Jane Actually

betraying her anger.
    “Well he now realizes how stupid he was and he wants to apologize.”
    “Does he know how much he hurt Jane? And what was he thinking, telling her off the day before the keynote?”
    “OK, we know it was stupid, but what about her? Did she have to lead him on? Couldn’t she trust him enough to tell him?”
    “It’s more … complicated than that,” she said in rebuttal, and then related Jane’s explanation of her actions.
    “I think this is the first time she’s ever really been in love. I mean think of it: she had to wait two centuries before she experienced the kind of love that makes you do monumentally stupid stuff.”
    Stephen considered this a moment. “It’s pretty romantic,” he said finally.
    “Right, that’s what I said.”
    “So what do we do now? Albert wants to apologize, but she won’t respond to any of his emails or chat requests.”
    “I don’t think she’s been online all day. She went all fatalistic after she got his email. She actually said, ‘What poor love can two ghosts share.’ So the drama.”
    With a catch in his voice, Stephen said, “We’ve got to do something.” He cleared his voice before continuing, affected by Jane’s words. “I’ve gotten to know Albert and I think he’s a decent guy, and I don’t want to be responsible for ruining Jane Austen’s chance at happiness.”
    Many months later, Mary would consider that comment as the moment when her regard for Stephen changed.
    “Well it won’t be easy. She almost tore my head off when I said the same thing. And we can’t upset her until she delivers the keynote.”
    “But we can’t let her go through the keynote thinking Albert wasn’t there for her,” he countered.
    “I’m not going to aggravate her any further by mentioning it. We’ve got to find some way of her knowing he didn’t skip on her without making her so upset that she gives a bad keynote.”
    “Uh, you’re giving the keynote, aren’t you? I mean technically speaking.”
    His question confused her for just a second. “Oh, yes, technically I’m the one up there speaking the words, but Jane is in my ear, and it won’t help if she’s sulking. And half the keynote is the question and answer so I need … oh wait, that’s perfect. I think I know how to do this.”
    “This sounds like a cunning plan.”
    “Oh it is. She’s still going to rip my head off, but it will be after she gives her speech.”

Keynote
Do you believe in second chances?
    “S top fussing with me, Melody,” Mary finally said, her frustration overcoming her natural caution with Jane’s agent. They were waiting outside the main ballroom for Jane to be introduced.
    “Your AV pin is upside down,” Melody said.
    Mary looked down at the pin and was about to say that it looked all right to her, but caught herself at the last moment.
    “Oh, thanks,” she said as Melody righted the pin.
    “She has been fussing,” Tamara said and smiled, while absently brushing back a tendril of Mary’s hair. She was a little bleary eyed for she had arrived early that morning. Mary returned the smile, thankful that Tamara’s arrival diverted some of Melody’s attention.
    “But it’s worth it. You look very pretty,” Tamara said. “In fact you both do.”
    Melody looked away, a little embarrassed at Tamara’s praise and at being called pretty. Tamara had convinced her that as Jane Austen’s agent, she should look a little more upmarket. Melody wore a tailored suit that had been ordered before she left for the AGM and that Tamara had brought that morning.
    “I still look like a troll,” Melody said.
    “You look stunning, Mel,” Mary said. The gold, embroidered fabric and the suit’s sculpting accentuated the short woman’s abundant curves.
    “No one has complimented me,” Jane said, and then worried her comment might be interpreted as a whine, which in truth it was. Tamara did correctly interpret Jane’s comment, transmitted via the small speaker on the terminal Mary wore on her arm, as a peevish complaint.
    “Your aura has never looked lovelier,” Tamara said. The comment surprised Jane, who didn’t think Tamara was the sort who pretended to see the auras of the disembodied. Then she saw the playful grin on Tamara’s face.
    “Thank you, I think the green suits me,” Jane said.
    “Very calming, very serene,” Tamara agreed. “In fact, I need a picture of the three of you.”
    “Of the four of us,” Melody said. She turned to the