The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 3

by Beth Brower

Dark, brooding. A touch of the Mr. Rochester. A thought I had no intention of ever speaking aloud.

Edward Rochester is a wealthy, passionate, and complex character in Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel Jane Eyre. The master of Thornfield Hall, he is Jane's employer and eventual husband. Rochester is described as aloof, intelligent, and rugged, with a dark face, stern features, and a shaggy mane of black hair. He's often compared to a wild beast or bird.

“He will need laudanum these first days of recovery. Do you know how it is administered?” As I was shaking my head, Mr. Pierce said, “I can help her. What’s the dose?” “Begin with twelve drops every four hours. We can adjust that if necessary. You know what you’re looking for, don’t you, Pierce?” Mr. Pierce nodded. “Will you fetch the bottle now?” “I’ve got some in my bag. You don’t have any, do you?” “Never touch the cursed stuff anymore, if I can help it.” I felt fairly invisible, and so I was surprised to see something else pass between them. Some unspoken history. Judging by Fairchild’s expression, it was not pleasant.

I suspect Pierce was once addicted to laudanum.

“They both died within the same year, and home was taken. Gone. I’ve not been back since. Couldn’t bear it, I think, to see others living in our places. It was such a wrench. To be ripped away. To scramble for earth and air. To find some of that sense in a person only to lose it again. I— I can’t bear it, Mr. Pierce. Can’t bear to think of it. The pain of losing home. And so, knowing the acute sense of loss, how can I take this man’s home? However horrible he may be. However undeserving of mercy. Do you understand?”

Emma is a bigger person than I am. I would kick Archibald out on his ear. Still… her father did love him for some reason. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out there are some mysteries hidden behind that locked library door of his. Perhaps her own books that she sold to pay for her tuition may have been bought by Archibald on the sly and hidden in the library. Either that or I’m completely wrong and what’s hiding behind the locked library door is an empty room because Archibald sold his inherited books for money to buy clothes?

Mr. Pierce looked sad, in a way. “I do. I know of what you speak.”

(Spoilers) Reference to his own estrangement from his family and childhood home, as we learn in later volumes.

And I hadn’t realised until that moment how much I’ve missed that feeling, of someone inside your four walls watching out for you. The feeling that home isn’t just a place, but also people. I’ve forgotten it could be.

This is the story of Emma M. Lion, in a nutshell. Her friends being her found family. How they were found, and how they became her family.

blue-devilled

"Blue-devilled" means experiencing low spirits, depression, or despondency. It's an informal way of saying someone is feeling down or melancholy.

What Evelyn said and did I kept to myself. Not even Arabella knows that.

(Spoilers) I remember Evelyn gets his ass kicked by Pierce for saying something disparaging about Emma, but otherwise I don’t believe we know what it was he said/did to Emma, as of volume 8.

“I must march forward before my desire has flown and I become one of those contented souls chained to their small routine, all the while believing themselves to be free. Don’t think I mind a routine, that’s just what I’m craving. But the right routine. My routine. Two walks a day, several hours of reading, perhaps one visit with someone I enjoy. One dinner or entertainment per week if you must, possibly two, but please let there be reading.”

My Best Life and Emma’s look rather similar.

(Aunt Eugenia does have a Herodian sense about her.)

“You do seem to terrify.” “As I probably should,” came his answer.

More hints at Pierce’s possibly violent past. We know he was a war photographer, and he’s handy with his fists. Did he do more than just photograph the violence?

Don’t misunderstand me, Miss Lion. Niall Pierce is one of the finest men I know. Of all the tenants you could have, he is of the best.” “That’s just what I think.” I smiled. “Is his leg still bothering him a great deal?” Another sideways if not odd question. “He never mentions it. Perhaps you ought to ask him yourself.” “Hmm.” But the doctor looked unconvinced.

Just how DID Pierce hurt his leg? One of the Great Mysteries.

Aaron and Hur holding up the arms of Moses.

In the biblical story of Exodus, Aaron and Hur held up Moses' arms during the battle against the Amalekites because his hands needed to be raised to the heavens while he prayed for the Israelites' victory. When Moses lowered his hands, the Israelites suffered, and when his hands were raised, they prevailed. Aaron and Hur provided support so that Moses could maintain his outstretched posture for the duration of the battle, ensuring the Israelites' victory until sunset.

“And what took you to America in the first place?” I asked. I wasn’t aware of Mr. Pierce having taken a particularly long breath, but his exhale was slow and lasted a small eternity. “There are many wars, Miss Lion. Not all of them are fought with rifles.”

Wha? Pierce is so darn mysterious!

Agnes decided to wax philosophical while polishing the silver today. She spoke for an hour straight. None of it worth the time to write down.

I sometimes think Emma is a bit callous and dismissive towards her young Irish maid.

Throughout the entire dinner, she endeavoured to laugh in the popular female way, i.e., as the tinkling of a merry bell. She accomplished it. It sounded less ghastly than I would have liked.

I’ve read the whole “laugh like a tinkling bell” bit in many books, and I’ve yet to be able to imagine what in the world that might sound like, or how human vocal cords could produce any noise comparable to the thinking of bells. I assume this is the author poking fun at the saying as well. Reminds me of “a watery smile”. I understand it’s usually meant to convey someone smiling after having cried, but my imagination spits out an image of someone with a mouth full of water that dribbles out as they smile.

“Fata viam invenient.”

"Fata viam invenient" is a Latin phrase that translates to "The Fates will find a way" or "Fortune will favor you".