The Unexpected Past of Miss Jane Austen (ARC)

by Ada Bright

  Charles laughed. ‘Indeed! How splendid is hindsight!’

  Jane raised her chin. ‘I am known for my keen intuition; it is often on the mark.’

  She took Charles’ arm and Edward, after eyeing the newcomers warily, fell into step behind them as they crossed the field towards the road. ‘We shall have to up sticks and relocate the ever-increasing party to Kent if you insist on bringing the entire future nation of England back with you.’

  ‘Rose, seriously, I need to know what’s going on.’ James stayed Rose with his hand on her arm as she began to lead them across the field.

  Turning back, she summoned a smile. ‘I know, James.’ She looked at Morgan, who seemed torn between excitement and curiosity. ‘Please, let’s just get somewhere a bit more…’ She gestured at his state of dress. ‘Suitable.’

  Nothing more was said as Rose and Aiden led Morgan and James across the road, a precarious enough challenge, with the conditions underfoot, but even more so for her boss in his bare feet. She ushered them through the gate into the garden of the cottage, Morgan’s eyes roaming from left to right.

  ‘It’s so different to when we were here a few days ago!’

  Rose smiled. ‘I know. Come on.’

  She led them down a gravel path until they were out of sight of the house. It wouldn’t do for the Austens’ few servants to see them. The walk, however, led Rose no closer to understanding what on earth she was going to say to her friend and boss to explain how they came to be where they were.

  They came to a part of the orchard where there was a bench, and Morgan, whose dress was far too long for her and caused her to stumble frequently, dropped onto it with a relieved look on her face. Rose felt too agitated over how to explain the situation to sit still, and remained stood beside Aiden.

  ‘Are my keys over here? Bloody hell, they nicked my mobile too? My wallet had better still be where I left it in the car! I really don’t have the time for this. How did you get my socks off?’ James gestured at his now filthy feet.

  ‘There’s a water butt by the shed.’ Rose gestured back down the garden, and James just stared at her blankly.

  ‘Just tell me what this is, so I can get my things back and go home and take a shower.’

  ‘Look James, I can explain—’

  ‘Rose,’ Morgan hissed. ‘Don’t look now, but there’s an old servant over there, watching us!’

  Rose looked around. Morgan was pointing over towards a vegetable patch on the opposite side of the garden, and she spun back to face her friend.

  ‘Shh… That’s not a servant. It’s Mrs Austen!’

  Morgan’s eyes widened. ‘Why is she dressed like that?’

  ‘Cassandra says she loves to garden; tends to wear overalls when she does. It’s a bit eccentric, but…’ Rose glanced anxiously over to where the lady had been digging up potatoes, but thankfully, the manservant, William, had hailed her – no doubt to tell her she had callers – and she was already entering the back of the house. ‘Please, James. Sit.’ Rose gestured at the place beside Morgan, but James didn’t move until her friend grabbed his arm and pulled him down next to her.

  ‘We need some answers, Rose. This is…’ He gestured around them. ‘Beyond weird.’

  ‘I know.’ Rose drew in a shallow breath. How on earth could she begin? She reached out her hand to Aiden, who grasped it, and Morgan’s mouth dropped open.

  Rose smiled faintly. ‘Later. I’m sure you have a shed-load of questions, but there’s a lot I need to tell you both too. I think if I go first, I may answer some of them?’

  Morgan nodded expectantly, and James looked from Rose to Aiden, then sighed. ‘Go for it.’

  ‘Something happened to me last week, something neither of you has any knowledge of. Morgan knew I had some suspicions about my upstairs neighbour at home. You’ve seen with the evidence of your own eyes now, she really is Jane Austen.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Please, James. Let me finish?’

  He held Rose’s gaze for a moment, then Morgan took his hand and he nodded.

  ‘She had slipped through time to the present. It seems she makes a bit of a habit of it. You’ll have seen how, by now.’

  ‘The necklace? It’s like ours!’ Morgan beamed, and Rose could feel some of the tension in her shoulders easing. How much better did she feel now Morgan was here?

  ‘Yes, similar. None of us ever knew there were three; it’s how Jane slips through time. Her brother – the naval captain you’ve just met – was told of its magical properties when he bought it for Jane.’

  James looked sceptical, and Rose shook her head at him. ‘You know it works. You know I’m telling the truth.’

  ‘Come on, mate.’ Aiden gestured at James’ appearance. ‘Can you think of a better explanation for how you’re here and your underwear isn’t?’

  Rose covered her amusement with a cough, but Morgan burst out laughing, and Rose watched James as he considered all he had just experienced. Finally, he nodded reluctantly.

  ‘Well then, you remember when I left you both, outside the Pavilion on Sunday after the dance class?’

  They both nodded in unison, and Aiden gave Rose’s hand a reassuring squeeze, which she returned.

  ‘Something happened after I ran after Jane, or Jenny as we then thought of her.’

  It took Rose the better part of an hour to tell them how she’d become trapped in an alternate reality, lost to her friends as she knew them. They had so many questions for her, and even Aiden, who’d not heard about it in detail, was eager to learn more. By the time she’d explained how a different Morgan, herself and Jane had managed to turn things around, her throat was dry, but she felt reasonably confident Morgan believed her, though James looked to be in an even deeper state of shock.

  She didn’t want to say anything about her walk with Aiden, the one where they’d realised they both had feelings for each other, so she glossed over it, leading into Jane’s reappearance and their journey back through time.

  Rose had been pacing to and fro as she talked, pausing only to answer a question here and there, but now she returned to her place by Aiden’s side and faced her friends. ‘I don’t know if you’ll ever forgive me for not telling you, when everything went back to normal. My only defence is that I honestly couldn’t imagine you’d believe me. But I have to admit,’ her voice broke and Aiden put his arm around her briefly, ‘it’s so wonderful to see your faces and to have you know the truth.’

  Morgan stood up, tripped on her hem and almost fell, laughing, into Rose’s arms as she hugged her. ‘I’m terribly sad that you went through that relatively alone, but glad that fate is determined our friendship is meant to be.’

  ‘You’re not upset?’ Rose was holding back tears of relief.

  ‘I am!’ Morgan stepped back. ‘But not at you. After all, I did get to be part of the adventure, just not me me. Hey, how was my hair?’

  Rose gave a watery laugh. ‘Your hair was a bit different – you wore it up, mostly, but you also wore fake glasses so people would take you more seriously.’

  Morgan tilted her head to one side. ‘Were they cute?’

  Rose sniffed away the threat of tears, feeling lighter than she had in days, but still conscious she’d said nothing to Morgan about why Jane had brought her back. ‘Yes, you pillock!’

  With a grin, Morgan resumed her seat beside James and patted his knee. ‘I might try that.’ She turned to him. ‘Will you still love me in glasses?’

  James looked from her to Rose, then to Aiden. ‘You’re all treating this as some sort of joke. This is… this is…’

  Aiden shrugged. ‘Incredible?’

  ‘Yes, no… I don’t know. I mean, it’s not even possible, any of it.’ He eyed Rose warily. ‘We’ve put our faith in a magical necklace that apparently didn’t come with an instruction book. Just how reliable is it?’

  With a laugh, Aiden gestured at James’ attire. ‘I don’t think you really put your faith in it, did you?’


  With a rueful smile, James looked down at his clothing. ‘I didn’t believe for a minute Morgan was going anywhere, despite what the mad… I mean, Jane Austen, said. I threw these on over my clothes just to pacify her.’

  ‘It’s a seriously good thing you did.’ Morgan smirked.

  ‘But we need to go back. She can just take us back, right?’ James looked from Rose to Aiden.

  ‘Why don’t we ask her?’

  Aiden gestured down the path. Coming towards them was Jane, a long coat over her arm, followed by Cassandra, her face alive with curiosity and a pair of boots in her hand.

  As they all set off back along the path towards the ladies, Rose cast an anxious glance back towards the other end of the garden.

  Chapter 9

  It didn’t take long for the introductions to take place between Cassandra and the two new arrivals, and despite the situation Rose couldn’t help but be amused by the avid interest on both hers and Morgan’s faces as they realised who each other was.

  Both the Austen ladies seemed keen for James to cover himself up, and urged him to don the boots and greatcoat (the former borrowed from William, the latter left behind by Jane’s brother, Henry, on his last visit from London), and he had barely done so when Rose saw Edward Knight coming towards them.

  He eyed James keenly. ‘An improvement, but we shall have to do better. You had best come with me, sir.’

  James’ startled gaze flew to Rose. ‘But I have to get back! I can’t stay here!’

  ‘Pray, do not take on so, Mr Malcolm.’ Jane came to stand before him. ‘I shall do as you wish, and return you both to your home directly, but we cannot repeat the recklessness of our recent adventure, for our arrival was almost witnessed. We must wait until darkness falls.’

  Edward grunted. ‘You would do well to not repeat your foolish adventure at all.’

  Jane turned away, but not before she had exchanged a small smile with Rose.

  ‘One should not travel such a distance on an empty stomach either.’ Edward’s gaze roamed over the gathered party; then, he sighed. ‘The cottage cannot accommodate such numbers. You had best dine at the great house before you leave.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Rose spoke a little more loudly than usual in an attempt to cover Morgan’s ‘Oooo!’ and her friend caught herself, curtsied out of turn and muttered her thanks.

  ‘I will collect Charles and meet you at the gate, sir. Mr Trevellyan?’ Edward turned to Aiden. ‘You will accompany your friend.’

  It wasn’t so much a question as an instruction, and Aiden bowed. ‘As you wish, sir.’

  Morgan’s eyes were darting from Edward to James to Aiden and then back again as she took everything in, and Rose touched her arm.

  ‘This is awesome!’ Morgan’s excitement was almost tangible as she turned to Rose. ‘We’re going to dine in that big house we did the tour of last week!’

  ‘I will see you later.’ Aiden’s voice in her ear had Rose spinning around to look at him. He smiled reassuringly. ‘It will be okay. Jane will get them home. Make the most of your afternoon with Morgan.’

  Morgan was looking between them with renewed fascination, and he smiled at her before turning to join Edward as he made his way back down the garden.

  James hesitated before following them, and Rose thought for a moment he was going to protest again, and insist on being taken home immediately. To her surprise, however, he turned to Jane.

  ‘I’d like to apologise to you for my attitude earlier. I didn’t believe what you were saying or even in you.’ He glanced at Rose, then bowed awkwardly to Jane. ‘I hope you’ll excuse me; the circumstances were rather… demanding.’

  Jane studied him in silence for a moment, and Rose held her breath. ‘’Tis quite forgotten, sir, and you do yourself a disservice. Your concern for your friends is admirable. Rashness is much in the common way when one’s loved ones are under a perceived threat.’ She cast a look at Morgan, who was wrinkling her nose and frowning, then turned back to him with a sigh. ‘Such disruption was never my intention. The best of deeds can go awry, can they not?’ She smiled. ‘Come, Mr Malcolm. I find I can forgive your impertinence if you can forgive my impetuousness.’

  Rose bit her lip. She could tell James was trying to be certain he knew exactly what the lady stood before him was saying, but then he smiled too, performed a much neater bow and turned to Morgan.

  ‘I hope to be in a better state when I see you later.’ He dropped a kiss on her cheek and, ignoring Jane’s tsk, raised a hand to Rose before turning to follow the others.

  Watching him go, Rose could feel agitation seeping into her shoulders again. Morgan didn’t seem to have picked up on Aiden’s words, implying only James and Morgan would be leaving. Should they just go back and be done with it? But what if… She felt restless and out of sorts again. How was she to even unravel any of this mess?

  ‘What’s that smell?’ Morgan was pulling a face.

  ‘Partly it’s the manure on the fields, only it’s a bit more pungent than we’re used to.’ Rose lowered her voice. ‘Wait until you smell some of the food.’

  ‘What’s the other part?’

  Cassandra, who had remained silent for some time, smiled kindly at Morgan. ‘It is best you do not comprehend the source, Miss Taylor. There is much to adjust to.’

  ‘Luckily, I’m not here for long, no offence.’ Morgan winked at Rose.

  Rose tried to smile as the tension in her shoulders increased. Despite being thankful she’d had the chance to tell Morgan and James about what had happened to her the previous week, and grateful as she was for their seeming to accept the validity of where they were and how they’d got there, there was so much more to tell.

  ‘I think we may need to make some adjustments to Miss Taylor’s gown before this evening, Cass.’ Jane gestured towards Morgan’s hem, which she was currently standing on.

  ‘I will see if we can find a better-fitting garment for her.’ Cassandra gave them an all-embracing smile and turned to head back to the house.

  Rose stood quietly between Jane and Morgan, watching her go. The weather was perfect, the sky the watery blue so typical of autumn, a gentle breeze weaving through the leaves hanging perilously on to the branches of the nearby trees.

  Then, Morgan slapped Rose’s arm.

  ‘Ow!’

  Morgan was grinning from ear to ear, looking much more herself. ‘You and Aiden! Tell me. Now.’

  ‘Oh, that.’ Rose glanced at Jane, who raised a brow.

  ‘I do not believe I have been told this particular story either.’

  Warmth filled Rose’s cheeks under Morgan’s determined gaze and Jane’s curious one. ‘I don’t know how to start. And I’m not going to kiss and tell!’

  ‘Which means you’ve definitely been kissing.’ Morgan and Jane exchanged a knowing look.

  ‘Indeed. I confess I have been a witness.’

  Morgan laughed delightedly and clapped her hands together, then met Rose’s gaze and laughed again. ‘There I go again! So? Forget the kiss, tell us all.’

  Rose gestured vaguely down the path Aiden had recently trod. ‘There’s not a lot to say, really. After you left us outside your apartment, he walked me home and we…’ Rose looked from Morgan to Jane, then shrugged. ‘We found out we had a mutual…’

  ‘Admiration?’ suggested Jane.

  ‘You both fancy each other! I told you!’ Morgan punched a fist in the air, then, at Jane’s look, dropped her arm to her side. ‘Sorry. Getting a bit carried away.’

  Rose sank onto the bench Morgan and James had recently vacated. ‘I couldn’t quite believe it. In fact, we’d barely had a moment to accept it when…’ Her gaze fell on Jane, who grimaced apologetically.

  ‘Forgive me; I had no notion of your attachment being so recently formed.’

  Rose shook her head. ‘I know.’ Then she looked at Morgan. ‘It’s incredible and wonderful and at the same time like a dream I can’t wake up from. Like so many things recently.’ She looke
d at Jane, then raised her hands in a helpless gesture. ‘How did this become my life? Two weeks ago, I didn’t think Aiden knew my name, I was worried Morgan and mine’s friendship might not work in person, and I spent most of my free time daydreaming over what life would be like living inside the pages of a Jane Austen novel.’ Rose waved a hand, embracing her surroundings and the two young women before her. ‘Now, I’m having a hard time not thinking of what Aiden and I could name our children, my best friend is flat hunting in my home town, and my favourite author cares so much about me, she kidnapped two people I love and brought them to the past.’

  Jane made a small sound. ‘It was never my intention, Rose.’ She glanced at Morgan, then smiled. ‘But nonetheless, I am pleased for you it has happened.’

  ‘Aww, you know what she means.’ Morgan put her arm around Jane’s shoulders and hugged her, prompting an expression on Jane’s face Rose wished she could capture on her phone.

  Then, Rose frowned. ‘Wait. How did this happen anyway? Morgan, what on earth were you and James doing in the car park in Chawton? You should both be in Bath!’

  ‘Your phone was in the trunk. I told you, I tracked it. I was so worried about you! Then, we got to the car, and James knew it was Aiden’s and I thought he’d murdered you and we’d find your body in there!’

  Jane’s brows rose and she exchanged a look with Rose, who shook her head at Morgan. ‘You watch too much CSI.’

  Morgan grinned. ‘I was so relieved when the trunk only held… well, a trunk!’

  ‘And you, Jane?’ Rose turned to the lady, who looked a little sheepish. ‘What made you travel to the future again?’

  ‘I had… an engagement I was obliged to attend.’

  Rose frowned. ‘What sort of engagement?’

  ‘She came over from the museum.’ Morgan beamed at Jane. ‘I was so relieved to see her.’

  Jane stepped away. ‘I must leave you. If we are all to dine with Edward, we need to hem whatever skirt Cass has found.’ She turned away, then said over her shoulder, ‘Rose, if you could bring Miss Taylor to my bedroom? We had best conceal our practice from Mama.’