The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen

by The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen (retail) (epub)

  Jane glanced around. There was no one near them, and she patted her pocket. ‘Are you not intrigued? Do you not wish to comprehend what we have found and whether it is indeed from Cass?’

  Rose tried to push away the memory of first reading Northanger Abbey and Catherine Morland’s late-night find of crumpled parchment in a hidden drawer in the imposing chest in her chamber.

  ‘More than anything, but we look suspicious enough as it is. I’m going to pretend I’m actually doing my job for a few minutes and let you read it. Then’ – Rose drew in a shallow breath, trying to keep her hopes in perspective – ‘I’m going to come back and see what it is we’ve found. I only hope it isn’t just an old laundry list.’

  Jane smiled widely. ‘Your recollection is admirable.’

  Rose’s intended ten minutes of activity in full view of other members of staff had stretched to twenty by the time she returned to Jane, due to having to find a specific book for a customer. Though the break may have done enough for her reputation in the library, however, it had done little to calm her nervous anticipation. What had they found? Was it of any value, a letter deliberately left by Cassandra for Jane, in the hope it would reach her across time, or was it merely a scrap of paper with no connection to the Austen family?

  With some trepidation, Rose rounded the corner of the cabinets screening Jane from view, only to find her staring into the distance, looking pale but clearly suppressing some emotion, the yellowed piece of folded paper on the table in front of her. As she took the chair opposite, however, Jane turned to look at her and, understanding Rose’s silent request for permission, slid the paper across the table to her.

  Unfolding it carefully, it was clear it wasn’t a letter, but a poem, and she glanced quickly up at Jane, who merely nodded encouragingly. Rose’s lips moved as she slowly mouthed the words to herself – words that, though faded, were still perfectly decipherable, despite the old-fashioned lettering.

  In hopes of you, ere long I tarried;

  Instead there came a hound.

  But then I saw that which it carried;

  The charm, it has been found.

  Without it, you are lost to me;

  A way back here you lack.

  I laid it in its usual place;

  Behind the door so black.

  To keep it safe, one must conceal;

  Thus only you can it reveal.

  And so, I leave, for you to find;

  This rhyme our lives to re-entwine.

  Rose had never been any good at working out puzzles and conundrums, but something about it excited her, and she passed it back to Jane. Some more colour had returned to her cheeks, and she was leaning earnestly across the table, her bright eyes fixed on Rose.

  ‘Can you not see?’ She pointed at the opening lines. ‘Prancer! How it could be, I know not; yet Cass must have seen him appear in the street, for how else might she comprehend?’

  Rose spared a momentary thought for the elderly lady who had lost her pet. She wasn’t sure if Jane’s theory was sound or not, but it was no time to debate the finer detail. Something was stirring in her insides, and it felt very much like hope.

  ‘So why hasn’t your sister come here, brought it back to you?’

  ‘My brother claimed it would only perform its magic for me – or when passing from my hand to another.’

  ‘So she laid it in its “usual place” – the safe?’

  ‘It draws the most perfect sense, does it not, for her to return it to the portal through which we exchanged all things?’

  ‘Perfect sense indeed,’ whispered Rose faintly, wondering if she could somehow repress the hope suddenly rising in her heart as her pulse began to race. ‘It’s what we’ve been hoping for – it’s the impossible made possible!’ Rose stared blankly at the letter. ‘But what do we do now? How can we get the necklace back?’

  Jane looked wistful for a moment. ‘You cannot be of the illusion – surely, you cannot believe it remains these many years on? The world… the landscape… all is vastly altered; progress is all-consuming and stone neighbourhoods have issued forth from the meadows I once walked. Naught of the past remains truly as it was.’

  ‘I know it won’t be that straightforward. Before being a holiday apartment, the ground floor of 4 Sydney Place was – is – an office. We can hardly just walk in off the street and demand they open the safe for us, but—’

  ‘We must endeavour to be content, Rose.’ Jane placed a gentle hand on Cassandra’s poem. ‘Through Cass’s efforts, we are able to comprehend much we were left to speculate upon. With this we must be satisfied.’ She picked the piece of aged parchment up and folded it reverently.

  Rose sighed, her tentative hopes all but faded. ‘But that doesn’t mean we can’t try, does it?’ She chewed her lip; Jane was eyeing her warily. Then her eyes lit up. ‘Morgan!’

  ‘Your American.’

  ‘Yes! She’ll have made best friends with everyone there when she visited. Perhaps she could check for us? But I don’t see how that solves things; I mean…’ Rose ran a distracted hand through her hair. ‘Supposing by some miracle the necklace is there? How can she justify taking it?’

  Jane raised a brow. ‘If the necklace remains where it was first concealed, then the door will not have yielded.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Part of the charm’s protection; in the future, only my hand may access the safe, should the contents sealed within be destined for me.’

  ‘Sooo – if we can just, somehow, get you in there with her, to open it? She can convince them we’re part of a club – The American Fascination with Old English Ironware Club?’ It all sounded totally ludicrous, but if anyone could pull it off, it was Morgan.

  Jane eyed Rose thoughtfully for a moment. ‘I am not well acquainted with… Morgan, as well you know.’

  ‘No – of course.’ Rose nodded, understanding. ‘This is something I have to sort out.’ Then she brightened. ‘Well, we are having dinner tonight, so I’ll try and find a way of saying… something.’

  * * *

  They were quickly seated in a Mexican restaurant, Morgan’s choice as she was missing her favourite food, but although Rose held the menu card in front of her, she saw none of the words. Her intention of somehow convincing Morgan to approach an almost stranger and basically ask if a friend of a friend could look inside his safe fell at every attempt to put it into words. How could she ask such a thing without any explanation at all? She sighed softly as her normally sensible self fought with the familiar voice in her head, urging her this time to take a leap of faith in her friend.

  ‘But I don’t know how to begin,’ she whispered to herself.

  ‘Sorry?’ Morgan’s bright smile appeared over the top of her menu card. ‘Did you say something?’

  ‘No – sorry, no. Just reading out loud.’

  By the time Rose was halfway through her starter, however, she realised she didn’t have the energy to pretend to have an appetite any more. Morgan had made a valiant effort to keep their conversation up despite Rose’s quietness, but even she had now fallen silent. Then, before she could stop herself, Rose put her fork down and blurted out, ‘Can I tell you something?’

  Morgan raised her brows. ‘Of course.’

  ‘It’s going to sound ridiculous.’

  ‘No – I’m sure—’

  ‘It’s going to sound ridiculous because… it is. Completely ludicrous.’

  Morgan’s lips twitched. ‘Try me; I’m from California, remember?’

  Rose dropped her napkin in her lap and shifted so she sat straighter in her chair. ‘This woman you’re investigating?’

  ‘Yes…’

  ‘I know her.’

  ‘Wow, really?’ Morgan leaned forward eagerly. ‘Did you hear about the legend in school, then?’

  ‘Yes – I mean, no.’ Rose huffed, annoyed with herself. ‘I mean I know her.’ She took a sip from her wine glass, trying not to see the frown forming on Morgan’s brow.

>   ‘Is this one of those moments when I don’t understand you because you’re British?’

  Rose laughed shortly. ‘If only.’ Then she sighed; in for a penny, in for a pound. ‘Okay. This woman whose disappearance you’re researching was a brilliant writer. She wrote six books, all of which are world-famous and one is often voted the nation’s favourite novel of all time. It’s called Pride & Prejudice.’

  ‘Well, jeez, this is going to be really embarrassing to admit, then – I’ve never heard of it.’

  ‘That’s because she disappeared before she could write them.’

  ‘I’m confused.’

  Rose sighed. ‘I told you; it’s ridiculous.’

  Morgan widened her large eyes and put her hands in her lap. ‘Well. It is certainly feeling a little crazy. How do you – I mean, okay, yeah that’s the question I’ll start with – how do you know about the books if they’ve never been written?’

  ‘It’s all to do with Jenny.’

  ‘Well, she’s definitely a bit odd, so I can see she might fit into something you think is ridiculous, but never mind her for now – can we go back to the lost lady? You said—’

  ‘She isn’t Jenny Ashton. Her name is Jane Austen.’

  ‘But that’s the name of the missing woman!’ Morgan looked excited. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ Then she frowned. ‘Hey, did the Doc put you on to this? Is he not happy with my work and now he wants you and – whatever her name is – to get involved?’

  ‘No! Not at all.’ Rose shook her head. ‘I’m just telling you her real name: Jane Austen.’

  Morgan looked a little sceptical and leaned back in her seat. ‘Is she a relative of the family? Does she know things about it? Wow!’ Leaning forward again, Morgan grinned. ‘Hey, this could make the article even better.’

  Rose nodded. ‘Yes, she knows all about it. You see, Morgan, she is the lady who vanished into thin air over two hundred years ago. She was in possession of a necklace that allowed her to travel back and forth in time and—’

  With a laugh, Morgan took a sip of her drink. ‘Okay – a necklace? So no TARDIS, then? How does she fit inside?’

  ‘Yes – just a necklace. But – you see, everything’s changed because she lost that necklace four days ago. Now she can’t get back to 1803, but as her first novel wasn’t released until 1811, none of her books were ever published – do you see?’ Rose looked anxiously over at Morgan, but when her friend didn’t respond, she continued quickly. ‘And my world has completely changed, because I was one of her avid fans – both she and her writing have been a big influence in my life. Huge. You loved her, too, and… I know how bizarre this sounds, but I’m so… upset. I want my life back. I want us’ – she gestured between them – ‘back to where we were.’

  Morgan’s mouth was slightly parted. ‘Um – Rose… I don’t – I mean – that’s very flattering but—’

  ‘I’m not in love with you!’ Rose tried to laugh, but this was all too important. She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the unexpected tears rising. ‘Morgan – in the normal world – where your lost lady wrote the books I loved, you and I were best friends. We did meet on the Harry Potter forum, but sometime later – a few years ago – we both discovered a mutual love of Pride & Prejudice and moved over to a community of Jane Austen fans and – we’ve become the closest of friends. If you want me to be honest, you were the best friend I’ve ever had. And – I thought maybe fate or God was giving me this wonderful gift by having you be here in Bath and that maybe I could recover your friendship in this world or time or… I don’t know what to call it. This hasn’t ever happened to me before, as you can imagine.’

  ‘We’ve got that in common,’ Morgan said dryly.

  Rose drew in another breath. ‘Look, I wouldn’t have told you – I would’ve just – I don’t know, pretended I didn’t have your email and asked for it, pretended the whole friendship was just starting over with you, but something has happened today, something potentially significant, and it’s given me hope. And – I just realised, now, struggling to make small talk about such inconsequential things right now, that I had to include you in…’ Rose waved a hand in the air. ‘All this! I need to include you, even if you think I’m crazy. So—’

  Morgan said nothing, just stared at her with her big, brown eyes.

  ‘Listen, did you ever watch the film Big with Tom Hanks? Of course you did. Everyone did. Well, do you remember him trying to convince his best mate that he was still just twelve-year-old Josh in the body of a thirty-year-old man?’ A slow nod was the only response to this. ‘That is what this is!’

  ‘You’re a twelve-year-old boy?’ Morgan pushed back in her seat, looking wary.

  Rose couldn’t help but laugh, but quickly sobered. ‘No! That’s not what I meant! I mean this’ – she waved a hand between the two of them this time – ‘is one friend trying to get her best friend to believe in her, to accept what she’s saying, even though it’s unbelievable, incredible, beyond rational acceptance?’

  Half-expecting Morgan to make her excuses and disappear into the night, Rose sent up a silent thank you for her friend’s pioneering spirit as she reached over the table to squeeze Rose’s arm. ‘Now, now… you’re just a little tired. Why don’t we skip dinner and get you home to your mom?’

  Rose shook her head. ‘Oh no, she’s one of the worst parts of this. My family isn’t close like yours, Morgan. I know your stepmom stepped in when your mom passed away, but my own mum never stepped up to begin with.’ Rose started to smooth the tablecloth nervously. ‘Somehow, having the writings of Jane Austen in my life enhanced it, had a profound effect on it and, more importantly, it was because of her you and I bonded and became such good friends. You’ve been a huge influence in my life since we met online; I’ve learned to be more confident, to stand up for myself, to strike out on my own. And I’ve used my knowledge of her life and her works to develop a role I love very much – working for James.’ Rose paused. ‘You met James – he helped direct you to—’

  ‘I remember.’

  ‘Good – then you know—’

  ‘Wait! Hold on, hold on, hold on. How do you know about my family?’

  Rose inhaled quickly. ‘Because I told you, this…’ She gestured all around them. ‘This isn’t the way things normally are. I’ve Skyped with your parents. Your brother, Calvin, is a real flirt and always promises to take me dancing in Paris. He loves to travel, unlike your stepsisters, who are both married and—’

  Morgan had gone very pale and put out a hand. ‘Stop.’

  Rose did. Then she swallowed hard on a rising restriction in her throat. ‘I know this has come out all wrong. I meant to be more patient, had almost begun to resolve myself to the way things had changed.’ For a fleeting moment, Aiden’s face was before her, and she faltered. ‘But that’s not who I want to be. I want to go back to being me, back to the life I had.’

  There was no answer to this, but she could sense Morgan detaching herself, easing back in her seat, and Rose was gripped with a sense of panic.

  ‘Please, just listen; there’s more. You see, Jane and I found something today that might just change things. For the first time in days I have hope I haven’t lost everything I once had or – hoped I might have.’ Once again, Aiden’s image appeared in her mind but this time it gave her strength – she didn’t want to have to choose between him and her old life. Wasn’t there a chance here she might just be able to have everything? She looked straight into Morgan’s worried eyes. ‘Look, you don’t have to believe me, but I know you. You might be a brilliant researcher in this reality, but well – you’re a great writer in mine. The journalist in you must have some curiosity. If you would just… not leave.’

  Morgan opened her mouth to reply when the waiter deposited her dinner plate in front of her, removed Rose’s starter and asked them if they would like anything else. Rose said no and Morgan very uncharacteristically just shook her head. There was silence between them and finally Morgan looked at her. �
��We never did share our names on the Harry Potter forum, did we?’

  ‘No.’

  Morgan shook her head. ‘Are you some sort of hacker, then, or…?’

  Rose laughed, despite the tension at the table. ‘No! God, no.’

  Morgan tapped a finger on the table. ‘You’ve only told me things any good data miner could find. Tell me something that couldn’t be found, something not public knowledge.’

  Trying not to hope too much, Rose nodded. ‘Yes. Okay – but—’ She wracked her memory for everything she knew about Morgan, seeking something only a friend would know, something likely only ever said between them. ‘I don’t know how much your life has changed because of Jane’s disappearance, but—’

  ‘Let’s park the disappearing woman for now, and her life. I want to understand how you know about me – about my life.’

  The fear of rejection gripped Rose’s throat. Her heart was pounding in her chest, but she knew from the determined look on Morgan’s face that she was giving her one chance to prove it.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Rose took a calming breath, her gaze fixed on Morgan.

  ‘Okay, okay… I know you always struggled more at school than the rest of your family and your dad always thought it was because you were too busy socialising but actually you’re dyslexic. He – they, your family, all felt terrible once you were properly diagnosed, and so as not to hurt them more, you pretend that time in your life didn’t upset you, but it really did.’ Morgan was staring at Rose, unblinking, and she hurried on. ‘I know you hated your brother’s last girlfriend; you had a fight with her out on the patio of some restaurant in – I don’t know, some surfer restaurant where they let you drop peanut shells right on the ground.’

  ‘Long Boards.’ Morgan had as gone as white as her linen napkin, now discarded by her plate.

  ‘Yes!’ Rose nodded. ‘And… you have a lot of first dates, but no one has ever compared to how you feel about the relationship in The X-Files, so you never go on second dates.’

  Morgan’s eyes grew impossibly wide. ‘I don’t think I ever… connected… that…’