Page 20 of Fragile Wicked Things
He flinched at the sight of my blood and turned away. I could tell Rochester didn't believe me; I knew it sounded outrageous and easier to accept that I had dreamt the whole thing, and I even began to question myself, believing that my nightmares followed me from Lowood. Did I bang my head against my headboard, causing injury to myself?
"I'm sorry," I mumbled as I left Catherine's room, but before the door closed behind me, I overheard her.
"I remember a red-haired woman when I was a child. She frightened me."
"Blanche is gone. You're safe now, Catherine."
"Is Jane safe?"
Six
Afew days after the horrific encounter with the redheaded creature on my balcony, and early in the morning, there came a strong pounding on my door. It was Rochester—I felt his vexation in every bang of his fist, an acerbic rhythm of "wake up, stupid girl, wake up."
"Yes," I called out, but it wasn't an invitation to come in. Rochester bounded in any way, unperturbed, as I pulled the blanket up to my chin in great shock and embarrassment.
"Catherine's medication needs to be filled," he said, speaking rapidly. "Here are directions to the pharmacy and the keys to the Cadillac."
"I can't drive," I protested. He looked at me oddly. "I…I don't know how to drive. Can Auntie...?"
"It's not Auntie's job; she doesn't drive either. That's why I hired Buddy."
"You fired him."
"Don't you think I bloody well know that! Damn it!" Whenever he grew angry, his British accent became pronounced, other times, there appeared to be just a hint of it. Rochester was peculiar; he had fired his only driver but remained unprepared to be without transport. Why didn't he fetch the medication himself?
Lis and Katya weren’t expected in, so I couldn’t suggest he wait for them. "Driving wasn't one of the requirements," I offered as an explanation.
"The what?"
"It wasn't one of the requirements for the job otherwise, I would have told..."
He walked out of the room before I could finish, leaving my door wide open, and called for Auntie from the top step. "Is your grandson still at your house?"
"He’s here, Mr. Rochester. I’m making him something to eat," Auntie responded from below.
"Thomas, get up here." It wasn't only me that Rochester was rude to, but when Thomas arrived at the second floor straight away, Rochester's voice simmered down. "Do you drive?"
"I sure do, Mr. Rochester," Thomas said.
"Catherine's medication needs to be refilled. Here are directions to the pharmacy and my keys. Jane!"
"Yes." By then, I hid behind my door, struggling to get my bathrobe on.
"Get dressed. Thomas, take her with you. And teach her to drive afterwards." Rochester returned to Catherine's room.
Thomas stared at me and I wondered if he felt as I did about the way in which Rochester treated us. He jingled the keys at me, a smile on his face. No, he didn't.
I was surprised Rochester gave us the Cadillac, given that he had fired Buddy over it. Then I ascertained he didn’t terminate Buddy over the car. Auntie said he was hard to get along with, but I was unclear if she meant Rochester or Buddy.
Once we returned from the pharmacy and gave Catherine her medicine, it was time for my lesson, and I slid across to the driver's seat. Thomas had me arrange the side and rearview mirrors to suit my height, then had me adjust the seat so I could reach the brake on the left side and the gas pedal on the right. I pumped the brake, then the gas, in response to his shouts of "gas-brake-brake-gas-gas," shifting the order to keep me on my toes. "Gas-brake-check-your-blind-spot-brake-indicate." I practiced and practiced, yet still hadn't put the car in motion.
"Think you're ready?" I looked at him, bit my lip and told him no. "Too bad. Mr. Rochester wants you to learn. Let's start her up."
I turned the key, put my foot on the brake, and shifted the gear into drive, but when I lifted my foot, the car lurched forward. I slammed my foot on the brake, sending Thomas crashing into the dash.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about me," he said, rubbing his head. "And don't look at me. Pay attention to what's ahead of you. Now take your foot off the brake and onto the gas pedal. Feel the power of the car under you."
