"The Widow" Bertha

In the morning, Miss Jane Eyre heard the maid report that Mr. Hilton had a dispute with Mr. Rochester today.

"Who leaked the news and let the guests know what happened in the attic?" Liya couldn't help complaining.

"What? The guest knows?!"

"That's right, Mr. Hilton insists on asking Mr. Rochester to open the attic to check, saying that the murderer must be hiding in it," Leah was terrified, "If Mr. Rochester doesn't open the attic, then he has something on his mind."

"Then what's Mr. Rochester's reaction?"

"It always looks like he's not going to open the attic...Shh, keep your voice down, someone's listening."

The maids interrupted the conversation, and Miss Jane Eyre lowered her head, turned and left.As she was about to step out of the kitchen door, Grace Poole, the maid, came in.

Jane Eyre paused.

A month ago, Miss Jane Eyre had rescued Mr. Rochester from the burning bedroom, and he said that it was Grace Poole who set the fire.So……

Could it be she who murdered Miss Blanche Ingram?

This idea had just formed in Jane Eyre's mind when Grace, the maid, suddenly raised her head to meet her gaze.

"Miss Jane Eyre." Grace greeted politely.

"……good morning."

"good morning."

After speaking, Grace took three steps forward mysteriously, and stuffed a note into Jane Eyre's palm.

It was not until she hurried back to her bedroom that Jane Eyre was able to open the note.

[Forgive Grace's recklessness, miss.It was I who asked her to deliver this note to you, please come to the attic after dinner, and remember to avoid other people, especially visiting guests.I need your help in a matter of life and death. ]——It says so on the note.

There was no signature on it, and Jane Eyre did not know anyone with such sharp handwriting, so she could only vaguely speculate that such handwriting came from a lady.

a lady?

Is there really a ghost living in the attic?So Grace Poole wasn't an embroiderer, but a caretaker?

Reason tells Jane Eyre that she should not go to the appointment.Miss Ingram is dead, and if a murderer lives in the attic, she will not escape.

but……

Jane Eyre stared at this note for a long time.

She always felt that the person who wrote the call for help would not hurt herself.Miss Ingram died in the bedroom and wanted Jane Eyre to die, so why bother to lure her to the attic and leave a note?

Just like Miss Jane Eyre's intuition saved Mr. Rochester from the fire, this time, she still decided to trust her intuition.

After dinner, because of the murder, the guests had no intention of gathering and went to rest one after another.Taking advantage of this opportunity, Jane Eyre sneaked out of the room and walked to the third floor of Thornfield Manor.

She had never been here before.

Grace Poole had been waiting in front of the attic door for a long time, and when she saw Jane Eyre coming, she didn't say a word, just bowed and opened the door.

At that moment, Jane Eyre only felt her heart beating in her ears.

What could be hidden inside?

Her ten-year-old student, Adele, once jokingly said that a vampire lived in the attic; Mr. Ashton argued with Rochester this morning, saying that the attic was actually a crazy woman.No matter which guess it is, it sounds like a murderer.

Following Grace into the attic, Jane Eyre was extremely nervous.The closed environment became darker and darker until Grace pushed the second door.

The attic, which is almost invisible, finally has some light from the fireplace.

"Ah, the guests are here," a woman's voice sounded hoarse and lazy in the darkness, "Grace, go and help us see the door."

"Yes."

Grace, who led the way, responded, and retreated to the second door.

"Miss Jane Eyre, don't be nervous, I swear I won't hurt you."

"You... who are you?"

The woman laughed out loud: "You can see it if you get a little closer, don't worry, I won't hurt you."

Jane Eyre hesitated for a moment, and finally took a step.

She walked towards the only light source in the room, but after taking a few steps forward, she saw a figure sitting by the fireplace.

A woman, but neither vampire-looking nor insane.

Before that, Jane Eyre had never seen this lady.She was leaning on the sofa, tall and straight, wearing a red dress, with long ink-like black hair coiled behind her head, she suddenly looked dignified and noble.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, she raised her head, and under the glowing firelight, what Jane Eyre saw was an extremely beautiful, almost perfect face.

Even Miss Blanche Ingram, whose appearance was admired by everyone, was overshadowed by this lady.

"I hope my abrupt invitation didn't scare you, miss," the lady leaning on the sofa looked at her with dark golden eyes, "sit down, Grace has made hot tea, it's on your left , please pick it up yourself."

At that moment, all questions had answers.

It turns out that the previous rumors are all traceable, and there is indeed a person living in the attic of Thornfield Manor, a mysterious woman.

It turned out that Mr. Rochester's concealment of the attempted arson was indeed to protect someone, not Grace Poole, but this beautiful and lazy lady in front of him.

Jane Eyre couldn't tell what kind of mood she should respond to at this time: jealousy, shock, or panic?She only knew that what hit her heart at this moment was curiosity.

"Ma'am," Jane Eyre found her voice for the first time after entering the attic, "are you...?"

What responded to her was the low laughter of a strange woman.

"Sit down, miss," she answered, "just call me Bertha."

Jane Eyre is observing Bertha, and Bertha is also observing Jane Eyre.

Miss Jane Eyre, who sat down obediently, was petite, pale-skinned, and looked a bit dull, but her bright eyes couldn't hide her inquiry and curiosity.

Who said Jane Eyre was ugly?Bertha thought to herself, she was obviously a pretty and pleasant girl from a small family—if Bertha remembered correctly, Jane Eyre was a girl at this time, but of course she was a girl.

Facing the secrets in Thornfield Manor, the young girl did not show any fear. She was curious but restrained. When Bertha glanced over, Jane Eyre's head was always slightly lowered, so as not to be afraid. Staggering his gaze, he cleverly hid all his emotions in the shadow of the firelight.

This low-browed and obedient look really looks like a reserved and well-behaved tutor.

"I think you should have guessed it."

Bertha cut to the chase: "I confess to you that it was not Grace Poole who set fire to Edward Rochester's room, it was me."

Jane Eyre's body was shocked when she heard the words, she immediately raised her head regardless of etiquette and obedience.

look?Isn't this very bold, what are you hiding?Bertha Mason can't eat people.

Meeting the girl's unbelievable gaze, Bertha raised the corners of her mouth in satisfaction.

"You seem very surprised," asked Bertha.

Jane Eyre, who was standing on the side, was silent, and after a long time, she spoke softly: "Yes."

Bertha: "Why? I thought it was easy to guess."

Jane Eyre: "I...didn't expect you to admit it directly, Lady Bertha."

After she finished speaking, she added in a low voice: "It's because everyone in the manor is talking about you as the murderer who killed Miss Ingram."

Sure enough.

Bertha's heart sank at once--it was a good thing she had done so quickly, and risked Grace's sending a note to Miss Jane Eyre.Counting on Rochester to solve everything?If he had this ability, he wouldn't be unable to fix his own mess.

"So, I'm a suspect now."

"I'm afraid so, ma'am."

"Do all the servants and guests of the manor think so?"

"Not only that," Jane Eyre said, "the magistrate also heard about it, when he came this morning, he asked Mr. Rochester to open the door of the attic for inspection, but Rochester declined because he couldn't find the key yet. It also caused Mr Ashton a little displeasure."

Well, fortunately she acted immediately after hearing the news.

Thinking about what might happen tomorrow, Bertha couldn't help but feel lingering fear: If Rochester didn't stop her for a while, she would be hanged!The decision to act early was the right one, and she had to find a way to save herself.

"In that case."

Her heart was a little heavy, and her tone lowered a bit: "Will you report me, Miss Jane Eyre?"

Jane Eyre looked at Bertha quietly for a while, then shook her head.

"I believe Mr. Rochester," said she, "if he is willing to cover you, he must have his reasons. I therefore do not think you are the murderer, Lady Bertha."

Well, it turned out to be because of the power of love.

This made Bertha a little curious: in the eyes of Miss Jane Eyre at this moment, what would she be?

There is a beautiful woman hidden in the attic of Thornfield Manor, no matter how it sounds like a Rochester golden house.

"Just call me Bertha," she changed into a brisk tone, "forgive me for not giving my surname, Miss Jane Eyre, but for some reason my identity must be kept secret. But I assure you, You'll finally know who I really am."

Miss Jane Eyre did not respond immediately.

As a stranger, Bertha's casual tone seemed a little frivolous, and Miss Jane Eyre did not accept her kindness sincerely.

But she didn't refuse Bertha's approach: "You can also call me Janet or Jane, Bertha."

"Okay, Jane."

Bertha nodded: "I need your help very much now."

Jane: "Need me to help you prove to everyone that you are not the murderer of Miss Ingram?"

It's easy to talk to smart people.

"That's right," Bertha nodded, "I assure you, Jane. I won't hurt anyone anymore, and I didn't kill Miss Ingram."

Jane Eyre was silent for a moment, and then responded: "I believe in you."

"why?"

"Guilty people will find ways to justify themselves, instead of admitting it openly," she replied earnestly, "not to mention actively looking for ways to prove their innocence."

Such thinking is a bit naive.

But Miss Jane Eyre was only this year, just graduated from a closed girls' school, and Bertha was determined not to be contemptuous of her innocence.

"Thank you for thinking of me so well."

Bertha smiled: "And now, Miss Jane, are you willing to help me?"

Jane Eyre was silent for a moment, then raised her head as if she had made up her mind: "If I can do it, I will do my best."

There is no need to be so exaggerated.

What Bertha wants to do is to get out of the attic, she must not sit here and wait for death; the second is to seize the initiative, she must personally participate in the case.

As for how to achieve the goal...

After thinking for a long time, she finally had a bold idea.

"Jane, do you like plays?" said Bertha suddenly.

"Ok?"

Such a question surprised Miss Jane Eyre: "I've never been to the theater, Bertha. But I've read a few Shakespeares."

Bertha: "How do you feel?"

Jane: "The plot is quirky and exciting, and I like it."

"it is good!"

Bertha clapped her hands, smiled enthusiastically again, and looked at the petite girl in front of her with a smile: "Then, if I invite you to accompany me in a play as wonderful as Shakespeare's, would you be willing?"