I looked down into her eyes and saw the same girl that I had seen days before in the bakery...only this time she looked different. Good different. Her hair framed her face like a lion's mane - wild and untamed. The flour was gone from her cheeks but the same rosy glow eliminated in the candle light. Despite how much I missed her messy bun and flour covered appearance I couldn't help but stare in awe at the un-name Smith sister. What had her Mistress called her again?

Jane.

That was it. Jane who was finally stood before me in all her beauty and what was I about to do? Take advantage of her...no. I couldn't. I wouldn't dare do that to her. I followed her up the stairs and noticed the slight tremble in her hand as she reached for the banister for support. She opened the door to a small room and the creak of rotting wood rubbing against rotting wood made me cringe. I suddenly regretted my decision to come here tonight.

"Jane wait..." I found myself faltering for words before I even knew that I was speaking. I sat her down on the bed and covered her hands with mine as she fumbled with the top button on her dress. She looked up at me with sad eyes and I knew that I could not go through with this. Not here. Not under the influence of what little money I had. I took her hand and stood her up; cradling her face in my hand I looked into her eyes and remembered the first time I had seen her when I had brought bread that I didn't even want.

"I cannot do this to you. I will not. From the moment I met you at your bakery I haven't been able to forget you. I cannot bear to see you in such a place giving yourself to drunk men who will not and do not wish to remember even your name - only the curve of your hips and breast. I shall not be one of those men. Come with me."

With that I led her from the room with tears in her eyes and a large sense of pride and love in my chest; as I walked her out of the whorehouse I told the Mistress that Jane would not be going back in there and neither would I. Jane and I ran through the shadows to my small home and found the room all in darkness. I gave no thought as to where James was or what he was doing but I led Jane upstairs and gave her shelter until the morning...