Jane Actually

Come on down and meet the crew.
    Stephen
    Albert walked back from the convention centre and toward the lobby and from there found the way to the hotel restaurant. He entered and looked around for Stephen and found him by virtue of his being a man sitting alone at a round table set for six. He appeared to be talking and Albert guessed the portable terminal before him was capturing his words.
    BertieFromHants has joined.
    BeauAbrams says:
    Albert! Another of our merry band has arrived.
    Stephen stood from his chair and offered a little bow, which Albert found charming, although the effect was a little spoiled by the bow not being remotely bent in his direction. Albert also saw that each of the empty place settings bore a little tent-folded placard with a name scrawled in marker pen. He found his name and took his seat.
    BertieFromHants says:
    Good to meet you, Stephen. And the name cards are a smart idea. Who else is here?
    AlanJTimison says:
    Hi Albert, Alan here.
    WalkLikeADuck says:
    Hello Bertie. Rob Perkins. Nice to meet you in person, so to speak.
    mikechapman says:
    Good to meet you too, Albert.
    orribleiggins says:
    pip, pip, Albert old boy
    BeauAbrams says:
    Ted Alexander gets here tomorrow
    WalkLikeADuck says:
    Bertie, you just missed Stephen’s admission. He’s been dating Jane’s avatar.
    That statement made look Albert look at Stephen, who was clearly embarrassed. He also realized that Stephen’s behaviour, sitting alone at a table for six and talking to himself, had attracted the attention of several people in the restaurant.
    BertieFromHants says:
    This is a surprise, Stephen. You might have mentioned something … wait, is this the woman you met on your … conference.
    AlanJTimison says:
    Oh, at the romance writer’s conference.
    BeauAbram says:
    Why did I ever make the mistake of befriending you lot? And Rob, I never said I was dating her, just that I’d met her a few times.
    mikechapman says:
    Oh, now it’s a few times. So have you met her employer?
    orribleiggins says:
    she’s definitely easy on the eyses
    BeauAbrams says:
    At the book signing in Chicago, yes, obviously through Mary.
    BertieFromHants says:
    I forgot her name is Mary Crawford. And very lovely I recall from seeing pictures of her. So you’ve known her since Austen was in Chicago.
    The men continued this way for some time, enjoying the sight of Stephen’s embarrassment. They eventually extracted from Stephen a promise of a personal introduction to Jane’s avatar. Then they moved to the more practical matter of how Stephen would share his room with them.
    WalkLikeADuck says:
    Remember, hang a tie around the door knob if you want to be alone.
    BeauAbrams says:
    Thanks, Rob, I’ll do that. OK, so tonight we’re all going to the rodeo bar, but as I said, no bull. And no, Miss Crawford will not be in attendance. Maybe I’ll dance with her at the Regency ball.
    AlanJTimison says:
    If it’s all the same, I will miss the rodeo bar. I had hoped to meet someone while here in Fort Worth.
    mikechapman says:
    Why you sly dog, Alan. But say no more, I will respect your privacy. But how will you get back in the hotel room when you return late at night?
    AlanJTimison says:
    Ahem, I might not get back till morning.
    BeauAbrams says:
    And with that, I call this meeting to a close. I’m going up to the room to take a shower. If anyone wants to come up, follow me, otherwise I’ll be back down here in half an hour.
    1 In
Sense and Sensibility
, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood ask Edward Ferrars of news of Norland (the home the Dashwood sisters vacated upon the death of their father):
    “Dear, dear Norland,” said Elinor, “probably looks much as it always does at this time of the year. The woods and walks thickly covered with dead leaves.”
    “Oh,” cried Marianne, “with what transporting sensation have I formerly seen them fall! How have I delighted, as I walked, to see them driven in showers about me by the wind! What feelings have they, the season, the air altogether inspired! Now there is no one to regard them. They are seen only as a nuisance, swept hastily off, and driven as much as possible from the sight.”
    “It is not every one,” said Elinor, “who has your passion for dead leaves.”

Fort Worth II
Jane arrives
    J ane followed Mary through the airport slowly and at a considerable distance. Anxiety, guilt and fatigue dogged her steps, making her feel as if she were moving in a dream. She knew full well the reasons for