Transmigrated as Jane’s Ghostly Godmother - Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Keep Your Distance? — You’re Grown Up Now; Time to Watch Out for Romance

Just as John Eyre’s suspicions were reaching a boiling point, a stranger leaned in beside him.

“Good day, Mr. Eyre! A grand day for Vine Manor. Miss Eyre is truly something else!” the merchant complimented with a smile. Following John’s gaze to the pair on the dance floor, he added offhandedly, “Miss Eyre and Mr. Lintner? It seems the rumors were right after all.”

“Jane is indeed remarkable,” John Eyre snapped his gaze back, his eyes narrowing. “And what rumors might those be?”

“Oh, you don’t know?” The merchant lowered his voice conspiratorially. “A while back, plenty of people saw Miss Eyre pulling Mr. Lintner through the docks, heading straight for ‘Lovers’ Shore’…”

Before the man could finish, John Eyre’s face had darkened completely.

The suspicions he already held were solidified by these words.

When she first arrived at Vine Manor, Jane had been somewhat timid toward him. John Eyre could see she trusted him, but affection takes time to nurture. It took nearly half a year for Jane to naturally switch to calling him “Father.” During those days, Jane was shy around everyone except him.

However, Lintner was not among those strangers.

Since they were already well-acquainted in England, it was natural they were comfortable together. Though it was a bit odd, he hadn’t thought much of it, simply hiring Lintner to visit Vine Manor to see Jane, eventually turning their chats into formal lessons.

But thinking carefully now, he might have been too trusting of Lintner. He was a man, after all, spending every day with Jane in a harmonious atmosphere—and Lintner himself had admitted to “greatly admiring” Jane. Who could guarantee that admiration hadn’t changed its flavor?

The more he thought, the more alarmed he became. John Eyre brushed off the flattering merchant and marched toward the edge of the dance floor.

“Mr. Lintner, a word in private?”

As soon as Lin Zhao and Jane stepped off the floor, John Eyre stood before them, his expression stern and his tone stiff. Jane, still clutching the hem of Lin Zhao’s sleeve, tilted her head curiously, her eyes darting between the two.

John Eyre and Mr. Lintner were no longer strangers; their partnership had grown into a degree of mutual trust. Lin Zhao knew this well, so even though his expression was off, she didn’t overthink it. She bowed elegantly, hand to chest, signaling “Of course,” and followed him out of the ballroom.

“I’ll be right back for you,” she didn’t forget to whisper openly to Jane before leaving.

However, that leisurely mood vanished the moment the study door clicked shut.

John Eyre didn’t sit. He went straight to the point: “Mr. Lintner, I remember your help to Jane fondly. But as a father, I must look further ahead. For instance, in a relationship, a vast age gap is often the root of future misery.”

Lin Zhao froze. Her mind immediately flashed to the original romantic interest from the novel—Rochester. Although she didn’t know what prompted this sudden reflection from Mr. Eyre, she empathized too deeply. She grabbed her pen and nodded vigorously, writing quickly:

“You are absolutely right. I agree completely. Such a gap is often a breeding ground for tragedy.”

John Eyre looked at the note. He felt a flicker of relief at his ally’s sobriety, but then felt the agreement came too easily. Could the rumors be true, and he’s just playing it cool because he’s already rehearsed this?

He had to be even clearer: “Jane is reaching the age to enter the social circle. Has she… spoken to you about matters of the heart? Perhaps I should arrange some balls and introduce her to suitable young men?”

Lin Zhao’s internal alarm bells screamed.

Arrange balls? Introduce young men? Does John Eyre have someone in mind? Does he want to marry Jane off?

Her pen flew across the paper, pouring out a string of heartfelt advice:

“Absolutely not. Miss Eyre’s career has just begun; she needs to focus. Rest assured, she has never mentioned anything of the sort to me. Mr. Eyre, I guarantee she won’t feel she is missing out by lacking social events. You’ve seen her dedication to the business. Please, prioritize her future!”

This desperate attempt to block suitors made her look even more suspicious to John Eyre. He stared at Lin Zhao in silence, speaking slowly: “Mr. Lintner, you are also at a marriageable age. Since there has been no news, could it be… your heart is already occupied?”

Lin Zhao was so worried about his plans for Jane that she missed the subtext. She shook her head and used her standard excuse:

“Old injuries from my time serving Mr. Giannito have left my body heavily burdened. I have no wish to encumber any lady.”

“I see.” John Eyre finally drew his sword: “Then, may I take it that you have no ‘other’ intentions toward Jane?”

What?

Finally, Lin Zhao realized the implication she had missed. John Eyre suspected she was getting too close to Jane—influenced by the recent rumors, she wasn’t sure if his thoughts were caused by someone intentionally spreading gossip.

Stunned, she began mentally reviewing the situation, failing to react immediately. Seeing her hand tighten on the pen, John Eyre took her silence as the shock of being caught.

He sighed and threw out the final test: “Listen, Lintner. If you truly like Jane, given your talent, the age gap isn’t an insurmountable obstacle…”

Wait, why the sudden attitude of “begrudging acceptance after deep thought”? Shouldn’t you be more resolute against a mysterious person who might be eyeing your young daughter!

But since that “mysterious person” was herself, Lin Zhao’s pen trembled. After a large blot of ink, she scribbled a helpless defense:

“Mr. Eyre, you misunderstand! My feelings for Miss Eyre are purely those of admiration and protection. She is to me like a sister or a daughter; I have no intention of crossing any lines. Why would you say this?”

Looking at the exclamation point—one so forceful it nearly pierced the paper from the usually calm and mysterious informant—John Eyre’s expression finally softened. This rare display of emotion was more convincing than any explanation.

He added slowly, “It’s like this. I heard… some rumors regarding your time at ‘Lovers’ Shore’ a few days ago.”

A few days ago? The beach?

Those keywords made Lin Zhao realize where the gossip started. It was the time Jane had chased her to the docks without a disguise and pulled her along that path. They had stopped there simply because it was secluded. Thinking about it now, the nickname of that spot was indeed prone to misunderstanding…

In that light, John Eyre’s questioning as a father made perfect sense. Lin Zhao took a deep breath and quickly described the situation as “coming out of the warehouse and seeking a quiet place to review order details.” While the excuse was a bit coincidental, her logic was clear and airtight.

John Eyre pondered for a moment, his tense shoulders finally relaxing.

“I have been abrupt, Mr. Lintner. Please forgive a father’s over-anxiety.” He regained his usual calm and sincerity. “However, knowing we both cherish Jane’s future so much brings me complete peace of mind.”

With that, he skillfully changed the subject to business, as if the small storm had never happened. Lin Zhao answered methodically and eventually took her leave.

She didn’t return to the ballroom immediately. Instead, she slipped into a quiet corridor, leaning against the cold wall in the shadows. She realized her heart was still beating incredibly fast.

John Eyre’s phrase “a father’s over-anxiety” echoed in her mind. Over the years, they had discussed Jane’s education and career countless times, but this was the first time—in her father’s eyes—she had reached an age where such rumors needed investigating.

What now? Does this mean I have to guard against romantic developments?

Even if Jane wouldn’t go to Thornfield as a governess, the fate of this world would always find a way to sweep back in. She had to adjust her relaxed mindset!

“Why that troubled expression again?”

A familiar, smiling figure appeared beside her. Lin Zhao turned and saw the “Adult Jane” in a soft gown, looking to be in her thirties or forties, looking composed. She couldn’t help but sigh.

“It seems your long absence was spent enjoying a happy life.”

Unlike the early days at Wheelwood where they met almost every other day, the appearances of “Adult Jane” in Funchal had decreased, synchronized with the shift in Lin Zhao and Jane’s sleeping arrangements. But whenever a problem was hard to resolve, she would never be absent.

Ignoring the teasing, “Adult Jane” went straight for the heart: “Why not just say yes? Miss Jane Eyre engaged to the mysterious Mr. Lintner—that solves the Rochester problem too.”

“No!” Lin Zhao countered without hesitation. “That would stain Jane’s reputation! What if it prevents her from finding true happiness?”

The woman chuckled. “You used a fake identity for Jane to sign a fake engagement with Eleanor. But you won’t use your own fake identity to get engaged to Jane?”

“They didn’t actually sign it…”

However, that sentence reminded Lin Zhao of her other concerns. She had been so busy these past two months she hadn’t checked on London. She needed to follow up on the news.

Seeing her worries shift, the woman withdrew her gaze and faded away, leaving behind a floating sentence:

“I think she knows much better than you what will bring her true happiness.”

Lin Zhao didn’t overthink the cryptic words. Having her thoughts interrupted actually made her feel better. She straightened her clothes and returned to the ballroom.

Coming down the stairs, she saw Jane waiting near the entrance. Almost the instant Lin’s eyes landed on her, Jane turned, her eyes lighting up as she hurried over.

“Why were you gone so long? What did Father talk about?”

Lin Zhao was about to answer when her gaze fell on Jane’s white neck, where a pearl necklace sat, glowing warmly under the lights. It was true; starting this year, Jane’s gowns had changed from high collars to wider necklines. Though not as low as a mature gown, it was a significant symbol of growing up.

Coupled with the conversation with John Eyre, she felt like sighing again. The words she wanted to say became difficult; she dodged Jane’s gaze, stammering, “Nothing, just… some business matters.”

“It involves me, doesn’t it?” Jane’s intuition was razor-sharp. “What is it that even I can’t be told?”

Under her intense gaze, Lin Zhao had no choice but to confess the laughable misunderstanding, finally concluding: “So, I think for a while, when we are out in public, it’s better if we keep a bit of distance.”

“Distance?” The smile on Jane’s face vanished.

For some reason, she remembered the image of Lin Zhao and Miss Constance standing on the street in London.

“Jane, just be a bit careful in public. When I first heard Mr. Eyre say that, I thought Harrison was playing tricks again.” Lin Zhao saw her change in expression and tried to explain. “The situation is special right now. Let’s try not to give him that opportunity, okay?”

It was logical, leaving no room for rebuttal. But Jane simply couldn’t accept that they had only just reconciled for two days before having to “keep a distance” again. She stared fixedly at Lin Zhao, a frustration burning like fire in her heart.

This frustration was similar to not wanting Lin Zhao to leave her side, but it was mixed with something else. Perhaps because of the image she just remembered, she thought nonsensically: If only it had been me standing next to Miss Constance in London, and Lin Zhao was the one watching unhappily from the window.

“Jane?” Not getting an answer, Lin Zhao called her name softly again.

She snapped back to reality, looking at the person before her—whose face she couldn’t even see. That frustration finally turned into resentment.

“…Fine.” With that, Jane ignored the fact that she had been waiting for her and turned to leave, snatching a glass of wine from a passing waiter’s tray.

Lin Zhao was about to chase after her when John Eyre came down the stairs. He spotted her and called her over to meet some partners. She had to take one last look at the direction Jane went and follow him uneasily.

Occasionally, her unease proved prophetic. For example, when she saw Jane again that night, the girl was intoxicated and incoherent.

“Lin?”