Jane Actually

stepped up to the microphone and made a show of adjusting his earbud. He didn’t know why; it just seemed appropriately theatrical even though he doubted anyone would notice. He coughed once, and said, “Thank you Miss Austen. The first question is from Albert, and his question is, ‘Do you believe in second chances?’”
    “Hello, Albert,” Mary said for Jane. “That’s an intriguing question. Could you elaborate?”
    Stephen grinned at the sight of Mary’s puzzled look, thinking she might be overacting.
    “Uh, this is Albert speaking: ‘In your novels, many characters make terrible mistakes, and yet those mistakes are forgiven. Elizabeth forgives Darcy for trying to separate Bingley and Jane; Henry Tilney forgives Catherine Morland for suggesting his father is a murderer; and Captain Wentworth forgives Anne Elliot for refusing him. So in your life, did you give people second chances? Did anyone wrong you that you eventually forgave?’”
    For several seconds, Mary said nothing while waiting for Jane to respond. “Of course I did, Albert. It is Christian charity to forgive,” Mary finally said, when Jane continued her silence.
    “That is good to hear,” Stephen said uncertainly, not sure who had replied. However he did not step away from the microphone and the audience’s attention was split between him and Mary.
    At first, Melody was unaware of the drama, her thoughts still on Jane’s earlier revelation that her next book would be set in modern day. It slowly dawned on her, however, that the mood of the room was oddly expectant. She turned her attention to Mary, who once again had the appearance of someone hearing a Who.
    She whispered to the woman sitting next to her, “What’s going on?”
    “I don’t know. Someone asked if Jane believed in giving people second chances.”
    The emcee was also confused at Mary’s distracted attitude, and wondered if she were contemplating saying something else or was purposely avoiding saying anything further.
    Of course these few seconds of silence actually represented a spirited debate between Mary and Jane.
    “What is this, Mary?”
    “You wouldn’t answer any of his emails,” Mary said silently. “He tried to apologize.”
    “This is my Albert asking the question? I thought … he is here?”
    “Yes, he’s right here in the ball room. Look, you need to say something to him. People are wondering why I’m standing here with a frozen smile on my face.”
    “Tell him: ‘But some mistakes are harder to forgive,’” Jane said to Mary.
    “I’m not going to say that.”
    “If you wish to remain my avatar, you will.”
    Finally Mary said it out loud, with very evident displeasure. The emcee, who was about to suggest another question be asked, wondered at the sudden change of tone in Mary’s voice.
    “Uh, thank you, Albert,” the emcee said nervously. “Julie, who’s our next …”
    “Maybe those are the ones most deserving of forgiveness,” Stephen said loudly.
    “We should give others a chance to talk,” the emcee said.
    “Even still, some mistakes can be forgiven, but the damage can’t be undone,” Mary said, regretting what she was being forced to say.
    Now the audience sensed that the exchange between Stephen and Mary seemed unrelated to just a typical question and answer between Jane Austen and a fan. Stephen could hear whispering around him. He looked apologetically at the people staring at him and made a gesture toward his earbud and then toward the terminal he wore on his arm. He added a shrug as if to say it wasn’t his fault.
    “We really should let someone else ask a question,” the emcee said again with desperation.
    “Albert says thank you for your consideration,” Stephen finally said, and then stepped back from the microphone.
    “You see, he didn’t leave,” Mary said silently to Jane. “He was here for your speech. If you just would have responded to any of his emails, you’d know he was sorry for overreacting.”
    “Mary, this is not the time nor place to discuss this. I will thank you to pay attention to the person who now asks her question.”
    “Hi, Miss Austen, my name’s Edith,” the next questioner began, “Would you ever consider writing a sequel to
Pride and Prejudice
?”
    1 The first sentence of
Pride and Prejudice
: It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
    2 A character from
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens
    3