Jane Actually

certainly consider your suggestion, Mr Pembroke.” Then she thought her words sounded dismissive, and added, “After all, my first titles did not often survive and I’m sure my fame would have suffered if my first books had remained
First Impressions
and
Elinor and Marianne
.”
    “Excellent. Now, could we turn to the matter of the avatar?” he asked, obviously pleased at having won a small battle.
    “Avatar? What avatar? Melody, did you know of this?”
    Melody would not turn to meet her, but nodded her head.
    “Mr Pembroke, could I have a moment alone with my client?”
    The gentleman nodded and left the table, saying he would refill his coffee. After he left, Jane again addressed her friend.
    “I do not recall agreeing to an avatar.”
    “Well, I do not recall you objecting to one.”
    “Who do you think I am? A dead movie star? A politician?”
    “No, you’re just a world famous author who’s inspired a cult following. Look, lots of people have avatars, Jane. And … well a book tour looks pretty stupid with an empty chair.”
    “I thought you would accompany me.”
    “When I can, yes, but this book tour has you going everywhere, which you agreed to.”
    “Yes, but …”
    “There are no buts, Jane. Look, I’m going to be awfully busy back here looking after Jane Austen Enterprises, or whatever you want to call it. And I can’t be on the road with you the whole time. You’re going to need somebody to be me and carry this.” She pointed to the terminal on her arm. “And wouldn’t it be better if instead of being me, they were being you. That way they have someone to focus on instead of an empty chair.”
    “Stop saying empty chair. I am here.”
    Melody rolled her eyes at this, a gesture Jane despised in others for all the times she had employed it herself, usually against her brother Henry.
    “I know you are Jane, I’m sorry,” she said, addressing the empty chair and now doing her best to appear as if she could actually see her friend and client. Jane let the moment drag on without responding and Melody did her best to look sincere and supportive. After a very few seconds, however, the look of sincerity on Melody’s face gave way to the corners of her mouth lifting until finally it disappeared behind a wide smile.
    “I can’t keep this up, Jane. Are you going to forgive me?”
    Finally Jane relented. “Yes, you are forgiven. And yes, you have made your point. Perhaps it would be as well were I to employ an avatar.”
    “Good, glad you see it my way,” Melody said. Then she stood and went to the door, opened it and beckoned Mr Pembroke to return.
    Once seated, he said, “Ahem, I hope there is no problem regarding the avatar.”
    “Jane is willing to consider it,” Melody said, before Jane could form her response.
    “It must depend on the suitability of the … I suppose she will be an actress,” Jane said.
    “Yes, I have an agency in mind. They’re called Stand By Me. They have supplied avatars to many celebrities who have … passed on. Perhaps you could interview the candidates yourself, if that would make you more comfortable.”
    “That’s an excellent idea, isn’t it Jane? We wouldn’t want a focus group deciding who to play you.”
    “Yes,” Jane replied, unnerved that there had been any possibility of a focus group—whatever that was—choosing her avatar.
    “Then let me send you …”—he took out his phone and punched the screen—“… my contact at the agency. You should have it now Melody. And now unless there is anything else, we get the lawyers to finalize the contract and we can look forward to a long relationship, Miss Austen.”
    “Thank you Mr Pembroke.”
    “If I might presume, please call me Alan. I know in your day …”
    “That was another time, Alan. And if you would please call me Jane.”
    “It would be my honour. And if I might just say, I was considering retiring. There are several people in the company who think I’m a bit long in the tooth. But the opportunity to work with you Miss Austen … Jane. Well I would say it’s a lifelong dream come true, but who would have thought it possible to work with a dead … disembodied author.”
    “I understand perfectly your excitement, Alan. Just a very short while ago, a drop in the proverbial bucket for me, I would never have thought it possible that I might be published again as a … working author. And I understand that the publishing world is very much different from what I knew. I