Transmigrated as Jane’s Ghostly Godmother - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: To Each Their Own Thoughts — Hearts vs. Thumbs Up

“Of course, the biscuits are baked perfectly today.” Mrs. Harrison smiled gently, stepping aside. “I would be quite sad if you didn’t get to taste them.”

“Is that so? Jane, do you like them?” Eleanor teased with a smile.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was watching her, Jane quickly finished the biscuit. Now holding her teacup and taking small sips, she nodded firmly.

“They are truly wonderful.”

Eleanor sat down gracefully beside her mother, leaning in affectionately.

“Also, Mother, can we go out tomorrow?” Although she had visited the shopping street with Beatrice a few days ago, she wasn’t satisfied with the trip and wanted to go again.

Mrs. Harrison chuckled, not at all surprised by her daughter’s suggestion.

“Speaking of that, I have just made arrangements for you. A renowned tailor shop on the high street recently received a batch of the latest styles from Paris. I have scheduled an appointment for you tomorrow, where you can choose your favorite fabrics and designs.”

“I’ve long heard of a high-end dressmaker nearby named Emily. Is that the same shop?” Mentioning fashion and attire, even the usually quiet Beatrice couldn’t help but speak up. “Her sense of style is truly remarkable.”

Mrs. Harrison nodded in agreement.

“Fantastic!” Eleanor looked at Jane. “Jane, you must join us this time!”

In Gateshead, opportunities to go out never fell to Jane. First, bringing her along might involve extra expenses; second, Mrs. Reed was utterly unwilling to let her participate in their family’s “harmonious” activities.

At first, Jane felt some resentment at being left behind—back when she still tried to make them like her—but later, she stopped caring. Their absence meant she could spend the whole day reading in the dining room in peace, undisturbed.

So, regarding Eleanor’s proposal, she initially worried she might feel out of place. But as time turned and she actually sat in the carriage heading to the street, her attention was instantly captured by the dazzling array of shops.

“Is that a flower shop?” Jane stared at a window filled with blooms, her eyes bright.

Eleanor looked where she was pointing, equally enthusiastic. “Yes! That shop carries many exotic species.”

Their carriage passed numerous storefronts, with Eleanor introducing each one until they reached their destination.

Jane felt a bit lightheaded as Eleanor pulled her into the custom tailor shop.

“Mother said we should pick whatever we like and then have the dressmaker take our measurements. The finished clothes will be delivered to Ashford within two weeks,” Eleanor said excitedly.

Beatrice followed up immediately, asking Eleanor to help her see which style suited her best.

Jane knew nothing about dress styles, but she could tell the materials were expensive and the designs trendy. She drifted into a daydream, thinking that if Georgiana were here, she would have joined the discussion long ago.

But that wasn’t for her.

So, she slipped over to the street-facing window, appearing to admire the displayed dresses but actually observing the passersby through the glass.

In the distance of the big city, grey smoke rose toward the sky. The clouds were thick, hiding the sun, but the electric lamps by the shops took up the task of lighting the way. Most pedestrians were gentlemen in fine clothes and top hats, with the occasional pair of ladies strolling by.

Their faces bore little expression, ranging only from sternness to indifference. They seemed to echo the tall buildings and the iron signs.

As she watched, Jane suddenly remembered her dream from a few nights ago.

It was strange; she hadn’t spent much time on the streets, yet in that dream where she saw “Little Lin Zhao,” she had immediately realized that wasn’t the world she knew.

She tilted her head slightly. Lin Zhao was gazing at the street scene just like her, but with a faint emotion, as if she too were a member of that crowd.

But she doesn’t belong here. She looks at the same scenery as I do, but I bet she is thinking of her home, Jane thought, a strange emotion bubbling up. Sooner or later, she will return to that distant land, back to the soil where she lived when she was my age.

Different from her initial sense of security, Jane suspected she was currently sad—how else to explain why her eyes felt puffy?

This is only natural. Before Lin arrived, I had lost all hope in this world, no longer expecting anyone to treat me fairly. I even began to wonder if I was born into this world just to suffer.

But then she appeared. Though she gave me a great fright at first, time has proven that she has a soul more upright than most, willing to look after me and do so much for me.

She didn’t realize she had been staring at Lin Zhao for too long. Amidst her inner monologue, the other woman looked back at her.

What rare eyes, Jane thought, staring into the eyes looking back at her. She looks nothing like an Englishwoman. In her hometown, would this appearance be considered beautiful?

Though I am not from there, in my eyes, she is certainly not plain. I mean, I would be very willing to be watched by such eyes forever.

Ah…

Realizing she was being stared at, she turned her head away in a panic.

The other person naturally noticed her slight embarrassment, but didn’t ask “What’s wrong?” as usual. Jane heard a familiar light chuckle in her ear and felt her ears growing hot.

She thought again of Mrs. Harrison’s question: “Do you have any other relatives?” In the past, such words would remind her of Gateshead and make her angry and sad. But those feelings had changed since Lin Zhao’s arrival.

It was related to the news of her uncle and cousins, but perhaps even without knowing that, her sorrow would have been lessened by Lin Zhao’s presence.

In the past six months, she hadn’t felt lonely much. A new life, new friends, new sights—everything was built upon Lin Zhao’s arrival.

But one day she will leave completely, Jane thought. When that time comes, I will probably struggle to adapt. It might be as painful as the moment I recognized the indifference of Gateshead and felt “there is no one in the world who truly loves me.”

Maybe even more painful, she stared at the street. To me, she is already the closest being I have. I will be heartbroken by her departure, and then wait for the day I can accept it.

She stared so long that Eleanor and Beatrice finally noticed. Eleanor walked over holding a dress, patted her shoulder, and cried out in surprise when Jane turned around: “Jane, what’s the matter? You look a bit unhappy.”

“Don’t know how to pick clothes? Let me help you,” Beatrice suggested, thinking Jane was just more troubled than usual.

Jane felt that tall gaze fixed on her and felt even more stifled.

“Yes, help me pick. I’m really not good at this.” She didn’t dare look back as she answered Beatrice.

The girls immediately surrounded her, moving from the window back into the shop. The reference styles in the shop were for adult figures; as Jane listened to her friends’ introductions, her mind was busy imagining Lin Zhao wearing them.

If I could get Lin Zhao to wear these clothes and eat the food here, would she develop feelings for this place and stay a little longer?

“This one looks good; it seems like your style, Betty.” Without revealing a hint of her inner thoughts, Jane raised a smile and pointed at one of the outfits.

Beatrice’s smile hadn’t left her face since entering the shop. She lifted her chin slightly and let out a satisfied “Hmph”: “Of course. If you like it, you could order one too. Just don’t cry when I outshine you.”

Tall people really do look better in these. If you ask me, the most suitable person here is my Miss Ghost.

Jane shook her head and replied bluntly, “I won’t cry over something like that. Besides, I prefer to see clothes worn by the right person.”

“What’s this? Are we buying together? We can ask Miss Emily to make slight modifications to create similar but distinct styles,” Eleanor was clearly moved by the idea of wearing the same style together.

“As expected of the famous Miss Emily, her service level is outstanding.” This seemingly absurd suggestion actually gained Beatrice’s approval. She nodded and pulled Eleanor to find Miss Emily.

Taking this chance, Jane tugged on the corner of Lin Zhao’s sleeve.

“Do you want to try a dress from here? I think it would suit you very well.”

Afraid of being caught talking to herself, Jane didn’t even lift her head. Lin Zhao watched her round head shaking gently with urgency and laughed.

“We still have to wait for Miss Emily to make clothes for you all. If I cause some ‘ghost stories’ and ruin the shop’s reputation and force it to close, that wouldn’t be very good.”

Lin Zhao’s words were logical, but Jane’s mood still sank because her plan had fallen through.

She answered gloomily, “Fine.”

When I can earn my own money later, I’ll hire out a whole shop just to let Lin wear her fill, she added in her heart. Oh, and I’ll book the best restaurant so Lin can have a proper meal.

Lin Zhao remained completely unaware of Jane’s thoughts. When Eleanor and the others returned and Jane let go of her sleeve, she walked to a mirror, trying to observe herself.

Coming to a clothing store made her realize that her attire was somewhat out of place here. A simple short-sleeved top, loose shorts, and a thin sun-protection windbreaker. She had tried to wash off the dirt from the woodland earlier, but traces remained.

If she had a definite permanent residence, she would have liked to take off the jacket and put it away. But developments were always unexpected; on this trip, she was even carrying the thick copy of Jane Eyre on her back. The book was easy enough to carry, but if she changed clothes, she’d have more things to manage.

It really is more convenient to just wear it.

As she thought this, the girls began to walk out; their arrangements here were finished. Lin Zhao followed not too far behind Jane, her gaze flying to her surroundings again.

Admittedly, when she was looking at the street scene with Jane earlier, she couldn’t afford to think about much else. In high school history, Britain during this period was a dense collection of exam points, and the illustrations often made her sigh. But seeing it with her own eyes, watching the rising steam, the feelings in her heart were more direct.

This really is a place suitable for doing business.

She couldn’t help but think of the letter from Mr. John Eyre in the original book mentioning he wanted to train Jane, and then she imagined a grown-up Jane traveling around as a merchant.

Jane would do very well. She is neither humble nor arrogant toward different people, she has great eloquence, and she is very ambitious.

As long as she sets her mind to something, she will do it well.

Pride for Jane surged in Lin Zhao’s heart again. She turned to see Jane staring at her with her usual “thinking” expression and couldn’t help but smile.

“Yes, keep thinking, never stop thinking, and then fight for the answers.”

Unfortunately, this was not a suitable place for conversation, and Jane lowered her head sharply upon realizing she’d been caught.

Good, very cautious.

Lin Zhao simply couldn’t help but praise Jane in her heart.

She quietly followed the girls as they spent the rest of the day playing in various parts of the shopping street. As the relaxing day ended and they were in the carriage back to Ashford, Eleanor suddenly remembered something important.

“Oh, Father and Julian should be back today as well.”

Jane knew that name; she heard it occasionally in her chats with Eleanor.

Julian Harrison, Eleanor’s older brother.