Page 11 of Zenith
6
Iwasn’tsure what triggered the thoughts in my mind the next morning, but I pondered upon my cousin Georgiana.
The night had been late, my shift running into overtime when a group of drunken men had soiled the floor in quite a spectacular fashion. The day had progressed while I’d slept, and the apartment was silent, Rivers already installed downstairs in his studio. I still harbored an apprehension toward him and pushed away the uneasy feelings. I would take action soon—that very day, in fact.
I thought upon the mobile phone I never switched on and wondered if I should call Georgiana to see how she was faring at Gateshead in the months after her mother—my aunt Sarah—passed from the stroke, which had left the woman’s health in tatters.
Curiosity won out, so I slid the phone from the inside pocket of my duffel bag and switched it on. When the screen lit up, messages began to scroll down the screen, and I raised my eyebrows in surprise. I never thought anyone would miss me when I stepped onto that train three weeks ago, but it seemed they had. I’d given the number to Alice before I’d departed, so she, my cousin Georgiana, and my lawyer Mr. Briggs were the only people who knew it.
There was one missed call from Alice dated the day after I’d fled Thornfield, but the rest of the messages were from Georgiana.
They were all written in increasing stages of panic and concern, and as I scrolled through them, I began to feel guilty about closing myself off so completely. I had thought nothing about other people, only my own need to escape. No matter how terrible my circumstances had been, it was selfish of me to think there were no people who genuinely cared for me. It seemed I’d made a mess of everything.
Pressing her number, I placed the phone next to my ear and waited to see if she would pick up. It only took a minute until I heard the call connect.
“Jane?” came my cousin’s voice.
“Georgiana,” I replied. “I’m sorry, but I’ve only just received your messages.”
“I suppose you never turn on your phone,” she said with a huff. “I’ve never met anyone so adverse to technology as you, Jane.”
“I’ve never needed it.”
“Never mind that now,” she said dismissively. “I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for days.”
“Is something the matter?” I inquired, beginning to feel concerned. She was alone in that big house after her mother died, and no doubt, she would have some teething problems managing the property with the National Trust.
“A man came to see me the other day,” she said. “He was looking for you, but when I told him you were working at Thornfield, he said you were gone.”
Her declaration was the last I was expecting to hear, and my thoughts went to Edward. Was he searching for me? I didn’t want to see him, but I longed for his touch all the same. I was tumbling around and around in the chaos of my own making, not knowing which way to turn. Each direction had its sacrifices, and I was thrown out of my depth entirely.
“Who was he?” I asked, my heart thrumming and my palms developing a sheen of sweat. “What did he want with me?”
“I can’t believe you left your job and didn’t tell me,” she said, ignoring my questions. “I’m starving for action these last months. Why did you leave?”
“Georgiana,” I said firmly. “Who was the man?”
“He said his name was Briggs,” she retorted. “He said some surprising things, Jane.”
As my pulse returned to normal, I thought over the consequences of what he must have told her.
“Whatever he said, Georgiana—”
“He seemed quite concerned,” she interrupted, not seeming to care what I had to say. “I was quite shocked to hear you had disappeared!”
“I had to leave quite suddenly,” I replied haltingly. “It was unexpected.”
“As unexpected as finding out your family name, I suppose! Oh, he let it slip, Jane. I’m sure you’re glad to have it.”
“Though I have no living family,” I said, my temper rising to match hers. “Your mother was humble enough to give it to me on her deathbed once she knew everyone had perished.”
Silence greeted me on the other end of the phone, and I was not surprised. Georgiana felt slighted I did not tell her what I had told no one, but I wasn’t sure what she wanted to achieve by berating me for it. Did she know of my inheritance? All I was certain of was I had to be careful who knew of my financial situation lest they attempt to extort it away and leave me hurt. Being rich sounded fabulous, but I was fast learning it was a burden and then some. No wonder Edward was always so sour.
Georgiana huffed once more, then said, “Mr. Briggs asked me to tell you to contact him as soon as you are able.”
“Georgiana…”
“I don’t know why you didn’t tell me,” she declared. “I’m quite put off by it.”
