Newcastle, United Kingdom
October 1851

The next day, a cold front had moved in on Newcastle, obliterating the warm and almost summer-like feeling that had given Jane and Harry the opportunity to gaze at the stars the night before. Now though, as Thomas rode for Clumber Park, the air about him was frigid, piercing through his overcoat with biting winds that were only worsened by his position on horseback. Both he and his steed were breathing hard by the time he finally reached the forest that edged the boundaries of the Pelham estate, but Thomas knew that the worst of the journey had yet to come.

Slowing his pace, Thomas dismounted and led his horse into the trees, stopping when he reached the broken down wooden fence that hadn't been kept for ages. He anchored his horse there, proceeding into the darkness and hoping that the path in front of him still lay unobstructed. It had been years since he had been to this place, and in many ways, it felt much like the last time.

The coldness around him chilled him to the bone, but still, he knew that what lie on the other side of these woods was more important than how the howling winds caused him discomfort. Jane was waiting for him in the same clearing where he had found Victoria all those years ago; or at least, that was what was supposed to happen. Even now, Thomas was careful not to get his hopes up; what if he had come all this way for Jane to refuse to see him? He couldn't blame her for it, but still, the possibility of that happening would cause him great pain.

However wary Thomas was to finally allow himself to be happy, he was able to acknowledge how poetic it was that he should be returning to this place so many years later. In a way, it gave him hope, for though his story did end badly, this place had once brought he and his wife together. Maybe it would bring he and his daughter together, too.

As Thomas traversed through the woods, he found himself worrying even more than he had been on the ride there. Now there was no wind to distract him, nor was he able to concentrate on staying astride his horse. Thomas was alone with his thoughts, now, and they were far scarier to him than any dark wood could have ever been. He worried whether Jane would resent him for being absent during her childhood, for even though he had tried everything he could think of, he still had the feeling that he could have done more. Furthermore, Thomas feared that Jane would never be able to see him as anything but a stranger. He knew it would take time for her to trust him as her father, but still, he worried that maybe her trust would never come.

Thus, with troubled thoughts, Thomas carefully followed the path that cut through the trees, every once in a while losing sight of it, only to find it again several meters in front of him. The cold and the darkness was oppressive to him, darkening his already anxiety-ridden mood and tainting what should have been a most joyous occasion. Trying to focus on all the good that could come from that evening, Thomas began to notice how the trees about him were thinning, allowing more of the moon's light to peep through the mostly barren branches up above him. He could feel the wind's effort against him as well, and it was this that told Thomas he was nearing the end of his journey.

With his heart pounding in his chest, Thomas at last broke through the tree line to see that same pond where he had seen Victoria nearly twenty years ago. It was foggy just like last time, but Thomas knew that he must pass through the fog if he wished to find Jane on the other side. Taking a deep breath, Thomas stepped out onto the grass and began the final leg of the race that would lead him to the daughter he had lost so many years before. His steps were sure as he made his way around the pond, but his breathing was ragged, and every bone in his body was screaming for him to turn on his heel and abandon this foolish endeavor while he still had the chance. As long as he was unknown to his daughter, he would never risk incurring her disdain.

It took everything in him to shake these cowardly thoughts away, reminding himself of the sacrifices that had been made to accomplish this night. Harry had willingly sacrificed the better part of a year to enable Thomas's arrival there, and Jane herself was risking the possibility of being caught by even agreeing to meet him at all. It was too late to turn back now, regardless of whether he had been seen yet. Too much had been given to even begin fathoming succumbing to his own cowardice, and Thomas refused to allow himself the continued shame of letting other people correct his mistakes. This was his time to make amends with the person he loved most in the world, and if he did not take the chance now, it would most likely never arise again.

Before he could really understand what he was seeing, there a came the silhouette of a person standing in the distance. It was a woman's figure, and suddenly, Thomas was overcome by his grief. It was like seeing Victoria all over again. His heart ached for her, the loss of her life piercing his already wearied soul for what felt like the millionth time. Soon though, Thomas came to see that this was different than last time. Victoria has been alone, whereas this woman who stood by the water's edge was accompanied by a man who was much taller than she was. He noticed that the two of them were holding hands, and suddenly, he remembered Harry and the fact that the boy had probably fallen in love during his time there in Newcastle. Again, Thomas didn't know what to think of this, but he found that he had little time to think much about it before Harry caught sight of him.

Thomas froze in place as Harry leaned down, whispering to Jane before she turned around to find her father standing less than twenty feet away from her. Shivering, Jane drew her cloak tighter about her and said something to Harry, who was quick to take her arm and lead her to the stranger who now stood with them in the clearing. They approached him slowly, Thomas not once finding the will to move himself. He couldn't believe what was happening, and he feared that one movement of his would make it all disappear. Thomas was in a dream-like state; after all, he had had this very dream hundreds of times before.

The couple stopped in front of Thomas, and with the clearing of Harry's throat, the silence that had dominated the space between them was broken.

"Thomas," Harry addressed him stiffly, his voice and expression filled with anticipation. Thomas could tell Harry didn't really know what he should say, but he made no effort to help his friend. "I- this is Jane." Harry looked down at Jane who stood anxiously beside him with her eyes fixed on the stranger in front of her. "Jane, this is Thomas- your father."

Thomas watched in awe as the girl on Harry's arm stepped away from his friend's side and approached him, her pale blue eyes glistening in the moonlight. She had his eyes and his blonde hair, but aside from that, she was the spitting image of her mother Victoria. It was like seeing a ghost, and thus, Thomas found that his own blue eyes were stinging with tears yet again.

Not wishing his daughter to see him so distressed, Thomas hastily wiped beneath his eyes and bowed formally to her, keeping his gaze fixated on the dried out grass beneath his feet. As much as he wanted to take her in his arms and hug her like a father would, Thomas knew that he was but a stranger to her. He would have to respect her space as he might a new acquaintance.

"I- I'm so glad to finally meet you," Thomas said quietly, daring to lift his still tear-filled eyes to meet hers.

When he did this, Jane turned her face away from him, glancing behind her to look at Harry who simply nodded as if to encourage her to reply. Reluctantly, Jane returned her attention to her father, waiting several moments that seemed to drag on forever before she curtsied in front of him. Arising to her full height, Jane opened her mouth to speak; however, she could not force the words to come out. She stood speechless in front of him for several moments until Jane did the last thing Thomas had expected her to do.

In a matter of moments, Jane had her arms wrapped around her father, pulling him to her in the most loving embrace Thomas had felt since his wife died. He was a little disoriented at first, but once he realized what was happening, he had his arms around his daughter's small frame, holding her so tightly that he was certain that this was really real. After eighteen years of being kept away from his own child, Thomas Mercier had found his way back to her. Was it possible for one's heart to burst from joy? Thomas didn't know, but he was sure that if there was such an instance, that this would have been it.

The weight of this moment came crashing down on him as Thomas held his daughter in his arms for the first time. He felt as if he might collapse as his broken spirit tried to mend itself with the knowledge that after years of waiting, he had finally achieved the deepest desire of his soul. It had been nearly twenty years since he had felt at home with anyone, but there with Jane, Thomas finally felt as if he had finally reached the one place in which he had always meant to be. Jane was his home, now, and he found that he could not let go.

Jane likewise felt overcome with the joy of having finally found her father. In all her life at Newcastle, she had always felt as if something were missing from her life. She had long since accepted the fact that both of her parents were dead, but still, as she grew up, Jane for some reason allowed herself the fantasy of what her life could have been if they were alive. Only now, it wasn't a fantasy anymore. Her father held her closely to him, now, and though it was just a hug, she felt that this moment meant the world. In him, Jane found herself, and just knowing that brought tears to her eyes.

Harry watched on as two of the most important people in his life finally came to find each other. He could see his friend crying as he soothed the weeping girl in his arms, and suddenly, Harry felt a weight fall from his shoulders. After months of preparation and planning, Harry had at last completed the mission he had set upon himself. Seeing the good he had managed to bring to the family in front of him made him feel as if there was hope for him yet. Harry's sins in life were great, but now, he felt that maybe he could actually make up for everything that he had done. After all, if he had managed this task, then maybe he could continue to help this family in other ways, too.

But more than soothing his own guilt, Harry was also immensely happy for the two of his friends. To lose a child, especially with the knowledge that they are off somewhere else, living with the very people who had stolen her away, seemed to Harry to be one of the most devastating and infuriating things he could scarcely imagine. He had no idea how Thomas could have survived all those years without having acted recklessly, because if it had been him with he and Jane's child, Harry knew he wouldn't be able to merely stand by and watch.

After several moments, Jane pulled away from her father, quickly wiping the tears from her eyes before looking up at her father shyly. She saw that he was crying too, and suddenly, she didn't feel as embarrassed to have lost such control of herself in the way that she had. But still, Jane still found it necessary to apologize for her poor manners.

"I- I'm sorry," she whispered hoarsely, lowering her eyes from Thomas's face and wrapping her arms around her torso. Despite her warm cloak, she was shivering now, her body still plagued with the lingering sensation of her sobs. "I d-don't know what came over me."

Thomas shook his head, a genuine smile such as Harry had never seen from him before arising on his mouth, "No, my dear. It's quite alright. If anyone needs to apologize, it's me."

Thomas lowered his eyes, and Jane could see just how upset with himself he really was. Harry had told her of how hard Thomas had taken everything that had happened to him, but now, she saw just how physically Thomas had been affected by his grievances. She didn't know what he had looked like as a young man, but it was obvious to anyone that Thomas had had a rough go of things. His blond hair had long since begun to grey despite the fact that he wasn't even fifty yet, and his cool blue eyes were tainted by exhaustion and sadness. He looked to be a hard man, and in many ways he was, but there was hope in his expression, now. Jane could see that part, too, and it made her happy that she could lift his spirits even just a little.

Nodding, Jane smiled at her father, "Oh.. well, shall we go inside? I can make some tea? I stole some from the kitchen today."

Harry laughed behind Jane as he came to stand beside her, momentarily forgetting himself in Thomas's presence, "You really are a troublemaker these days, aren't you?"

"I suppose so," Jane looked up at Harry, grinning from ear to ear. "I like to live my life on the edge, I guess."

Shaking his head amusedly, Harry approached his friend and hugged him. Jane could not help but smile as she watched the two of them interact as a father and son might. It was then that she knew that her father would not object to she and Harry's relationship; Thomas clearly cared for Harry, and given the circumstances, he was the best candidate in the pursuit for Jane's hand.

"I'll go start the fire," Harry announced, leaving Jane with her father and starting in the direction of the cabin.

Jane didn't really know what to do for several moments, but she was grateful when Thomas extended his arm out to her so that he could escort her inside. Gladly looping her arm around his, Jane somewhat nervously followed her father's lead towards the cabin, her heart racing with every step. She couldn't believe that this was really happening; after all these years, she was walking with her father to have tea. It was something she had been dreaming of her whole life, and now that it was happening, she could hardly speak. Surely, Thomas was just as overwhelmed as she was.

Once they entered the small cabin, they found Harry stooped over the hearth, placing several pieces of wood in the fireplace. It was a matter of minutes before Harry managed to start the fire, all three of them thankful for the heat that slowly begin to radiate throughout the room.

Jane used the fire to light a few candles that she had brought, shedding light on the small room and illuminating just how changed the place had become in the last few days. Harry took notice of how homey and clean the place now looked, smiling at Jane as she set the kettle over the flames to begin heating the water. He supposed she must have done all this while he was in the city the previous weekend.

"You cleaned," Harry said softly to her, so that Thomas could not hear him.

Jane looked up at him with bright eyes, nodding simply before turning her attention to the fire, which she prodded with a stick so that the flames might grow. "I couldn't sleep while you were gone, so I came here one night and tidied up a bit." She stood up straight, rising to her full height and dusting off her skirts. "I don't really know why since it's not my home, but I really wanted it to look nice for today."

"You did wonderfully," Harry said encouragingly, then lowering his voice. "You're going to be the best wife in the world."

"Harry," Jane scolded him, fighting the blush and the smile that began to overtake her expression. "Not here." Looking past Harry, Jane saw her father sitting on the worn-down sofa, watching them. She brushed past Harry and into the small kitchen that lie across from the fireplace, where she found the teacups and saucers she had brought a few days earlier, just hoping that her father wouldn't make a comment about she and Harry's relationship.

Jane didn't know why she was so nervous now, but she could not help her shaking hands as she walked back to the living room and placed the old china on the coffee table she had found shoved in the closet. Jane took the seat across from her father in the plain wooden chair, her ankles crossed and her hands delicately placed across her lap. She knew her father was watching her, and though she wasn't intimidated by him or even worried about what he might say, she still found this to be extremely uncomfortable and even just a little bit awkward. 

Looking to Harry, Jane seemed to begging him with her eyes to say something. She didn't know what to say otherwise, and she needed his help. Harry seemed to pick up on Jane's discomfort, so he moved away from the fireplace to sit beside his friend on the couch, leaning back casually and crossing his legs.

"Thomas, how was your journey?" Harry asked his friend for Jane's sake, already knowing the answer since he had seen him days before in town.

Thomas was confused at Harry's reiterated question from the other day, but one glance at his nervous daughter sitting across from him prompted him to answer it anyway.

"The boat from Calais was slightly rougher than I was expecting for this time of year, but the ride from Edinburgh was nice enough." Thomas chuckled, "Though admittedly, I'm still a bit sore from riding so far on horseback."

Jane gasped, "Horseback? Why did you not take the train?"

Thomas looked to her and smiled sadly, "That was how Henry caught me last time, so I had to devise a new plan where I could come into the city undetected."

"Oh," Jane lowered her eyes, her chest stinging with disappointment. Thomas's explanation only reminded her of her family's continued cruelty against her. Harry had told her that Thomas had made many attempts to find her, only to be stopped by her grandfather; however, hearing Thomas mention it himself with such melancholy in his voice reignited Jane's anger over the whole thing.

There was a silence between the three of them, but soon, the tension in the room became too great for Thomas to bear. He had explaining to do, and from what Harry had told him about Jane, Thomas knew that Jane would be too polite to ask him the questions that were surely racing through her mind.

"Jane." Thomas cleared his throat, clasping his hands together. "I- I know you must have so many questions, and I-" Shaking his head as if he were frustrated with himself, Thomas apprehensively continued, "I want you to have all the answers. If there's anything you want to know, ask and I will tell you everything."

Jane was surprised by her father's words. Since receiving his letter from Harry, Jane had been consumed with a million questions, some of which had been answered since making the journey, but most of which had been keeping her up at night. There was one, though, that perplexed Jane above the rest.

"There is one thing." Jane straightened her posture, looking towards her father with an earnest gleam in her eyes. "What happened after my mother died?"

Though Thomas had expected a question like this, the mention of his late wife still caused a pang of melancholy to reverberate through his chest, but still, he pushed through his pain and answered his daughter, telling her of the misfortunes that befell him in the fall of 1833.

"It all happened so quickly," Thomas began, keeping his eyes fixated on the stoic girl sitting across from him. "When your mother passed, no time was wasted in taking me out of the picture. I imagine your grandparents had begun to plan it out as soon as they received word that we were returning to Newcastle, but simply put, they declared our marriage illegitimate and legally married her to a distant relative of hers who had fought and died in France only weeks earlier." Thomas paused, evidently frustrated now. "That way people would believe that you were fathered by an Englishman of good repute and you could keep the family name."

Though Thomas's answer was brief, Jane was nonetheless left in awe with his every word. She had known that her grandparents had exiled her father, but now she knew the circumstances of said exile, she found that she could scarcely speak. Had her parents been unmarried as her uncle had told her, then Jane could have at least understood why her grandparents hated Thomas so much as to separate him from his own child. However, Jane's parents had been married, so regardless of their having run away, the Pelhams had no right to divorce Thomas from Victoria, in such a disgraceful and malicious manner. 

"Why-" Jane's voice cracked as she was consumed with her disbelief and anger. "Why would they do such a thing? Why do they hate you so much?"

Thomas shook his head, seeming to wonder the same thing himself. "My father owns a shipping business that competes with theirs, and they do have some poor history, so that was initially what they told Victoria. In truth though, they hate the French for involving British forces during Napoleon's reign. I can't exactly blame them for that; it really was a different time. But in the end, regardless of my more than satisfactory station in life, they still operate under the belief that my nationality taints their good name."

"That's absurd," Jane stated incredulously, looking over at Harry who held the same disgusted expression as she did.

It seemed that the Pelham women had a certain draw towards French men. Knowing that Harry himself was of French decent, Jane wondered what affect Thomas's words had upon him. It did occur to her that her grandparents' disdain for the French could be one of the reasons Regina had been so dreadfully horrid to Harry during his time with her family. The possibility of this being true irritated her, and she could see that Harry felt the same way.

"It's no wonder that Henry treats me like an imbecile," Harry muttered, his tone laced with bitterness as he fixed his attention on Jane. "And it's no wonder they treat you like livestock to be sold."

Jane hadn't even considered her own heritage being a problem in her grandparents' eyes, but now that Harry mentioned it, it did seem to make sense. If the Pelhams hated Jane's French father, then it only made sense for them to look down on her for being related to him.

Thomas shook his head at Harry's words, "I'm afraid their treatment of Jane is not because of her French patronage. They treated her mother the same way, and she was as English as they come."

"It's because I'm a woman," Jane said quietly, looking away from the two men sitting across from her. "I haven't a say in anything I do. I never have, and I never will."

Both Harry and Thomas looked at Jane sympathetically, neither one of them knowing what they should say to her. They were unique among men, in that they could see the injustice of forcing a young girl to marry for want of connections, but still, neither one could argue with the way things were done. Jane, however, had no problem in voicing her disdain for the societal restrictions that oppressed her.

Jane raised her eyes to her father's face, knowing that she had to be the one to ask him for aid in making her escape.

"There's really only one chance I have to ever decide my own fate" Jane muttered, meeting Harry's knowing gaze. "I know Harry has told you of what I wish for you to do, but I want to ask you myself." Shifting uncomfortably in her chair, Jane forced herself to continue, hoping that her father would stay true to his word. "As Harry mentioned, I am to be married, but the man is dreadful. I can't marry him; I simply can't."

Though he had expected this conversation, Thomas was struck by Jane's words. Victoria had spoken the exact same words to him when she had asked him to help her run away nearly twenty years ago. As Thomas looked at his daughter, it was as if he were looking at Victoria again, and he knew that he could not refuse her even if he had wanted to. Forgetting all his concerns over all the dangers and even his suspicions regarding Jane's relationship with Harry, Thomas agreed before Jane could even ask him the question. After all, if he did help Jane run away, then he would finally get to be the father he had always dreamt of being. 

"I'll do it," Thomas said, giving his daughter a smile that made her heart soar.

"Really?" Jane was grinning now, and if Thomas had looked over at Harry, he would have seen that Harry was fighting his own excited smile.

Nodding, Thomas straightened his back and leaned forward, "Yes, but Jane, we have to wait until spring. I assume your wedding is not until the summer?"

"Yes. We're supposed to leave for London at the start of May, and the wedding is the first of June." Jane nervously glanced at Harry and saw that his smiling expression from only moments before had disappeared and been replaced with a rather bitter frown. "But I want to leave sooner rather than later; I truly can't stand to be here with these people."

"Likewise," Harry commented dryly. "Are you sure we can't leave earlier?"

"I'm sure," Thomas explained. "My father's ships don't come into Edinburgh again until the spring, and I don't think it would be a good idea to stay there for so long. I fear that Henry would find us if we were to stay longer than a fortnight. It would be safer for us to wait."

Jane shook her head, "I'm sure you're right. If we have a greater chance of success by waiting, then I will do whatever it takes to ensure that I can leave this place." 

Harry nodded in agreement, but said nothing.

"It will be difficult, you two," Thomas said, looking between Harry and Jane with an earnest expression overtaking his aged face. "We're going to need a plan."

A silence fell over the three of them as Thomas waited for one of the two youths to speak up, and to his surprise, it was Jane who volunteered to speak first, telling him that she had a few ideas. And thus began the plot of Jane's escape, but little did they know that it would needs be executed far sooner than any of them could have anticipated.

***

Sorry that took so long.. this chapter was giving me struggles and I wanted to do it right, so I hope I succeeded in that :)

What do y'all think of Thomas and his explanation? Are you surprised by anything he said? And what do you think will happen next?

Anyways, thank you all for reading! I love you guys so much

-Kate