by Luccia Gray
A vaguely familiar face opened the door. A servant whom Jane had dismissed last year greeted me.
“Fred?”
“Good evening, Miss Mason. I’m pleased to see you again.”
“Where’s Simon?”
“I’m afraid he’s left.”
“Simon’s left? And Beth?”
“Beth left with him. They are no longer employed here.”
“And Christy and Daisy?”
“They have also been dismissed, madam. New staff will be arriving tomorrow.”
“Where is Mrs. Leah?”
“Mrs. Leah is downstairs, in bed with flu, I believe. Cook has made some broth and roast lamb. Archbishop Templar is waiting for you in the dining room, madam.”
“And Helen?”
“Helen is in her room. Confined for misbehaviour.”
I walked towards the staircase to fetch her at once, but Fred stepped in front of me, blocking my way. “You are required to see the archbishop first, madam.”
“Get out of my way, Fred. I’m going upstairs to see what’s happened to Helen.”
“I’m afraid my orders are to instruct you to go to the dining-room, not upstairs.”
“Where’s Jane?”
“She had to leave.”
“Leave? What are you talking about?”
“No doubt the archbishop will inform you, madam.”
“Where’s Michael?”
“Michael is no longer employed here.”
“What do you mean ‘employed here’? Michael is not employed at Eyre Hall. He is engaged to Mrs. Mason.”
Fred moved towards me, pressed his fingers into my arm, and pulled me towards the dining room. I gasped and tried to break free. “Don’t touch me! This is insane. What are you doing here?”
“I have orders. Please be so kind as to join the archbishop in the dining-room at once.”
“No!” I tried to break free again, but he dragged me towards the door and pushed me into the room.
“Excuse me, madam. I did not wish to be disrespectful, but I had strict orders.” He bowed, closed the door and disappeared.
The room seemed different, although it was exactly as it had been when I left yesterday. The furniture, fireplace, paintings, and candles were in the same place, but the archbishop sat at the head of the table, chewing a leg of lamb, which he held up to his greasy mouth with both hands. What was happening? It was like a nightmare. Everything had been normal when I left on Saturday morning and now the Lord of Misrule had taken over Eyre Hall.
“How wonderful to see you, Annette. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to dine alone.”
I stayed close to the door. “What’s happened? Where’s Jane?”
“She’s been taken to Grimsby Retreat.”
A shiver crept up my spine, pulling the hairs at the top of my head. I staggered forward and grabbed the back of the chair facing the archbishop. “That’s impossible.”
“Please sit down, Annette.” He gestured casually to the chair against which I was leaning. “There’s plenty of lamb and cabbage. It’s delicious.”
He licked his lips and the smell of lard and greens turned my stomach.
“It’s the best place for her. She’ll be well looked after.”
Bile crawled up my throat. I coughed.
“Have some wine, my dear, and then eat.”
I dropped into the chair, afraid I might fall. “I’m not hungry.”
“I insist.” He gestured towards the plate in front of me.
“I’d like to visit Jane, at once.”
“I’m afraid that’s out of the question. It’s against the doctor’s orders.”
“Dr. Carter is her doctor. He should see her, at once.”
“Jane has a new doctor at the moment, Dr. Stevens. She needs a special type of specialist for her illness. A doctor for madwomen, like her.”
“Jane is not mad.”
He slammed the table with his greasy hand. “She’s a raving lunatic, a woman possessed with lust, one of the seven deadly sins. Have you seen the way she looks at that servant and lets him touch her? It’s ungodly.”
“You can’t keep her there.”
“Can’t I?” He bit off some more lamb and spoke with a full mouth. “The devil has taken over her mind and her body. They have been sharing the same bed; fornicating like animals on heat.”
“They wanted to be married earlier, but you kept persuading them to postpone their wedding. They are to be married on Christmas Eve.”
“Mrs. Mason will not be marrying anyone, ever.” He wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “She has lost her reason and consequently her legal rights. She has been incapacitated.”
“You can’t take away her rights.”
He refilled his glass of wine and smiled. “I have the power of attorney at the moment, until John returns.”
“I’ll write to John. I’ll tell him what you’ve done.”
“My dear child, it’s John’s wish that his mother should be confined until she is able to come to her senses. She wanted to marry a servant, who is young enough to be her son, and hand Eyre Hall over to him. If that is not madness, tell me what is?”
“John can’t agree to this. It’s monstrous.”
“It’s the soundest thing he’s ever done. His poor father, Edward Rochester, married two lunatics. The first, your mother, Bertha Mason… yes, my dear, don’t look so surprised, I know all about that. As I was saying, Bertha was mercifully locked in the attic, and Jane Eyre is locked in a much more unpleasant place.”
“Who says Jane is mad?”
“Let me see. In the first place, we have the testimony of her solicitor, Mr. Briggs.” He chewed hungrily, ignoring my shocked gasp.
“Her solicitor is Mr. Smythe, Mr. Briggs is retired, and we both know he doesn’t even remember his own name.”
“I have Mr. Briggs’ sworn statement that Mrs. Mason is not in her right mind.” He smiled and poured the glass of wine into his mouth. “Excellent vintage. Drink up, Annette.”
“You have one sworn statement belonging to a sick old man, and you plan to keep her at Grimsby Retreat with that?”
“No, my dear, I have six testimonies in all.”
I was having difficulty breathing. “Six?”
“For the moment, yes, six, but soon there will be more.” He refilled his wine glass, observing my reaction to his words. “Including yours.”
My mouth was so dry I was having trouble swallowing. I sipped some wine and coughed. “Archbishop, I beseech you, you know she’s not mad.”
“I know no such thing. Quite the contrary, I have seen her possessed by the devil, sharing her bed with a man who was not her husband, even before the marriage was blessed.”
I needed to find out who our enemies were and who I could count on to help us. “Who else has signed?”
“I also have John’s testimony.”
“John? John has testified that his mother is mad?”
“He has seen her disgusting behaviour after his father died; first she married your uncle, who squandered half of his father’s fortune, and then she planned to marry this servant who would no doubt squander the rest. He has a duty to preserve the Rochester Estate from the likes of Mr. Kirkpatrick.”
I decided an argument would not provide me with any more information, but I needed to find out more. “Whose is the third testimony?”
“A valet who served her last year. You just saw him. Fred. He swears he saw her speak to the devil and conjure his help.”
“Jane has never spoken to the devil!”
“I saw it myself when Mr. Junot, the so-called Sin-Eater, was invited into this house to carry out his demonic rituals. When your uncle died, she conjured him again and conversed with him. Fred was not the only person who saw it.”
“Fred was only working here for a few months.”
“Enough!” The table shook under his angry fist. “Anyone can see she’s mad in just a few minutes.”
I waited while he drain
ed another glass of wine. “Whose is the fourth testimony?”
“The vicar, Mr. Woods.”
“That’s impossible! Jane takes care of the church, his salary, and the parish schools. How could he betray her?”
“My dear, you understand nothing. Mr. Woods has not betrayed her. He is helping her. He has witnessed many of Jane’s insane actions over the years. She’s a heathen, a devil worshipper, a sexual deviant, and she’s a danger to herself and those around her. She needs to be locked up for her own safety.”
“Of course, a vicar is hardly in a position to refuse an archbishop’s mandate. You know that’s not true; Jane is neither mad nor a devil worshipper.”
He ignored my comment, biting and chewing the last morsels of meat on the bone before speaking again. “I also have Cook and Joseph’s testimonies. Six in all.”
So that was what poor Joseph was babbling about when he arrived at Ferndean.
“Leah’s in bed,” he continued. “She’ll sign when she’s recovered. The rest refused, so I told them to leave Eyre Hall at once.”
“Where did they go?”
“That’s their business. New staff will be arriving tomorrow.”
My eyes were stinging and a thick lump of dread was climbing up my throat.
“Come, my dear, it’s for the better.”
I wiped my tears with my unused napkin, avoiding the archbishop’s smug smile by staring at the embroidered flowers.
“I need your testimony too, Annette.”
I closed my eyes, pinched my arms and bit my lip to make sure it was real. I needed to feel physical pain and wake up, but when I opened my eyes, he was still there, sneering at me. “Why are you doing this?”
“I would be careful, if I were you. You could find yourself accused of being her accomplice, Miss Annette Mason.” He shook his finger at me. “You have a family history of madness. You had better not contact Mr. Smythe, or Dr. Carter, for your own good.”
“When is John returning to Eyre Hall?”
“He has been informed. He’s on his way. His ship will be arriving before Christmas.”
I shook my head and wiped my tears, which were flowing uncontrollably. “I can’t believe it.”
“I’ll look after matters at Eyre Hall in the meantime. I’ve moved in.”
“And your work as Archbishop of York?”
“I’ve resigned. My duty now is to the Rochester family. John is alone in the world and he needs me. For the time being, things will remain the same. Fred will be returning as your valet, to make sure my orders are obeyed. You will not visit Dr. Carter’s residence again.”
“But I’m helping him with his mother. Mrs. Carter is frail and unwell.”
“Then her son should employ someone to look after her. You are not his servant, nor his wife. He is below your station.”
“But I’d like to continue my work at the hospital, helping the patients.”
“You may visit the hospital occasionally, but it is not suitable employment for a member of the Rochester family. We will find you an appropriate husband. There are already several candidates.”
He wiped his hands and mouth, threw the napkin on the table and belched loudly before speaking. “Do you remember the Bishop of Leicester? I introduced you last summer. I owe him a favour, and he needs a young wife who will give him many children. I’m guessing, due to your ample thighs and rosy cheeks, that you’ll have plenty of them.”
“I will not marry a man I do not love.”
“I’m afraid you will do as John decides, and you’ll find he’ll agree with my suggestions. In any case, you will certainly not marry a village doctor.”
My hands were trembling and my head spinning. What kind of hell had Eyre Hall become in the space of a few hours?
“What about Helen? Why can’t I see her and why is she locked in her room?”
“She has bewitched Mrs. Mason into believing that she is her mother. I haven’t decided whether she’ll be spending some time at the asylum, too. What do you think? I have enquired. There is a children’s ward.”
My heart raced. Helen in an asylum? I had to stop him. “Please don’t do that, Archbishop Templar. I beseech you.” I forced myself to smile. “She is a very sensitive child.”
“In that case, it was Jane who, inspired by her madness, decided the child was her long-lost daughter, was it not? If you would testify to that, Annette, Helen would be sent to a strict boarding school, instead of an asylum. She needs some discipline. She spends the day running around the house and the kitchen like an unbridled pony.”
I nodded. There was nothing more I could do until John returned. I would make him understand, but for the time being, I had no choice but to follow the archbishop’s instructions. He pushed the document towards me.
“Kindly sign here, Annette. I believe Lowood is the best institution for liars to be taught to speak the truth.”
I scratched my name on the document. “Where is Michael?” I asked quietly.
“I wanted him in prison, in York. I had informed the constable that he had stolen some goods from my house, but I thought better of it. The constable insisted on a hearing and I didn’t want to wait, so I hired some men. It took four of them to restrain him. Two were badly injured, but he received a good beating in the end.”
He gulped the last of the wine. “He’s here, in the ice house. I want to make sure he’s close and under control. We both know how resourceful he is, don’t we?”
“It’s freezing in the ice house.”
“It is. He’s paying for his sins. He should never have put his filthy paws on Mrs. Mason.”
I was alone. I couldn’t speak to John, Harry or Michael, and I didn’t have any money of my own, except the housekeeping allowance and some jewellery. I had to make sure Michael was safe and find a way to set him free as soon as possible, so he could help Jane.
“Michael will need blankets, food and water.”
Fred walked in. “Can I bring you dessert, Archbishop, Miss Mason?”
“Ah, here you are, Fred. Yes, bring us some fruit and any cakes and biscuits Cook has prepared.”
“At once, sir.” He bowed and turned to leave.
“And Fred, see to it that the prisoner has some bread and water.”
“And blankets, please, Fred,” I added. Fred looked at the archbishop, who nodded.
The following day after breakfast, I informed the archbishop that I would go downstairs to see if Leah was better and discuss the household arrangements with her, as I did every week. He warned me that Mrs. Leah would lose her job if she disobeyed his instructions. We had to be careful, but I was sure Leah, Cook and Joseph would help Michael escape.
Only Fred and Joseph were allowed to go to the icehouse. It was usually Joseph who took down his food, so I made sure Michael had enough supplies. There were no windows, the door was heavy, and the bolt and lock were solid. Michael would never be able to open it from the inside. The archbishop would punish anyone who helped him escape. I felt hopeless, until a week later, when the heavy rains started.
Fortunately, the icehouse flooded and Michael was moved to the stables. To my relief, he was chained to a horse bar, which would make it much easier to plan his escape. We had to make it look believable, so Michael had to hurt poor Joseph, but it was a small price to pay to free Jane.
***
Chapter IV – Winter of Despair
Grimsby Retreat, 16th December 1866.
Poole’s second visit occurred two days after I fainted. I stood by the grated window of my new room, looking into the ample gardens below. Some of the male inmates were employed in gardening chores, mostly shovelling and digging. I wished I could be let out like the men to work in the garden. I could breathe fresh air and escape from this tortuous confinement. I would run away, barefoot even, until my feet were sore and cracked and the wolves would smell my fear and blood and put me out of my misery.
“How are you feeling today, Jane?”
My whole body te
nsed on hearing his voice. “I am much better, thank you, Mr. Poole.”
“Please call me Daniel. We are about to be good friends, Jane.”
He smiled and stood so close I could feel his breath on my hair.
“Mr. Poole, I’m afraid I must decline your generous offer. I would like to return to my previous room.”
“You still think I’m not good enough for you!” He grasped my shoulders and shook me so hard I thought he would break my arms.
“Mr. Poole, I can see that you are a successful and generous man, but I’m afraid I still miss my husband. I cannot embark upon another relationship at present. I’ve lost two wonderful men in the last two years. My sadness is absolute.”
I felt a sharp sting as the back of his huge hand hurled my face towards the lattice window. I tumbled against the wall as he fired his foul language at me.
“Damn you! You conniving liar! You do not miss your husbands. You were going to marry a young servant. Am I too old for you? Not good-looking enough?” His hands reached between his legs as he leered at me. “I assure you I can fill you to the brim, as much as he can.”
My head was spinning, but I realised my best option was to try to pacify his anger. “Please, Mr. Poole. Michael was my servant some time ago, but he is no longer in my service. I assure you I have no wish to marry him or anyone else. I have learned my lesson. There will be no more men in my life, except my son, John. He is the only man who will live with me at Eyre Hall.”
“You are a liar! And you’ll never return to Eyre Hall. You have been incapacitated. The archbishop has the power of attorney until your son returns. You are dead to the world. I am your only friend, and you are fast making me into an enemy.” He pushed a fat finger into my chest. “You would not like me as an enemy, Jane.”
He twisted my arm. “Come, I’ll show you where you’ll be living if you don’t please me willingly, because, mark my words, you’ll please me anyway. I would prefer not to have to beat you or shackle you, but if it’s what you prefer, it can be arranged.”
He led me down two flights of stairs and along the narrow passages, which separated the dungeon-like apartments on either side of long, snaking galleries. I heard the desperate yells in that maze of human misery and wondered how long a person could survive in this vault.
