Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall

by Luccia Gray

  “What could bring on this fear?”

  “The condition could be due to a temporary disturbance of intellectual faculties, or it could be connected with a problem in the sympathetic nervous system, or even with a physical problem in the internal ear related to vertigo. It could also be a case of hysteria, related in some way to the attacks she suffered. It will not be easy to diagnose or cure.”

  “What can be done for her at present?”

  “I recommend rest and four square meals a day.”

  “I will employ some extra staff for a few weeks, so she can have some repose, and Daisy can look after her.”

  “If she doesn’t recover, I may have to recommend confinement in a mental asylum, for her own safety.”

  “Let us be patient and hopeful, Doctor, for the time being.”

  ***

  Chapter XIX – Junot Returns

  Some things had changed since my last visit to Eyre Hall, but most had remained unaltered. Dawn had not yet broken, and I could see candlelight coming from her window. I presumed the widow was having breakfast in her room to avoid the hordes of fake mourners who would soon be flooding into the drawing room.

  I stood before the unlocked door and kicked it open. A gust of wind and snow swirled into the hall. A maid screamed and ran through a door and down to the servant’s quarters. Was my presence so disagreeable that they were so easily frightened? Could they see what I saw? Could they see the sins I had absorbed and feel the evil I carried?

  The house was still. The guests had not yet arrived, but I could smell the corpse upstairs. I supposed he was in Mr. Rochester’s room. Another sinful meal awaited me.

  I was about to walk up the stairs when I heard a stuttering voice behind me. I recognised the terrified, long–limbed servant I had seen last year.

  “I’m afraid Mrs. Mason cannot see you.”

  I turned, parted my chapped lips and showed him my sharp grey teeth. “I have come to see Mr. Mason, you idiot.” My hollow voice reverberated in the empty hall. “So announce me to his widow, unless you wish yours to be the next funeral.”

  He jumped back and babbled some unintelligible words. I managed to decipher the last three. “Please leave, sir.”

  “Will you be responsible for Mr. Mason’s permanence in this house as one of the undead?” My voice rumbled across the hall.

  “No, of course not. What is it you want?”

  “To see him and absorb his sins, of course.”

  “Please wait.” His voice trembled.

  He flew up the stairs like scared prey. Seconds later, I was standing beside Mrs. Mason who was sipping her tea distractedly by the hearth in her bedroom.

  “Good morrow, Mrs. Mason. I believe you require my services once more.”

  She looked displeased, but not surprised to see me.

  “I supposed you might return.”

  She sighed. “Bad news travels fast.”

  “Not such bad news for us.” I smiled.

  “You are mistaken. I cannot be pleased about Mr. Mason’s death.”

  “But you are relieved.”

  “I do not question God’s designs. His time had no doubt come.”

  “Perhaps it was hastened?”

  “We all die when our time comes, not before and not after. There is a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. Do you not agree, Mr. Junot?”

  “Will I be allowed to pluck up his sins and free you of his ghostly presence?”

  “Of course. Please come with me.”

  The foolish servant rushed up and burst into her room breathlessly. “Mrs. Mason, the devil is back!”

  When he saw me inside the room, he shrieked in horror. “How did you get up here?

  The mistress of the house ignored his question. “Simon, bring up some food to Mr. Mason’s room. Mr. Junot will rid us of his tormented soul.”

  “Mrs. Mason, are you sure it’s a good idea?”

  “Do as I say, Simon,” was her curt reply.

  When he left she turned to me accusingly.

  “You lied to me, Mr. Junot.”

  “I lied? Were you not with child?”

  “I lost it.”

  “I did not say it would be born, did I?”

  “That is so.”

  “I will answer three questions. Ask”

  “Will I have another child?”

  “Your daughter will give birth to the children you cannot have.”

  “Where is she?”

  “Close to your heart.”

  “My son?”

  “He will not fulfil the mission his father expected.”

  “Michael?”

  “I have answered three questions.”

  “Follow me.”

  “I have one question for you first, Mrs. Mason.”

  “Proceed,” she said as we walked down the corridor to her husband’s room.

  “Why do you not fear me, Mrs. Mason?”

  She stopped outside Mr. Mason’s door to answer my question. “Because I know that good and evil are two sides of the same coin, just as happiness and sadness, and beauty and ugliness are all part of our nature. There is no good without evil. Each of us has both. All our lives the fight goes on between them, and one of them must conquer. You chose evil, so you make the rest of us your opposite: good. Why should I fear you?”

  “You are unwise not to fear me,” I said as we walked into the same room I had entered the last time. The corpse was laid out, dressed, and blackened. The smell was the most nauseating I had ever encountered. Was he already decomposing? Had his soul escaped before my arrival?

  “When did his body perish?”

  “Five days ago.”

  “Close your eyes and turn away. He has been expelled from the flesh, which has already been taken over by the corpse eaters, but he is not far, yet. I hope I am still on time, for my sake and yours, Mrs. Mason.”

  She turned to face the door. “Do what you have to do quickly.”

  I proceeded with my incantation. He was indeed still here, naked and petrified, unable to return, and yet unwilling to leave, so I stole his sins and left his carcass to wither. When I finished, her young lover rushed in.

  “Jane, why are you alone with him?”

  “Fear not, Kirkpatrick. She is of no interest to me. Her sins are insignificant.”

  “Jane has no sins,” protested her ardent champion, but he was fast becoming one I should watch.

  “And you, my boy?”

  “I am not your boy.”

  “Mr. Junot, thank you for your visit, but please leave,” interrupted Mrs. Mason.

  “You will father children, Kirkpatrick.”

  “You lie!” He walked towards me, fists ready to strike.

  I moved away. “If you survive your next voyage.”

  “I do not believe in the powers of evil which you claim to possess.”

  “It matters not what you believe. I am proof that evil exists, and so are you. Does Mrs. Mason know how many people you have murdered, recently? In the last six months? In the last few days, even?”

  “Mrs. Mason has asked you to leave,” was his reply.

  “Does your future wife know she is marrying a cold–blooded murderer?” I looked from one to the other. “Of course not. You cannot imagine the monster within Kirkpatrick, can you Mrs. Mason?”

  “You are the only monster here!” she said.

  “You will empower me. I will return for your sins, my boy, which will grow and entangle you like the seaweed on the Sargasso Sea. Your next voyage may well be your last.”

  “You are a charlatan. Leave,” she ordered.

  I looked at her closely. I saw the ship and the storm in her eyes, and I felt the fear in her soul.

  “You will cross the seas in search of peace, but you will find only more torment,” I told her.

  Kirkpatrick rushed towards me, but I flew across the room and out of his reach.

  “Your offspring will be
her descendants.”

  He moved towards me. “I will have no offspring.”

  I let him grab me and aim to sink his knuckles into my face, but instead his fist soared through the putrid air.

  “I will be back for you, Kirkpatrick.” My voice echoed as I slithered out of Eyre Hall.

  ***

  Chapter XX – Michael’s Proposal

  Mason had been buried. Jane was a widow once more, but time was not on my side. I had made my feelings known to her, and I knew she had feelings for me, but I had no idea of her plans for the future. I would soon be returning to sea for six months, during which time I was sure she would be approached by other men. I had to speak to Jane with my intentions before anyone else did, because I did not want to be an occasional playmate, as my sister imagined I was. I needed to make her understand I wanted to be an essential part of the rest of her life.

  It was pleasing to encounter her with Nell and the dogs on the bench by the stream. I was greeted with a warm smile from Jane and a big hug from Nell.

  “Lieutenant, what a pleasant surprise. Please sit with us.”

  “Michael, did you know I have a new room upstairs?”

  “Which one is that, Nell?”

  “Miss Adele’s old room. She’s moving to London with Mr. Greenwood, and when she comes back they’ll be married and they’ll have the green room.”

  “Miss Adele’s room is just below Mrs. Mason’s, is it not?”

  “Yes, it has a beautiful view to the gardens, and Miss Adele has said I can keep her books. She has plenty of books in her bookcase.”

  I smiled. “You are quite a bookworm, my little Nell.”

  “I haven’t started reading Treasure Island, yet! I want to know all about sea voyages, like yours, Michael. Will you write to us?”

  “Of course, I’ll write, but I’m afraid letters will take a long time when I’m at sea.”

  “Can I write to you, too?”

  “I hope you will. I hope you and Mrs. Mason will both write to me.” I looked at Jane, who was smiling contentedly. I wished I knew what her smile meant. Was she using me as an amusement, or did she have deeper feelings for me? I needed to know the answer.

  “Nell, why don’t you chase the dogs? They need some exercise,” said Jane, turning to me when as the child ran away.

  “I am glad you came to see me. I missed you yesterday.” Her words disarmed me. Why had she missed me? Because she loved me or because she desired me as a playmate? She enjoyed our intimate moments, but she had never told me she loved me. Did she love me?

  “I thought you would be busy with family and friends after the funeral.”

  “I was. They have all gone, thank goodness. It has been exhausting to attend to so many guests, and so many unexpected events.” Her expression clouded.

  “What will happen to Daisy and Christy?”

  “Christy is not well, poor girl. She has been repeatedly abused since she was a child by her father, her brothers, then Raven’s son and his friends raped her, and finally Richard was also taking pleasure from her suffering. I cannot even begin to imagine what she must feel when a man approaches her. I feel so guilty for not realising what was happening. Daisy was just trying to protect her. They shall both stay at Eyre Hall, for the time being. Dr. Carter will try to find out more about Christy’s mental illness, and perhaps we can help her. I am sure neither of them are dangerous, and I prefer to avoid the scandal which would ensue if what happened was known. I shall take it one step at a time. When everything has settled down, I may find them jobs away from Eyre Hall, when Christy recovers and is able to leave the house.”

  She moved closer, slipped her arm through mine, and rested her head on my shoulder. I kissed her hair, which smelled of lavender and her own perfume, reminding me of how much I needed to possess every inch of her.

  “It is pleasant to sit with you and listen to the stream. I will miss you when you leave, Michael.”

  I realised it was time to make my feelings clear. “Do you think you will remarry, Jane?” I asked.

  She looked at me inquisitively and sighed. “Michael, what kind of a question is that? Why are you asking such a question?”

  “Because I believe you will be approached in my absence.”

  “Nonsense! Who would want to marry me?”

  I decided to open my heart and tell her my feelings. “You were and still are the most beautiful, intelligent and generous lady in England, and I love you.”

  “Michael, you can’t break my heart again. I’m too vulnerable now.”

  “May I court you, Jane?”

  She smiled mischievously. “Isn’t that what you have been doing since you returned?”

  “I must leave soon, but may I ask you to wait until I return?”

  “I shall not be going anywhere.”

  She was not taking my words seriously enough, so I made myself clear. “Will you marry me, Jane?”

  She looked surprised at my question and hesitated before replying. “Don’t you think you should marry a young girl who would give you many children, Michael?”

  “I want you. Only you, Jane Eyre.”

  She threw her arms around my neck and whispered, “Don’t you dare break my heart again, Michael,” as she searched for my eager lips. How could I ever break her heart? She was my only reason for being alive.

  “Stay with me,” she whispered as we parted. “I need you, Michael.”

  “If you accept my proposal, Jane, soon you shall be engaged to Captain Kirkpatrick who will be able to offer you his position and his salary.”

  “I do not care what your gradation is or how much money you earn. I never cared about that.”

  “You deserve to marry an honourable person of rank and position. When I can offer you that, I shall be worthy of you.”

  “You are stubborn, and determined, and ambitious, and brave, and so handsome… Will you embrace me again?”

  We moved away as we heard Nell’s voice as she chased Flossy around the bush.

  “Mrs. Mason, are we going to start reading Treasure Island today?”

  “Perhaps later, Nell. I need to talk to Michael now. Would you like to walk back to the house with the dogs? We will be right behind you.”

  She nodded, but looked disappointed. I turned to Jane. “Perhaps Nell would like to have dinner with us this evening?”

  “Could I, Mrs. Mason?” She rushed up to Jane and smiled tilting her head to one side.

  “Yes, of course. Come down at seven thirty.”

  She ran off with the dogs, and I dropped down on one knee. “I cannot live without you, but I will not stay unless I am your husband. Will you marry me, Jane?”

  She knelt down beside me. “Yes, I will marry you, Michael.”

  I kissed her chastely and held her against me in a forceful embrace. I longed to hear her say she loved me, but at least I had heard her say she would marry me. I would make her love me again, more than before. She was my mission in life.

  “Is that my only reward for saying yes?”

  “You will be receiving your reward for the rest of your life. No one will ever love you, honour you, or cherish you as I will.”

  “Promises, promises,” she said with a furrowed brow, “but will you stay with me today and tonight, and every day until you leave?”

  I pulled her back up to the bench. I wanted to spend all day with her, every day, and embrace her every night, but I did not think it was possible, yet.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “John.”

  “Let me worry about John.”

  “I don’t want to be disrespectful to him.”

  “He will have to accept you, Michael.”

  “And if he refuses to?”

  “It will make no difference to my decision. I do not want to live without you, Michael. I will never give you up. Not for anyone.”

  “We have to find a way to make him understand. I do not want to cause a rift in your family.”

  “I wil
l speak to him soon. I need to tell him the truth, about his father. I also need to free him from any commitment to Phoebe, and he needs to know that Adele and Annette could be his sisters.”

  “It will not be easy for him.”

  “He has had a sheltered and comfortable life, which I tried to prolong, but it is impossible. He must know the truth and act accordingly.”

  “Perhaps we should wait until you have spoken to him before I spend more time at Eyre Hall.”

  “You prefer to make love to me surreptitiously in the library than in my bed?”

  “The library is our secret place.”

  “You are the only man who has slept in my bed or entered my bedroom, Michael.”

  “Still, it brings memories of the other men in your life.”

  “There are no other men in my life! That reminds me, I’d like you to do something for me tomorrow.”

  “Of course.”

  “I’d like you to accompany Leah, Simon and Beth to the orphanage because I want you to choose my new staff. As Jenny and Thomas are leaving, Christy is recovering and Daisy will be looking after her, and with the building works for the extension, I shall need more maids. I shall also need a valet to help Simon. I want you both to choose him. Simon will have to teach him, so I want you to decide together.”

  “What about Fred?”

  “I’ve sent him to the Jackson’s. They needed another valet.”

  “Why did you do that?”

  “Because I don’t want you to be on that frigate in the middle of the ocean for six months worried about who’s bringing me my tea, while I’m comfortably sitting by the fireplace.”

  “I did not expect you to do such a thing. Surely Mrs. Leah should make those decisions, not me.”

  “Michael, you will have a great deal of responsibility being married to the administrator of the Rochester Estate and the owner of Eyre Hall. You will have to help me make many decisions, so you may as well start now. I trust you.”

  I realised marrying Jane would be far more complex than waking up with her in my arms every morning. I remembered how much work there was managing the estate and wondered what my role would be as Jane’s husband. She noticed my reticence.