Deliverance : an adaption of Jane Eyre

Chapter 4

By now it was time for Edward's daily checkup, heralded by a knock on the door and the entrance of Miller with his supplies. The faithful soul showed no surprise in finding us so close together, and my beloved moved to the edge of the bed readily enough.

'May I help you out of these restrictive clothes, Mr Rochester?' was the tentative question, 'a stiff collar may irritate your throat again; and I need to check on the burns beneath your shirt and trousers anyway. Frankly, I hoped you'd agree to keep wearing the looser ones as long as you are not in company. I'm certain Miss Eyre will forgive me for not being counted as company.'

'Yes on all counts, Miller, I'm starting to feel the pressure in several places, I hope I've not done harm to myself by dressing up.

Jane, will you watch Miller work? He can be summoned away any day now, and I'd like someone to know what to do. I promise not to roar at him.'

Miller was such a gentle caretaker, and he didn't show any discomfort undressing a man in front of an unmarried girl. Without consulting his patient he not only removed Edward's coat and shirt, putting them away as neatly as a valet would, but also his trousers, leaving my brand-new fiancée sitting on the bed in nothing but his underwear. The left side of his lower body had been burned as well, though less badly than his face and shoulders.

Edward showed no discomfort either, sitting before me almost undressed. If anything, he was relieved, Miller had been right to take those tight trousers off, they were causing his patient pain.

As soon as he had readied his materials, clean rags and a strong smelling solution that stung poor Edward terribly, the nurse started to talk to his patient in a soothing voice, 'It's good to hear your voice, Mr Rochester, I'm glad to see you doing so well.'

He always started with his patient's head, then worked his way down.

'Can I hold you hand after all, Jane? Can you still watch when I'm holding it? I don't think I can stand this without your support.'

'I'm sorry, sir, it has to be done. Another week or so should see an end to your suffering. I'm ready if you are, sir, miss.'

It almost broke my heart to hear my idol admit he feared the treatment, it must really hurt then. I took his right hand in mine and pressed it to my heart, then watched the nurse wet one of the rags with the solution and apply it to one of the burns between the stubble of Edward's raven hair, now a quarter of an inch long. I knew my beloved was in great pain, but he did not crush my hand or make a sound, and kept perfectly still, so Miller could do his job quickly and was soon finished with the numerous burns on his patient's scalp.

Then he changed rags and prepared one for the large burn in Edward's face, a wound I knew was still painful even when left alone. I was not looking forward to seeing the agony on my beloved's face again, when I suddenly felt something touch my chest, something quite heavy leaning against it. Looking down, I saw black stubble, and a pair of hopeful dark eyes.

There was no way I could refuse my love this comfort, if resting his head in my bosom would make his pain more bearable, I welcomed him.

'It's important to clean everywhere,' Miller explained to me, 'even under these irregularities, for that is where it usually starts, a wound going bad. It's as if things hide there. But I really don't advise anyone to treat a loved one, miss, it's very difficult to hurt someone, even though you know it's for their own good. It does feel good to see such nasty wounds heal up this well, but still it's hard. That's done already, Mr Rochester. I'm very glad to hear your voice, it makes you more human, somehow. I was very afraid of you for a few days, you could easily break me in two, and smoke-poisoning can make people unpredictable.'