Page 65 of Jane Deyre

Mr. Rochester narrows his eyes at her. “Get the hell out of here before I do something Iwon’tregret. Break every—” He pauses mid-sentence, then snatches the envelope out of her hand.

“Give that back to me!”

“You won’t be needing it.”

Her face reddening, Ms. Fairfax looks like she’s going to implode. Mr. Rochester’s expression remains fierce.

“And call a locksmith. Pay extra if you have to get him here this afternoon.”

Without another word, Ms. Fairfax retreats into the house.

My heart patters. “W-what are you doing back here?”

“A change of plans.” He tears the envelope in half. The hiss makes me shiver. “And a change in yours.”

“I need to leave Thornhill.”

“I need you to stay.” He lifts Adele into his arms. “My daughter needs you.”

My emotions in turmoil, I let him continue.

“Even though you’ve been here only a short while, I’ve noticed a huge improvement in her behavior. She’s much happier.”

He—they—are making it so hard for me. “Mr. Rochester, I can’t stay.”

“I’ll make it worth your while. Add an additional five hundred dollars to your weekly salary.”

A bubble of anger balloons inside me. “You rich people think money can buy everything you want.”

He looks affronted. His voice softens. “I’m sorry, Jane. I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that I want you so much.” He quickly corrects himself. “I mean, Miss Deyre, to stay so much.”

I try not to read into his words. My defenses are melting under his gaze. “Fine. I’ll stay until you find a replacement.”

He weighs my words. “That will work.”

Adele turns her head and looks at me. “Jane, does that mean you’re not leaving?”

I can’t help a small smile. “Yes, sweetie. I’m going to stay a while longer.”

A smile that lights up the gray sky spreads across her face. “Yay! Let’s show Papa my new snail!” She looks again at her father. “Papa, do you want to meet Stripette?

“Stripette?”

“Uh-huh. Stripe’s twin sister. She looks just like him. Jane and I found him today after we buried Stripe. And guess what! Jane told me Stripe is going to snail heaven.”

Mr. Rochester smiles that dazzling dimpled smile. The one that melts me. His eyes dance with mine for a brief second before he returns his attention to his daughter.

“Adele, I would love to meet your new snail, but first I want you to open your present.”

“You got me a present, Papa?”

“Yup. It’s on the table.”

For the first time, I notice the big gift-wrapped box on the table next to my vision board. Adele’s gaze flits to it too.

“What is it, Papa?”

He sets her down. “Go open it.”