Jane Eyre by Anna Claybourne

Author:Anna Claybourne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd
Published: 2013-04-12T00:00:00+00:00

“Miss Ingram!” exclaimed Mrs. Fairfax, and she hurried away to greet the guests downstairs.

Adele longed to meet the visitors, but that evening it was not to be. I found a cold chicken and some bread in the larder, which Adele, Sophie and I shared for our supper. Meanwhile, the guests enjoyed a long and lavish dinner in the dining room. It was past one in the morning when they went to bed, and Adele had long since fallen asleep.

The next day, Mrs. Fairfax and I again watched from the window as the party returned from riding. Again, Mr. Rochester and Blanche rode together, and I remarked that they seemed close.

“Yes, I’m sure he admires her,” Mrs. Fairfax said.

“She is very beautiful,” I agreed.

“Well, you’ll meet her tonight,” she said. “I told Mr. Rochester how excited Adele was, and he said you must bring her to the drawing room this evening.”

My heart felt heavy as I put on my dull dress and my tiny brooch, and tried to smooth down my hair. We waited in the drawing room while the guests ate, and passed the time by choosing a flower from one of the many overflowing vases around the room, and fixing it to the sash of Adele’s pink satin frock.

At last the door from the dining room opened, and the ladies came in. There were only eight of them, but with their bright silk dresses, fringed shawls and waving feather plumes, they seemed to fill the room. I curtsied politely as they entered, and one or two of them nodded; the rest ignored me.

Adele wasted no time in making new friends. She introduced herself in French; and soon half of the ladies were cooing around her, admiring her dress and exclaiming over how sweet she was.

Meanwhile, I seated myself in the shadowiest corner I could find, hoping to get a good look at Blanche without her seeing me. Could she really be so perfect? And – I couldn’t stop myself from thinking it – did Mr. Rochester really like her?

She was without doubt the most beautiful woman in the room. Tall and straight as a poplar tree, her neck and shoulders were slender and graceful, and her large, dark eyes glinted brightly in the candlelight. But there was something haughty about her. She had a proud look, and a sarcastic sneer on her cherry-red lips.

Coffee was served, and the gentlemen came in. Now I would see Mr. Rochester and Blanche together, and find out what I really wanted to know.

As Mr. Rochester went over to a group of the ladies and began talking to them, I couldn’t help staring at him. Seeing him again made me think of the last time we had been together – that night after the fire, in his room, when he had held me by the hand. The handsome looks and charming smiles of the gentlemen around him seemed meaningless to me. I cared only for Mr. Rochester’s rough features, his heavy brow and intelligent glance.

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