Jane Actually

and the room so narrow that you could only get to the other end of the room by crawling over the bed, making sure to avoid the flat screen television that hung on the wall at the foot of the bed. She wondered how the maid ever changed the linens.
    But the room was immaculate and obviously just renovated. After she opened the window, by clambering over the bed, she heard the sounds of Kensington, not too different from the noise of Brooklyn. She turned on the telly, too worried about Jane to sleep.
    She found a documentary about Morris dancers, whatever those were, an episode of
Law and Order,
the UK version, a bizarre quiz show that didn’t seem to have a point or any logic to the scoring, something called
Horrible Histories
that seemed to be mock music videos about historic figures (because of Jane, she was actually able to appreciate the four Georges), and finally …
    “… lined up around the block at this Waterstones. 2 Excuse me, might I have a word?”
    Mary saw the Sky TV reporter approaching a woman wearing Regency costume camped outside a bookstore somewhere in London.
    “I see you’re in the proper attire, so you must be waiting for it to go on sale.”
    “Yes, I’ve been here since seven and I can’t wait to get my copy.”
    “What’s so special about it?”
    “It’s the first Jane Austen in two hundred years. Do you know how many times I’ve read
Pride and Prejudice
? I don’t because I stopped counting after the tenth. To have a new Jane Austen is Christmas and my birthday and the Queen’s Birthday all wrapped up in one.”
    “And that’s the scene here on Piccadilly, Steve. At least they’ll have a pleasant night, but it will be a long time until morning and the new Jane Austen novel goes on sale.”
    The camera pulled back and Mary could see the long line of people outside the store. Then they switched back to the studio and the newsreader.
    “Well, certainly a lot of interest in the new novel, thank you Barbara. And the book launch party tomorrow has turned into the social event of the literary world, with politicians, actors and pop stars and yes, even other authors, all trying …”
    Mary turned off the television.
    I knew it was going to be like this. The agency and Melody prepared me for it. I can handle it. Oh God, why did I ever let her leave?
    1 Sainsbury’s is a UK grocery store chain
    2 Waterstones is a UK bookseller chain

In her own hand
“Yes, very providential”
    C ourtney waited nervously in the reception area, tapping his foot against the metal leg of the coffee table in front of him. The only other person in the reception area, a sharp-looking woman with her black Louis Vuitton bag on the couch next to her, coughed and glanced sharply at him. He stopped kicking the leg and smiled weakly at her. She did not return his smile.
    “Mr Blake,” he heard his name called and looking up saw the appraiser approaching him with his hand already outstretched.
    “I’m so sorry you were kept waiting,” Mr Handy said solicitously. “I should have been called the instant you arrived.”
    Mr Handy’s manner caught the attention of the sharp-looking woman, who now wondered if Courtney were someone important after all.
    “Not at all Mr Handy, I’ve only been waiting a few minutes,” Courtney said in a voice directed to the woman.
    “Call me Jim, call me Jim. Let’s go back to my office. I think I have some exciting news for you.” Courtney followed Handy after tossing another smile at the woman, who this time returned it.
    Handy ushered Courtney into his office and then closed the door. He urged Courtney to sit and then sat across from him in one of the two client chairs in front of his desk. He leaned forward eagerly to talk.
    “All the lab work is done and it’s all good news. The paper of the letter is genuinely from the time period, although the margin of error and Miss Austen’s life span isn’t much different. The ink is of the period as well and all the handwriting analysis … it’s in her hand; there’s no doubt.
    “I’m sorry the letter doesn’t address the topic you’d expected, however.”
    Courtney nodded. He’d already come to terms with the knowledge that the letter had nothing to do with Jane’s time in Lyme Regis.
    “It’s a disappointment, but obviously it’s still … well it’s still pretty revealing about Jane’s temper,” Courtney said.
    “I agree. It’s amazing to have a new Austen document, regardless. I’m more partial to