Thornfield Hall Read Online Free

Edward’s character, but Old John had found his voice and there was no stopping him. ‘Happen he’ll buy some decent horses instead of those old nags that can scarcely pull the gig to the gates. He might even take up hunting.’ His eyes went misty with remembrance of past glory days. ‘You’ve never seen the hunt meet at Thornfield Hall,’ he told his awestruck audience. ‘A winter’s morning with a weak sun and a flop of dew on the grass. You can’t beat it. It’s a grand sight.’
    His audience was dreamy-eyed with visions of Thornfield Hall bustling with life. The clatter of horses’ hooves and the crunch of carriage wheels on the gravel path. The women’s dresses rustling through the corridors and the high commanding voices of the county aristocrats echoing in the panelled hall. There would be hunt balls, grand dinners and picnics on the lawn.
    The servants were not alone in their hopes. The whole neighbourhood was twitching in anticipation, especially those houses where there were unmarried daughters. Letters of condolence with their black borders kept arriving for Mr Rochester and the gentry started calling and leaving cards, secure in the knowledge that the new owner when he arrived would have to return the compliment. Mr Rochester on his tropical island was still in ignorance of his father’s death. He was unaware of his sudden transformation from black sheep of the family, whose existence was never mentioned, into a wealthy, young and eligible bachelor.
    Mr Edward had been a fine spirited youth, not handsome but strong-featured with wavy black hair. He was shipped off abroad when he came of age. Very sudden it was. The familywas tight-lipped about it. A duel or gambling debts, I guessed. Perhaps even some trouble with a married lady. No worse than many a young fellow had got up to, a minor blot on his copybook, a scandal that would soon blow over. It was not to be. At first old Mr Rochester and Mr Rowland would wave his letters about and say he was doing well in Jamaica but they never read them out or let others read them. Questions about their contents were discouraged. When I arrived as housekeeper the letters were infrequent and soon ceased altogether. The silence about Mr Edward thickened and solidified. As I said, the Rochesters are very good at keeping secrets.

MY THIRD MR ROCHESTER
    1822
    A ND SO I CAME TO MY THIRD MR ROCHESTER .
    The first words from my new master came in the form of a letter. It was written on the thinnest paper I have ever seen. It was so fine you could see through it. What it said was so bizarre and unusual, so far from the normal duties of a housekeeper, that I kept the letter – as evidence I suppose. The task he set me was not one I relished. I folded the letter, fine as a cobweb, and placed it between the pages of the bible I carry in my pocket. By some miracle of good fortune I have both the letter and the bible still.
    Spanish Town, Jamaica .
    Mrs Fairfax ,
    Little news of Thornfield Hall has reached me for some years. My father and brother were not good correspondents. I am sorry to hear of the death of your husband. He was a kind and upright clergyman. It is a matter of satisfaction to me that someone with a connection to my family is looking afterThornfield Hall. I am assured by the lawyers that you do so with great competence .
    Preparations for my departure are almost complete. I intend to set sail from this benighted island in time to catch the prevailing westerlies. With good weather I will be in Liverpool in about forty days. From there I will come straight to Thornfield Hall. There is much business to be done .
    I will have with me a companion who comes to take up residence at Thornfield. She is an unfortunate invalid who suffers from great weakness of mind. Indeed there are times when she loses her wits completely. Alert the local physician that his services will be needed for the new arrival. Remind him that