Transmigrated as Jane’s Ghostly Godmother - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Unlocking a New Map — A Temporary Farewell to Wheelwood, Following Eleanor to…

Jane thought for a moment and nodded. Then, her thoughts drifted far away along with that single nod.

Memories of dreams usually dissipate quickly after waking, but the image of “Little Lin Zhao” had left a profound impression on Jane. She stared at the “Grown-up Lin Zhao” before her, trying to compare the differences based on her memory.

Come to think of it, although she felt Miss Ghost looked very young, she had never asked about her age. After all, generally speaking, a ghost’s age probably couldn’t be measured by human standards. However, no matter how uncurious she had been before, she was curious now.

In the dream, she looked only a year or two older than me, Jane thought to herself. Looking only at her appearance, Lin looks like she’s not even twenty yet.

In ten years, will I be older than Lin? After all, ghosts don’t seem to age.

Seeing Jane’s vacant gaze and then looking at Eleanor, who was packing with fiery enthusiasm nearby, Lin Zhao thought for a moment and decided to put the paper away. It was better not to give Jane too much of a burden for now; it wouldn’t be too late to discuss it once they were on the ship to Madeira.

“Let’s go have breakfast,” she suggested, drawing Jane’s attention back. “Afterward, we can find a place outside to sit down and have a proper chat.”

Jane’s eyes lit up, and she nodded quickly.

Breakfast didn’t take long. Jane had accumulated so many questions that she couldn’t wait to pull Lin Zhao to the courtyard the moment she finished eating. At the flower pavilion—a place that had witnessed and listened to countless conversations—Jane poured out all her worries from the past few days.

“Well… actually, I didn’t go ‘home,'” Lin Zhao first explained the reason for her departure. “Due to certain uncontrollable factors, the flow of time for me might be a bit different from yours.”

Jane tilted her head, not quite understanding the euphemism.

Lin Zhao often forgot that Jane was just an eleven-year-old child because of her precocious mind. She gave Jane an apologetic look and rephrased: “To put it simply, in my view, I was only gone for, well… less than half a day?”

“!” Jane’s eyes rounded, struck once again by the direct reality of Lin Zhao’s ghostly nature.

“Regarding your uncle, I only know he is in Madeira; I’ll need some time to learn more about the rest. Of course, I will go with you. As long as I am here, conscious, and there are no special circumstances, I will stay with you.”

Jane felt that this time, the guarantee of companionship was much more substantial. But before she could dwell on it, Lin Zhao answered the final question.

“And yes, I did miss you, Jane,” she reached out to pat Jane’s head. “I was very happy to hear you won first place. I always believed you could do it.”

With that, their studies at Wheelwood came to a temporary halt as they officially prepared to face a completely different and unknown new location. The Harrison family carriage arrived the day after their conversation. It was quite luxurious and spacious—enough for the three girls to sit comfortably with room to spare for Lin Zhao, the “uninvited guest.”

Leaving school, the three children were in high spirits. On the road, Eleanor spoke about the upcoming arrangements.

“We’ll stay at my home for two weeks. In the third week, when my aunt returns from London, we’ll set off for Madeira.”

“How long will we stay there?” Beatrice, sitting beside her, asked while waving a fan.

This was also what Lin Zhao cared about; she and Jane both looked toward Eleanor.

“Mother didn’t tell me that. she only said there would be a grand ball, and we would all attend.”

A ball—a classic form of entertainment. Lin Zhao thought of the banquet she had missed and couldn’t help but wonder about Jane’s makeover. The girls, taking up the topic, opened up completely, their laughter echoing throughout the journey.

Unlike Gateshead, the Ashford Manor where Eleanor lived was not far from Wheelwood. The carriage reached its destination in less than half a day. Looking out the window, a vast, open garden came into view.

It was a sprawling lawn, manicured as meticulously as a green velvet carpet, stretching all the way to the edge of the distant woods. A wide gravel driveway wound through the grass, ending at a magnificent building—the main house of Ashford Manor.

As the carriage drove up the stone path, the ivory-colored carvings on the building’s walls became clearer. Dozens of tall, neatly arranged glass windows sparkled with a dazzling brilliance. In front of the house, the sound of the central fountain was crisp; water droplets refracted tiny rainbows in the sunlight. Several white marble classical statues dotted the carefully designed flower beds, complementing the blooming roses and tulips.

Unlike the solemnity of Gateshead with its brooding sense of history, or the meticulously planned order of Wheelwood, Ashford presented a vibrant and unabashed richness.

“Ah, Mother—” As soon as the carriage stopped, Eleanor couldn’t wait to get out and threw herself into the arms of the woman waiting by the fountain.

Jane and Beatrice followed closely behind. Declining the porter’s help with her luggage, Jane carried her small trunk and curiously observed Mrs. Harrison.

With just one look, she immediately understood where Eleanor’s beautiful chestnut curls and lake-blue eyes came from. The Harrison mother and daughter looked very similar, though the mother’s features were more defined—carved by time, which had gifted her a calm and gentle temperament.

She caught Eleanor steadily, gently smoothing her daughter’s slightly disheveled hair, then looked up at the young guests.

“You must be Jane and Beatrice,” she said in a warm voice, her gaze kind. “Lina often mentioned you with joy in her letters. Thank you for accepting the invitation to Ashford—we are deeply honored.”

Lin Zhao watched silently, understanding how Eleanor’s cheerful personality had been nurtured.

“It is we who should thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Harrison.” Beatrice pinched her skirt and performed an elegant curtsy.

Jane was a beat late; she put down her trunk somewhat flustered and followed suit. After the greeting, she picked up her trunk again, suddenly feeling a bit shy to look at Mrs. Harrison.

Regarding ladies of such grace, she always worried about showing her lack of refinement and being treated with contempt, as she had been by Mrs. Reed. She wanted to look for Lin Zhao, but it wasn’t a suitable occasion, so she bit her lip and stared at the tips of her shoes. A weight landed on her shoulder—something soft—and the ghost lady’s comforting voice sounded in her ear.

“Don’t worry, just be yourself. I can tell Mrs. Harrison likes you.”

Lin Zhao’s words helped Jane relax. She looked up and found Mrs. Harrison watching her. Seeing her spirits recover, Mrs. Harrison smiled and nodded.

“Come inside first, ladies. Entertaining guests outdoors is against the hospitality of Ashford.”

It was a truly kind gaze. Jane’s worry vanished instantly as she followed them through the wide doorway.

Upon reaching the parlor, Mrs. Harrison smiled at her: “Jane, give your luggage to Martha; she will help take it to the guest room.”

Jane’s face flushed; she nodded without a word and stiffly handed over the trunk.

“Jane, Betty, come to my room! I want to show you the books I’ve collected,” Eleanor shouted from the stairs, not entering the parlor.

Jane was about to follow, but Mrs. Harrison called her back.

“Jane, please stay for a moment.” She then looked gently at her daughter. “Lina, dear, since it is Jane’s first visit, I would like to chat with her briefly to make her feel more at home. What do you think?”

Eleanor blinked and replied without hesitation, “Mother, you should ask Jane. If she is willing, I would naturally be happy for you to become friends.”

Mrs. Harrison looked back at Jane.

Why does she want to leave me alone?

Jane was a bit panicked, but she had decided to respond to the friendly Mrs. Harrison with her best manners. She nodded, trying to make every word sound natural and elegant: “I would be very happy to, Mrs. Harrison.”

After a brief goodbye to her friends, Jane and Mrs. Harrison sat on the sofa. On the table before them stood several cups of steaming black tea, and between them were plates of exquisite pastries. Jane looked at the table with no intention of touching anything, sitting up straight with her hands on her knees.

“Relax, dear Jane,” Mrs. Harrison noticed her stiffness and pushed a cup of tea toward her. “As I told Lina, I only hope for a chance to speak with you privately and get to know the friend she praises so highly.”

Lin Zhao was naturally still there. She reached out and lightly fanned the steam rising from the teacup. Seeing Lin Zhao’s movement, Jane unconsciously curled her lips, and her tension eased significantly.

“I am willing to tell you everything I know, Madam.”

“If I may be so bold, Lina mentioned your background in her letters. Perhaps that is why I felt an immediate kinship upon seeing you,” Mrs. Harrison leaned toward Jane. “I, too, am the daughter of a clergyman.”

In the past, hearing about her father was always through the contemptuous words of the Reeds. Mrs. Harrison’s words, however, carried a completely different emotion; she was truly happy for this identity. This pride deeply touched Jane.

“…I also feel you are very kind, Madam,” she said, her lips trembling as she tried to suppress the surging emotions in her heart. “Forgive me, for I actually learned nothing from my father; when he passed away, I was not yet old enough to remember things…”

Mrs. Harrison placed a hand over hers, comforting her gently.

“I am deeply sorry for that. But I think if Mr. Eyre could see you from heaven as you are now, he would be incredibly proud. To achieve such excellent results after only half a year of enrollment, you must have put in extraordinary effort.”

Jane reflexively glanced at Lin Zhao again. The ghost was already sitting on the other side of the sofa, quietly staring at a teacup. This scene somewhat alleviated the tears brought on by the comfort; she confirmed once more that she was no longer alone as she once was.

“Thank you, Madam. Lina helped me a lot; she is truly a very kind and upright person.”

“Lina is indeed a good child,” Mrs. Harrison’s smile deepened, then she asked carefully, “Jane, do you know if you have any other living relatives?”

Jane didn’t know why Mrs. Harrison was asking, but she immediately remembered what Lin Zhao had said about her uncle in Madeira. Unfortunately, before officially reuniting with him, Jane could not reveal it.

Hesitating, she denied it with a slight hint of dejection: “…As far as I know, there are none.”

Mrs. Harrison patted the back of her hand again and explained her reason for asking.

“Please forgive me for mentioning this, child. I inquire in such detail not to pry into your sorrows, but because I hope to offer you some small measure of assistance. Before that, I need to be sure this help reaches where it is needed most and will not cause you any unnecessary trouble.”

Financial support? Jane couldn’t process the meaning of the word for a moment. Lin Zhao also looked up sharply, narrowing her eyes slightly at Mrs. Harrison.

Seeing Jane’s confusion, Mrs. Harrison continued: “Yes. When I was inquiring about further education for Lina, Mrs. Victor mentioned the school’s ‘Outstanding Student Incentive Program.’ Your name, Jane, was the first one she solemnly recommended. In addition to the school’s rewards, I hope to provide extra support for your studies in my own name, to ensure that in your senior years, you do not have to be distracted by trivial expenses. A brilliant mind should focus on knowledge itself, shouldn’t it?”

From a purely beneficial perspective, Jane wanted to be happy for such luck. But because the person saying this was Eleanor’s mother, she inevitably fell into a strange conflict: If I agree to this, can I still be friends with Eleanor as an equal?

Thinking this way, she felt a bit indignant. Her miserable current status had turned what should have been a conversation between “friends” into this kind of dynamic.

“You don’t have to give me an answer immediately, Jane,” Mrs. Harrison saw her hesitation and added softly. “I can understand how you feel. I chose to be frank rather than make private arrangements out of respect for you. I don’t want this gesture to become a needless burden to you later. So, please take this holiday to consider it peacefully. I do not act out of pity or mercy, but out of genuine admiration for your character and talent, and I believe you have had an excellent influence on Lina. I sincerely hope you two can continue to encourage each other and grow together.”

Having finished, Mrs. Harrison ended the conversation. She picked up a cup of tea and took a small sip, leaving Jane space to think quietly.

Lin Zhao spoke up at the right time, also comforting Jane.

“Don’t worry. We can have a good talk about this later.”

Jane looked at Lin Zhao and remembered she hadn’t mentioned the “stipend” yet. She took a deep breath, looked directly into Mrs. Harrison’s eyes, and thanked her sincerely: “Thank you, Madam, for both the invitation and this conversation. I will think seriously about the support before answering you.”

Mrs. Harrison put down her tea and smiled: “Of course. Now, why not try some of the tea treats? I think you’ll like them.” She subtly signaled that she would wait and elegantly changed the subject.

With her mind full of the previous talk, Jane forgot her initial stiffness and cooperatively picked up a biscuit. Just as she took a small bite, footsteps came from the stairs—Eleanor and Beatrice were coming down.

“Mother, can Betty and I join your tea party?”