London, United Kingdom
April 1852

As it turned out, James's patience was not strong enough for him to wait through the night to speak with his wife. He had tried to refrain until morning, but as he sat in his room after eating dinner on his own, his curiosity continued to pester him like a noisy fly that he just couldn't get rid of. He held off on drinking too, even though he would have liked to indulge himself, because deep down he knew that Jane would only consider telling him what she had to say if he were sober. Unfortunately for him though, his sobriety only fed his impatience, until at some point, his buzzing curiosity could no longer be tamed.

The whole house was presumably asleep when James left his room to find Jane's. When he reached the door, he spotted a tiny sliver of light illuminating the doorframe and splashing against the floor, which made him think that Jane was still awake. Relieved that he wouldn't have to rouse her from sleep, James softly knocked on the heavy, wooden surface, then pushed the door open moments later. He did so slowly, so as not to frighten her, but despite his efforts, when he entered the room, he found her staring at him in utter surprise.

Jane was sat on the bed, a few candles surrounding her as she read the rather thick book she had propped up against her thighs. Her long, rippling hair cascaded down over her breasts, which were only just covered by the sheer nightgown she wore. Because James hadn't seen her so exposed to him in quite some time, he found himself staring at her for not much more than a few moments before shifting his eyes elsewhere. It was clear that his gaze had made Jane uncomfortable, and though her discomfort annoyed him, he did not wish to worsen it. It was far too late for either of them to begin quarreling.

Doing her best to cover herself, Jane held her book to her chest and quietly asked, "Can I help you with something?"

"Yes," James said curtly, shutting the door behind him. "I'd like to know why your grandparents want to see you."

Jane's eyes widened and she gasped quietly to herself, "Oh, okay. You can, um, you can sit down over on the couch. I just need to find my robe."

James stood in his place for a few moments, but when Jane did not move, he realized that until he went to the other side of the room, she would not be getting out of bed. Bowing his head, James crossed the room into the shadows and sat down on one of the couches near the dying embers in the fireplace. His eyes flickered to where Jane was on the other side of the room, and suddenly, he realized why she had tried to hide herself from him. As she climbed from the bed, James saw for the first time, evidence that Jane really was carrying his child inside her. Because of the thin fabric of her dressing gown, James could make out her silhouette in the candlelight, and what he saw made him more nervous than he had a reason to be.

The swell of Jane's belly was not yet great enough to be too noticeable in her everyday clothing; however, in her nightgown, it was not so easily concealed. Though the few moments he saw of her were brief, James easily saw that his wife was changing more quickly than he had realized. Had it really been so long since he had learned of her condition? The weeks seemed to bleed together so seamlessly that now, James was genuinely unsure of how long he had even been in London at all. Regardless of how long he had been there, James was very well aware that the time past meant that his life would soon change in a very unignorable way. Once Jane had his child, he would be a father, and despite his marital status, that was something that James was not at all prepared for, nor was he looking forward to.

Turning his eyes promptly away, James waited for Jane to join him. When she did finally take a seat across from him, he saw that she now wore a robe that covered herself rather well. In truth, James was grateful for it, because then he wouldn't need to think of what she now represented to him. He could focus on his in-laws' scheming, and that to him was much less stressful than the other.

"Right," Jane said softly, stealing his attention and beginning whatever speech she had intended to make. It was clear she was nervous by the way she refused to meet his gaze, but regardless, it seemed she was determined to express herself all the same. "Well, the other day when we were in the church and you had already gone, Regina approached me and told me that she and Henry were very displeased with me for having not communicated with them since before the wedding."

James remembered the intrusive letter that Regina had sent to Jane some weeks ago, and he supposed that that couldn't have been the first one. There were many of them that Jane hadn't replied to, all of which likely inquired after the details of his finances as well as his plans regarding investments. Given Regina's eagerness to learn things about him that were not hers to learn, he had a pretty good idea of where this conversation with Jane was going.

"I tried to leave them," Jane continued, "but as you remember, my grandmother is a woman who is used to getting her way. She forced me to talk with her, and it was then that she told me of what I supposedly owed her." Jane rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Of course, I don't owe her anything, but still, they think I do, so I figured that maybe we could use that to our advantage."

As much as what Jane was saying to him did not shock him, James was however surprised to hear her speak of him as if he was on her side. Of course, he didn't think of her as an enemy, but he had supposed that she had thought so of him. He never would have guessed that she would propose to act in conjunction with him, rather than against him, but now it almost seemed that she thought of them as a team.

"They only explained a small portion of it to me at the church, but generally, you should know that they intend to use me to disadvantage you. As your father's contracts with them go up for renegotiation, they hope to construct new ones that will weaken your control in their company. I don't know how they think I could possibly influence that, but I suppose I am to find out when I go and see them."

Jane finished then looked up to James in anticipation, leaning forward ever so slightly so as to encourage him to say something. In truth, James really didn't know what to say at all. As much as what Jane told him annoyed him, he could not ignore the fact that she had told him even when she didn't have to. The results of her grandparents' schemes would not have affected her all that much, so her actions were undoubtedly in service to him. Certainly, it was strange of her to do, and James didn't understand it in the least.

"Why are you telling me this?" James inquired after several moments in silence. There was nothing accusatory in his tone, just pure curiosity. He hoped to understand why Jane should want to help him even after his admittedly dreadful behavior earlier that afternoon.

Jane opened her mouth to speak, but then shut it again before resting in silence for a few moments. It wasn't until James prompted her to speak her mind that she finally did say something.

"You very well know that I would prefer to have nothing to do with them." Jane lightly scoffed, "But it seems that they leave me no choice. I just supposed it would be better if you were aware of their plans."

James nodded, still frowning. She wasn't telling him everything. "You're right, but that still doesn't explain why you would betray them and side with me. You could have said nothing, but you didn't. What do you hope to gain?"

Again, James was faced with silence from his wife. She stared at him for several moments, then without warning, said just about the most outrageous thing he had ever heard a woman say.

"I thought we might gain. I thought that if I deceive them, then we might turn the gunfire on them." Jane's voice began to rise as she spoke passionately about her grandparents' ruin. "I don't suppose it would be too difficult to disadvantage them as they hope to disadvantage you."

As interested as he was in attacking the Pelhams, James couldn't help but laugh at his wife's confidence, "Not too difficult? I should like to hear your plan on that front."

Stiffening, Jane clasped her hands together and sighed deeply, "I know you don't like me to be involved in matters of business, but I can help where knowledge is concerned." James raised his brow as a display of his skepticism. Before he could say anything, Jane held her hand out to silence him and went to her writing desk. As she searched through the papers, she continued, "I know you think me incapable, but I'm not. You'll remember how I managed their books when we were in Newcastle. I know their weaknesses, and I know their strengths. At the very least, we could keep them from gaining the upper hand."

James considered his wife's words, but as much as he would like to say that she was wrong about her abilities, he knew he could not do so truthfully. Months ago, Henry had spoken to him of Jane and all that she could do for him if he let her, and so he was well-aware that if he allowed her to help him, he might significantly profit from it. It helped that she had her grandparents' trust as well, because as she suggested, it might be prudent to learn their plans in order to act around them.

The only problem was that James had gotten on to her for conducting business for him that very morning. He could not possibly scold her one minute then ask her for a favor the next. To do so would likely only increase her own pride and presumptuous behavior, and that was something James could not do, no matter how valuable she could be to him.

Thus, as she walked over to him with papers in hand, he rejected her before she could say anything at all, saying, "I appreciate the thought, Jane, but I'm not going to cross them. You yourself told me that to do so would be unwise." He rose from the couch and came to stand over her. "You may keep me informed of their schemes if you'd like; I suppose that wouldn't hurt."

Her eyes widened, "But–"

"No," James held up her hand to silence her. "I'm glad you thought to tell me, but you're out of your depth. It takes a lot more than understanding of accounting to ruin someone."

"I know," Jane replied defensively. "I'm not a fool."

"I'm sure you aren't, but even if we could figure it out, you're not that good of a liar. They would see right through you the instant you opened your mouth."

Jane's expression hardened as she listened to him undercut her talents, knowing very well that if it came to deceiving them that she would very well succeed. After all, she had met with her father and Harry undetected for weeks, and even managed to run away without them having had the slightest clue of her activities. Though the memory stung at her chest, Jane had half a mind to tell James of all that she had done in hopes that he might agree with her and help her make a plan. But that would be suicide. She couldn't possibly admit to running away with Harry; surely, James would never forgive her for that.

"I don't know if it's wise to defend myself to you in this matter, but I suppose I will." Jane lowered her eyes. "I'm a much better liar than you know."

James laughed dryly, "That's encouraging to hear."

Jane shrugged, "It's true. If my ability to lie is your only reservation, then please reconsider, because I know I can do it."

Pausing for several moments, James eyed her and considered her words. As much as he was against the idea of betraying his in-laws, he couldn't help but wonder why Jane was so determined to deceive them.

"What makes you so sure they'll believe you? How have you lied to them before?"

Jane should have realized that James would ask her to prove herself, but for the life of her, only one example that she felt she could share came to mind. James would not like it in the least.

"I lied to them about you."

Frowning, James remembered the false accusation Jane had laid against him so many months before and how it had angered him. He still couldn't understand why she had told her grandparents that he had injured her.

"Right." James lowered his eyes and stepped away from her. He went to pour himself a much-needed drink, then glanced back at her, curious to finally receive an explanation for his wife's deceptive behavior. "Adding the cut on the cheek was a bit too far don't you think? Surely they knew that you had done it to yourself."

"I didn't do it myself," Jane spat defensively. She lowered her eyes as fear filled her. As independent and as bold as Jane liked to think herself, she could not shake the truth of her past. Her grandparents had hurt her in a whole host of ways, and until they were put in their place, they would continue to do so with only thoughts of their own advancement occupying their minds. Perhaps if James saw that they were willing to hurt him as well then he would find the courage to challenge them.

Quietly, Jane told him, "It was my grandmother's ring."

"What?" Shock was evident in James's voice as he questioned her. He had known that Jane resented the woman, but physical abuse was not what he had expected from their relationship. "How could her ring have done that?"

"She struck me on the cheek and the diamond cut me." Jane looked up into his eyes, finding that their usual coldness was missing. He actually appeared somewhat concerned. Taking his interest and apparent disapproval as the cue to elaborate, she continued, "She nearly strangled me as well... or did you think that I bruised myself?"

James frowned, slightly embarrassed to have accused her of something so childish when the truth was so much worse than he had known. Of course, it was well within Regina's rights to punish her granddaughter for disobedience, but to lay a hand against her so violently surpassed what James thought to be acceptable. He didn't know why, but it angered him to think of Jane being abused by the wretched woman. As irritating as Jane could be, he knew that she didn't deserve to be hit, nor could he imagine her deserving to have Regina's claw-like fingers closed in around her throat. Jane was a good person, so much so that it annoyed him, but even so, that meant that whatever sufferings she had endured at the hands of grandmother were entirely unjustifiable. Though James didn't recognize it yet, a need to defend his wife began to arise in him. After all, she had suffered at least in one of the ways his mother had when she was still alive, only now, he had the ability to intervene and put a stop to it.

"I'm sorry," James said quietly, evidently swallowing his pride from moments before. "I shouldn't have– I didn't know."

The sincerity with which James spoke struck Jane, and for a moment, she found herself unable to speak. It was a rare thing for her husband to acknowledge his faults, and it was even rarer when he was drinking. She had to surmise that this one he was taking now was the first in quite some time. He wasn't drunk now, and even though he still made her uncomfortable, his behavior in his sobriety made her feel like maybe there was a rational man behind the drunkard. Maybe he wasn't so blind to her pain, and maybe he would give her the respect and compassion she felt she deserved from him. It was a hope on which Jane did not wish to dwell, but nonetheless, it was there, and she would think on it as long as he was pleasant to her.

"It's alright," Jane conceded. "It wasn't always that bad..."

"What was different about that night?"

Jane was startled by James's inquiry, but she nonetheless answered him. At least he sympathized with her.

"I don't know." Jane crossed her arms over herself and tried to conjure up a vague response. He couldn't know that Harry had been the reason for her grandmother's fury. "She's a wicked woman; I don't suppose she really needed a reason to hurt me more than she and my grandfather already have."

Jane paused, allowing the silence to linger between them for several moments. She was aware that James was staring at her, but for once, she did not feel intimidated by his gaze. The anger and bitterness that usually resided in his expression was missing, and now it had been replaced by something that Jane couldn't help but think was sympathy. Did he, a man who had hurt her in so many ways, actually find it in himself to pity her? If that were truly the case, then Jane was even more confused by him than before.

James, both intrigued and saddened by Jane's admission to him, could not help but wonder what she had meant by her grandparents' hurting her. Surely, there was something beyond the physical pain of their actions that Jane could not forgive. Even though he doubted that she would ever tell him, James wanted to know what it was, and he would use the moment of vulnerability between them to try to attain that knowledge.

Setting his untouched drink down on the cabinet's top, James left it there and stepped nearer towards the couch that separated them.

"What have they done?" James asked simply, leaning ever so slightly against the back of the couch and allowing its edge to press into his thighs.

For a moment, Jane considered telling him of her father; however, before the words could fall from her lips she realized that she couldn't possibly do that. If she told James about Thomas, then she would have to tell him about Harry, too, and that was entirely out of the question. Maybe one day she could speak of Thomas, but until she figured out how to relay that story without Harry's influence, she could not mention it.

"Forgive me." Jane lowered her eyes. " But I don't wish to speak of it."

Instantly, James became irritated with his wife. If she was so keen to acquire his pity, then why could she not admit the truth to him? He didn't understand.

Jane could see the shift in James's demeanor, and so she sought to steer the conversation back in the right direction. This was about her grandparents and their most recent attempt to disadvantage her; she had already told him too much.

"It doesn't matter what they've done. It matters what they're going to do," Jane reminded him gently. "My point is, they deserve to answer for their selfishness, and I hope that you will allow me to play a role in it."

Once again, Jane offered the papers in her hand to her husband. "These detail their general spending, their sources of income, their deals on the side, and even where I think they might try to attack you. There's more, but this is all I had time to outline this afternoon."

Dumbstruck by all that Jane had just told him, James had no choice but to forget his aggravation with her and accept the papers in her hand. She was far more convincing than he had anticipated, and so with the intention of investigating Jane's work, James supposed he would oblige her just this once. Perhaps they would further enlighten him as to why Jane was so determined to foil her grandparents' schemes.

"Before you say anything, please just read it and consider all I've said to you." Jane lowered her eyes. "I know you don't want me involved in this sort of thing, but perhaps this once you'll make an exception. They may be my family, but I know they'll stop at nothing to advance themselves. They have hurt me, they want to take advantage of you, and I don't suppose they would stop there."

James was still wary to cross the Pelhams as his wife was suggesting, but he could not deny the logic of Jane's argument. They certainly seemed to deserve the ruin he could bring to them– there was no doubt about that– and with what had Jane told him, he did not think that ignoring the problem would benefit him. They would continue scheming until their dying day, and if Jane was offering him an opportunity to avoid the unpleasant consequences of those schemes, James supposed he couldn't dismiss Jane's plan, even if it did involve her more that he would like.

"I'm not promising you anything, Jane, but I will think about it," James answered her, maintaining the pride that kept him from accepting Jane's immediate help. He couldn't say yes just yet.

"That's all I ask."

James nodded stiffly, "Very well... is that all? Or was there something else?"

"No, that was it."

"And you said you're seeing them when?"

"The day after tomorrow."

"Alright." James held up the papers made for the door. "I'll read these tonight and let you know my answer before then."

"Thank you," Jane said sincerely, turning to watch him as he left. He nodded in response and briskly left the room, leaving Jane alone for the night.

In the wake of her conversation with her husband, Jane felt oddly at peace. She hadn't expected it to go so well, nor could she begin to understand why he had treated her so differently now than he had that morning. What could have changed so dramatically since then? Had her words actually made so great an impact on him that he would treat her kinder than before?

Jane didn't know, but she did hope that maybe whatever had come over him would influence him to indulge her desires. Maybe he would see that she meant him well and that they could very well succeed in freeing themselves from her grandparents' influence. But then again, Jane didn't know how willing James would be to endorse her plan if it meant allowing her to assist him. She would have to wait for his decision, and by the grace of God, James would fight with her instead of against her.

•••

That took a hot minute, I apologize... my parents kinda don't ever let me have time to myself so I've been struggling to find the time to write :/

Anyways, thank you all for reading!
-kate💖