Newcastle, United Kingdom
October 1851

Steam billowed from the hot, fiery furnace of the train in a swirling cloud of charcoal-stained smoke. The steel giant plowed through the pouring rain, its engine chugging along the track with a vengeful consistency. Heat radiated from its iron frame, providing a stark contrast from the cold, wet atmosphere that surrounded it. As the train pulled into the station, its gears ground to halt and the breaks squealed in combination with the high-pitched whistle that signaled the locomotive's arrival in Newcastle.

Harry reclined in his compartment and stared through the glass that separated him from the outside world. The sun had long since crossed over the horizon, and the rain still poured. Discouraged by these dark and dismal surroundings, Harry could not help but feel an overwhelming sense of apprehension for the coming days. His mission was to inform the Pelhams of James's poor character, but he dreaded his inevitable reunion with Jane. Seeing her would just recall to him the pain he had felt when Regina had announced that the girl he loved would be marrying another. He feared feeling that pain again.

With a sigh, Harry rose from his seat on the train and moved towards the exit. Despite the lateness of the hour and the dreadful weather outside, the platform was filled with weary travelers and even wearier railway employees. Harry's attention was immediately captured by a tall, brawny man who called out for him above the chatter of the people and the metallic groaning of the trains. Striding towards him, Harry pushed through the crowd of people and met the man with a handshake and an inquiry regarding the plan for their journey to Clumber Park.

Because of the poor weather, Harry was forced to stay the night in town. The man whose name was Steven led Harry to a rather plain tavern at which they would find a hot meal as well as lodgings for the evening. Harry couldn't sleep that night, due to the ever-intensifying feeling of dread that had settled over him like an immovable, misty shroud. He tossed and turned restlessly in his bed, vainly grasping for just a moment of rest, but no matter how hard he tried, Harry could not control his racing mind. It was all because of Jane, and that upset him.

The night was soon overcome by the morning sun, and for the first time in several days, the rains ceased. Harry and Steven set out for Clumber Park at a leisurely pace, but despite the easygoing feel of the morning, Harry was nervous beyond words. And though initially the whether was somewhat nice, dark storm clouds soon set in to accompany Harry's restless mood. It was cruel, really, that the rain should fall on them that day, for it did nothing but add to the length of their journey as well as the solemnity of it.

Before long, the pair of men passed through the outer gates of the great Pelham estate, and as beautiful as the place was, Harry could see none of it through the densely falling rain. As they plunged further into the estate, the rain finally began to let up, and soon enough, there arose a structure in the distance that appeared to be a barn. Harry wouldn't have even noticed it at all, but out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw a flash of movement that caught his attention.

There in the distance, Harry could just make out the silhouette of a figure on a horse, riding rather furiously through the pouring rain. Though Harry had no explanation to support the invasive thoughts that entered his mind in that moment, he could not help but succumb to the feeling deep within his chest that told him just who this mysterious rider was. But even if it was Jane as he suspected, could he possibly justify pursuing her now with Steven in the carriage with him?

"No," Harry thought. "I have one purpose here, and it's not to follow my own passions. I mustn't do anything to show her favor."

Shaking his head in an effort to dismiss the apparent effect Jane had on him, Harry turned his face from the window and returned his attention to the leather-bound book in his hands. It had been sitting open on his lap for nearly two hours, but he still hadn't scarcely read a chapter. His eyes scanned the page for some familiar paragraph to resume his place, but he found that whatever he had read during that particular trip hadn't made an impression in his mind. Harry huffed in frustration and shut the book between his hands, once again returning his gaze towards the rainy scene beyond the glass pane of the window.

At the same time, a bolt of lightning pierced the sky with such ferocity that Harry flinched into his seat as the light's thunderous partner shook the earth. It was in that moment that Harry abandoned his conviction from just minutes before, and he spoke to Steven with an earnest gleam in his eyes. He couldn't just abandon Jane to the mercy of the storm.

"Can we go to that stable?" Harry inquired, trying to mask the urgency of his voice. Steven looked at him suspiciously, but in the end, shrugged and consented without questioning him. After Steven instructed the driver to take them to the barn, the coach changed its course and fixed its destination on the structure in the distance.

The carriage had scarcely come to a halt before Harry stepped out into the pouring rain. His heart was pounding as his crossed the lawn, and as he placed his hand on the door, it suddenly occurred to him that there was a possibility that it wasn't even Jane at all. What if it were someone else? What if it were James? Risking an encounter with that fiend simply was not worth it. His confidence faltering, Harry dropped his hand by his side and turned to walk back to where Steven was; however, he stopped dead in his tracks when a familiar voice sounded from the barn. It was her; his instincts had been correct.

Harry turned around once again and approached the barn, this time hesitating no more than a moment before stepping under the roof of the stables. The first thing that hit him was the smell of horse shit, the pungency of which distracted Harry for a moment. He coughed, trying to get the putrid air from his lungs, and in doing so, alerted Jane of his presence there.

Harry hadn't noticed her at first, but once he laid eyes on her, she was all that he could see. Jane spun around to face him, her face pale and her clothes soaked through to the skin. She looked absolutely freezing, but Harry couldn't help but notice the contrasting warmth that sparked in her eyes when she saw him standing there. Surely, he wasn't imagining the joy-filled smile that infiltrated that pretty mouth of hers; surely, she was pleased to see him.

"Harry?" A shy grin was quick to her lips as she approached him. Harry felt his heart skip a beat as she said his name; he wanted nothing more than to hear it again. "What on earth are you doing here? It's pouring outside."

Unsure of how to respond, Harry shoved his hands in the pockets of his wet overcoat and shifted his eyes towards the floor. Why had he come? Harry couldn't remember, but he knew that he needed to answer her regardless.

"Oh, um..." Harry paused, pushing back his rain-soaked hair. "I saw you ride into the stable, and I– I dunno, I thought you might appreciate a carriage back to the house."

"That's so... thoughtful. Thank you." Jane smiled brightly at him and Harry allowed himself to feel pride over the hint of redness that had arisen on her cheeks. She was blushing because of him; he was sure of it.

Swaying on his heels, Harry cleared his throat and shyly looked upon her face. He had intended to speak, but in that moment, Harry felt himself lost in her presence, stoic and unable to formulate the words he wanted to say to her. Despite her wet hair and ruined clothes, Harry was enchanted by Jane's beauty and the liveliness of her spirit, and it occurred to him that he wasn't there in Newcastle for his friend Thomas. He was there for Jane, and Jane alone.

Harry had known love years ago, but this feeling he felt as he looked upon Jane's sweet smile convinced him that the romance in his past had been merely the opening act for what he was feeling now. His love for Jane was the main event, and Harry could feel the splinters of his aching heart piercing his lungs, rendering him unable to breathe before her. Whether she knew it or not, and Harry had a feeling that she did, Jane held Harry's heart in the palm of her hand, exposed and vulnerable to whatever perilous path she should decide to take. Harry hated himself for allowing her to so easily control him, for he knew that no matter her feelings, Jane would leave him for James and his heart would go with her, broken and in pieces. Of that much, Harry was certain.

"Harry?" Jane asked timidly, stepping towards him in short, graceful steps. She smiled at him, though Harry could see that there was a pain in her eyes that he hadn't noticed before. This puzzled him, and he wished to learn the cause for it. "Harry, are you alright? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

"Oh, um, yeah..." Harry trailed off, shifting his eyes to the hay that littered the floor. "Yeah, I just-" He forced himself to look upon her face, and he felt his chest tighten when he saw the affectionate gleam in her cool blue eyes. "Nevermind.. Are you ready to go? Or do you need help with anything in here?"

"No, I think I've done everything," Jane replied, her confusion over Harry's behavior escaping her as she answered his inquiries. "I'm ready.. but I'm afraid I'm going to get the seat all wet. I rode in the rain."

Harry chuckled nervously, "That's quite all right. It's your carriage, so it doesn't really matter."

At this, Jane smiled. "I suppose you're right. Either way, my grandmother is not going to be happy when I walk in like this." Jane briefly looked into Harry's eyes before turning her face away from him. "She's going to be even more upset that I'm with you instead of him."

Harry's face fell at Jane's words, for to him she had just taken his heart in her hand and crushed it with the reminder of James and his victory over him. Jane could see the pain in Harry's eyes, and Harry immediately took notice of the panic that seemed to fall over her when she did. It was then that he had to remind himself that the decision to marry James was not her own, and that he should control his emotions more carefully so as to not upset her. It wasn't her fault that she was being sold into a lifetime imprisonment with a man as terrible as James, and he shouldn't hold it against her.

"I- I'm sorry." Jane struggled to find her words, but Harry was quick to interrupt her by reaching out and touching her arm.

"No, Jane, don't-" Harry sighed heavily. "I should be the one apologizing. I was terrible to you the last time we met, and I want you to know how truly sorry I am for it. I was just-" Pausing, Harry considered his next words carefully. He wanted to tell her how he felt about her, but he couldn't see how it would make any difference. Determined not to say anything about his feelings for her, Harry opened his mouth to explain himself, but Jane stopped him for speaking.

"I know." She spoke sadly, fixing her eyes on the floor away from him. Harry was confused momentarily, but as she spoke again, things began to become clearer in his mind. She knew that he loved her, and clearly something about that upset her. Could it be that she loved him in return? Jane sighed and continued, "I hate this so much."

Harry's heart began to beat wildly in his chest at Jane's sudden declaration of discontentment. It was then that he allowed himself to hope for good news from her that might encourage him. Never before had Harry desired to know Jane's thoughts more than he did in that moment, for whatever sentiment those thoughts portrayed had the power to change the course of his life forever.

Several moments passed, and still, neither of them said a word. After what seemed like ages, Jane looked up at Harry, and he was shocked to see the melancholy glimmer of tears brimming in her eyes. She gazed at him earnestly with such pain in her expression that Harry was overcome with his affection towards her. Instinctively, Harry stepped forward and pulled her to himself, wrapping his arms tightly around her in a tender embrace. Jane came to him willingly, allowing herself to feel the comfort of his warmth for the first time. Harry didn't know what was going through her mind, but he did know that with her there pressed against his chest, he was the happiest he had ever been. This was how things were supposed to be; he could feel it, and he had the notion that Jane felt the same way.

The sound of the barn door scraping against the floor put an end to their closeness as Jane leapt away from Harry in a frenzied panic. No matter who it was, Jane could not risk being caught in Harry's arms; if her grandmother were to find out, she would be doubtlessly wed to James by the month's end. The date had yet to be set, but Jane knew that one slip in behavior would result in the execution of her marriage sentence.

"We need to go," Steven said in a bored tone. "The rain has let up for a bit, so we'd best take advantage of it."

Harry nodded in agreement, though the last thing he wanted to do was abandon his private audience with Jane. Harry could see that Jane was apprehensive in departing as well, but she nonetheless passed before him into the carriage. The ride was spent in silence, but the restless thoughts in Harry's mind were loud enough to keep him occupied.

Something significant had undoubtedly passed between he and Jane that day, and it was his chief desire to understand the meaning of it. Had she meant that she was discontent with her present circumstances? Had she meant that she wished she was marrying Harry instead of James? Surely, something could be done. If they both loved each other, Henry Pelham would surely see that their union was the one to be celebrated. Deep down, Harry knew that there was no validity to this daydream, but still, with the probability of having captured Jane's heart, Harry would believe in anything if it meant he could entertain a future with her.

The great Pelham household slowly came into view, and though Harry had seen many lavish homes before, this one was by far the most impressive one he had seen yet. The stone structure stood tall at what looked to be four stories high, fitted with glass windows and a long balcony that stretched across a significant portion of the building's rear. There was a back porch that had stone railings and curved, double-sided stairs that led down to the vast field below. As the carriage made its way around to the front, Harry's breath was nearly taken away by the sight of the humongous oaken doors which were offset with exquisitely wrought black iron. The flat roof and turrets lended towards this structure's looming presence, making it appear more like a castle than a home. If there was one thing Harry could conclude from seeing this place, it was that the Pelham ancestral house was ancient and well-established, which meant that this family was far more powerful than he had initially thought. It was just a building, but its significance was great in Harry's mind.

At long last, their coach pulled to a stop by the wide stairs that led up to the huge front doors. Sensing Harry's apprehension, Jane laced her arm through his and carefully led him towards the cold, stone structure. Steven followed behind them, but he was at a great enough distance that Jane could speak to Harry without being overheard, and so that is precisely what she did.

"Harry?" Jane whispered to him, the sound of his name on her lips prompting his heart to race. Harry hummed in response, and she continued her inquiry with caution. "I wonder... could I see you tonight? I- I need to speak with you about something."

They reached the front doors which were promptly opened for them as Harry enthusiastically agreed to meet with Jane. She smiled contently at his response and pressed herself closer into his side to absorb his warmth. Her wet clothes were beginning to chill her body, and it was her desire that Harry should be the one to correct the imbalance in her temperature.

Harry wanted to pull her into his chest like he had done earlier, but he knew that once they were inside as they were then, there was no chance that he would be permitted to do such a thing. His did, however, grasp Jane's hand firmly as they walked through the hallways, and it seemed that Jane was leading them somewhere in particular.

"Watch for a lantern outside your window tonight," Jane said quietly to Harry as she stopped them in front of a plain-looking door and knocked on it. Harry was too engrossed in her words to him for him to notice what was really going on, but regardless, he somehow ended up leaving Jane's side with a young maid who was apparently instructed to show Harry to his room. The walk was long through those cold hallways, but Harry's mind was far too occupied with anticipation for him to take notice of it. Jane wanted to see him tonight, and that alone filled him with more excitement than he had ever scarcely allowed himself before. He felt that his desires were finally coming true, and he hadn't been prepared for it to happen so soon upon his arrival.

Downstairs, as Jane watched Harry walking away from her, she heard footsteps rapidly approaching her. The warm and fuzzy feeling she had felt with Harry began to shrink away, and the cold, wet mess of her attire began to consume her once more. After several moments in suspenseful agony, Jane no longer had to wonder who was coming for her. Her grandmother came into view, and though they were at opposing sides of the hallway, Jane could feel the woman's hot, angry frustration radiating from her as she made her way across the floor. And while her grandmother was usually the one to claim the role of the angrier woman, Jane easily seized the title this time. As her eyes fell on her grandmother, Jane was reminded of the massive deception that had been executed against her, and she felt her blood begin to boil.  Jane wasn't just angry; she was filled with rage to the point where she couldn't speak even if she had tried.

Before then, Jane had tried to take the high road and dismiss all her grandmother's sins against her; after all, they were family, and she felt like forgiveness was her best course of action. But now, knowing the truth of this woman's actions, Jane found that she wasn't the gracious girl she had been. She was furious that she had been so monstrously deceived and betrayed, and she had no intention of letting it go. Thus, as her grandmother spoke to her, Jane remained silently devising her plan to change her circumstances. Jane would not marry James, nor would she subject herself to another year dwelling amongst her family's lies. She would find her father, and Harry would be the one to help her do it.

"Where on earth have you been, young lady?" Regina hissed, grasping the girl's arm roughly and whisking her away towards the stairs. Jane winced at the woman's firm grip, but she remained silent as she was taken to her room. "James is waiting for you, so I don't have time to punish you for your recklessness, but believe me, we will discuss this after dinner."

Regina spoke harshly to her granddaughter and left her without another word, leaving Jane with her maids to dress. Jane was overwhelmingly fearful of the encounter that was to come, but she kept her tears at bay. Regina had hurt her badly before, and she feared that this particular conflict between them was going to result with an unusually aggressive conclusion. However, despite the terror Jane felt, she could not fall subject to it; she was behind enemy lines now, and she could not show any weakness. Thus, with her hair still wet from the rain, Jane descended to the first floor where she would dine with James. She could only hope that it would be one of the last occurrences.

•••

Yeet, Jane and Harry are back together 🙌🏻🙌🏻

How's everyone doing? How's school? Or work? We doing alright? No? Me neither tbh😅

Love you all, thanks for reading!!
-Kate❤️