belong to another person now, and caring for another person is all consuming".

Jane nodded,

"Especially when he is reliant on us for every small thing".

A small smile crept across her face,

"Do you ever think back on how different your life was before we were married? What did we do with our time? What did we fill our days with?"

"You know very well what I filled my days with and I am ashamed of it".

Jane took his hand and kissed it gently, holding it in hers. The understanding, non-judgemental action warmed his heart.

"Tell me what you filled your girlish days with. Such is much more interesting to me"

"I suppose compared to some I had much to keep me busy before I married"

"Such as?"

"Well in both Lowood and Thornfield Hall my days were filled with planning how I would teach my students. At Lowood I spent a lot of time deciding how I would approach a large group of girls. It is different when it is just one child, like Adele. It was easy to know and assess her needs, and because we worked together every day I could watch her progress, or lack thereof, closely. With a group of children it is only natural that those who are most confidant, or most sure of themselves, are the easiest to see and recognise, but then it is equally important to make sure those who are quiet, and reserved as I was are seen and heard too. Although not every child learns in the same way, nor takes to school equally well, all children need to learn and so I felt it was my responsibility to make it as fair as possible. And then you came along" she said pointedly "and disrupted all of my noble teaching intentions".

Edward smiled at his wife, proud and humbled by her natural intelligence. He himself had had the advantage of formalised education and an old, well known name, but Jane had nothing but her own brain and intuition. She far surpassed him.

"I am proud of you" he replied, "I have told you before, but your mind is my greatest treasure and that is something which has only grown with time".

Jane blushed, for such was the only compliment she would willingly accept.

"Thank you. I fear I have little else to offer you"

Edward grinned, amused by his wife's disinterest in her physiognomy.

"You know, I am glad I was not brought up a wealthy woman" she continued reflectfully, "Then I certainly would have had nothing to do and even less to offer than I do now ".

"I would like to see such a person, for my own amusements sake"

"Then you would not know me. You would know someone very bitter and angry, not curious and not capable of an independent thought- not a wit to your taste".

"No, you are quite right", he said rubbing his hand over her stomach comfortably and thinking about the shallow, empty women of his past. There was silence for a few moments before a question that Edward had previously considered rose to the forefront of his mind again.

"Did Diana ask if you had plans for the new year because she has some?"

"Indeed. Captain Franklin was offered a new post with the Navy in Devon"

"Devon?" Edward replied, admittedly very surprised, "What type of post is this?"

"Apparently one in which he would be the right hand man to the Admiral. He was very willing to take it, though leaving Diana and Mary on their own for six to eight months made him hesitate".

Edward could see why.

"I spoke with him only yesterday about his unease being on land so much. He is a Captain, it is in his blood to be on the ocean, and yet he married and unable to sail"

Jane bit her lip in her characteristically thoughtful way,

"Do you think he regrets getting married so young?"

"That is the irony, he was married when he was nearly thirty. He was not young at all"

"I suppose" she replied, but Edward processed to answer her question,

"But no. He does not regret his marriage to Diana. I do think he resents the fact that it took away his career, however".

"Well, Diana encouraged him to go and I could see that she was genuine"

"Because she does not want the pressure of needing to conceive a child on her shoulders for a little while?"

Jane nodded.

"Well, then. In that case he will get a taste of what he has been missing and she will have that expectation alleviated from her for a little while".

"Mmm. I thought Diana would be more hesitant, but she was not. Likely she has had time to reflect on the situation and sees the benefit in it".

"And such an arrangement may actually benefit their relationship. Diana is independent like you and I think that she enjoys the time where she is not with her husband. He doesn't mind the time away from her either because he loves his occupation so much".

"But do you think that Diana and Mary will be safe alone in the house for so long? Especially with Daniel?"

Edward shifted his weight, considering.

"I imagine they would be. They have a house full of servants, and their neighbourhood is not known for criminal activity. But if you would really be worried, they could stay here with us".

Jane smiled at her husband and took his hand in hers.

"I love you for saying so, but I know you do not want such and I am not sure that I do either"

"No?"

She looked serious for a moment, and resolved.

"This Christmas with all its madness and chaos has given me much time to think. I know that there is a time for having family visit here, but this house is ours. I think it is only healthy to keep such separate for the majority of the time".

"Then we are on the same page" he said, kissing her temple in relief, "But I will ride over and check on them from time to time, just to make sure they are well and are not in need of anything".

"Thank you" his wife replied, genuinely "I appreciate that very much. And now-" she stretched lazily, "We have to get up and dress"

"Why? People are not assembling until the afternoon today"

"Oh, you're right" Jane said, relaxing immediately into the bed again, "That means we have a few more minutes and I am not of the persuasion this morning to let them go to waste"

. . .

Those minutes passed in peaceful silence, Jane rubbing Edward's back and neck in a way which made him feel completely relaxed. He never took her affection for granted, nor how she had the power to instantly ease his thoughts and worries. So much of his life had been weariness- shallow and base encounters making him hesitant of ever trusting another person. And yet here she was, making love as easy as breathing. He somehow thought, however, the gesture was as comforting to her as it was to him.

As his eyes closed their sons distressed cries split the air. Jane sighed, chuckling, and stopped her soothing gesture, drawing back to look at Edward.

"I'll be back in a moment".

"No, no, I will l go".

And before she could argue with him Edward was up, pulling on his nightshirt and advancing into his sons room.

It was an easy truth to admit that Henry was the best thing that had ever happened to him. His purity, his goodness, his inability to do or act wrong had revived a soul once tainted to believe children were mere tools for preserving family lines and estates. Edward felt such an obligation to be there for his son, to love him, to protect him in a way he had never known himself. And then there was the truth that he was half of his mother, and his need to care for him increased exponentially.

Edward picked Henry up from the crib and held him in his arms until the sobs subsided and he resumed his natural, curious demeanour. He was so much like Jane, for such a perfect thing could not be the result of much of his influence. Still, her instance that he was like him had changed his perspective. Henry did have his eyes, dark as they were, and his curly dark hair. It had been lighter at one point but as he had aged it had darkened. Still, his features were overall more like his mothers, lacking his severity and harshness. His cheeks were full and red, his brow soft and searching- nothing like his own grim physiognomy. His son was also curious, though, and Edward could not doubt that trait in himself.

"Come, I am sure your mother is very eager to see you".

"Good morning!" Jane said happily as they reentered the room, now wearing a nightdress. Her husband preferred her with nothing at all- not for any selfish reason, but because it was a mark of their closeness and ultimately how comfortable she was with him. She did not trust quickly, and she had only ever entrusted her soul to one person in the world. Every single moment was a testimony to the protection of that bond.

He sat down on the bed with Henry and handed him to Jane who kissed him good morning.

"Hello my darling. How did you sleep?"

She ran her finger gently over the mark on his face left from sleeping on his blanket before looking up at her husband. He was happy this morning and more than happy to be in his mother's arms.

"Do you think we should give him a bath today?"

"Well I could probably take one too" Jane said, "I will bring him in with me".

"Very well. While you are in there I am going to-"

"Oh! Edward, perhaps you should get the bath with him and I will cut your hair. I have been meaning to do such for far too long"

"Mmm" he replied, running his fingers through his admittedly long hair.

"Let me call the girls downstairs to start the bath".

. . .

Unfortunately Henry was less cooperative when it came to bath time.

Edward got in the tub and held his son while Jane cleaned him with soap. Henry started to cry the second water touched his skin. Even when Jane rinsed the soap from his hair as gently as possible he was inconsolable. After his crying turned to screeching Jane lifted him quickly from the water into the towel in her arms, looking down at her husband with the slightest frustration before departing the room.

He heard his sons tears for only a few minutes, and then the sobs subsided to something which was too quiet for him to hear several rooms away. He stood to pick up the soap which had been discarded by Jane and cleaned his own hair with it, thinking over a conversation he had been privy to the previous night. It had involved Mary and Lady Denver who to his great surprise had gotten on surprisingly well. It may have been true that they were not matched in experience, wealth, or disposition but they were rather well matched in other ways. Both old fashioned with traditional values they had much to talk about, but the sharpness of Lady Denver's tongue was offset by Mary's quietness and absolute desire to remain anonymous. Lady Denver could speak freely and as frequently as she liked, and Mary was free from the need to respond, though more than contented in having someone to constantly engage with. Such a realisation made him think of something- something that may have been helpful to everyone.

At that moment his wife reentered the room,

"Jane, I have just thought of something"

"Have you? What about?"

"Mary".

"Oh? What about her?"

"While I was sitting at the end of the table last night I witnessed Mary and Lady Denver interacting with one another. It stuck me that they may be quite good companions to one another".

Jane reflected for a moment, picking up the scissors and the comb she left by the glass and walking behind her husband.

"Can you sit up a little for me, please? That's good- right there".

She combed through his wet curls so that she could assess the length, bending down in front of him

"How do you mean them to be companions to one another?"

"I think that Mary could be of much use to Lady Denver, and that Lady Denver could be a benefit to Mary. Are they both not in need of company at present? And are they both not suited for one another in having opposing temperaments?"

"Well, I suppose that one needs someone to listen to them and the other needs someone to listen to"

"Exactly. And Mary is so patient with her she would prove to be invaluable- almost a complete rarity. Apart from you, of course"

"Mary is far better to her than I could ever be. I am too out spoken for her taste"

"And yet I do not think Mary could ever be a friend to her as she considers you a friend. There are certain things Lady Denver discusses with you that I do not think she would ever bring up to Mary".

"Does that not make them ill suited as friends, then?"

"Well just because she takes on Mary as a companion does not mean you will be gone from her life- nor anyone else she considers in. She would still have people to talk to about the things she would not discuss with Mary, but she will have someone to keep her from becoming complacent and lonely, and I believe that Mary will regain some confidence in feeling like she is useful to another person".

"I agree with you, Edward" his wife said sadly, "I know that her refusal of Father Andrew, though the right thing, has shaken her spirits and I think that it may be exactly what she needs to bring round her spirits. But Mary is travelling back with Diana in a few days time- it will not be possible for her to stay as the Captain will likely accept the new post he has been offered".

"Indeed, but accepting the post does not mean that he will sail straight away. I think it much more likely that Franklin will be asked to work here and will not travel until March, at least when the sailing season resumes. That will give Mary some time to recover her spirits before returning to her sister. Fresh air and a change of scenery is always beneficial to a person".

Jane brushed his curls forward into his eyes and learned forward, cutting them carefully.

"And what about little Daniel? Where would he stay?"

"Well, do you think she would object to his nurse, and Diana, caring for him for a month or so? Most mothers do leave their children for a season with their nurses as part of what is understood to be a traditional childhood. Truthfully it seems to me as if a break would not necessarily do her any harm".

Jane sighed, nodding.

"It was been difficult for her to raise Daniel given everything that has happened to her. Because of that she is less hands on with him, more reluctant than I think she would been had the child come out of a marriage. I wonder at times if she looks at him and all she can see is the man who-"

She stopped herself quickly and Edward took her hand briefly. She rubbed it before continuing.

"Even though I know she loves her son, I also know she sees the parts of the man who fathered him within him. I cannot blame her for one moment, and it does not change the way he treats her son, but it inhibits her own peace of mind which makes life difficult for her. I cannot imagine how she reconciles such in her mind".

"I have seen so much of it, Jane, over the years. So many children are left homeless, and hungry, and alone because of how they come into the world. Daniel is loved and cared for, and he is not yet old enough to be hurt that his mother has gone. Visiting Lady Denver will only give Mary a chance to breathe, and return to her motherly duties refreshed".

Jane swept her husband's hair back so that the light coming through the bathroom window suddenly felt very bright. He squinted, but could still see the soft expression on Jane's face.

"You have a great capacity for acceptance, and a great gift of empathy. I do not know if there is a more gracious person in the world when it comes to knowing and understanding people than you".

"You are my match" he replied easily,

Jane kissed Edward's temple before he turned his face so he could press his lips to hers. She was caught by surprise but embraced his kiss, rubbing his neck when they broke apart.

"Do that again"

"Mmm, I do not think so" she said gently, "You will become too spoiled and I believe your temperament is naturally prone to such excesses".

Edward could not help but grin at his wife.

"Fine. Tell me then- how do you think Diana will feel about caring for Daniel?"

"I think Diana would enjoy caring for Daniel quite a bit. I think it will make her excited to start trying for a child again rather than dreading it when her husband returns".

"I do hope so" Edward replied genuinely.

Jane sat on the edge of the tub, running her fingers through his hair and sizing up her efforts. Had she not been out of reach of his mouth, he would have kissed her for the sweet, intent look on her face.

"Mmm" she said softly, dropping her hand. "There. You are decent, at least"

"Come here"

He kissed her briefly but as she drew back he caught her and held her close, deepening the kiss. Her breath caught in her throat and he ginned against her lips before drawing back, kissing the same place along her jaw sensually over and over.

"Why did you stop?"

He chuckled, confused as to why she ever needed to ask him that question when the answer was clear.

"Because if I continued I would not trust myself to keep you out of the tub"

"That is good, because I am not sure I could handle getting dressed again today"

Edward admired her playfulness but then watched a more serious thought pass over her face.

"Tell me your thoughts".

She turned to the window, the winter light hitting her lips and her nose.

"It has just occurred to me that everyone has something of their own- a life of their own. I have you, and Henry, and Adele. Both Anne and Diana have husbands, homes, and everything else that goes along with marriage. Mary seems to ricochet between all of our lives and that is not fair. She deserves something of her own".

"All people deserve to have a life of their own, to make their own decisions and even their own mistakes. One does not have a life if they cannot exercise that right".

She played with his hair in the characteristic way she always did when thinking on something, though she was completely unaware of it. All she could muster in response was a thoughtful "Mmm" before nodding and standing.

"I am all finished with you, and the water is turned cold"

"Thank you, sweetheart".

She kissed his forehead briefly.

"Next time I will try to not let it get so long. Why do you not put your head under the water one last time and make sure that all the soap is out- I do not think it is".

It felt as if Jane had been specially created as a gift to the world to care for others, and there were moments he still could not believe that she had chosen to love him out of everyone who would have no doubt loved her in return. He had always been so protective of her- had needed to take care of her, before and after he was her husband, but he had never considered that she would do such for him with such little effort yet such overwhelming power.

He plunged his head under the water and resurfaced to find a towel extended to him. He wrapped it around his waist and allowed the excess water to fall off of him.

"I am going to go and spend some time with Adele before lunch. Do you want to join us when you are dressed?"

"Mmm, I'll be in in a little while".

"Alight" she smiled, "Don't be too long".

. . .

Edward dressed a little more slowly than he had the past few day for he did not have the same need to rush to greet the guests. Still, he did not take his time, for he wished to see his family.

Family.

The word became stuck as the thought passed through his mind.

He had loved being a father, and a father-like figure to Adele, more than he had ever thought he could. He had worried so much before that he would not be enough, but he had found it natural, easy even, with Jane as his partner. Henry was perfect, and although Adele was not his child he was long since given up the distinction between a ward and a daughter. In truth he regretted every moment he had not shown Adele as much care and attention as she deserved. He dreaded the thought that for a moment he had ever made her feel small or insignificant. He had once told his wife that remorse was the poison of life, and he had been right, but Jane had told him something that was more truthful. Repentance, she had told him, was remorse's cure, and he knew that repentance was possible now. Though he could never take back his treatment of Adele at times, a genuine change of heart and behaviour had righted their relationship so that Adele was more opened and closer to him than she had ever been. She was a testimony to forgiveness, and he had much to learn from her.

After doing up the final button on his jacket he walked down the hall into Adele's room where Jane was sitting on the bed with Henry in her arms and Adele at her side.

"Good morning" he said,

"Good morning Mr Rochester!" Adele replied, "How did you sleep?"

He grinned at her attempt of a mature question,

"Well, thank you. What of your sleep?"

"I did not sleep very well. I was tormented by nightmare dreams"

Jane looked meaningfully at him, seeming somewhat reluctant.

"Nightmare dreams?

"Oh yes, of goblins and ghosts. I thought one would surely enter in through my window and take me away in the night-"

"Adele, you need not worry about things which do not exist" Jane assured her kindly,

"Yes exactly. You should only worry about the things which do exist"

Adele's eyes grew wide with fear and anticipation.

"Things which do exist...?"

"Yes, like vampires and werewolves-"

"Oh Edward"

"They exist!?" Adele croaked, her eyes wide.

"Oh yes, and they lurk in the dark and shades-"

"Alright, both of you. That is quite enough" Jane interjected, sending her husband a scolding look. "Adele, such things are not real. Mr Rochester is merely attempting to get a rise out of you".

"But how do you know that they are not real?"

"Because no one has ever seen such a thing before, and it is impossible for such to exist in the first place".

"Do you promise?"

Edward grinned,

"Yes. I am merely teasing you, Adele".

"But there are stories and books written about such creatures. In that case, it must be true, for you told me Jane that books are full of truth".

"Some books" Jane clarified "And others are filled with fanciful nonsense".

Edward grinned at his wife's blunt pragmatism, it was always one of his favourite qualities about her.

Adele looked unconvinced, but she did not press the matter further. She swung her legs off the side of her bed and Jane passed Henry to her to distract her from her own thoughts. Adele lit up when he was in her arms, though he was not initially inclined to stay there. Henry squirmed and Jane encouraged her to bounce him lightly to soothe him.

At that moment the sound of heavy, inelegant footsteps which had become familiar over the past few days came thundering down the hall.

"Jane!" the voice called shrilly, "Jane!"

She turned meaningfully on her husband for a moment before the door opened abruptly.

"Adele, have you seen- Oh! I'm sorry to intrude on this family gathering".

"That is quite alright" Jane said patiently, "Is there anything I can help with, Georgiana?"

"Not at all. I was only sent to inform you that lunch will be served in ten minutes"

"Really? The time had quite alluded me, then. Thank you"

"Good morning, Mr Rochester" Georgiana said, swaying on the spot and ignoring her cousin.

Edward bit back an unimpressed smile and the desire to roll his eyes, for he knew that Georgiana watched him too carefully for the action to be unobserved. He had known women like her all his life, surrounded by them in childhood and encountering them everywhere in his travels. Attention was the goal of her life, and she took it wherever she could find it. One polite word from him registered as flirtatious interest in her mind, and he never wanted her to think he had any other feeling for her besides a familial indifference. Still, he responded politely.

"Good morning, Baroness"

"You are so formal" she said dismissively, "And there is no need to be for we are family, afterall"

He nodded,

"Indeed we are".

"Such a gentlemen" she said to Jane, winking.

Jane subtly slid her hand on top of her husband's, squeezing it gently.

"Well, I must go down for I am very hungry. Adele, will you come with me?"

Adele looked to her guardians before Jane, who nodded, took Henry back from her so that she was free to run off with Georgiana who's jewellery clattered noisily.

The latch clicked on the closed door and Jane sighed, smiling at her husband.

"Hungry?"