Jane Actually

your books all my life and …” She was interrupted by the young man with headphones who adjusted the height of the microphone. The emcee used the opportunity to give some guidance.
    “I’m sure we all want to thank Miss Austen, but if we all do, we won’t have enough time, so please just state your name and question,” she said, in a pleasant tone but one familiar to schoolteachers everywhere.
    “Yes, ma’am,” Dead Leaves girl said. “Uh, my name’s Ashlyn and uh … I want to know, oh, I loved
Sanditon
, uh … how different is
Sanditon
from what you originally meant to write … before you … died?”
    “Thank you, Ashlyn,” Mary replied. “And I’m happy you enjoyed
Sanditon
.” She waited just a second for Jane’s comment before she continued.
    “I think it is essentially the same story I meant to write,” Mary continued. “But it may be more comic and physical than my other novels, possibly in compensation for my … situation.”
    “It is also perhaps more calculating than if I had completed it while still living. I have to credit Mr Dickens for that. My stories have always been … well some laud them and some criticise them for the value my characters put on money and wealth. But Lady Denham … I am afraid her portrayal suffered as I had greater awareness of the suffering of others. I was far crueller to her than I was to even Fanny Dashwood.
    “But at the same time, I could not give way to the despair and hopelessness of Mr Dickens, which may also explain the somewhat broader comedy of
Sanditon
. I needed to balance the damage Lady Denham inflicted with the essential good humour of Charlotte and the Parkers. I hope that answers your question,” Mary concluded.
    Dead Leaves girl nodded happily, and the emcee now called for a question from the other line. An elderly man, stooped but with bright eyes and evident delight, asked, “Thank you, Miss Austen. My name is Edward and I wanted to know whether you’ve had success connecting with your family. Although I enjoy good health now, with each year, I’m afraid I contemplate my own … well, you know.” He nodded and quickly withdrew from the microphone.
    “I think I understand your question, Edward. Of course since my identity was confirmed, I have been in contact with many of the living descendants of the Austen, Leigh, Knight and Perrot families. But I think your unspoken question is whether I have communicated with my dear sister, Cassandra, and I am sad to say I have not. I am, however, happy to say that no one has ever attempted to falsely represent any members of my family.
    “I would dearly love to talk to Cassandra, or Henry or my father or mother, but I fear the long span of years … I wish you well, Edward.”
    Mary noted Jane’s abrupt conclusion and with little difficulty conveyed the sadness she had detected.
    The next question asked was whether Jane ever planned to try her hand at other genres.
    “Oh, it would be tempting. I look with envy at the skill and success of JK Rowling or the allure of writing a murder mystery, but my narrator from
Mansfield Park
said it best, I let other pens dwell on such stuff. But as I alluded to earlier, I do embrace the twenty-first century and my next book will be set in the here and now, and do not be surprised by my heroine texting and tweeting. I can’t let Helen Fielding 7 have all the fun.”
    Mary was surprised to be relaying Jane’s words, not thinking Jane had made any decision about her next novel; and then she wondered at Melody’s reaction, for she did not think a modern-day novel was what Jane’s agent had anticipated.
    Mary’s musings prevented her from judging the crowd’s reaction, but Jane, more adept at reading body language, hastened to reassure the audience.
    “Do not for one second think I turn my back on the Regency, however,” said Jane, who was also contemplating Melody’s ire. “I simply want a chance to explore modern sensibilities and make some sense of it.” Mary relayed those words.
    The emcee waited until the audience quieted before saying: “OK, now I think it’s time we took some questions from our disemembered … uh, disembodied members. We have two volunteers who’ll be asking the questions, Julie Henshaw for the women and Stephen Abrams for the men. Why don’t you ask the first question, Stephen?”
    Stephen’s name surprised Jane, who had not known her avatar’s friend would act as a voice for disembodied questioners.
    Stephen