Page 50 of Zenith
I stared at him, struck dumb by his confession. Was he right?
“I shall hope to keep you with me always, Jane,” he went on. “No matter where this life takes us. When this chaos has calmed and the waters are less turbulent, would you like to leave Thornfield?”
I nodded. I wished to be away from this place as soon as possible. The memories here had soured long ago, and surely, it would be a relief to leave the lingering presence of Bertha Mason behind.
“Then we will forget this mess, live quietly for a while, then plan our grand adventure, Jane. I’m sure I won’t have much of a company to go back to in Paris. I am considering selling my controlling share to the board so I can be free of it.”
“You would sell your family business?” I asked, completely shocked by his revelation.
He nodded, his eyes betraying his reluctance. “It is a sinking ship. I have been on the phone to my partners in Paris this morning and already deals are falling through, and stock prices are plummeting. I must save as many jobs as I am able while there is still time.”
“Are you not angry?”
“Truthfully, I am tired, Jane. I should be furious, but I cannot find the power within myself to continue the fight. Blanche has destroyed me with the truth.The truth. All that is left for me to do now is to save what I can. I am responsible for those people and their ability to provide for their families. I must honor them.”
“I once thought you cold and heartless,” I murmured. “But you, sir, have the most heart of all, do you know that?”
He smiled, placing his hands on my cheeks. “And it is all thanks to Jane Eyre. She made stone turn into flesh.”
“Your sphinx has come out to play once more, I see,” I retorted with a smile.
“All I can say now is rest. I will organize what I can one step at a time.” Fumbling in his pocket, he plucked out a tiny object and held his closed fist up. “I offer this to you as my promise, Jane.” He opened his hand, and upon his palm laid the ring he’d placed on my finger months ago. “No matter what either of us faces, I will honor my vow to you.I will spend the rest of my life devoted wholly to your happiness. I have wronged you, and I will do whatever it takes to redeem myself. Please, take it.”
Gently, I placed my hand over his, the ring warm against my skin from where it had sat in his pocket.
“Of course,” I replied. “You and I are bound now, and no meager human law can ever hope to break it.”
He smiled and turned our hands over so that the ring fell into my palm. “Then rest, Jane,” he murmured, leaning forward and placing a chaste kiss upon my lips. “I will come to you this evening once preparations for the sale are complete. All I wish for you to think of is the one place in the world you would like to visit first.”
Throwing my arms around his neck, the ring held tightly in my hand, I embraced him, loathe to let him face this next test on his own. I kissed him thoroughly, then parted, knowing he would be okay…that we would be okay.
Returning to the suite, which had now become my rooms, I picked up my phone, thoughts of Edward’s sacrifice weighing heavy on my mind. Was there truly nothing I could do? Was the battle already lost?
When I brought the screen to life, I saw a text message from Georgiana and stilled, my heart thrumming wildly.
It said,Give the press my recording. You have my blessing. Do not let her win, sister.
Oh, Georgiana, I thought to myself, sinking down on the edge of my bed. Cousin or sister, it was all the same to me now, and I cared for her as such. If I released the recording, her reputation would be implicated…and what of Adele’s video? Could I hang John Rivers out to dry? He was a pawn in Blanche’s game as much as any of us. Could I be as callous as our enemy in order to best her?
Sighing, I typed out a message in reply to Georgiana.
No, I will not. Please, protect yourself from her. It is the best thing to do. We will be fine once this storm blows over, and we will find our way forward to the future, but not at the cost of yours.xoxo
As usual, Edward was right. I could not stoop to her level. I was much too proud.
* * *
It wasa long evening alone in the darkness that night at Thornfield.
The entire household was uneasy, put on edge by the media camped outside the manor grounds. They felt as caged as Edward and I, but there was nothing to be done except wait for them to lose interest and depart.
The study was fast becoming our refuge from the turbulent waters, and it was here that I was presented with the newest revelation to hit the British media.
“Please, do not tell me you were responsible for this,” Edward declared, his voice full to bursting with unrestrained ire.
He hit his finger on the laptop, which sat on his desk, and the room was suddenly filled with the sound of Georgiana’s voice. It was the recording she’d presented to me the week before!
“Georgiana,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief. “I told her not to…”
