Lips That Lied || hs

Sixty-One

London, United Kingdom

May 1852

Jane awoke the next morning in a panic, partially because she didn't remember falling asleep the night before, and partially because of the knocking at her bedroom door. It was still dark in her room though, which worried her. Why would someone be waking her up at this hour? But as Jane propped herself up on her elbow to look over at the door, she remembered what had happened between she and James that night, and her heart sank in her chest. What if he was the one knocking at the door?

This thought was quickly done away with as Jane heard Lorraine's voice coming from the other side, speaking softly, "Jane, I'm sorry to wake you, but I have to speak with you about something."

Jane breathed a sigh of relief as she recognized Lorraine's voice, forcing herself to go to the door. She remembered locking it the night before, which was probably the only reason Lorraine hadn't come right in to have an audience with her. Picking up her robe and pulling it around herself, Jane quickly unlocked her bedroom door to find Lorraine standing there with a lamp, still in her night clothes as well.

"Is something the matter?" Jane asked, not missing the way Lorraine's eyes looked over her as if she was searching for some evidence of damage. She also didn't miss the relief that seemed to infiltrate Lorraine's pointed expression as she found nothing visibly amiss.

"No, dear," Lorraine shook her head distractedly. "You're alright, I trust? Why was the door locked?"

Jane yawned and anxiously crossed her arms over her chest, reluctantly answering, "I don't know...It's a habit, I guess... But I'm fine; why do you ask?"

"No reason." Lorraine opened her mouth to say something else, but quickly shut it again and waved herself off. That only piqued Jane's already growing curiosity as to why her aunt was standing there in her doorway so early in the morning.

"Okay," Jane said, opening the door wider. "What's all this about?"

Lorraine's eyes widened ever so slightly, but it was clear that she understood that she was going to have to explain herself. She huffed quietly and quickly answered, "It's silly, really. I don't know what has gotten into him. He wakes me up in the middle of the night, nearly scares me half to death, then insists I go check on you." Lorraine shook her head in frustration. "I don't know why he didn't just go himself if he was so worried about you, but regardless, he wouldn't leave until I agreed, so here I am."

Jane stared at her aunt incredulously, not knowing what to think. James was behind this? And he wanted Lorraine to check on her? She couldn't help but wonder what game he was playing at. Was she supposed to believe that he was caring for her now? Jane certainly didn't know, but she needed him to know that she would have none of it. First though, she would need to know what Lorraine knew.

"You're talking about James? He put you up to this?" Jane was answered with a nod. "And what reason did he give you? Was there... did he tell you that something had happened?"

Lorraine shook her head, "No, but he looks terrible. I tried to get an explanation out of him, but all he would tell me was that he had a bad feeling, and that I should look in on you."

Jane had to keep herself from scoffing. That bad feeling he was talking about was probably guilt, and this was his sad excuse to make up for it. He really was pathetic.

"What reason did he give for not coming himself?" Jane asked. "Surely, he told you that?"

But Lorraine only shrugged and answered, "Not a real reason... He only said that he didn't want to upset you, and so he asked that I go."