The Evolution of Emma

Jane Austen Association Book 2

By

Kailin Gow

Published by Sparklesoup.com

Published 2025

Copyright © 2025 by Kailin Gow

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“There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart.”

~ Jane Austen

The Evolution of Emma is dedicated to my husband who is very similar to Hugh in character, charm, and profession. He helps me fly but keeps me grounded when I should.

SUMMARY

She's always been the one helping her friends find their romantic matches, but can she find one herself?

A riotous romance ensues in the next Jane Austen Association novel about the members of a Jane Austen fan club who ends up in a Jane Austen film.

Keely Lee's Pride and Prejudice film was a hit so she's directing another Jane Austen film, Emma, at Moon Manor in Derbyshire. She's got the dream cast for a hit film, which includes Hollywood It Girl Susie Sweets as Emma and a cast of Shakespearean actors from The Globe Theater. Keely, her best friend and co-executive producer Ayra Patel returns to Moon Manor where movie magic and romance happens in a second Jane Austen film, Emma.

Meanwhile, Keely’s father, famed international lawyer Donald Lee, has a major case in England and has traveled from his home in California to London to work in their UK branch. Working with him is Hugh Pembrook, Donald’s ex-fiancé’s, son and close friend to Keely, a British native, and has always taken on the role of an older brother to Keely.

Staying at Moon Manor, while working on their case, Donald and Hugh, are also roped into the Emma film Keely is directing, while Keely, a former lawyer for her father’s firm, is roped into helping her father and Hugh with their case. Keely, who has always been in charge, finds herself in a dilemma when things do not go exactly as planned, and she, the forever matchmaker, is now the one having to look inward to evolve.

Grumpy Sunshine

Friends to Lovers

Matchmaking

Small Town

Billionaire Romance

**The Evolution of Emma is a contemporary romantic comedy for ages 14

and up!

PROLOGUE

Keely

––––––––

AS SOON AS THE PLANE landed at London Gatwick Airport, I stood and reached up to open the overhead compartment to grab my carry-on.

“Miss Lee,” a nearby passenger called out from behind me.

I turned to her.

“Your scarf.”  She held up the silk scarf that I’d removed and let fall to the seat.

“Thank you so much,” I said as I took it and quickly slipped it around my neck.

As I followed the other passengers off the plane, I checked my watch and quickly calculated how long before I arrived at Moon Manor.

If all went well, ten minutes at baggage claim, another ten to go through customs, fifteen minutes to race through the terminal, grab a cab and... I should be at Moon Manor in time for lunch.

But luck wasn’t on my side and by the time I made it out hoping to grab a cab, I knew I would barely make it to Moon Manor for dinner.

“Keely?”

At the sound of my name, I turned to the somewhat familiar voice.  I spotted him coming to me through the crowd of travelers.  Tall with a strong build, keen blue eyes and a permanent smile on his full lips, I recognized him immediately.

“Hugh?  Hugh Pembroke is that you?”  Although he was much taller than when I’d last seen him, his smile was unmistakable.

“I wasn’t sure it was you, either,” he said as he came closer and gave me a hug.  “It’s been a while.”

“A few years... at least.”  Hugging him back, I got a whiff of his cologne.  Not only did he look great – how could he not in his sophisticated suit complete with cashmere scarf, leather gloves and camel wool coat – but he smelled good, too.

“Indeed.  I’ve not seen you since working together back in Newport Beach.”

He had such a charming British accent.  Had he not nearly become my stepbrother, I surely would have thought he was hot.

As I pulled away from him, I nodded remembering those days.  “Back at Daddy’s law firm.”

“I hear you took quite a turn away from law.  You’re making movies now?”

“Yep.  I just got back from New York where I was honored to receive an award from the New York Film Critics League.  I won best director for Pride and Prejudice.”

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

We looked at one another for a long silent moment.

“And you?” I finally said.  “What are you up to?”

“Still at the law firm.  Still working for our dad... um, your dad.”

I chuckled.  “Your dad that almost was.”

He pressed his lips tightly, almost bitterly.  “I still don’t understand why Mother broke off her engagement with your father.”  He shrugged.  “Anyway...  He’ been good to me, nonetheless.  Donaldson is an upstanding man; a true gentleman.”

“He’s loved you like a son from the moment he met you,” I said.

He nodded and smiled.  What a gorgeous smile filled with warmth and kindness.  He really had filled out well, not to mention the stylish flair he now had.  Gone were the boyish torn jeans, the ratty t-shirt and the flashy sneakers. 

“You’re looking good,” I said sizing him up.  “I’m glad to see you’ve graduated to actual suits.”

“Can’t just wear jeans and a t-shirt to court now, can I?”

I chuckled as I noticed the women who passed by, all giving him a second and even third glance.

“So,” I shot him a curious look.  “What are you doing here... I mean, at the airport?  Are you taking a flight out?”

“No, I actually came here to pick up your father.”

“My dad?”  I frowned.  While I’d seen him only briefly the past week, he hadn’t mentioned coming to England.  “What is he doing here?”

“I’m actually surprised he wasn’t on the same flight as you.”

“But, what is he coming to England for?  A vacation?  That doesn’t sound much like Dad.”

“A big case... huge, in fact, just fell into our laps and Donald wanted to come work on it himself... with my help, of course.”

“A case?  Here in England?”

“A very interesting case,” he said with a nod.  He checked his watch.  “He should be landing any minute now.”

I checked my watch as well.  At this rate I would never make it to Moon Manor for dinner.

“Would you like to grab a cup of tea as we wait?” Hugh offered.  “Or perhaps you’d prefer a pint of beer.”

“Neither, really,” I said.

He seemed truly disappointed.

“You know what,” I said, gently tapping his arm.  “A good cup of tea would be nice.”

His face lit up and he led me to a sitting area with a partial view of arriving planes.

“Wait here a moment.  I’ll be right back.”

He returned moments later with two piping hot cups of tea.  “Here you go.”  He handed me one of the cups.”

“Thanks.”

“Not quite the weather you’re used to out at Huntington Beach, is it?”

I glanced out at the gray sky.  “I will miss the sun while I’m here.”

“And what about all the waves?  How do you Americans say... gnarly waves?”

“You picked that up from one of the surfer dudes out at Huntington,” I said with a teasing laugh.

“Ah,” he let out as he looked at me.  “Those were fun days, were they not.  Hanging out at the beach, riding the waves...”

“Getting sunburned,” I added.

He grimaced.

“And you certainly knew how to charm all those California girls, didn’t you?” I said.  “I mean, who could ask for

more?  A good-looking surfer with a distinguished British accent.  Shoot, even when you cussed you sounded sophisticated and debonair.”

He grinned as he shook his head.  “Yes.  The ladies were mighty surprised when I hopped off my surfboard and opened my mouth.  A Brit?  On a surfboard?  It seemed nonsensical to them.”

“Well, nonsensical or not, they certainly swarmed around you enough.”

“Look who’s talking,” he said.  “You certainly didn’t lack for male attention.  That long, silky hair that just barely brushed over your bikini bottom.  Oh, yes... there were plenty of times when I was prepared to pounce on the young man who happened to look at you the wrong way.”

I let out a loud laugh.

Smiling, he sighed.  “I do miss those days... the sun, the surf, the salt air.”  He looked squarely at me.  “I would think you would prefer the Coast as well.  What in the world brings you out to this dreary London weather?”

“Didn’t Daddy tell you?” I said, surprised.  After all, I had mentioned my new project to him.

“Not a word.”

“I’m here to work.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah.  We have another project that’s going to be filmed here on location.”

“Really?” he said, though he seemed less than enthused.

“It’s a great project,” I went on.  “Another Jane Austen novel brought to life; Emma.”

He let out an amused laugh.  “Keely, Keely, Keely.  My, how you haven’t changed in the slightest.  Still so obsessed with those girly little books... those romances.”

“Sorry to have to correct you on that point, my almost-was-stepbrother, but Jane Austen is not ‘girly’.  Her novels are sophisticated and mature.  They are the best of women’s literature.”

“I imagine they are.”  He sipped his tea then set the cup down.  “I can still remember how you would simply pour over those thick books, reading and re-reading certain passages.  No matter how your father tried to get you interested in law, you simply wanted to fawn over those love stories.”

I let out a snort.  “Yeah.  Poor Dad.  He wanted me to follow in his footsteps and all I wanted to do was get lost in Jane Austin’s imaginings.  He expected so much of me... too much.” 

“After building such a legal empire, it’s quite understandable that he would want his only daughter to...”

“Child,” I corrected.

“Daughter,” Hugh reiterated.  “Your father worked hard to build his reputation, and he is now a legend.  You’re set to inherit his empire and run it someday. You even went to law school.”

“That was a long time ago.”

“You and I were first year associates together at Donald’s law firm in Newport.”

“I remembered you coming in with your board shorts and a shirt and tie,” I said. “I couldn’t believe that surfer dude wanted to be a lawyer.”

“But you were always the better lawyer than I was. Even through law school.”

“Now you’re the top hotshot lawyer, partner even. I always thought there was something more to that charming smile of yours.”

Hugh smiled and then looked me in the eye. “It would be a dreadful shame if you didn’t.”

I almost looked away. His blue eyes were so piercing, so direct, they could easily get a confession out of the tightest lips.

“I love what I’m doing now, Hugh,” I said.

This was far from the conversation I’d envisioned having on my return to London.  My head was completely in the zone to make my movie, not talk law firm talk.

“Don’t worry, Hugh,” I said.  “I know all that.  I know.  For years I’ve known.  But I don’t have the same passion for law that you have.”

“Donald is getting older, you know.”

“He’s barely sixty,” I argued.  “Hardly retirement ready.”

“Still... he’s getting up there.”

“I know.”  I finished my last sip of tea and set my cup aside.  “Since finishing Pride and Prejudice, I’ve been with him, working, helping him. Aside from the last few days in New York, I’ve been in Newport.”

“Oh,” Hugh said, genuinely surprised.  “I didn’t know.”

“Yeah.  I’ve been giving him a hand whenever I can.”

“That’s great.  Then you must know a bit about this latest case we’ll be working on.  Lord knows we could use your help.  Once your dad arrives, he can bring you up to speed.”

“It would be nice to work with you and Dad again, but I am here to work on my own project.”

“We could find a way to work around your schedule.  Are you shooting here in London?”

“No.  Derbyshire.”

“Derbyshire?” Hugh’s face lit up.  “Keely, That’s where your father and I are staying.  Where exactly?”

“A little place called Moon Manor.”

“I don’t believe it.  That is precisely where we’re staying as well.”

Stunned, I looked at him, gaping.  “That’s impossible.  You can’t stay there.  I’m shooting my movie there.”

Hugh reached into his pocket, pulled out a card, and glanced at it before handing it to me.  “Yep.  Moon Manor, alright.”

I looked at the confirmation of their reservation.

“It can’t be,” I muttered to myself.  “How can this be?”

“Your father and I will be working just outside Derbyshire.”

“But...”  I stared at the reservation.

“We’ll be nearby... not far at all.”

“Hugh,” I said.  “You don’t understand.  Shooting a film is a full-time endeavor.  Twelve, sixteen and even eighteen-hour days.  I don’t have time to work on a case, no matter how close by you and Dad will be working.  I only have a month to shoot this... One month.  Four weeks.  Do you understand?  I won’t have the time or energy to focus on anything else.”

He looked past me, clearly not listening to me.

“There’s your father now,” he said as he stood to wave Dad over.  “Donald.  Over here.”  He looked down at me.  “Wait until he hears that we’ll be staying at the same hotel.  He’ll be thrilled.  All the way across the pond and yet so close to his only daughter.”

Resigned, I pressed my lips into a tight smile and stood.  But as I spotted my father coming our way, I had to smile, a genuine and pleased smile.

“He’s barely changed since I last saw him,” Hugh said.  “A touch of gray in that jet black hair.”

“Dad has always enjoyed keeping himself young,” I said, noting his stylish haircut... short at the back with ample volume up front.  As an Asian American, he stood tall, nearly reaching six feet, his back straight, his stride strong.  His piercing eyes locked onto me as his smile widened.

“Ah, what a treat it is to be welcomed by both my kids,” he said, his arms stretched out to hug us both.

“I hardly recognized you without your lawyer suit on,” Hugh said.  Looking down at Dad’s comfortable attire, he added, “Simple slacks and a cardigan; never thought I’d see you wearing that.”

“It’s a long enough flight,” Dad said with a grin.  “And I wanted to look like a casual traveler.”

“Dad,” I said as I backed out of his hug.  “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to London?”

He smiled and shot a glance at Hugh.  “I’ll tell you all about it when we settle in.  I hear we’ll be staying in a rather cozy manor.  I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be working with you two again.  Just like old times.”

“Dad, I was just telling Hugh how I’m going to be very...”

“Everything is ready and waiting for us to get started,” Hugh cut in.  “All the documents have already been shipped to the manor.  I’m sure Keely will be excited to look through them.”

“Guys,” I grunted.

“This is an amazing case,” Hugh went on.

“Gentlemen,” I said more forcefully.  “With the award I just won, people are expecting even more of me on this new project.”

“As they should,” Dad said.

“And with those higher expectations comes a lot of pressure; pressure to get the movie done right and on time.”

“You’ve always performed well under pressure,” Dad said.

“Yes, but be that as it may, I...”  How could I explain to them that I had a budget and time constraints.  I also had Hollywood’s new ‘It’ girl, Susie Sweets, as my heroine and she was signed to another project right after my movie. I absolutely had to finish it in time. I couldn’t risk losing her due to delays.  Not only was Susie a beautiful girl, but she was straight from the famed Shakespeare Globe Theater.  I couldn’t afford to screw this up.  “Dad, I would love to help, but...”

He clapped his hands.  “Perfect.  Wonderful.  You and Hugh make a great team... so brilliant and resourceful.  This is a complicated case, and I’ll need your specialized expertise with this one, Keely.”

“But Dad...”

“I would love to see this case ready and resolved before I have to go back to California.”

“Dad, what specialized expertise are you talking about? I’m limited in how I can help you.”

“This case is right up your alley,” Hugh said.  “And we desperately need you.”

“You’re the only one I know who can help,” Dad added.

“Okay,” I said, trying to control my growing impatience.  “What is this case that only I can help you with?”

They looked at one another.

“Honey,” Dad said.  “A certain manuscript has been brought to our attention; a manuscript that is rumored to have been written by a certain famous author that you’re very fond of.”

No.  My breath caught in my throat.  “Are you saying that...?”

They nodded.

“Do you seriously have...?”

They once again nodded.

“You might have discovered an unknown, unpublished manuscript by Jane Austen?”  My hand went to my chest as I fought to breathe.

“By Jove, I think she’s onto us,” Hugh said, exaggerating his already pronounced British accent.

I looked to my father.  “Dad, this is amazing.  This is...”

“The perfect case for you, my dear.”

I wanted to jump for joy but was frozen in place.

“Now,” Dad said in his warning tone.  “This might turn out to not be a Jane Austen manuscript at all.”

“I understand.”

“And it might turn out to be quite disappointing.”

“I get that.”

“And you might end up wasting your time.”

“Right.”

“So, if you decide you don’t want to be involved...”

“Not get involved?” I said, shocked at the very idea.  “Dad, you’re not going to be able to keep me away from this one.  I’m in.  I’m all in.  I’m going to have my hands full with the film... but I will find a way.  I absolutely have to be in on this.”

ONE

After getting into Hugh’s Audi, he drove us out to Moon Manor.  All the while, I considered the many transformations needed to turn it into Hartsfield.  While certain changes could be made to the manor itself, the grounds on which the characters would walk or ride across would have to be filmed from a different angle as those from Pride and Prejudice.

“I hear the owner of the manor is a friend of yours,” Dad said, breaking into my thoughts as we neared Derbyshire.

I nodded.  “Jai Doshi.  He married Ayra last year.  You remember Ayra, don’t you?”

“That pretty little West Indian girl who had the same passion for Jane Austen as you had.”

“That’s the one.”

“All I remember of your years at UCI’s graduate film school is how you two girls were obsessed with this author.  It’s no wonder that you both work on these films.”

“Jai’s property begins around here,” I said as we drove along the wooded part of his land.

Soon after, we pulled up to the long drive and my father let out an impressed gasp.

“What gorgeous country.”

“It is beautiful, isn’t it.  It’s a perfect setting for these movies.”

The closer we got to the manor, the wider his eyes became.  “California might have its mansions, but nothing like this.  I can understand why you came here to make your movies.  So historic. So romantic.”

Hugh pulled up to the main door and I rushed out of the car just as Ayra and Jai came out to greet us.

“Keely!” Ayra squealed as she ran to me, her arms outstretched to pull me into a tight hug.  “I’m so happy to see you.  I’ve been waiting to see you in person to congratulate you on your award.  So deserved.  So very well deserved.”

I hugged her back, happy to see her again.  “Thanks.  You know that award is partially yours, don’t you.”

“Yeah, right,” she said with a laugh.  She looked past me.  “Mr. Lee.  How nice it is to see you again.”

“Please... No Mr. Lee.  Just Donald.”

“Donald,” Ayra said with a nod.  “I’d like you to meet my husband, Jai.”

“Nice to meet you, young man,” Donald said.  “Quite a nice place you have out here.”

“Thank you, sir.  We do work hard to keep it looking the way it does.  Quite a task, I must say.”

“And this is Hugh,” I interjected as Hugh came around the car to join us.  “Hugh is my...”

He held his hand out to Jai.  “I nearly became her stepbrother, but we won’t get into that right now.”

Jai smiled as he nodded.  “Sounds intriguing.”

“Jai, how about you show Donald and Hugh around,” Ayra said.  “And I’ll show Keely to her room.”

“Sounds good,” Jai said.  “This way, gentlemen.  We’ll come back to get your luggage later.  I’d love to show you the gardens and grounds beyond.”

“We were expecting a delivery,” Hugh said as he followed Jai to the door.

“Yes,” Jai said.  “Many, many boxes arrived earlier.  We’ve brought them to the conference room.  I do hope you’ll find the space sufficient.  We’ve set up a workspace and there’s more than enough room for meetings.”

“Very good,” Dad said.

And as they entered the manor, Ayra and I turned to one another and squealed as we hugged each other once more.

“I’m so thrilled,” she said as she held me at arm’s length for a moment.  “I’ve been waiting for you to arrive and get started on Emma.  This is such a delicious story.  And Susie Sweet!  She is perfect for this part.  Cute without being too threatening.  A capacity to be a bit snarky, but still likable.  How in the world did you manage to snag her?” 

“A lot of negotiating,” I said, remembering the weeks of calls back and forth with her agent.  “Although, I think she really wanted the part from the beginning.  But still, her salary is a huge chunk of our budget.”

“Well, I think she’s worth it.”  She looked to the door the men had gone through.  “I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting your father to be with you.”

I shrugged.  “They’re working on a case together.”

“A legal case?  Here in England?”

I nodded and waved the comment away.  “That’s another story.  I’ll clue you in later.  But I can tell that Dad is already charmed by your ever charming husband.”

“Does his presence here have anything to do with the movie?”

“Not really,” I said, a little evasive and eager to change the subject.  “Hey, have you taken a good look at the script?”

“Oh, Keely,” she said.  “I absolutely love it, and I can’t wait to get started.”

“I’m glad you were able to take up your duties once again.  I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

She shrugged.  “Do you really think I could let someone else make the music for this?  And tend to the décor?  And heaven forbids executive produce?  Hell no.  I’m all over this movie.”

“Good.”  I laughed as I leaned into her.  “Speaking about décor, care to show me some of the sets we’ll be working with?”

“Sure.”

On entering the manor, she led me to the ballroom.

“Wow,” I said.  “I can’t believe the transformation.”

“You did say that we had to make significant changes to certain rooms.  After all, Emma doesn’t take place in the same setting.”

“Right.”

I was instantly charmed by how she’d transformed the space.

“I love how you’ve altered the windows.”

“Yeah,” she said.  “We blocked the two on either end, and replaced them with double doors, and we raised that portion of the room to make the space more dynamic.  Of course, we’ve changed the drapes and chandeliers.  We’ve taken down much of the woodwork and replaced it with alternatives.  No one will ever know that this space appeared in Pride and Prejudice.”

“Genius.”

“Thankfully, Emma is set in a fictional town,” she said.  “It’ll make it easier to turn Moon Manor of Derbyshire into the Hartfield estates near the village of Highbury.”

She led me to a sitting room that had appeared in a short scene in Pride and Prejudice.

Remember this room?”

I nodded, admiring the pale blue/gray wall trimmed with a darker blue.  “Wasn’t it a muted rose color?”

“Yes, and we’ve put in a faux fireplace.”

“You’re amazing.”

“We did the best that we could.  But there is still a lot to do.”

“I have no doubt you’ll do a convincing job.  I’m already convinced as it is.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen your father,” she said, suddenly changing the subject.  “He’s looking good.”

“He takes good care of himself; eats right, exercises... all that good stuff.”

“And Hugh... wow.  He’s become quite the... you know... filled out and stylish and handsome and... all that good stuff.”

“Really?” I said a little off handedly.  “I hadn’t noticed.”

She looked skeptically at me.  “Seriously?  No.  You?  Not notice a hot guy?  Impossible.  I mean, any woman with a pair of eyes can see how that guy is an absolute dreamboat... a real-life Adonis.  Okay, he might not be Mr. Darcy, but... still.”

“You forget, Ayra, that Hugh isn’t just some guy, hot as he may be.  He’s my stepbrother.”

“He’s your would-have-been stepbrother had his mother not left your father.”  She shot a glance up to the ceiling.  “Something that I’ve never understood.”

“Still,” I said.  “He is like a brother to me.  I mean, we lived together as kids... as brother and sister.”

“If you say so.”  She led the way down the hall and showed me a few other rooms.  “I’d like to meet with you to see what you want us to do with these.”

“Great.  Sometime this week would be good.”  We headed out the back way.

“Hey,” Jai called out as we joined the guys out on the patio.  “There you girls are.”

“Have you charmed Donald and Hugh with your perfectly manicured lawn and your beautiful blooms?” Ayra said as she walked up to him and snuggled under his arm.

“We are more than charmed,” Donald said.  “This is a very tranquil setting in which to work on our case.  I couldn’t ask for a more perfect space.  So regal and inspiring.”

“So, you’ll be shooting a movie here at the same time,” Hugh said.

“Don’t worry,” Ayra said.  “We’re going to do our best to keep the lawyers on one side of the manor and the cast and crew on the other.”

“Never the two shall meet,” Jai added with a playful grin.

TWO

“Are you stressed out about having your dad stay here?” Ayra said as we sipped white wine all while preparing dinner.

I let out a strange sounding chuckle and tried to concentrate on the lettuce I was chopping.  “I wouldn’t say ‘stressed’, but... Let’s just say I was a little surprised.”

“And Hugh...”

“Don’t get started on that again,” I said.  “Is the cast and crew all here?”

She let out a hoot then laughed.  “Great segway, Keel.  Tell me you don’t want to talk about Hugh without telling me you don’t want to talk about him.”

“I’m so glad you got the hint.”

“Most of the crew is here.”  Ayra opened a container of frozen mixed vegetables.  “I’ve set up a meeting with them all right after dinner.”

“Oh,” I said, not hiding my disappointment.  “Why didn’t you set up dinner for all of us?”

“That was my original plan,” she said as she tossed the mixed vegetables into a pan.  “But since your father and Hugh are here... well, I thought it would be nice to have a quiet dinner, just us four.”

“I can’t hide from you how I would have much preferred to have dinner with the cast and crew.  You know how eager I am to meet them all.”

After a moment of prolonged silence, I glanced at her.  Her lips drawn in a sad line made me instantly regret my harsh words.

“However,” I added, “it is very sweet of you to have thought of all this.  This dinner for four is more trouble, I assume.”

“I’m sorry, Keely,” she said, her eyes glued to the vegetables in the pan.  “I thought you’d be happy to have a quiet meal with your father before diving into the chaos of film production.”

I nodded and reached out to gently pat her shoulder.  “You’re right.  I’m just a little anxious, that’s all.  I’m sure dinner with my dad and Hugh will be lovely.”

She pressed a smile.

“Now tell me more about the crew,” I said.  “You say that they’ve all arrived at Moon Manor?”

“Not all.  Most.  The few crew members who aren’t staying here live nearby.  There will be no issue with having them here on time.  As for the cast... yeah.  Most of them are here.”

“Most of them?”

“You know how actors can be.”

“Yeah, that’s why I wanted to have them all here today.  Who’s missing?”

Jai strolled in.  “The grill is hot and ready to take on those juicy steaks.”

Dad came up behind him and patted his shoulder with his huge hand.  “Didn’t think you Brits had juicy steaks, but I’m sure happy that you’re welcoming us with such a great meal.”

“As you can see, Jai,” I said as I scooped up the shredded lettuce and dropped it all into a large salad bowl.  “My father is a true carnivore.  If you wanted to win his affection, you’ve found the perfect way.”

Jai picked up the plate of raw steaks and headed out.

Dad followed right behind him.  “I’m going to go out there and make sure he doesn’t over-cook these babies.”

Laughing, I grabbed a tomato and quartered it.  “So, what were we saying?”

“We have a very short shooting schedule,” Ayra said.  “I think we’re going to have to shoot more efficiently than we did with Pride and Prejudice.”

“I know,” I said with a nod.  “That’s why I wanted everyone staying here.  Oh!  That’s what we were saying.  Who is missing?  Is it one of the main actors or a secondary cast member?”

“I’ve set the table for four,” Hugh said as he sauntered in.  “What smells so good in here?”

I smiled at him, aware of Ayra’s eyes as she watched me intently.  “Here,” I said as I sprinkled parmesan cheese over the salad then picked up the bowl to hand him.  “You want to bring this out to the table?”

“Sure thing.”  He took the bowl and headed out.  “I know when I’m not wanted in a room,” he called over his shoulder.

“Let’s enjoy dinner and then we’ll talk shop talk,” Ayra said as she transferred her mixed vegetables from the frying pan to a serving dish.

We headed out to the dining room just in time to meet up with Jai and Dad coming in from the patio.

The meal was delicious and the conversation light and amusing.  But while Dad regaled us all with silly courtroom stories from back home, my mind was on the production of Emma.  And when Hugh spiced things up with more risqué stories, I forced myself to laugh at the appropriate moments.

But my head was already with the cast and crew of this movie.

*****

WITH DAD AND HUGH ESCORTED back to their rooms by Jai, Ayra and I prepared to meet the cast and crew of our new project.

“The restaurant is closed so Jai and I set up a great buffet for everyone and I told them we’d come have dessert and coffee with them.”

“Sounds good.”

We headed to the large ballroom where everyone waited for us.  Many had a cup of coffee in hand, but the cakes and pies had yet to be served.

I smiled, happy to see them all so eager to get to work.  “Hello, everyone,” I said.  “I am Keely, and I will be your director for this project.” 

“Hello, Keely,” everyone called out.

I looked at them all.  “Just so we’re all on the same page, you are here for the production of...”

“Emma!”

“Good.  Good.  I would like you all to join me in imagining that we are, from now on, at the Hartfield estate in Highbury, just miles from London.”

Now... just so I can get an idea of who will be doing what, can the crew come stand on this side of the room and the cast on this side.”

Crew members went to the left while the cast stood on the right as I’d directed.

“Nice.”  I clasped my hands together and looked at the assortment of people.  “I’m sure you are all aware of the time constraints for shooting this movie.”

Many heads nodded.

“Of course, I know that things occasionally go wrong, and I do anticipate problems here and there, but if we prepare carefully and if we foresee any eventual... well... mess up... we should be able to get this thing complete in time.”

A woman on the crew side raised her hand.

“Yes,” I said.

“I’ve already set up décor for the formal dining room, the front foyer and the music room.  I’ve even planned for additional lighting and room for the crew to fit in there comfortably.  No one would ever guess that we are at the same Moon Manor as where Pride and Prejudice was filmed.”

“Great,” I said.  “I appreciate you taking the initiative.”

“If you care to have a look to make sure everything is to your liking...”

I nodded.  “I’ll be sure to do that... tonight... yes, tonight.  Of course, we’ll have many scenes shot outdoors and we’ll have to make sure the surroundings differ from our production of Pride and Prejudice.”

A young man raised his hand.

“Yes.”

“Miles Hurt at your service, Miss Keely.”

I smiled at his formality.  “And what do you do, Mr. Hurt.”

“Wardrobe, ma’am.  I have virtually everything that we need save for a few overcoats.”

Other crew members introduced themselves and their tasks.

“Thank you,” I said, satisfied to find the crew capable and very eager to do good work.

“Now.”  I looked at the cast.  “I’ll call out the name of the Jane Austin character and ask that the actor playing that role raise their hand.”

The entire cast nodded.

“Mr. Robert Martin,” I called out.

A huge bulk of a man with a golden tuft of hair raised his massive hand.

“Mr. Frank Churchill.”

A good-looking tall man raised his hand.

“Miss Jane Fairfax.”

A thin, redhead raised a shy hand.

“Augusta Elton”

A pinched face woman with airs befitting her role raised her hand.

“Mr. Elton.”

The square faced man with hard eyes and jet-black hair raised a finger.

“Miss Harriet Smith.”

A petite blonde raised her hand and smiled.

And on and on until I’d met the entire cast save one.  I had noticed his absence right away.  How could I not. 

“Where’s my Mr. Knightley?” I muttered to Ayra who’d come up beside me.

“That’s what I was trying to tell you earlier,” she said.

“You mean what you tried to avoid telling me,” I corrected.

She shrugged.  “I was kind of hoping he’d show up just in time to make your acquaintance.”

“Theodore Boynton, right?  That’s who was cast to play George Knightley, right?”

“Yes.”

“Teddy to those who know him well.”

“Right.”

“The same Teddy Boynton who is not only a super-hot male model, but he is supposedly dating one of the producers of this very movie.”

Ayra shrugged sheepishly.  “He is hot, and he is dating one of our producers...  Hannah Bernard.”

“And, as the love interest to Emma, he is also a very important part of this production.”

“I know, Keely,” she said apologetically.  “I called him a number of times but got no answer.  I also tried Hannah a few times, but no answer there, either.”

I turned to her, angry.  But the moment I saw her eyes, I knew that I couldn’t blame her.  She’d done a great job of getting everyone out and settled into Moon Manor.  She’d opened up her home to allow the cast and crew to be nearby, on hand, and had set them up in luxurious surroundings that were sure to put everyone in the right mood and the right time period.  It wasn’t her fault if one hot-headed model couldn’t be counted on to be here on time.

A beautiful, tall brunette came up to us.

“Miss Keely,” she said, her cheeks touched with the pink of a blush.

“Susie Sweets,” I said, instantly feeling the rush of blood to my cheeks as I recognized the young actress.  “Of course.  I’m so embarrassed.  I forgot to call out my most very important Emma Woodhouse.”

“I’m so pleased to meet you,” she said.

As Ayra had promised, she had a very sweet disposition and seemed wiser than her young age.  Also, I found myself caught off guard by the very American accent.

“Susie!” a crew member called out.  “If you want a piece of this chocolate cake, you’d better come quick.”

She smiled sheepishly and I nodded my permission for her to go.

“So?” Ayra said.  “What do you think?  She’s the perfect Emma, isn’t she.  She’s very young, lovely, likeable, and she is a classically trained actress.  She’s been at this since she was a kid.”

“Yes,” I muttered.  “I remember seeing her in a Christmas movie a decade or so ago.  She does seem much wiser than her years.  Is this her first British production?”

“No,” Ayra said.  “She’s been in virtually every Shakespeare play; Othello, Hamlet, MacBeth, Shrew... you name it.”

“What roles?”

“Desdemona, Ophelia, Lady MacBeth and Kate.  She’s also taken on smaller roles in Midsummer Night’s Dream and King Lear.”

Taking in the information, I nodded.

“An American production or a British one?”

“Well... American... the Globe in Oregon.  Why?”

I shrugged and let out a concerned sigh.  “Just curious,” I said.  “Just curious.”

“Coffee?”

I turned to see Hugh standing there.  He held a cup of coffee out to me.

“What are you doing here?” I said, not quite hiding my displeasure.  Then I noticed my father chatting with the set decorator.  “What are you guys doing down here?  I thought you’d gone up to your room.”

“Ah,” he said with a teasing sigh.  “The pleasant aroma of a good English coffee.”

I glanced at Ayra who smiled sheepishly.  “I guess we can’t always keep everyone out.”

“Sorry,” Jai said, coming up behind Ayra.  “I just mentioned that you two were having cake and coffee with the cast and crew, and they just had to come down to check it out.”

“Okay,” I muttered as I took the coffee cup from Hugh.  “Okay.  Fine.  They can mingle... for now.  But once we get started...”

“Yes, boss,” Ayra and Jai said with a laugh.

I secretly smiled as my father charmed the actress who was to play Mrs. Bates, and I couldn’t help but notice how the eyes of the younger actresses were all on Hugh.  Clearly, they were pleased by his presence.

THREE

“Okay!” I let out as I looked at the cast who’d gathered in the ballroom the next morning.  “We’re going to start at the beginning... that is Mr. and Mrs. Weston’s wedding.  Everyone in that scene... I want to see you in the formal dining room in ten minutes for a table read.  Oh, and from now on, I will refer to each of you by your character name.  Does anyone have an issue with that?”

They all shook their heads.

“Good,” I said with a clap of my hands.  “See you all in ten minutes.”

“What about Mr. Knightley?” Susie said.  “He still hasn’t arrived.”

I shot a glare at Ayra who pressed her lips tightly in apology.

“Shoot,” I muttered to myself.  I looked to Susie.  “I guess I’ll fill in for him this morning.”

Ten minutes later we were seated or some standing around the long formal dining table.

“Okay,” I said.  “This is a festive scene, a happy scene.  The focus will be on Mr. and Mrs. Weston, but I want everyone happy, happy, happy.  And... let’s go.”

The actors said their lines, having fun with the wedding scene.  The script added bits of gossip that had not been in the original work, as well as a few amusing anecdotes. 

When my turn came, I said Mr. Knightley’s line to Susie.  “You seem rather pleased with yourself, Emma.”

I waited for Emma’s response.

“I do fear you’re mistaken, Mr. Knightley.  I am filled with joy for Mr. and Mrs. Weston.  Do they not look so happy together?”

I froze and simply stared at her.

“The next line is yours,” Susie said.

“Yes,” I said.  “Yes, I know.  I... I just...”

“You forgot your British accent,” the older actress playing Mrs. Bates said.

Susie blushed.  “No.  I didn’t forget it.  I did my British accent.”

I smiled at her.  “I don’t think it came through as well as you might think.  Want to try it again?”

“Sure.”

“You seem rather pleased with yourself, Emma,” I said once again.

“I do fear you are mistaken, Mr. Knightley.  I am filled with joy...”

I shook my head, and my heart broke for the young actress who seemed totally devastated. 

“I am filled with joy for Mr. and Mrs. Weston.”

I shook my head again.

“You are mistaken.”

“Oh, dear.”

Her eyes welled up with tears.

“Don’t cry, honey,” I said as tenderly as the occasion would allow me.  Truth was, I was on the verge of a panic attack.  “We’ll figure this out.”

“Susie,” Ayra said.  “Have you not practiced your British accent.”

“Yes.  I have.  Every day I have.”

“Perhaps she should consult a dialect coach.”  Mrs. Weston suggested.

I didn’t want to berate Susie in front of everyone, but I felt it was a little late to consult a dialect coach.

“I’m sorry,” Ayra said.  “It’s a little late to consider a dialect coach.”

Thank you for speaking my mind, I wanted to say.

“I don’t understand.  I’ve read my lines repeatedly with a dear friend and...”  Her eyes went blank.  “Please, let me try again,” she said, her accent present on ‘please’ but absent on ‘try again’.

“I could sit and go over the lines with her,” Mrs. Weston offered.

I looked at Ayra, back at Susie and then at Mrs. Weston.

“You are mistaken, Mr. Knightley,” Susie said.

A round of shaking heads told her she hadn’t gotten it right.

“No?” Susie said, clearly troubled by her inability to speak proper British English.

“Um.”  I flipped through the script.  “Okay.”  I turned to Susie.  “Why don’t you go off with Mrs. Weston and go over your lines.”

I looked up to Mrs. Weston.  “Do you mind?”

“Not at all,” she said.  “It would be my pleasure, dear.”

“Good.  In the meantime, we’ll work on a scene where we have neither Emma nor Knightley.”

“What scene would that be?” Ayra said as she, too, quickly flipped through the pages of the script.

“I don’t know,” I muttered.  “It seems that one or the other is in every single scene.”

“Oh, I know,” Ayra said as she searched and found what she wanted.  She poked a determined finger at the page in question.  “Mr. Elton, the Vicar, and Miss Harriet Smith.  They have an awkward little scene together.”

“Perfect.”  I stood and looked at the cast.  “Miss Harriet.  Mr. Elton.  Does it suit you to rehearse your lines for the scene on page...”  I looked at the script.  “Page 34... and be ready in... let us say two hours?  The sky is clear and the sun warm, perfect for an outdoor shoot.”

“Sounds good to me,” Mr. Elton said.

“Miss Keely,” Harriet said.

“Yes?”

“Not to toot my own horn, but I must confess that I already know this scene quite well.  I am certain that a quick run through with Mr. Elton will suffice as rehearsal.  We would then be available for hair and wardrobe and therefore able to shoot this scene quite soon... if it pleases you.”

I smiled.  “That would truly be lovely.”  I turned to Mr. Elton.  “Do you feel you are as prepared for this scene as Harriet is?”

“I do, Miss Keely.”

“Fine.”  I took a step back.  “Let us hear it, if you two don’t mind.”

They ran through the scene, never missing a beat, never hesitating for a word and all while being quite convincing in their respective roles.

The cast applauded softly at the end of the scene.

“By Jove,” I let out.  “We may get this thing done after all.”  I pulled in a long, relieved breath and let it out.  “We’ll see you in the garden by the fountain as soon as you come out of hair and wardrobe.”

Turning on my heel, I rushed out of the room.  “Damn,” I muttered.  “Damn.  Damn.  Damn.”

“You okay?” Ayra said as she came up to walk with me.

“Mr. Knightley is absent and Emma, the one role that literally has the most lines to speak... she can’t even master a British accent.  Can anything else go wrong?  Will Harriet twist her ankle, or Mr. Elton stub his toe?”

“I’m sorry, Keely.  It’s my fault.  I should have insisted she get coached, but she’d assured me that her years of Shakespeare had left her with an excellent British accent.”

“What other scenes might you suggest we shoot without Emma or Knightley?”

“The children at play.”

I frowned, for a moment searching for a scene with children.  “Oh.  Yes.  You’re so right.  When Isabella comes for a visit with her children.”

“They have no lines and are simply to play as the adults have their mature conversations.  Seeing them at play outdoors would be nice.”

“I agree.  What else?”

“Harriet and Mr. Martin... Their brief moment together.  Or we could also look at some of the dancing sequences.  Knightley isn’t in all of them.  I happen to know that Susie has learned the choreography and is a pleasant dancer.”

I shook my head, stopped walking and turned to face her.  “I must confess, I’m reluctant to shoot any scenes with Emma, whether she speaks or not.”

“Why?”

“What do we do if she never gets the accent right?  Oh, heavens, I would be content with her merely managing it in the most minimal way.  But as it stands now... We would have to have Emma come from America.  We can’t do that.”

“You’re getting too far ahead of yourself.  Susie will learn the accent, and she’ll be a great Emma.”

I huffed and resumed walking.  “Let’s get the crew together and out in the garden to shoot this scene.”  I rushed on.  “I can’t believe we only have a month and already we’re off to a rotten start.”

*****

THE CREW MADE QUICK work of setting up for the shot.

“I want to start at this distance,” I called out a few yards from the pair.  “And we’ll close in on their discussion.”

Mr. Elton and Harriet stood by, waiting for directions.

“I want you two to stroll down the garden path, slowly, and stop here.”  I stopped atop a paving stone that was darker than the rest.  “Harriet will stop and turn to face Mr. Elton.”

The actors nodded.

“As soon as Mr. Elton tells you of his engagement, you will turn to sit on that bench and look forlorn into the distance.”

“Got it.”

“Okay!  Everybody ready.  Actors, get into place.  Quiet on the set, and... let’s go.”

The actors, both so professional and well-trained, got the scene down in only three takes.

“Very well done.  Thank you so much.  You may change out of your costumes.  I’ll let you know if we’re to do more scenes with you.”

Elton and Harriet left, and I turned to the crew.  “We’ll take a break, but I would like to attempt a few of the outdoors shots... you know, horse and carriage passing by, overview of Moon Manor... or rather Hartfield.”

Without waiting for a response, I turned to walk away, Ayra at my side.

“You don’t seem very pleased despite how well the scene went.”

I shrugged.  “Harriet is excellent.  I am more than pleased with her performance.  But the movie is called Emma not Harriet.”

Ayra chuckled.  “It certainly would be original to put more emphasis on Harriet than Emma.”

“Tempting as that may be, it won’t do.”

“I know,” she said as she struggled to keep up with me.  “I’m just trying to lighten the mood.”

I turned to look squarely at her.  “Find Knightley and teach Susie how to speak proper British.  I’m off to see my father and Hugh.”

I stormed off, immediately regretting my harsh manner.  But it could not be helped.  I was irate, impatient and increasingly pessimistic about the outcome of this movie.

I reached my father’s quarters, tapped lightly on the door and walked in without waiting for permission to do so.

“Keely,” my father said on seeing me.  He left behind the box he was rifling through and, with blue stretch gloves still on his hands, came to me.  “What brings you to the Lee Law wing of Moon Manor.”

He gave me a quick peck on the cheek and returned to his open box.

“You mean the Lee and Pembrook Law wing,” Hugh corrected.

Dad laughed as he returned to his box of documents.

“Nice to see you, Keely,” Hugh said.  “Donald and I were just saying how helpful it would be if you were to stop by and take a look at this.”

“Speak for yourself,” Dad said.  “I’m managing quite well. You are the one who needs my daughter’s help.”

“All right,” I said with a chuckle.  “Stop bickering, you two.  I’m here now and I’ll see what I can do to help.”

“You’re too proud for your own good, Donald,” Hugh said with a hearty laugh.

“Come,” Dad said as he waved me over.  “You can take a look through this box.”  He set a shallow box on the table in front of me.

“Don’t forget the gloves,” Hugh said.  “These pages are old and delicate.  If any of this does turn out to originate from Jane Austen’s hand, we want it as well preserved as possible.”

I slipped on a pair of gloves.  “And what, exactly, are we looking for?”

“For now, we’re just sorting what is obviously not of Jane’s writing,” Dad said.

I sat down and let out an exhausted breath.

“How was your first day of filming?” Hugh said.

“Don’t remind me,” I let out.

“Not good, huh?”

I sneered at him.

“Ooh,” he said with a pained grimace.  “That bad, huh?”

“One of my cast members is a no-show.  Damn Hollywood actors.  Oh, scratch that.  He’s a model.  A flaky, unreliable, empty-headed, self-inflated, over-rated scoundrel of a model.”

“Gee, Keely.  Tell us how you really feel.”

I huffed my indignation.

“Is he an important cast member?”

“Only one of the most important ones.  Like, he’s in nearly every scene.”

“It’s the first day of shooting,” my father said, instantly excusing the tardy actor.  “Perhaps his flight was delayed, or...”

“And his phone died?” I shot back.  “He can’t even be bothered to call to let us know what’s going on?  And, when called, he can’t be bothered to answer?  No.  He’s a flake and that’s all there is to it.”

“Maybe he’s dead,” Hugh said quite bluntly.

I grimaced at him.  “Leave it to you to lend an optimistic note to my worries.”

“Don’t look at me like that.  These things do happen, you know.”

“This particular actor just happens to be dating one of this movie’s producers and she isn’t answering her phone, either.  And yet, she has a vested interest in this movie.  It doesn’t make sense.”

“She might have been in the same car crash that killed the actor.”

I glared at him.  “Stop it.”

“Donald,” Hugh said.  “Please, tell your naïve daughter that people sometimes have accidents and die.”

“Drop it, Hugh,” Dad said with a harsh tone and crooked grin.

“Okay. Okay,” Hugh said.  “I suppose that this actor signed a contract, did he not?”

“Of course he did.”

“And the date of filming and the request that he be here on that date is in the contract.”

I shrugged.  “Ayra took care of the contract.  I don’t know the particulars.”

“And there could be no confusion as to the location of filming this movie?”

“Like I said, Ayra took care of it.”

“If this is a breach of contract... Here, why don’t you give me the coordinates of his agent and I can send him a rather nasty...”

“I’m not quite ready to litigate the issue... not yet.  Besides, that’s not going to do my production any good.  He’s in so many scenes... so many scenes.  I need an actor, not a lawsuit.”

“Maybe just a phone call to remind him of his obligations.”

“Hugh,” I muttered on the verge of frustrated tears.  “Please.  Just stop.  I’ll figure this out.”

He smiled, broad and joyful.

“Really?” I blurted out, my eyes burning with unshed tears.  “You find this amusing, Hugh?  My misery entertains you, Hugh?  Or are you simply that eager to see me fail?”

“Keely,” Dad snapped.  “Hugh is in no way happy to see you struggling... are you, Hugh?”

“Of course not,” Hugh said, his grin replaced by a look of concern.  “I’m more than eager to find a way to solve this situation.  I want to be a part of the solution, not add to the problem.”

“Then shut up and let me figure this out.”

“Keely,” Dad scolded.

“Oh,” I whined as I tossed the papers back into the box and stood.  “What a waste of time it’s been coming to see you two.”

“Keely,” Hugh said as he quickly stood and grabbed my elbow to turn me to him.  “Look at me.”

I looked up at him.  “Okay.  What?”

“Look at me.  What do you see?”

“What do I see?  I see you, Hugh.  What do you think I see.”

“Beyond Hugh, beyond the boy you’ve known all these years, beyond the lawyer who works with your father... what do you see?”

“I see a surfer dude turned lawyer who was the bane of my existence throughout my childhood.  I see a man who has bad timing when it comes to joking around, always kidding when it’s not time to kid at all.”

He licked his lips in frustration and tilted his head slightly to the side as he looked at me in earnest.  “What about the way I look?”

“Is your ego so fragile that you need me to flatter your looks now, Hugh?  What is all this?  What are you getting at... and please, get there quick because I am losing patience with your riddles.”

“Is this a face that could potentially be on billboards across America?”

I stepped back and took a good look at him; not as the boy I’d grown up with, or my father’s partner, or the lawyer who was so successful.  “Okay.  Yeah.  I guess women would like to see that face on a billboard.”

“So?  What do you say?”

“Are you trying to tell me that you would like to play Mr. Knightley?”  I chuckled and then bust out laughing.

He seemed offended by my laughter as he said, “Why not?”

“For starters, Mr. Knightley is said to be sixteen years older than Emma.”

“You signed that kid Teddy to play him, right?”

“Yeah.”

“He’s easily two years younger than I am, Keely.”

I looked to my father.  “You’re quiet all of a sudden.”

He shrugged.

“What do you think?  Should I try him?”

“You’re in a bind,” he said.  “Hugh is offering to help you.”  He shrugged once more.  “Why not give him a chance?”

FOUR

I looked at my father, then to Hugh and back to my father.  “This is insane,” I said.  “Hugh is a lawyer, not an...”

“Isn’t your Mr. Knightley a lawyer?” Hugh said.

“I assure you that playing a lawyer and being one in real life is not the same.”

“I know, but...”

“You forget, Keely, that Hugh took a few drama classes in college.”

“Oh, yes,” I muttered.  “I had forgotten about that.”

“Not just a few classes,” Hugh said.  “I was a drama major.  And I was pretty good, I must say.”

“And yet you left drama behind and turned to law.”

“I’ll have you know that my drama classes are of great help when caught up in the dramatics of the courtroom.”

“I’m sure,” I said.

“Look,” Hugh said.  “You have no time to waste and nothing to lose in giving me a chance.  So, what do you say?  I’ll exchange my help in your movie for your help in sorting all of this out,” he said, gesturing to the boxes of documents.

I hesitated.  He was right.  I didn’t have time to dawdle, and I had nothing to lose in giving him a chance.  If Teddy never showed up, I would have no movie to produce.

I let out a conceding sigh.

“Let’s set aside a few hours tonight to read over some lines,” Hugh said, already growing excited at the prospect.  “Give me the most difficult and emotionally charged scenes... then, if you deem it so, you can tell me that I don’t have what you need for this role.”

“Okay,” I said, quickly running through the script to find the scenes that I would most like to run through with him. “Okay.  Fair enough.  I have a few outdoor wide shots to look at, then after dinner, we’ll meet.”

“Really?”  he said, quite surprised. “Great.”

I looked at him.  He really was a good-looking man.  If I were to be honest with him, he was even better looking than Teddy.  His jaw was stronger, his hair thick and luscious, and his eyes piercing... captivating.  His voice was deep and commanding, but with the capacity to be soft and tender.  He had a flair, not only for law, but for drama.  I suddenly remembered a play I’d seen him in back in high school.

Oh, yes.  He’d been a hit, and the girls in attendance had instantly fallen in love with him.

And so would my audience.

Hmm.  You’re going to make Teddy look like a chump, I wanted to say.

“I’ll meet you back in your room,” I said.  “Let’s say, seven o’clock.”

“I’ll be there.”

“I’ll have a script sent to you.”

“Okay.”  He seemed so excited and eager.  “Can you tell me what scenes you’d like me to read?”

“Yes,” I said.  “I’ve considered one.  The outdoor scene where, during a game of storytelling, Emma insults Mrs. Bates by telling her that she must limit her dull stories to only three.  Knightley reprimands Emma quite strongly for being so rude and thoughtless.  I think that would be a good test of your capacity.  Over the course of the afternoon, I’ll find other scenes to test your talent.”

Smiling, I left the room and found myself floating on a cloud as I made my way back down the stairs.

Hugh as Mr. Knightley.  What an interesting change of course.

FIVE

The next day, with coffee cup in hand, I rushed out of the kitchen and almost ran into Ayra.

“Where are you off to?” she said.

“How did Mrs. Weston do with Susie?”

She shrugged.  “Not too well, I’m afraid.”

“Okay.  We need to hire a dialect coach, a real coach, not just a Brit who speaks properly.  I want someone who will teach her the mechanics of the accent.  And what about Teddy?  Any word?”

“No.  Nothing.”

“Have you spoken to his agent?”

“I have.”

“And?”

“It seems that he may have gone on a bender a few days back and... Well, his agent hadn’t heard much from him since then.”

“Okay.  So I want you to find an acting coach.”

“Acting?  For whom?”

“Hugh.”

“Hugh?  Your Hugh?  Can he act?”

“He’s not half bad,” I said.  Sipping my coffee, I looked at her over the rim of my cup.

She smiled.

“I ran through a few lines with him last night; the scene where Knightley scolds Emma after she is so rude in insulting Mrs. Bates.”

Ayra nodded knowingly.  “Mr. Churchill suggests to those at the picnic to tell one very interesting tale, two somewhat interesting tales or three very dull tales.”

“And Mrs. Bates states that she will have no trouble finding three dull tales.”

“And Emma says...”

“The problem, Mrs. Bates, is limiting yourself to only three tales,” we both called out with a laugh.

“That is a great scene to test Mr. Knightley,” Ayra said.  “He is, indeed, quite furious with Emma.”

“And, I must say, Hugh was very convincing,” I said, remembering the fear I’d actually felt as he’d shouted at me with restrained fury.  I’d almost found myself in tears, much as Emma had.

“If he’s so good, why do we need to find him a coach?”

“It couldn’t hurt.  Just to fine tune his talent.”

“Okay.  I’ll check around to see who could come out here to coach him... and Susie.  I’ll get back to you on that.”

“Thank you.”

“Is there anything else?”

“I was hoping we might shoot one of the dancing scenes.  At the very least I would like to see everyone involved in that scene in the ballroom for a dress rehearsal in an hour or so.”

“I’ll set it up.”

“Thanks again.  Now, I’m off to discuss Mr. Knightley with Hugh.  He’s reading the script, but I want to make sure he understands the Knightley that I want for this movie.”

“Good luck.”

I walked out onto the patio and found Hugh seated at the table, the script open in front of him and his lips moving as he read.

“I’m happy to see that you’re taking this role so seriously,” I said as I came up to sit with him.

He looked up and smiled.  “Any news from Ted?”

“No.”

He sat back and looked at me.  “Good.  I really think I’m going to enjoy this, unless you plan on being hard on me.”

“I’ll try to make it as painless as possible,” I said with a chuckle.

“Like I said last night, I’m going to need your direction, perhaps a bit more than your other actors.”

I shook my head.  “I’ll be there to direct you, but I doubt you’ll need more direction than the others.  From what I can gather, you have a firm grasp of Mr. Knightley.  Oh, we might have to tweak a few things here and there, but... you’ll do a good job.  I’m sure of it now.  You’ve convinced me.”

“Have you found other scenes that you would like me to read?”

Nodding, I reached for the script in front of him.  “Let me see.  There’s a scene... Mr. Knightley learns that Harriet has turned down Robert Martin proposal and realizes that Emma is behind the refusal.  Ah.  Here.”

I pushed the script back to him with my finger on Mr. Knightley’s response to Emma.  “You are angry.  Not furious, mind you.  You don’t agree with Emma’s assessment of Harriet, and you don’t appreciate her meddling.”

“Got it.”  He looked at the script, reading it over in his head before standing to deliver:

“Not Harriet’s equal?  No.  He is not her equal indeed for he is as much her superior in sense as in situation. 

Emma, your infatuation about that girl blinds you.  What are Harriet Smith’s claims either of birth, nature or education to any connection higher than Robert Martin.  She is the natural daughter of nobody knows whom with probably no settled provision at all and certainly no respectable relations.  She is known only as parlor- boarder at a common school.  She is not a sensible girl nor a girl of any information.  She has been taught nothing useful and is too young and too simple to have acquired anything herself.”

I watched him as he became Mr. Knightley.  He emoted just right; not over the top and not too subtle as to pass unnoticed.  And his accent... perfect, just as a British lawyer of the late 1800s should be.

Yes.  The audience would love him.  The light in his eyes, the curve of his lips, the heat of his controlled anger. 

“Keely?”

Yes.  Perfect.  So perfect.  I could see him in other scenes, on horseback, caught in the rain, covered with snow, dancing.  Oh, yes.  Dancing.

“Calling Keely!” Hugh said, snapping his fingers in front of my face.

“Huh?” I muttered, breaking out of my revery.  “What?”

“How was that?” Hugh said as he finished his speech and sat back down.

“I think you’ve captured the essence of Knightley.  Your scolding of Emma is balanced and well measured.  After all, we want Knightley to be likeable.”

“Indeed.”

I stood and prepared to leave.  “I should have a few free hours tonight.  We can read together again.  By the time our Emma learns her British dialect, you’ll be ready to shoot the scenes you have with her.  In the meantime, if it takes her longer than expected, we could shoot a few of the scenes that don’t include her.  Either way, I’m sure everything will go well.”

I turned to leave him.

“You’re welcome,” he called out.

Smiling, I turned back to him.  “Welcome?  For what?”

“It’s clear that you’re grateful for all that I’m doing to help you, and I want you to know... you’re welcome.”

I smiled, truly grateful.  “Thank you, Hugh.  I do appreciate your sacrifice.” 

We both laughed and I left him.

SIX

The ballroom was aptly decorated, well-lit and with plenty of room to move around.  The musicians were in place, the actors in their finest.  Several extras, while less elaborately dressed, still fit the time period.

“What’s your plan for capturing this scene?” Ayra said.

“I want to have a handheld camera that will circle the dancers.  We’ll have a run through with the camera set on the dancers, and another run focusing on the party goers.  If we have time, I’m hoping to get Elton’s rejection of Harriet.”

The extras were set around the perimeter of the room, Harriet stood alone, shifting nervously from one foot to the other.

I approached Bruce, one of the three camera operators.  “As you walk through that aisle with your focus on the dancers, focus on the professional dancers more than the main actors.  I have a feeling our actors might not be precise enough with the choreography.”

He nodded.

“Okay, everyone,” I called out.  “All the dancers on the dancefloor.  We’re going to run through the choreography once just so I can have a good look at you all.  If all is good, we’ll attempt a first shot where the focus will be a bit more on the upper body, your facial expressions... smile... we’re all happy in this scene.  It’s a festive occasion and... let’s try to not step on too many toes.”

The music began on my cue and the ballroom came alive with graceful movements.  The actors were better than I had anticipated, but still not on par with the professionals.

I was thrilled.

“Okay.  Looks good.  Now let’s get it on film.”  Everyone got into place once more, the music started and... “Action.”

The professional dancers were perfect, their movements elegant, poised and effortless.  However, Emma struggled and nearly collided with other dancers on more than one occasion.

“We’ll run through the same dance again, but the focus will be on Harriet.  Elton, I want your disdain for her clearly etched on your face as you pass her by.  And when Mrs. Weston suggest you ask Harriet to dance, I want to hear an audible huff of indignation.”

“Got it,” the actor said.

“Start the music, cue the dancers and... Action.”

I watched Harriet closely but noticed that Elton’s disdain bordered on disgust.

“Cut!”

Everyone looked at me.

“Lovely, Harriet.  Elton, very good, but perhaps a little too heavy with disgust.  Let’s pull it back a bit.”

“Very well.”

The music started up again and the dancers danced.  Elton passed by Harriet, his disdain on point and Harriet’s pained expression pure perfection.

“Cut!  That was great.  Perfect.”

The rest of the day was spent shooting various ballroom scenes.  While a few of the actors struggled, despite the simplified choreography, the overall vision of the scene was enchanting.

As nighttime fell, many actors complained of sore feet, squeezed toes and other aches and pains.  One actress had accidentally been elbowed and found herself with a nasty bruise on her upper arm.

“I think that’s enough for today,” I said to the exhausted cast and crew at the end of the day.  I looked at my schedule.  “Tomorrow we will tackle the pianoforte scene.  Churchill, Elton, Jane, Emma... I would like to see you all tomorrow morning before shooting begins.”

The actors nodded.

Script in hand, Ayra came to me as I left the ballroom.  “I don’t think they could have done another take even if you’d wanted to.”

“Yeah,” I said.  “I hope I didn’t push them too hard.”

“I don’t think so.  You stopped just in time.  Of course, the professional dancers could have given you a few more takes, but the actors... ouf... they’ve had enough.”

I nodded my agreement.

“What now?”

“Remind Susie that we will need her tomorrow for the pianoforte scene.  We’ll have her play... she only has a few lines in that scene.  Can you try to see that she is coached for those particular lines.  I can’t keep putting off her scenes.”

“I understand.  I’m told that she’s doing well with certain words, but to string many words together flusters her.”

“Is her coach any good?”

“One of the best.  A very dapper, semi-royal Elliot Eton.”

“Dapper?”

“Indeed.”

“Have I crossed his path?”

“I believe not.  He’s been rather cloistered with Susie for hours and hours.  She really is determined to do a good job of this.”

“Well,” I said with a huff, “I hope her determination will translate into results.  At this rate Hugh will be better prepared to play Knightley than she will to play Emma.”

I hurried off. 

“Are we having dinner together?” she called after me.

“No.  I’m going to run a few lines with Hugh.  But I would appreciate it if you could organize a meeting with Susie and this royal Eton fellow.  I want to hear her newly acquired British accent from her own mouth and I would like to assess Mr. Eton’s abilities.”

“Is eight o’clock good for you?”

“Perfect... in the front foyer.”

I rushed up the stairs, turned to the law wing of the estate and knocked on Hugh’s door.

“Enter, I pray you.”

I laughed as I opened the door and walked in.  My breath caught in my throat as I faced Mr. Knightley, complete with his late 1800s attire and hair.

“How fetching you look, Mr. Knightley.  Do you have a formal event to attend this evening?”

“I’ve yet to receive an invitation of interest, but I am willing to take into consideration of any suggestion you may have.”  His already charming British accent was altered ever so slightly, adding an elevated touch of nobility.

I laughed.  “You’re really taking this to heart.”

“I don’t want to disappoint you.  If this movie fails because of my mediocre performance, I will be heartbroken.”

“As will I,” I said with a smile.

“I’ve read through the entire script, my parts and those of everyone else, and I’ve re-read my lines over and over again.”

“Any questions?”

He shrugged.  “Mr. Knightley is enamored with the much younger Emma, but he hides his emotions... very much until the end.”

“Yes,” I said.  “The affections you have for Emma are not spoken until the end, but the love is there in your eyes, in the tender way you look at her, even when scolding her.  But this is subtle and nuanced.  I don’t want you looking at her with googly eyes.”

“I see.”

“There’s another aspect of Mr. Knightley that I’d not thought to consider.”

“Dancing, right?”

I laughed.  “Yes.  Dancing.  As you have read the entire script, you are aware that you will ask Harriet to dance with you and...”

“Dance with her.”

“Right.”  I pressed my lips together.  “We’ve spent the day shooting most of the ballroom scene.  Quite a headache, I must say.  But it would be nice if you were soon ready to shoot your part of that scene... the sooner the better.”

“Who will teach me the dance?”

“The choreographer.”

He came to me and grasped my hands.  “Tell you what... why don’t you go and give your dad a hand looking through the piles of documents that may have once belonged to Miss Austin, and I’ll go spend an hour or two... or three if need be... with your choreographer.”

I smiled.  “You’ve got a deal.  I have a meeting at eight o’clock, with an actor, but after that, I would like to see your progress if you don’t mind.”

“I’m a good dancer and a quick learner.”

“To be sure.”  Smiling, I patted his arm and left him to go find my father.

*****

“YOU LOOK TIRED,” DAD said as I poured over the documents that might have once been held by Jane Austin’s hand.

“Yes, a bit.  But I’m excited to work on this.  Just the thought that one of these pages might have been written by Jane.  The world would be ecstatic to learn of a new story by her.”

“See anything interesting so far?”

“Nothing that would confirm that any of this is truly from Jane.  But it is still quite interesting.”

“Have you had dinner?” Dad said after a half hour of silence.

“Oh, Dad.  I’m so sorry.  You must be starving.  Do you want me to go down and get you something?”

“I was referring to your hunger, my dear, not mine.”

“I’ll have to leave you in barely an hour or so.  I have a meeting at eight.  I’ll take a few moments to get a bite to eat before meeting them.”

He looked at me with that concern that always came about when I didn’t eat to his liking.

“For your information, Dad, I ate a very good chicken sandwich for lunch, accompanied by a tasty salad... and topped it off with a hefty slice of chocolate cake.”

He smiled.  “All right.  All right.  I’ll stop pestering you.”

“Hmm,” I sighed as I came upon a sheet of paper that drew my attention.  “Listen to this;

The lane made a slight bend and when that bend was passed Mr. Clayborne was immediately in sight. And so near as to give Anna time only to say father... ah, Antoinette here comes a very sudden trial of our stability in good thoughts.”

Dad looked at me with curiosity.  “I don’t get it.  What am I to surmise from that?”

“This is word for word a passage from the very movie I’m working on, Emma.  Only Mr. Elton has been replaced with Mr. Clayborne, Emma is now Anna, and Harriet has become Antoinette.”  Frowning, I read and re-read the short passage.  “So strange.  I’m absolutely certain that Jane Austin would never use such a passage twice in two different works.  Then again, if this was a counterfeit, it still doesn’t make sense to use Jane’s own words.”

“Let me see.”

I handed him the page.

“The handwriting is different from what I have.”  He handed me the page he’d been analyzing.

“Intriguing, to say the least.”  I looked at the page; the penmanship, the space between the words, between the lines, the force of the pen on paper.  “I think I may have a hypothesis.”

“I’m all ears.”

“Might Jane have offered writing classes and perhaps what you’re looking at is... I don’t know... an exercise of sorts, or a student who tried to pass this off as her own.”

I shook my head.  As I spoke the words aloud I realized how little sense it made.  With a huff I leaned back in my chair and continued to look through the box of documents.

The more I read, the more fascination I found with the situation.  I was simply not working on a case to help my father and Hugh.  I was delving into the past and trying to make a real connection with my idol.

Dizzy with concentration, I glanced at my watch and set the page down to stand.  “This is indeed quite an enigma.  I’ll have to consider what all this might mean.  However, for now, I’m off to have a bite for dinner and meet with my actor.”

I went to him and set a dry kiss on his temple.  “I promise to set aside more time to help you with this tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said.  “I know you’re on a tight schedule.  Do what you must.”

“To be sure.”  I nodded and headed out.  Stopping briefly in the kitchen to grab a wedge of cold pizza, no doubt ordered in by members of the crew, I then went on to the front foyer.

Entering, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Susie and Elliot were already there despite it being a quarter to eight.

“Good.  So good to see you both.  Mr. Eton,” I said as I came to the elegant man and held my hand out to him.  “What a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure is entirely mine, Miss Lee.”

“And how is your pupil doing?” I said, getting straight to the point.

“I find Mr. Eton quite amiable,” Susie said slowly and with a passing British accent.  “He is more patient than I deserve, never cross when I fail so miserably.”

I smiled, pleased with her progress, though words like more and cross were not quite right.

“Oh,” Susie cried out.  “I know it’s not perfect, but I’m getting better, aren’t I?”

Not wanting to discourage her, I smiled and nodded, though I was slightly disappointed.

“These things take time,” Elliot said, somehow sensing my disappointment.  He shot Susie an encouraging smile and she responded in kind.  “You see, she is learning received pronunciation and there are certain sounds many have trouble with.  Americans, I must say, have trouble with all of them.”

“Really,” I said, intrigued.  “Like what?”

“For the most part, people have trouble with virtually any word that ends with an ‘r’.  Words like never, for instance.  As in, never take my purse with me.”

“Nevah,” Susie said.  “Nevah take my puhse with me.  Oh.  It is so much more complicated than I could have ever imagined.”

Elliot reached out to pinch her cheeks slightly.  “Don’t forget to form that O shape with some of these words.  His fingers forged her lips into a squished O shape.”  He looked at me.  “It really is a question of re-training your mouth to work in ways you may not be accustomed to.”

“Well, one thing is clear,” I said.  “You two seem to get on quite well.”  I watched Susie.  “This will no doubt help your progress.”

“Just listening to Mr. Eton is enough to make me yearn to speak just like him.  He sounds so intelligent, so noble and regal.  I never tire hearing him speak.”

“Flattering your coach will get you nowhere, my dear,” Mr. Eton said with a teasing wag of his finger at her.

I hid a pleased smile as I watched them flirt so innocently with one another.  I suddenly understood what drove Emma to want to play matchmaker.  The desire to see them together, coupling and making a life with one another.  It was irresistible.

SEVEN

Standing before the large window that looked out onto the back patio, I watched Susie and Eton as they ran through the script together.  Even from a distance, I could see Eton shaping his mouth in an exaggerated manner to help Susie bring her own mouth to the same shape to allow her to better pronounce her words.

The bright sun peeking through the leaves of the trees, lit them in the most magical way.  I only wished I had a handheld camera to capture them.  It would make for a lovely scene... so romantic.

“How’s your star pupil doing?”

Startled, I jumped and turned to face Ayra’s broad grin.

“Ayra.  You frightened me to death.”

“Spying on the lovely pair?” she said, glimpsing over my shoulder.

“I’m not spying.  I’m admiring.  They really do work well together.  I am so pleased.  And, to answer your question, Susie is doing well.  She’s not quite there yet – certain words still trip her up – but she’s doing... well.”

Ayra joined me in watching them through the window.

“They do seem to get along quite well,” she said.

“They do, don’t they.  Quite a pair.  She is lovely and naïve while he is tall and imposing, so intelligent and mature.  I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but I do think something is brewing between the two of them.”

She looked at me with a quizzical gaze.  “Susie and Eton?  You think they’re... you know?”  She cocked a naughty brow.

I laughed and headed to the double doors that led out to the patio.  “I’m sure you have work to get to, Ayra,” I said with a teasing grin.

I headed out and came up to Eton and Susie.

“Oh, Miss Keely,” Eton said as he quickly jumped to his feet and reached out to take my hand.  “I was about to go looking for you to inform you of Miss Susie’s progress.  Fine pupil she is.  Truly fine.”

I smiled, shook his hand and pulled away from his hold.  “Well, I guess I’ve saved you the trouble of having to go in search of me.”

“Eton is so sweet,” Susie said, her eyes bright in admiration for the man.  “I don’t know where he finds the patience to hear me say the same word over and over again.  He is an angel.”

My smile broadened.  “I’m so pleased to see that you two are getting on so well.  It would have been awful to set you up with a tutor you didn’t appreciate.”

I looked at Eton then at Susie and back to Eton.  They were clearly meant for one another.

“Well,” Susie said as she stood.  “If we’re going to take a little break, I’m going to go off and... well... find the ladies’ room.”  And she quickly ran off.  “I’ll be right back,” she called over her shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” I said to Eton.  “I didn’t mean to cut into your lessons.”

He waved my apology away.  “Not at all.  It is always a pleasure conversing with you.  And, as you can see.”  He gestured toward Susie’s departure.  “Your timing is perfect.”

“Well, I just wanted to know how things were going and to thank you once again.”  I turned to leave.

“If I may,” Eton said as he gently set his hand on my forearm stopping my motion.  “Could I have a word with you?”

“Yes.  Of course.”

“I couldn’t help but notice that... well, with this movie being set in the late 1800s... it would appear that some of your actors, and many, many of your extras, lack... well, the proper mannerisms of the time.”

I frowned.  “Really?”  I was taken aback by his assessment.  “Ayra and I had done our best to research the manners of the era.”

“Oh,” he said, clearly fearful he’d offended me.  “It’s little things, I assure you.  Perhaps the sort of thing that the average moviegoer would never, ever notice, but to an eagle eye... well, it couldn’t hurt to fix these little issues.”

I hesitated.  Hiring him had added an unexpected expense to our modestly low budget.  His hours with Susie were costly enough.  If he were to spend additional hours with the cast...

“It wouldn’t take more than an hour or two with the extras.  Simple things like how to stand, how to hold their glass of wine, how to sit... little things like that.  Perhaps another hour or two with your main actors who will, of course, be more visible.”

“A few hours would be enough?”

He nodded as I made a quick mental calculation.

“The high-born class of Jane Austen’s book deserves no less.”

“You’re right,” I said.  “Of course, you are absolutely right.”

He clasped my hands in his and squeezed.  “Oh, Miss Keely.  You won’t regret it.  I will, in no time, have your entire cast and crew so elegant and regal, you will not believe it.  And any potential critic on the matter will be silenced.”

*****

AFTER INTRODUCING ETON to the cast and all the extras, I stood back to watch him take over.  He came to the head of the ballroom, eyeing them before speaking.

“Two things I want to concentrate on today,” he told them with only the slightest hint of haughtiness.  “Both relating to the propriety of gender relations.  Men and women did not socialize so easily back then.  Chaperones were a must, if one wanted to avoid rumors that could affect one’s reputation in a negative fashion.”

“I’m sure glad I live in these times and not back then,” a cheery extra shouted out.

A few snickered, but Eton was not amused in the slightest.

“One of the things to keep in mind in scenes such as a dinner party or ball.”  He pulled a fan from his back pocket and flicked it open.  “The innocent and unassuming fan.”

Dozens of brows furrowed in confusion, including mine.

“The language of fans when flirting with a man,” Eton went on.  “Today we see this simple implement as a manner of cooling oneself on a particularly hot day, but it is much more than that.”  He suddenly fanned himself with quick motions.  “Allow me to test you.  What do you believe this means?”

“It’s really, really hot,” a young cast member said.  “Perhaps so much so that you may faint any moment now.”

“Not at all,” Eton said.  “This indicates to the man in question that the lady is engaged.”

“Huh?” the crowd let out.

“And this...” he went on, now fanning himself with deliberately slow motions.

The crowd responded with a blank gaze.

“This is to show that one is married.”

A few of the younger women giggled.

“What about this?” He brought the handle part of the fan to his lips.

“A kiss,” a girl shouted.

He nodded with a pleased grin.  “It tells the man that he has permission to kiss her.”

He went on and on with the various meanings in the handling of a fan.  While much of it would not necessarily serve for the filming of my movie, it was interesting all the same.

“Now,” he said as he put the fan aside.  “Let’s move onto the second matter on my mind.  I wish to discuss future dance scenes and the subject of touching one another.”

“Dancing is always a good excuse to touch a woman,” a young man said.

“Indeed,” Eton said.  “But touching a woman was so rare and infrequent that the most minor touch... well, you could imagine what that could do to a man.  The simple touch of a hand was a big deal back then.  Hence, women wearing gloves at many a dance.”

I pressed my lips tight and closed my eyes.  The ballroom scene we’d filmed earlier did not include gloves.  Would we have to re-shoot that scene?  Damn!

“However, with or without gloves, the touch of hands during dance was not a warm or firm grasp of the other.  It was barely a touch of their fingertips.”

Again, I thought back to the ballroom scene and tried to remember the grasp the men had on the women’s hands.  If memory served, their touch was light and proper.

“May I?” Eton said as he came to me, his hand extended.

Surprised, I looked down at his hand and frowned.

“I would like to demonstrate,” he said.  “Would you mind serving as my partner?”

I could hardly refuse him, although I would have preferred he use an actress.

“Of course,” I finally said, setting my hand in his.

His touch was warm, but light as he brought me to the head of the ballroom.  Holding our hands up high, he looked out at the crowd.

“See that?” he said.  “Only the very tips of her fingers are in my hand.”

He slowly twirled me around, took two steps this way, and two steps that way.  He released my hand and turned himself and I did the same, giving my hand to him once again to carry on with the dance.

“All the while,” Eton said as we repeated the motions.  “Watch our hands, how little they touch.  No matter how we move, a gentle touch... a light touch... respectful, no matter how much we long to truly grasp the warmth of the woman’s hand.”

He stopped and smiled as he looked playfully into my eyes.  “Thank you so much for participating in the demonstration, Miss Keely.”

I nodded and backed away.

“That is all for today,” Eton said as he clapped his hands and ended his lesson.

The crowd applauded and I joined them, pleased with his work.  As the crowd dispersed, I turned to Ayra.

“Since he’ll be spending a bit more time here, could your set him up in a room?”

“Sure thing.”

I turned to walk away, but my hand was grasped in a tight hold.

“Pardon me, Miss Keely.”

I turned to Eton, his hand far from the propriety of Jane Austen’s days.

“Yes?” I said, lightly tugging my hand from his.

“I had a few pointers to give you as well,” he said.  “If you don’t mind, might we go someplace quiet and discuss them?”

I looked around, caught off guard by his request.  However, I nodded and led him to the front parlor.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said as we walked.  “This has nothing to do with you as a lady.  In fact, I am rather impressed by your poise and your composure.  Jane Austen would indeed approve.”

I smiled and gestured that he take a seat once we reached the parlor.

“Indeed,” he went on as he sat.  “I believe I’ve never met such a composed young lady as yourself.  Were you to be an actress in your own movie, you would not need my lessons, no lessons at all.  You carry yourself very well... much as Emma herself would.”

“I’m flattered.  But as it stands, Susie is playing the role of Emma.”

“And I fully intend to give her private lessons in how to carry herself as well.  After all, she has to remember that Emma is a character above all others.  She is a lady of class and good breeding.  How she moves, how she sits, how she speaks... all will be reviewed with Susie.”

“I’m happy to hear that.”

He pressed a strange smile.

“Is this what you wanted to speak to me about?” I said, confused by the entire exchange.

He reached out to grasp my hand.  “Actually, I just wanted to mention one little thing that I’ve noticed in the ballroom scenes.”

Uncomfortable with his hand over mine, I stood and paced the room.  “What would that be?”

He got up and came to stand a little too close to me.  “It’s a minor thing that I’m sure no one would notice, but...”

I took a step back.  “Yes?”

“Your dancers...the professional ones...”

“Yes?”

“They danced with the same partners for consecutive dances.”

I frowned.

“Indeed, yes.  It is frowned upon.  A lady ought not dance with the same partner lest rumors arise about their relationship.”

“Oh.  I didn’t realize.  Okay.”

I glanced toward the door to see Susie passing by.  “Oh,” I let out as I rushed to the door.  “Susie!  Susie, come.”

She came to me, her sweet smile all eager innocence.

“Mr. Eton has offered to give you private etiquette classes.”  I turned to Eton.  “Isn’t she such a lovely and charming Emma?”

Eton nodded respectfully and smiled at the young woman.

Grinning flatly, I nodded and took my leave.

EIGHT

Because of the unforeseen added expense of Mr. Eton’s services, room and board, we had to find a way to make the remainder of our small budget last. Ayra found a solution, and I stood facing our new makeup artist, Abbie, a young woman  barely out of her teens from the world of TikTok, who was also a member of the Jane Austen Association.

“She also knows how to do hair,” Ayra said after introducing me to the pretty lilac-haired girl with the intriguing vine tattoo creeping up her neck.  “I could show you some of her tutorials.  Very impressive what she can do... and with so little.”

Abbie smiled.  “I started out with leftover makeup from my mom and some of my aunts.  I discovered tricks to make a little go a long way.”

I nodded.  “Good thing.  We’re on a tight budget.”

Ayra nudged me with her elbow.  “Not only will we save on makeup but imagine what we’ll save in time.  She can do a full face in half the time.”

I looked through her makeup tutorials, impressed with how she was able to transform herself through makeup. Not only was she a beautiful makeup model, herself, but she was poised and charming.

“Do you do period makeup?” I asked.

Abbie’s eyes lit up, “It’s one of my favorites. I can do theatrical makeup and monster creations, like vampires and aliens, but my specialty is re-creating period makeup and hair especially Regency and Jane Austen style. Like Ayra said, I’m a member of the Jane Austen Association, UK branch.”

Ayra coughed and said, “Abbie used to be in our US branch, but since she’s met so many Jane Austen fans in the UK, she asked me if she can start a UK branch a few years ago.”

I nodded my head, very impressed. “Wow, you started a UK branch. Ayra, I didn’t even know.”

Ayra chuckled, looking a little embarrassed. “Now you do.”

“There’s a lot of members in the UK branch,” Abbie said. “They all went to see Keely Lee’s Pride and Prejudice, and now they can’t wait to see Keely Lee’s Emma.”

I smiled at Ayra and Abbie. “That’s amazing.” Then I thought about Susie. If there still was going to be an Emma.

*****

ABBIE PROVED TO BE more than efficient.  She worked fast, used half the makeup of our previous makeup artist, and she had a knack for colors, using wise tones to embellish the complexion of every actor and actress.

With a truly talented hair and makeup artist joining our team, we were able to work at a faster pace, and catch up on the days we were off schedule.

We ran through as many scenes as we could, but, a week later the time had finally come.  We had to get shots of Mr. Knightley and Emma.

“Susie and Hugh’s first scene together,” Ayra said, the open script spread open on her forearm.

“Yes,” I said with a heavy exhale.  “I can put it off no longer.  We’ve shot everything around the couple and today will be a true test.”

“Do you want to prepare for the shot, or should we hear them out... have Hugh and Susie rehearse their lines together?”

“A rehearsal,” I said.  “I want to be optimistic, but...”

“You doubt she’ll come through?”

I didn’t wish to answer her.  Walking away, I called over my shoulder, “Set up a quick rehearsal in the parlor in fifteen minutes.”

“We’ll be there.”

Feeling the need to rid myself of the nervous energy that took over me, I walked out and strolled the perimeter of the property.  The sun peeked through the clouds, brightening up the grounds with its brilliant greens.  And the gardens... It would have been a lovely day to shoot many of the exterior shots; Emma with Mr. Knightley, Emma with Harriet, Emma with Mr. Frank Churchill, Emma with Mrs. Bates.  Emma with everyone at the picnic.  Then there was Emma in the rain, Emma in the snow, Emma with her father.  Emma with... Emma with... Emma, Emma, Emma.

All rested on Susie’s shoulder now.  She had to master Emma.  She just had to.

I’d made my way back to the front entrance and entered, turning immediately to the parlor.  Susie and Hugh were already there.

“You’d like us to rehearse our lines?” Hugh said.

“If you don’t mind,” I said.

“To test my accent?” Susie said.

“Yes,” I admitted.  “But also, to see the chemistry between you two.  You’ve not spent much time together this past week, and that’s my mistake.  I should have ensured that you got to know one another, but... My mind was on other matters.”

“No problem,” Hugh said as he gingerly took Susie’s hand in his, careful to restrain his grasp on her digits.  “I’m certain we’ll get acquainted soon enough.”

“I would like you two to read your very first scene together.  Mr. Knightley, you are questioning her part in Mr. and Mrs. Weston’s marriage.”

“Right,” Hugh said, seemingly knowing what his lines were without even glimpsing his script.

However, Susie turned to the script on the small table, opened it to her first lines, mouthed through her parts and finally turned back to us.

“Got it,” she said.  “I’m ready.”

My mouth opened, prepared to call them to action, but my lips clamped shut and I turned to Susie.

“Far be it for me to give you any instruction or advice, but...”

She looked at me, all wide-eyed and ready to listen to whatever I might have to offer.

“Perhaps,” I went on, “if you were to, whether we’re shooting a scene, or rehearsing, or simply going on with your day to day... if you were to maintain you’re British accent at all times.  Even in your everyday conversations with other actors, or Ayra or myself.”

She nodded.  “Yes.  You’re right.  Absolutely.”

I smiled despite her lack of proper pronunciation of ‘absolutely’.

“All right,” I finally said.  “Let’s give this scene a try.”

Hugh was perfect as he stood, so stoic, so strong.  His lines were perfect, no hesitation, no artifice.  He simply was Mr. Knightley.

But Susie.  Poor, poor Susie.  Her pronunciation varied from thick cockney, vague Irish, to comical Aussie.  Barely a word was proper for a well-bred Brit.

“How was that?” Susie asked at the end of the scene.

“Let’s try another scene,” I said, hoping she’d warm up and do better.  I feared that showing my displeasure would put too much pressure on her and her nerves would prevent her from performing as I was sure she could.

But line and line, scene after scene proved horrible.

What am I going to do? I silently wondered.

“I know there are still words that I get wrong,” Susie said.

“Yes,” I said.  “Remember what I said.  Speak constantly in the proper British accent that Eton is showing you.  It should help you.”

“Right... I know the’e ah still wahds that I get wrong,” she repeated with great effort.

I smiled.  “That’s better.”

“Shall we shoot the scene?” she said.

“Not today.  Continue to read and re-read your lines.  Perhaps record yourself and listen.”

“Good idea.”

“We’ll see each other again tomorrow,” I said.

She left and I turned to Hugh.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“I’m sure she’ll get it.”

“When, Hugh?  When?  I’ve lost enough time as it is, and she is barely better than when she began.”  I looked pointedly at him.  “At least you’re doing a good job.  Moviegoers will absolutely fall in love with your Mr. Knightley.”

“You really think so?” he said with a cocky grin.

“Don’t get too full of yourself,” I said with a chuckle.  “But it does please me to see that I don’t have to worry about your performance.  Whether a simple scene of quiet conversation, or tender romance, or heated rebuke, you rise to the challenge.”

“I appreciate your praise.”

“You deserve it.  I remember you being quite good when you were a teen, but I didn’t really think you were this good.”

“It’s nice to know that I still have ways of surprising you.”

“That you do, Hugh.  That you do.”

“So,” he said more soberly.  “If you’re not going to shoot a scene, want to come up to see how we’re doing.  You haven’t come up these past days.”

I nodded.  “Yes.  I guess I may as well.  I’m not getting much done down here.”

We took to the stairs, Hugh running his lines with me all the way.  He was being so charming and witty.  I, now, couldn’t imagine making this movie without him.

“Tell me what amuses you so,” he said as Mr. Knightley.  “What brings such amusement to one side of the table while bringing such discomfort to the other.”

I smiled.  “I do believe that this scene is one of my favorites.  There’s something about hearing Mr. Knightley reprimand Emma in his particular manner.  You’re very good at that.”

“What, reprimanding?”

I chuckled.

“Are you saying that I’m good at reprimanding?”

“That is precisely what I said.”

Laughing, we both barged into the Lee Law office.

“What’s got you two laughing so uproariously?” Dad said.

“I was just telling Hugh how good he is at reprimanding.”  Noticing a new box beside him, I approached the large table.  “What do you have here?”

I reached into the box, but he quickly slapped my hand away. 

“Not without the proper gloves,” he said.

“Right.”  I slipped on the special gloves.  “Now will you tell me what you have?”

“I’ve been given very special permission,” Dad said.

“Your father has some very impressive connections,” Hugh said.  “More than I would have imagined.”

“Never underestimate your dear old dad.”

I gazed into the box.  “What are you saying?”

The delicate pages, browned around the edges, were all handwritten.

“Is this...?”

Dad nodded.  “I was granted the privilege to look at a portion of Jane’s manuscript written by her own hand.  There is no question about the authenticity of these pages.  They are, indeed, hers.”

“May I,” I said with reverence for my idol’s possession.

He nodded.

With a trembling hand, I reached into the box and pulled out a page.  “I can’t believe it,” I murmured.  “Jane herself once held this page.  She once labored over it, writing her heart’s story.  It was a page from Emma.  I recognized it right away.

“Donald knew you’d be thrilled,” Hugh said.  “He was very eager to show you this.”

“I need to sit down,” I said as I fell back into the chair that Hugh very quickly brought behind me.  “Oh, my.  I can’t believe it.  She wrote this.  Look.  Look at her ‘Ls’ and her ‘Es’.  Oh, what an elegant hand.”

“There seemed to be moments where she wrote more hastily,” Dad said as he showed me another page.

“Oh.  Yes,” I agreed.  “But it is still clearly her hand.”

“Indeed.”

“But, Dad,” I said, still staring at the page, my eyes lingering over the formation of every word.  “Why?  What are you going to do with something so precious?”

“I feel that analyzing her manner with storytelling isn’t enough.  We need to compare handwriting.  We need a point of comparison.  The best way to know if what we have is Jane’s is to compare it to something that has already been authenticated as such.”

“I see,” I said with a nod.  “Have you hired a handwriting specialist?”

“No,” Dad said.  “Why would we?  We have you?”

“But Dad.  I don’t know how to analyze handwriting.  I really think you’ll need an expert in this field.  I mean, I know about Jane’s style, her way of telling a story, but her actual handwriting....”

“Keely,” he said as he set his hand over mine.  “The manuscript that we’re examining belongs to a special client.  This client bought it, at an impressive cost I might add, and he suspects that he may have made a mistake.  He fears that it may not be Jane Austen’s work at all.”

“That still doesn’t explain... I mean... How am I supposed to know?”

“Our client was very insistent.  He wants the manuscript to be examined by someone who knows Jane Austen’s work backward and forward.  Someone who knows the work so well that they might turn the story into another medium.

“Like a movie.  Like a film,” I said.

Dad nodded.  “Like a movie.  Like a film.”

I nodded.  “The value is being able to say it is a lost work based on Jane Austen.”

“Something like that,” he said, “But it has to be close enough to being so, and we will also have a rare books authenticator, too,”

“Okay,” I said.  “Okay.  Whatever you say.  I’m just thrilled to be a part of all this.” I couldn’t help but gush.  I felt like a teenager getting a letter from my idol.  “It’s more than I could have ever hoped for; to lay my eyes on Jane’s handwritten manuscript.  Wow.  Such a thrill.  Such a privilege.  Wow.”

NINE

I read page after page.  Despite knowing the story of Emma by heart, anticipating every line to come, reading it in Jane’s hand was like reading it for the first time.

The hours flew by, the sun went down, and the moon made an appearance.  I turned on the light and sat back down.

“Nope.  Not for me,” Dad said.  “The moment we turn on the lights is the moment I head off to my room.  Besides, I’ve had enough for today.” He gently patted my head and went to the door.

“Hold up, Donald,” Hugh said.  “I’m ready to call it a night as well.”  At the door, he turned to me.  “Don’t stay up too late with this.”

“I won’t,” I said without looking up from my page.  “Only a few more pages.”

I was just finishing up the Box Hill scene and wanted to finish it.

The appearance of the servants looking out for them to give notice of the carriages was a joyful sight.  And even the bustle of collecting and preparing to depart and the solicitude of Mrs. Elton to have her carriage first were gladly endured in the prospect of the quiet drive home which was to close the very questionable enjoyments of this day of pleasure.  Such another scheme composed of so many ill-assorted people, she hoped never to be betrayed into again.

I sighed as I continued to read one of my very favorite scenes.  Yes.  Knightley’s reproach of Emma’s actions.

I cannot see you acting wrong without a remonstrance.  How could you be so unfeeling to Miss Bates.  How could you be so insolent in your wit to a woman of her character, age and situation.  Emma, I had not thought it possible.

What a scene, I thought as I continued to read.  What a wonderful writer Jane was.  What vocabulary.  Her choice of words, her turn of phrase, her play of emotions.

I read to the end of the chapter and, having promised myself to stop at that point, glanced at the next chapter just waiting to be read.  It would have to wait.

I took a break from the authentic Emma manuscript and looked at the supposed manuscript my father’s client had purchased.  It certainly looked promising with many similarities.  As tired as I was, I compared many of the words... yes, promising indeed.

But, after analyzing a half dozen pages, I returned to the comfort of Emma.

Growing stiff with the straight chair I sat on, I picked up the manuscript and brought it to the softer and cozier armchair.

I read, and read, and read some more.  My eyes burned, but I read on.  My eyes closed, but I popped them open once more, promising just one more chapter.

But sleep finally took over.  I nodded off and strolled Box Hill, chatting with Frank Churchill and laughing with Harriet.  Mr. Knightley did not scold me.  He took my hand and asked me to dance.  His voice was warm and so gentle as he called my name.

“Keely.  Keely.”

Not Emma, but Keely.  Mr. Knightley was calling to me.

“Keely.  Wake up, Keely.”

“I don’t want this dance to end,” I muttered.

“Wake up.”

I opened my eyes and faced Mr. Knightley... oh, Hugh.  Yes.

“Hugh!” I said, jumping to my feet.  “Hugh?”

The manuscript that had laid on my lap was now on the floor.

“Yes,” he said as he bent down to pick up the manuscript.  “Who were you expecting?”  He set the pages on the table.

I shook my head and frowned as I got my bearings.  I was still in the Lee Law room, surrounded by Jane’s writings.

“Oh, I guess I must have fallen asleep.”

“You don’t say.”

I sniffed the air.  “What smells so good?”

“Seeing how you worked through the night, I thought you deserved a good breakfast.”  He took a cup of coffee from the table behind me and held it up.  “Coffee?”

I smiled.  “Oh, yes.  Yes.  Yes.  Coffee would be great.”

“And we have some fresh hot croissants, slathered with butter and homemade strawberry jam.”

“Ah, you remember,” I said as I reached for the croissant and took a huge bite.  I sat back down in the armchair.

“It always was your favorite.”

“This is sort of like the old days, isn’t it?  You bringing me coffee and croissant, just like when we went to high school.”

“Those were the days, were they not?”

“Things were certainly a lot simpler than they are now.”  I chewed on another mouthful of croissant and looked at him.

Mr. Knightley indeed.  He was freshly shaven, his cheeks smooth, and his hair still damp from an early morning shower.  But contrary to the dapper attire of my Mr. Knightley, he wore a light grey T-shirt and dark shorts.

He smelled nice and I leaned in slightly to better breath in his scent.

“You okay?” he said with a chuckle.

His big, bright smile and the playfulness in his eyes.  How had I never noticed before just how appealing he really was?

I suddenly felt so uneasy.  A strange and unfamiliar sensation filled me, and I set the croissant aside.

“You don’t want it anymore?” Hugh said.

Shaking my head, I got to my feet and ran my hands through my hair.  Painfully conscious of how awful I looked, I felt the need to run back to my room and shower.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing,” I said, brushing him off.  Just that you’re looking drop dead gorgeous and here I am slumping around like an old shoe.

A flurry of activity took over my belly and I had to wonder why I suddenly cared what Hugh thought about how I looked.  It had never bothered me before, not in the slightest.

“I have to go take a shower,” I suddenly blurted out.  “I have an awful headache.  Sleeping in that armchair wasn’t a good idea... not that I’d planned it that way.”

“Well, that’s certainly proof that you are, indeed, Donald Lee’s daughter.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched him pour over documents well into the night, how many times I arrived early at the office only to find him already there, just up from a night of sleeping on his office couch.”

I pressed a smile.  “Yes.  I guess I do get it from him.  And, well, it’s Jane Austen’s own handwriting.  I simply couldn’t get enough of it.”

“Sit down and finish your coffee and croissant,” Hugh said.  “You can go take a shower after.”

“Ugh,” I moaned.  “I look a mess.”

“I’ve seen you looking worse.”

“Thanks,” I groaned.

He smiled.  This really wasn’t the time to be so incredibly charming.

I sat down and bit into my half-eaten croissant.

“Besides, I’m dying to know,” he said.

“Know what?” I said, suddenly wondering if he’d read more into my strange reaction than I’d hoped.

“What you think?”

“Think about what?”

“Keely.  The manuscript.  What do you think about the manuscript?”

“Oh, right.  Yes.  Oh.  I looked back and forth at the original Emma and this newfound manuscript.  Of course there are differences here and there, but... darn it.  It really does look like it might be hers.”

“Really?”

“Do you think someone could have learned to write as she did?”

I shrugged.  “I guess anything is possible.  And, of course, I’m no expert...”

“But...?”

“But, I think there are motions of the pen that are difficult to emulate so consistently.  You would think that at some point, one would slip up and write an ‘a’ or an ‘e’ as they normally would, rather than in the manner Jane did.  Some of her capital letters are particular and difficult to copy without a whole lot of practice.”

“What of the characters and plots and twists?”

“I haven’t finished it all, but... it certainly is within the expectations of a story by Jane.”

Hugh nodded.  “I thought so as well, as did our client.  After all, that is the sole reason for purchasing the manuscript.”

I looked at the boxes of documents.  “I know that your client must be very eager to know whether he’s been duped or not, but...  Hugh, I have a lot of work to do here with the movie, and that’s where my main focus is.  As much as I love getting my hands on Jane Austen’s original writings, I have to get this movie done.  If I don’t finish this movie in time and on budget, it could very well be the last movie I direct.”

“I’m not worried,” Hugh said with great confidence.  “I know you, Keely.  You are one of the most determined and perseverant women I know.  Damn, you could even give your father a run for his money.  You know, I’ve yet to meet a woman who is more fascinating, more crazy and more irritating than you are.”

“Irritating?  Me?  How am I irritating?”

“Hmm,” Hugh sigh, feigning deep thought.  “Let’s see.  How about your little habit of butting into other people’s affairs.”

I laughed off his accusation.  “That’s silly.  I don’t do that at all.”

“Indeed, you do.  It is very silly of you to meddle in people’s emotional relationships.”

I picked off the flaky top layer of my croissant and gingerly put the small flake in my mouth.  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Really?  What about Susie and Eton?”

“What about them?”

“I’ve seen the way you’ve been pushing them to spend more and more time together.”

“Of course.  He is tutoring her, you know.  He has to spend time with her.”

“At dinner the other night, you went out of your way to ensure they were seated side by side.”

I took the last and final bite of my croissant.

“And I know that you’ve arranged for him to have a room here at Moon Manor and that his room is only a few doors away from hers.”

Aloof, I glanced around the room.

“Keely.  It’s obvious what you’re doing.  Perhaps the cast and crew are too busy with their own lives to notice, but it’s clear to someone who knows you the way I know you.”

“You’re making a big thing out of nothing, Hugh.”

“He’s not into her, Keely.  Eton looks upon Susie as his student.  Nothing more.”

“You’re wrong.  He finds her charming and sweet.”

“Everyone finds her charming and sweet.  She is, indeed, charming and sweet.  But that doesn’t change the fact that Eton isn’t into her.”

“But...”

“And she’s not particularly fond of him, either.  She’s just trying to please you by spending as much time with him as you push her to.”

“I do not,” I suddenly blurted out. 

“You do not, what?”

“Butt into other people’s affairs.”

Hugh smiled, that big brother looking down on his little sister smile.  I was in no mood to see that particular smile.  He tweaked my nose, adding to my displeasure.

“Admit it, Keely.  Sometimes you like to give your opinion, your advice, your suggestions to people who don’t want or need it.  It’s adorable and I know your heart is in the right place, but... you need to stop.”

I nodded.

“You really are cute when you pout,” he said.

“I’m not pouting,” I shot back feeling like a fourteen-year-old

all over again.  I reached up to playfully slap him, but he caught my hand.

“You never did like it when I caught you doing something you weren’t supposed to do.”

The heat of his hand on mine burned and I found myself grasping his hand.

“Let go,” I said, pulling my hand away all while still grasping his.  “Let go.”

He laughed.  “You’re the one holding onto me.  You let go.”

“Hugh,” I said, gaining my composure.  I released his hand.  “You’re wrong about this.  Look, you take care of this manuscript business and make sure you play Mr. Knightley correctly.  The rest... leave it to me.”

“Matchmaking should be left to the experts.  You are basing this relationship on what?  On pure romantic fantasy?  You already have so much on your plate.  Drop the matchmaking business.”

I shook my head.  “They are so perfect together.  You don’t get to see them the way I do.  Besides, the more time she spends with Eton, the better her British accent will be, not to mention how he’s coaching her on etiquette.  He has such a way about him, it rubs off on anyone who is around him.  It’s bound to rub off on Susie as well.”

TEN

“Mr. Eton,” I called as I rushed down the hall the next day.  “Mr. Eton.”

“Oh, Miss Keely,” he said, turning to me.  “What a pleasure seeing you this morning.  How lovely you look.”

“Thank you,” I said, rather offhandedly.  “I was wondering if I could have a word with you.”

“Of course.  It would be my pleasure.”

I gestured toward the parlor.

“What can I do for you, lovely lady?” he said as we entered the room and sat down.

“Mr. Eton, I am more than...”

“Please.  Please,” he said, lightly tapping the top of my hand.  “We’ve known each other for quite some time now.  I do believe that we can drop the ‘mister’.  Don’t you?”

Smiling, I nodded.  “Very well.  Eton, I am more than pleased with the work you’ve done here, not only with Susie but with the entire cast.  I want you to know just how much I appreciate you.”

Pleased, he smiled and took my hand in his, settling his other hand atop mine.  “Keely.  Dear, sweet Keely.  You work so hard.  I can clearly see every day that I am here, the effort and energy you are putting into this project.  It pleases me so to know that I am a part of that effort, and ultimately, of your success with this project, for I have no doubt that it will, indeed, be a success.”

“I’m so happy to hear that, Eton.  I was hoping to ask you to spend more time with Susie.  I’m afraid she’s not improving as quickly as I would have liked.  Would it be possible for you to... let’s say, double your time with her?”

He smiled, a smile that proved to me beyond all doubt that Hugh was wrong about my pairing Eton and Susie together.  Eton was clearly charmed by Susie and eager to spend more time with her.

“It would be my upmost pleasure,” Eton said, tightening his hold on my hand.  “Anything, my dear Keely, to make this process more pleasant and less stressful for you.”

“You are a dear,” I said.  “And of course, I will compensate you for your additional time.”

He nodded.  “Thank you.  But, since you’ve seen to it that I am housed here in such a grand manner, I will cut my rate by 25%.”

“Mr. Eton.”

“Ah, ah, ah,” he chastised.

“Yes... Eton, that is such a gift.  You have no idea.”

“It is very much my pleasure, Keely.  Very much.”

*****

FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS, Eton was a perfect gentleman with Susie, so attentive and charming.  And then... the day finally came.

“We will shoot the scene with Mrs. Weston and Emma... when Mrs. Weston informs Emma of Mr. Churchill’s marriage to Jane Fairfax.”

Susie smiled, eager to get started.  “I am ready, Miss Keely.  I’ve already been to hair and makeup, certain that I would be shooting a scene... any scene.”

“That’s very good.”

“What of my dress?  Is it appropriate?”

“No,” I said.  “Rush back to wardrobe and tell them you need the pale green dress, the one with the ribbons at the shoulder.”

Nodding, she rushed off.

“Ayra!” I called out.

Leaving the crew she’d been talking to, she came to me.  “What is it?”

“We’re going to be going to Mrs. Weston parlor.  Do you know where that’s been set up?”

“One of the larger upstairs bedrooms at the end of the hall.  It’s been completely transformed to play the part of Mrs. Weston’s parlor, and I do think you’ll like it.”

I couldn’t believe I did not find the time to go visit each set.  But that was a whole other matter.  Fortunately, I trusted Ayra implicitly, and if she said the bedroom was completely transformed, then it was completely transformed.

“Good.  Tell the crew to meet us up there,” I told her.  “And Mrs. Weston.  Do you know where she is?”

“She’s been parading around all morning.  Her hair and makeup is done and she’s wearing the dark, heavy dress.”

“Perfect.  Find her and send her up.”

“Will do.”  She returned to the crew while I turned to go find Susie. 

By the time I’d reached wardrobe, she was nearly dressed.  All that remained were her shoes.

“Lovely,” I said on seeing her.  “Truly lovely.”

“Thank you,” she said with a bright smile.  “I’m ready.”

“Good.”  We headed out.  “You remember this scene?” I said as I led the way up the stairs to the parlor set.

Though she nodded, her brow furrowed.

“You’ve been called to see Mrs. Weston but you have no idea why.  The entire way here, you’ve imagined horrible things happening to her and now that you face her...”

“Yes,” Susie said.  “I remember.  This is where I learn of Mr. Churchill’s marriage.”

“Right.”

We arrived and I opened the door.  Indeed, the plain bedroom had been transformed, and I couldn’t help but smile.  It was the perfect little parlor, just as Mrs. Weston would have.  Ayra was doing such a great job staying one step ahead of me.

“Now,” I said to Susie. “Mrs. Weston will be seated here as you arrive.”

As if on cue, Mrs. Weston walked in.

“Ayra said you wanted me?”

“Yes.  Good.  I’m glad you’re both here.  The crew should be up in a second.

I pulled the women to the far end of the room.  “Mrs. Weston, you will sit here.”

As she nodded, the crew members arrived and busied themselves setting up the shot.

“Susie,” I went on, pointing to the door.  “You’ll walk in through there and quickly make your way to Mrs. Weston.  Remember, you are concerned and worried, fearful that Mrs. Weston may be ill.  You’re even a little out of breath.  Nothing overdramatic, just a slight shortness of breath.”

Susie nodded.  “Got it.”

“You know your lines?”

She again nodded.

“Okay.”  I turned to the crew.  “You guys ready?”

“Ready to go.”

I backed out of the camera’s view and went to stand by Ayra, her open script on her arm.

Mrs. Weston sat down, while Emma walked out the door to await my cue.

The set fell silent.

“Action.”

“Oh, Mrs. Weston,” Emma said as she rushed in, but in her haste, she tripped over her dress.

“Cut!”

“I’m so dreadfully sorry,” Susie said with a perfect British accent.

“No worries.”  I went to her.  “Is the dress too long.  Let me see you walk.”

The dress was perfect, but when she rushed, her feet would tangle up with the skirt of the dress.

“Let’s slow you down a bit and pick up the skirt ever so slightly.”

She nodded her understanding.

Once again, she left the room and...

“Action!”

“Oh, Mrs. Weston,” Emma said as she rushed in and went to the woman.  “I am a mess with concern.  Whatever could have you sending for me in this manner?  Please, do not keep it to yourself.  You must share your concerns with me.”

“I shall, my dear Emma.”

I smiled as the scene played out.  Susie’s Emma was well measured and charming with her concern for her childhood governess who’d remained such a good friend after her marriage to Mr. Weston.

Her accent, although not perfect, was definitely passable.  Oh, yes.  Critics would point to a little lapse here and there, but the fans would love this Emma.

“Oh my,” Emma let out.  “But what of poor Harriet.  How will I tell her?”

“Harriet?” Mrs. Weston said.

Yes, I thought.  Perfect.  Don’t let up, Susie.  You’ve got this.

The scene ended, perfect in one take.

“Cut!” I called out, ecstatic.  For the first time, I felt we were truly progressing.

Susie looked at me, the question plain in her eyes.

“That was perfect, Susie.  You are the Emma I’d hoped for.”

Her face lit up with joy.

I thanked the crew, congratulated Mrs. Weston then walked out with Susie.

“I’m very pleased,” I said.  “You’ve improved greatly.”

“Your advice to speak constantly with this British accent has helped quite a lot.  If anything, now I fear that when I return to America, I will still have this accent.”

“I don’t think that will be a problem.  But tell me... what of your time with Eton?  Was that helpful?”

“Oh, well that goes without saying,” she gushed.  “He never fails to be so patient with me.  He is truly a saint.”

“I feared you might grow tired of spending so much time with him,” I lied, for I’d not feared this at all.

“Oh, no,” she said.  “Not at all.  It is always a pleasure spending time with him.  A great pleasure, indeed.  He is so gentlemanly, so sophisticated.”

I smiled, more than pleased with myself.  “I’m happy to hear that.  Though you’ve improved greatly, I do hope you will continue to spend time with him.  I would hate to have you lose the progress you’ve made.”

“I fully intend to do just that, Miss Keely.”

We arrived at the door to her private quarters.

“Once again, Susie, great work.  Truly.”

She nodded demurely and retreated into her room.

Floating on a cloud, I went in search of Eton.  Oh, yes.  My matchmaking was on point.  And Hugh was so wrong, so very wrong.

On inquiring about his whereabouts, I learned that Eton was resting in his quarters, only a few doors down from Susie’s.

Eager to share my good news with him, I knocked lightly on the door.  The door quickly opened, and I was greeted with Eton’s bright smile.

“Miss Keely.  What a surprise.  How wonderful to see you at my door.  Do come in, please.”  He opened the door wide and gestured for me to enter.

“I was told you were resting,” I said as I entered his slightly disheveled room.  “I do hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“Absolutely not,” he said as he tidied up the few articles of clothing that were draped over the back of a chair, and the loose sheets of paper strewn across the bed.  “It’s a pleasure.  Always a pleasure.”

He seemed uncharacteristically nervous, and I couldn’t help but wonder why.  Had he known of the scene I was to shoot with Susie, and he feared she’d fail once again?

“Eton, I can see that you are a bit nervous, but I must assure you; Susie did a wonderful job today.”  I sat on the edge of his bed, hoping to convey just how calm I was.  I didn’t want him to see me as his boss, but rather as a very pleased client.  “Fear not, she still needs to spend time with you, and I fully intend to keep you on board.  But her progress is very promising.  In her short scene that was concluded just moments ago, there may have been the slightest slip on only two words.  Nothing to fret.  I’m very pleased with you, and insist you remain on board.  I don’t know what I’d do without you.  And Susie.  Susie adores you and wishes to continue her lessons with you.”

“Oh, Miss Keely,” he said as he rushed to sit by my side... very close to my side.

I scooted away just a touch.

“Miss Keely,” he gushed, scooting closer to me.  He was excited with my news, perhaps a little too much. “I am elated.  More than I could have ever imagined.  It is such an honor to know that one with such charm and elegance could be smitten by humble little me.”

“You deserve it, Eton,” I said.  Already at the head of the bed, partially seated on his pillow, I simply leaned back as he persistently leaned toward me.

“I’m so happy to see that you feel the same, for I’ve not been able to think of much else.”

Laughing, I leaned into him, grasping his arm in a friendly manner.  “I knew you liked her.  I just knew it.”

He backed up, gaping.  “Her?  What her?  Who is this her?”

“Why, Mr. Eton, Susie, of course.  She is such a wonderful girl, quite worthy of your admiration.”

“Susie?”

“Yes.  Of course.  You two are such a lovely couple.  So charming in every way.”

“My dear Keely.  Susie is a very lovely girl.  A very innocent and naïve girl.  But still... a mere girl.  My admiration seeks more maturity.  My admiration seeks a woman... a real woman who knows her worth.  A woman just like yourself, so beautiful and elegant in every way.”

“What are you saying, Mr. Eton?”

He grasped my hand in a tight hold.  “I’ve been unable to think of anything since our private meeting only two days ago.  Since then... well, my thoughts have been on one thing, and one thing alone.  You.”

“Me?” I said, my shock obvious in the high pitched lilt of my voice.  No. No. No!  This could not be.

“Why, yes.  Of course.  I’ve thought of nothing else.  The warmth of your hand in mine.  Your appreciation of me.  Your very, very clear intent to keep me nearby.”

“But, Mr. Eton.”

“Ah, ah, ah,” he reprimanded, bringing the index finger from his free hand to my lips.

“Eton.”  I said simply.

“I adore you, Keely.  Everything about you.  I want to be with you.  I need to be with you.  A woman of your caliber... yes.  The woman I’ve always dreamed of meeting.”

He leaned in to kiss me and I instantly jumped off the bed, tripped over myself and fell back into the nearby armchair.  In as close to panic as I’ve ever been, I scrambled to my feet and ran for the door.

“Keely,” he called out as he hopped off the bed and came to me.

I pushed him back, shoving him much harder than I would have thought myself capable off.  He fell seated on the floor. 

“Stop it!” I shouted as I fumbled a second with the doorknob.  I finally opened the door, rushed out and slammed it shut.

No.  Oh no!

“Keely!” he called through the door.

I turned to see Susie coming my way and went to meet her.

“I was just about to go see Eton,” Susie said, her smile pure innocence.

“Susie,” I said, more breathless than I should have been.  “Susie, I have to tell you... Eton is not the man you think him to be.”

“Keely!” Eton shouted as he opened the door.  “Keely!”

Susie turned to go to him.  “Eton, I was just about to come knock on your...”

But he shoved her aside with a ruthless hand and rushed to me.

“Eton?” Susie said, hurt and confused.  “Eton!”

In a fury, he stopped and turned on his heel.  “What?” he shouted at her.  “What do you want of me, you child?”

Ignoring his anger, Susie, forever the optimistic romantic, came to him.  “You know, there is a woman here who would very much like to spend extra time with you.”

Eton looked down at her, back at me and then to her again.  “Who?  Keely?”

“Keely?  No, Eton.  Me, silly.  I came to see you.  I thought you’d be pleased.”

“Pleased?” he said gazing up at the ceiling in an exaggerated manner.  “Oh, poor girl.”

My heart broke for the innocent young girl who looked at Eton with open adoration.

“I do not wish to see you,” Eton went on with such harshness.  “Not now, not tomorrow and not next week.  You’ve worn my patience to the point of inexistence.  You, my dear, have not been endowed with a rich, warm voice.  No.  Your voice is mundane in every way.  Banal.  Ordinary.  Plain.  Uninteresting.”

Her eyes instantly glistened with tears.

“You have an annoying, scratchy little voice, full of hesitancy and uncertainty... a goat has a better voice than you.  A goat indeed.  You are as plain as a rock, while Miss Keely is perfect as a diamond.  She is a rare pearl.  A true gem.”

I harrumphed as I stood there listening to his drivel.  How dare he insult Susie in such a crude manner, and how insane that he should think I’d be interested in him.

He looked at me and cocked a flirty brow.

Rolling my eyes in a deliberate manner, I crossed my arms over my chest.

Besotted, he tilted his head to the side, eyeing me with perverse hunger.  “Are you not moved by my grand show of my affection for you, Miss Keely?  I profess my love for you, and you stand there so cold and unfeeling?”

“You’re laying it on a little too thick, Mr. Eton,” I said, putting disdainful emphasis on ‘mister and his name.  “I know overacting when I see it.”

“Do you?” he said as he rushed to me, slipped his hand to the back of my neck and pulled me close.  “Tell me if this kiss warms your heart.”

But a large hand dropped to his shoulder, and he was pulled away from me.

“What the hel...?” Eton turned to face Hugh.

“I do believe you’ve overstayed your welcome, Mr. Eton,” Hugh said with simmering anger.  “I’ll allow you five minutes to gather your things, and a cab will be waiting at the door to bring you away from Moon Manor.”

“Sir, I...”  He swallowed loudly as he looked Hugh up and down, assessing the muscular build of the tall man confronting him.

“Do not press me to be unkind to you,” Hugh said.  “I am not as generous as Keely and Susie.”

“But... I’ve no accommodations...” Eton said, his tone now meek and pathetic.

Hugh pulled out his phone and called for a cab.  Then, without looking at Eton, simply pointed to the man’s bedroom door.  “Five minutes.”

His head down, Eton rushed to his room.  Moments later he emerged with a small suitcase, his head still low as he made his way down the stairs and out to the now waiting cab.

We stood in silent shock.

“Oh, how stupid of me,” Susie said after a prolonged silence.

“You’re not stupid, Susie.”

But the young woman burst into tears and ran into her arms.

“I’m such a silly, silly girl,” she cried.  “I fell for his sweet disposition.  He was so charming, always saying the right thing, always complimenting me; my hair, my lips, my clothes.  Always so kind... so very, very kind.  How could I have been so blind?”

“You’re being too hard on yourself.”

“But he spoke of how I was the only one, that I was special, that I filled his days and...”  She backed away and swiped at the tears running down her cheeks.  “He never let on that his admiration lay entirely elsewhere.”

“I watched how he was with you, Susie,” I said, reaching out to grasp her shoulders.  “He showed you much affection, as much as would lead any girl to think themselves special in the eyes of such a man.  When speaking with him, he spoke so eloquently about you.  I was as blind as you were, Susie.”

She nodded, wiped her cheeks with both hands then turned into the pragmatic actress that she was.  “What about my training?  What will I do now?  There are still so many words that I get wrong.  Eton had begun to go through the entire script with me, but now...”

“I have a solution to your problem,” Hugh said.

“What’s that?” Susie said, gazing up at him.

“Yes.  What’s that?” I said.

“Me.  I’m the solution to your problem.  I may not be a trained tutor, but I do believe I have grasp of the British accent, and... well, it would be good for both of us to read our lines together, after all, we do share a number of scenes.  It’s the best possible solution for both of us.  I’ll help you with your accent, and you’ll help me rehearse my lines.”

Susie smiled.  “You’re far too kind,” she said with a perfect accent.  “It would be my pleasure to rehearse with you.  My pleasure entirely.”

Stunned, I stared at them.  Hugh was saving me once again.  Not only in playing Knightley, but in helping with his co-star’s accent.

“Isn’t he great?” Susie asked me.

“The best.”

“It’s nothing,” Hugh said with barely a hint of modesty.

“I don’t know what to say,” I said.

He leaned in close to me, tweaked my nose and grinned.  “Just thank me, little sister.”

Right, I thought.  “Thank you...,” big brother.

ELEVEN

Later that day, after answering many questions about Eton’s absence, I ran into Ayra as she emerged from a meeting with the set decorator.

“I hear that Susie is doing much better,” she said.

I nodded.  “She’s presently rehearsing lines with Hugh.  He’s going to help her maintain her newly acquired British accent.”

“So the rumors are true?”

I looked quizzically at her.

“That Eton is gone?”

“Yeah.  Things weren’t working out.  Susie had become uncomfortable with him.”  It wasn’t a complete lie.  Then again, it wasn’t the complete truth.

“Do you have an idea what scene we’ll shoot next?”

“I was thinking of going straight to the final scene when Knightley tells Emma how he feels.”

“I thought you would want to shoot the Emma and Bates scene.”

“You mean when Emma goes to the Bates residence to atone for her rudeness?” I said, contemplating her suggestion.

“We have the room ready to go.  I also think the actress playing Miss Bates is eager to get through the bulk of her scenes.”

“Okay.  We’ll do that.  I’ll go find Susie and let her know.”

“Oh,” Ayra said as I walked away.

I turned to her.

“Have you seen the forecast?”

I shook my head.  “Why?”

“Rain,” she said.  “Rain for the next three days.”

I nodded, quickly running through the outdoor scenes I still needed to shoot.  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

I hurried off to find Susie.  As I approached the parlor, I heard Susie’s amused laughter mingled with Hugh’s throaty chuckle.  I should have been charmed by the pleasant sound.  However, I found myself perturbed and couldn’t quite understand why.

“Hugh,” I said on breaking into their rehearsal, such as it was.  “Susie.  I’m happy I found you.”

“We’re going over every scene that we have together,” Susie said with abundant cheeriness.  “And, dare I say, upon my word, that we are getting along splendidly.”

They were, indeed, getting on so well.  Very, very well.

Too well?

“Have you come to tell us of the next scene to be shot?” Hugh said.

I nodded.  “This afternoon.  But the scene does not include you, Hugh.  It’s a scene between Emma and Mrs. Bates.”

“I’ll be ready,” Susie said.  “But, upon my word, I think my scenes with Hugh will please you greatly.  I believe we have great chemistry.  I just hope it translates to film well enough.”

Unable to bring myself to smile as brightly as Susie, I pressed a tight, dry smile.  “Good,” I managed to say.  “Please go to hair and makeup and tell wardrobe what scene we’ll be shooting.  They know what dress you should wear.  Be ready for two o’clock.”

“Upon my word, I shall be ready.”

I smiled at the repeated use of her newly acquired phrase.  “Good.  Very good.”

I left them, disturbed and unhappy.

Why?  I should be thrilled to see them getting along so well.  They would be heavenly on film.

They were perfect.

Perfect.

Hugh was as close as a stepbrother to me as any man could be to a girl.  My stepbrother.  My stepbrother was now rehearsing with a beautiful young actress.

Yes.  As it should be.

Then why am I so... irritated?

Susie was like a little sister to me, a sister that I wanted to protect and see happy.  She deserved someone good and trustworthy.  She deserved a true gentleman who would treat her like a fine lady.

She deserved a man... like Hugh.

TWELVE

“Okay,” I said to the crew early the following morning.  “Today will be a marathon of shooting.  I want to go through as many scenes involving Emma and Knightley as we can.  As you can see, the weather is not cooperating, so our Box Hill picnic will have to come later, but all the indoor scenes with our couple will be shot today.”

I pinned a schedule to the note board on the wall.  “Here is the list of scenes, the estimated time to shoot them and the order in which I wish to proceed.  You should have all received the same schedule on your phones.”

The crew nodded.

“We’ll start in the double room upstairs.  It will double as the music room.”

Ayra glanced at the note and came to me.  “What part of that scene do you want to start with?” she asked all the same.

“Jane playing the pianoforte.  The night Mr. Knightley scolds Mr. Churchill for pressing Jane to play and sing longer than she wished.”

Ayra nodded.  “I’ll be sure they are all ready.”

Three major scenes were shot that day.  It was clear that everyone was as eager as I was to get work done.

The chemistry between Emma and Mr. Churchill was intriguing, while Mr. Knightley’s way with Jane Fairfax was just perfect.

“I’m impressed,” Jai said as he came to join Ayra and me.  “You’ve got a great cast here.  Everyone.  Really fabulous.”

“Thank you,” I said.  “It’s been a rough ride getting here, but now that everything is in order, we should get through the rest of this movie with little delay.”

“I do have to say,” Ayra said.  “Abbie is working out even better than I’d imagined.  She really has the magic touch, don’t you think?”

I nodded.  “I am, indeed, pleased with her work.”

“And doesn’t Mr. Knightley look dapper... always so dapper,” Ayra went on.  “He does fill these vintage costumes quite well.”

“Okay,” I said, ready to move on.  “We have a lot of catching up to do.  What’s the next scene?”

Ayra glanced at her clipboard and we got to work.

THIRTEEN

After several consecutive days of rain, the clouds parted and the day we’d all been waiting for finally arrived.  With the early morning sun promising a warm and pleasant day, we planned for the Box Hill picnic scene.

“How much food do you want to bring up there?” Ayra said as she made a potato salad.

“Enough for the entire cast and crew.  It will be added compensation to enjoy the day.  Hopefully, we’ll get the entire scene around noon, and the rest will be fun.”

“Well, we have dozens of sandwiches.  We have...” She began counting off on her fingers. “...egg sandwiches, ham with mustard, roast beef with lettuce, and egg salad.”

“Did you think of the vegetarians?”

“Yes.  We have a few grilled vegetable sandwiches, also a nice variety of fresh vegies.”

“And it’s all ready to go?”

“The sandwiches are already in the cooler.  We also have a variety of beverages, and a load of fruits.  For those who want something a little sweeter, we have two pies, three cakes and a few of those little puddings.”

I nodded.  “What about proper picnic baskets for the scene.”

“All of that is already on the way to the site along with parasols, chairs and the like.”

“Up on the hill overlooking the valley.”

“That’s right.”  She finished up with the salad, sealed the container and added it to the cooler.  “I think we’re ready to go.”

Out on the patio, we found the cast waiting to make the trek to the filming site.

“Okay, everyone,” I called out.  “We have two vans to bring us to the base of the hill.  The crew is already out there ready to capture your climb to the top.  Ready?”

They all nodded and boarded the vans.  In a matter of minutes, we reached the crew that was already set up and ready to get to work.

“Okay,” I called out after everyone had gotten out of the vans.  “Those of you who play the servants who will be lugging the picnic and such up the hill, go ahead and bring everything to the foot of the hill.”

I then turned to my cast. “Emma and Churchill, you will lead the way all while chatting about nothing in particular.  You’re chatting.  You’re laughing.  You’re having a good time.”

They nodded.

“And you will be followed by Harriet and Knightley; Harriet, your head is in the clouds, dreamy and happy while Knightley marches up the hill with staunch determination.  Then we will have Mr. and Mrs. Elton.  No discussion between the two of you, but, Mrs. Elton, I want to see you with a clear grimace of displeasure on your face; not disgust, just displeasure.”

She nodded her understanding.

“And finally arm in arm, Mrs. Bates and Jane Fairfax.”

They all paired up as I’d called them, got in order and we headed off.

On reaching the crew, I instructed them on where to stay, what shot I wanted and the angle from which to capture it.  The sun was perfect, lighting the hill without drowning it with overabundant light.  If we got each section of this scene with only a few takes, it would be perfect.

“Everybody in place?” I called out.  “Okay.  We’re ready to roll.  Action!”

Emma and Churchill climbed the hill with ease.  Harriet lagged ever so slightly behind, and Knightley slowed his pace to stay at her side.  Mr. and Mrs. Elton got along fine, but Mrs. Bates fell far, far behind the group, forcing Jane to slow down considerably.

“Cut!” I called out as I waved the actors back down to the base of the hill.  “This is a group shot, everyone.  I need to see you all in this shot.”  I turned to Emma.  “Slow down a bit.  Harriet, stay a little closer.”  I looked at the others.  “And so on.  You get the idea?”

They nodded and got into place.

“Okay.  Let’s try it again.  Action!”

Despite Emma’s slow ascent, Mrs. Bates still struggled to get up the hill.

“Cut!”  I approached them.  “Mrs. Bates, is everything all right?”

“Yes, dear,” the woman said.  “But these shoes.  I have no grip, and I tend to slide on the grass.  Climbing seems impossible.”

“Perhaps you could pair her with a man,” Churchill suggested.

“Yes,” Jane shot back.  “Spoken like a true man.  I’m quite capable of guiding Mrs. Bates up the hill.  But as she’s mentioned, her shoes are slippery.”

“All right,” I said.  “I have no wish to change the order.”

“Could we shoot the group going up just a few steps, then close in on individuals?” Hugh suggested.

No, I wanted to say.  My vision was to see the entire group climb the hill to then be rewarded with a sumptuous picnic.

I sighed my discontentment.

“She could go barefoot,” Harriet said.

Ah, finally an idea I could live with.  “Yes.  Perfect.” I turned to Mrs. Bates.  “Do you think you could do that?”

She hesitated.  “I guess.”  She slipped out of her shoes.

“Do you really think this is a good idea?” Ayra whispered to me.  “If something happens...”

“I have no choice.”  I quickly waved Hugh over.

“What is it?”

“Could you make a quick climb to ensure there’s nothing that could harm Mrs. Bates?  Nothing that she could cut her feet on?”

He looked at me a little stunned.  “Keely, a quick run up isn’t going to ensure the path is clear of pebbles or glass.”

“Please,” I said.  “Do your best.”

He turned and headed up the hill, sweeping his foot back and forth all the way.  He quickly returned and nodded his approval.

“Okay,” I said.  “Let’s try this once more.  Everyone in place... and... action!”

As Emma and Churchill started up the hill, it was just as I’d hoped it would be.  They were perfect.  Then Harriet and Knightley, just a few paces behind them.  Perfect.  Mr. and Mrs. Elton were nearly nipping at their heels.  But, to my great dismay, Mrs. Bates and Jane fell farther and farther behind with every step up the hill.

I leaned into the camera man.  “Stay with the main group,” I whispered.

He nodded and shifted the camera ever so slightly.

The group made it to the top with Mrs. Bate and Jane just barely halfway up.

“Cut!”  I called out.

“Miss Keely,” Mrs. Bates cried.  “I’m doing the best I can.”

“Fine,” I said, a little curtly.  “Let’s all move to the top and shoot the next part of this scene.”

I waved the crew over, ignoring Mrs. Bates’ unhappy eyes.  “Can you guys make your way up this hill without issue?”

They nodded and hauled their equipment up.

With everyone atop the hill, I analyzed the situation.  The sun was at my back, shining down on my cast.

“Okay,” I shouted once everyone had found their place.  “We’ve already lost enough time with these unnecessary and repeated takes up the hill.”

“I’m sorry, Keely,” Mrs. Bates said.  Her cheeks were bright red, either from embarrassment or from the exertion of climbing the hill.  “I really am so sorry.  I don’t know what more I can say.”

I pressed my lips tightly together, willing myself to hold my tongue, but then blurted out, “I just wish you had told me the truth from the start instead of blaming your slippery shoes.  The truth is that you, not your shoes, not the grass, but you...  You couldn’t make it up that hill without struggling.”

“Right,” she muttered, rather unintelligibly.  “Sorry.”

“We really need to get this on film before the sun ceases to cooperate,” I said.

I inadvertently shot a disapproving glare at Mrs. Bates who quickly averted her watery eyes.

“Are we good to go?” I let out.  “Everyone in their places?”

Everyone nodded.

“Action!”

The actors were wonderful.  Everyone knew their lines, had the right inflection.  Emma and Churchill were amusing, Mrs. Elton haughty and Harriet perfect in her sweet innocence.

“Okay,” I said as we came to the moment I’d long waited for.  I turned to the camera man.  “Close shots of Emma and Mrs. Bates.”

He nodded.

“Okay.  Action!”

Churchill suggested the notion of telling one interesting story, two semi-interesting stories or three dull stories.  Mrs. Bates said her lines, her cheeks already red and her voice slightly shaky as she admitted she would have no issues telling three dull stories.

I held my breath as Emma smiled.

“The problem Mrs. Bates is that you must limit yourself to only three dull stories.”

Perfect.  Just perfect.

“Oh,” Mrs. Bates said with a pained expression.  “Right.  I really should hold my tongue.”  Her eyes were misty, and her voice increasingly taken over by an emotional tremor.  “Yes.  Truly.  I do tend to rattle on, don’t I?”

While more emotional than I’d anticipated, the scene was still splendid.  We went on to shoot Knightley’s reproach of Emma and then called it a day.

“Good work, everyone,” I called out.  “Now that the hard work is over, we still have a beautiful afternoon ahead of us, so enjoy the feast we’ve prepared.”

The cast and crew cheered and settled in for a wonderful picnic.  With a long table now set with the goodies, we lined up to fill our plates with a variety of sandwiches and salads.

“What a beautiful day for a picnic,” Hugh said as he came up behind me, his plate already laden with potato salad and a wedge of roast beef sandwich.

“Yes.  We really got lucky,” I said, reaching for a thick slice of homemade bread and a chunk of cheese.

“You came down pretty hard on Mrs. Bates,” he said.

“Really?  Hugh, you know how these shoots go.  It’s stressful for everyone, namely me.”

“That’s still not a reason to chastise her in front of everyone the way you did.  You were unnecessarily harsh.”

“She’s an experienced actress.  I’m sure I’m not the first director to come down hard on her.”

“First off, your harsh rebuke affected her much more than you seem to realize.”

“Huff,” I let out, brushing away his comment.

“Did you see her face as she reacted to Emma’s harsh words?”

“Yes, Hugh,” I said turning to look squarely at him.  “That’s called acting.  She is playing Mrs. Bates who is embarrassed by Emma’s words... not mine.”

“Those tears in her eyes were real, as was the tremor in her voice... and they were, indeed, due to your words, Keely, not Emma’s.”

“Fine,” I said with finality.  “Think whatever you want.  But I’m the director here.  I think I know what I’m doing.”

“Keely,” he said more forcefully.  “What you did was wrong.”

A few gazes rose to look at us.

“I said fine,” I said hoping to quiet him down.  “Fine.  What more do you want me to say?  I was wrong.  But the shoot is over and we’re moving on.”  I’d finished filling my plate and walked off.  “I suggest you do the same,” I called over my shoulder.

“And I think that you should go and apologize,” he said loud enough for everyone to hear quite clearly.

I turned to glare at him, huffed, and turned away.

“Is this really the sort of director you want to be?” he went on loudly.  “One who berates his actors for no good reason.”

All conversation around us ceased, and the hot afternoon air turned silent.

I rushed up to Hugh.  “You’re making a scene.  Can you keep it down?”

“Oh, you mean like the way you discreetly dealt with the situation?”

All eyes were on us, and the rush of blush quickly heated my cheeks.  Tears of frustration burned my eyes, and my jaw tightened.

“Oh, Hugh,” I cried.  For sure, I knew I was wrong.  He was right.  I shouldn’t have spoken to Mrs. Bates the way I did.  But I was stressed and...

There was no point making excuses.  Gaping, I looked at him for a long, disbelieving moment, then tossed my plate into a trash bin, turned on my heel and stormed off.

“Keely,” Hugh called, but he failed to come after me to console me.

Was that what I wanted him to do?  Or did I really want to get away from him and his accusations?

“Keely!”  This time it was Ayra calling me as she ran to catch up with me.

“Please, Ayra,” I said.  “Can you just make sure everyone enjoys their picnic and that they all make it back to the manor before dark.”

“But, Keely...” Ayra said, rushing to keep up with my speedy steps down the hill.

“Please, Ayra.  I just want to be alone.”

“Keel...”

I waved her away.  “Please!  Please, Ayra!” I shouted, leaving her no way to negotiate with me.

Finally, alone with my thoughts, I suddenly felt so small.  I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so lost.

I had no idea what I wanted anymore.  Hugh’s public scolding was humiliating, but I also felt growing shame for my way with Mrs. Bates.  I could have found a gentler way to deal with the matter.

I partially ran and partially walked back to the manor, Hugh’s words repeatedly echoing in my ears.  Why, Hugh.  Why couldn’t you wait until we were alone?  Why did you have to scold me in front of everyone?  In front of my cast?  My crew?

Shoot!

How was I going to face them again?

My Goodness!  Hugh had totally demolished my confidence.

By the time I reached the manor, I’d made up my mind.

“Hey, you’re back early,” Jai called out as I passed by him in the garden.

“Ayra should be back before dark,” was all I thought to say as I rush by and went inside.

Panting, sweating, and my heart pounding, I made my way up the stairs, ran to my room and shut the door on the world.

Then I crumbled to the floor.

*****

I’D SPENT AN HOUR GETTING my things in order when there was a knock at the door.

“Keely?” Ayra said.  “It’s me.  Can I come in?”

“Yeah.  Come in.”

I was still seated at my desk scribbling a few last notes.

“What are you doing?” she said coming up to look over my shoulder.

I turned to look up at her with a pasted on smile.  “Good news, Ayra.  I’m giving you a promotion.  I’m making you Assistant Director.”

“Oh?  Wow.  Thanks, Keely.  I’m honored, but...”

“You know this movie as well as I do, and we both have the same vision for it.”

“Right, but...”

“If anyone asks, tell them that I have a few things to take care of.  Essentially, you could give them the day off.  We’ve made up for a lot of lost time.  One day off will surely please them.  They deserve it.”

“Okay, but...”

I stood and handed her my notes.  “And I deserve it, too... don’t you agree?”

“Yes, of course, but...”

“I’ve been working hard.”

“Yes, but Keely...”

“What, Ayra?  What?  I think I’ve made everything clear.  Please.  You take the reins for a few days, all right?  Just nod and say you’ll do this for me.”

With an unsure smile, she nodded.  “Of course.  Yes.”

FOURTEEN

The moment Ayra left my room, I fell back onto my bed and stared at the ceiling reviewing the events of the day.  Over and over again, I saw Hugh’s face and heard his words.  And the humiliation built up again and again.

The ceiling remained the same.  I blinked and looked up again.  Still the same.  No answers.  No comfort.  No reprieve from the humiliation.  Despite that, I stared until hunger took over me.  I hated the thought of leaving the security of my room, but I grew dizzy.

Then I remembered why I was so terribly hungry.  I’d thrown my tasty picnic lunch into the trash.

Great.  I guess I didn’t really think that one through.

I got off the bed and went to the door, pressing my ear to it to hear any possible movement out in the hall.

Silence.

I opened the door.

No one.

Barefoot, I tiptoed down the hall and stopped at the top step of the stairs.  I peered down over the banister and strained my ears.

More silence.

I rushed down the stairs, hurried to the kitchen, and let out a sigh when I found leftovers from the afternoon’s picnic in the refrigerator.  I grabbed one of the chicken sandwiches and a small container of potato salad.

With the same stealthiness, I rushed back to the serenity of my room.  Once secure behind my locked door, I sat at my desk that overlooked the grounds of Moon Manor and ate my well-deserved lunch.

It was bittersweet.  The sandwich was great, but it would have been so much better up there on the hill with everyone else.

The sun was going down, washing the property with a gorgeous pinkish glow.  If only I had a camera.  It would make for a beautiful shot.

But even as I ate and enjoyed the view, I couldn’t erase what had happened. Again, I played and replayed the sequence of the day’s events in my head.  I heard every word Hugh said, every humiliating word, and it crushed me.

“Why are you torturing yourself?” I muttered through my mouthful of potato salad.  “Why?”

I finished my solo picnic lunch, showered and went to bed.

*****

I’D MADE THE MISTAKE of thinking that sleep would erase the events of the previous day.  More importantly, I’d hoped my night’s sleep would diminish the sense of humiliation at Hugh’s hand.

But that wasn’t to be the case.  Not at all.

With a little enthusiasm, I got out of bed and went to the window.  The late morning sun drowned the property, and the cast and crew were already taking full advantage of their time off.

A few crew members tossed a frisbee, while others had begun a game of croquet.  A few women strolled the garden chatting amiably, others picking flowers.

A knock at the door, pulled me away from the window.  “Yes?”

“Keely, I brought you some coffee,” Ayra said.

Oh, thank heavens.  I longed for a good hot cup of coffee.  Smiling, I opened the door.

“I thought you might like a croissant as well,” she added.

“Thanks.” I took the tray and set it on my desk.

“Everyone is thrilled with their day off.”  She glanced toward the window.  “As you can see.”

“Good.  You know what they say about all work and no play.”

She nodded.

I stood there looking at her, but I didn’t have much to say.

“Well,” she said after a lengthy and uncomfortable silence.  “Let me know if you need anything.”

“I’ll do that.”

I walked her to the door.  At the threshold, she stopped and turned to me.

“I’m fine, Ayra.  Really.  I just need a little time to myself.”

She nodded and walked away.

I closed the door and returned to the window.  I sipped my hot coffee and took a few bites of my croissant, but it was difficult to enjoy either.

How long was I going to feel this way?  I couldn’t go on hiding in my room.  But try as I might, I simply could not muster the energy or the will to go out and join everyone.

Another knock at the door interrupted my breakfast.

What now, Ayra?

As I walked to the door, Hugh said, “Keely?”

I stopped in my tracks.  No.  Not him.  He was the last person on earth I wanted to see.  I couldn’t bear to look in his eyes, to see that reproach.

“Keely, I know you’re in there.”

I remained silent.

“Keely, I have something important to show you.”

Yeah, right.

“Could you please set aside your anger for just a moment.  I’d hate to have to look at these new handwritten pages from Jane Austen’s manuscript all by myself.  I can’t make any sense of it all.”

Damn.  He really knew how to get to me.  “I don’t believe you.”

A page, protected by a plastic covering, slipped in under the door.

“Take a look at that,” he called through the door.

I picked it up and couldn’t help but smile.  That was the effect Jane always had on me.

“There’s more where that came from.”

I hesitated.

“Keely?”

I opened the door, and my breath caught in my throat.  There he stood, smiling, his eyes apologetic.

“Keely, about yesterday.  I wanted to...”

“No,” I quickly cut in, not yet ready to hear his justifications.  “Where’s the rest?”

“I have it... but, let me just tell you...”

“I don’t want to talk about it, Hugh.  You have more of Jane’s writings.  That’s all I’m interested in.”

“Okay.  Fair enough.”  He looked to the floor then back up at me.  “So, come back to the office.  We’ll work on this.”

I shook my head.  “No.  Bring me what you received.  Since we’re not shooting anything today, I’ll read as much as I can here in my room.  Besides, it’ll do me good to lose myself in Jane’s lovely handwriting.”

“I think your father would prefer to keep all these pages together... in our office.”

“Honestly, Hugh.  It’s not like you’ll be driving halfway across the country and handed these pages to a junior intern who has no interest whatsoever in Jane Austen.  You happen to be talking to one of the founders of the Jane Austen Association.  I think I can be trusted with these very valuable pages and I’m only a few doors down the hall from this office of yours.”

He pressed his lips into a tight but resigned line.  “Okay.  I’ll be back in a minute with the rest of what we’ve received.”

“I’ll be here waiting.”

I gently closed the door and leaned back against it, breathing in deeply as I waited for him to return.  I hated having this tense strain between us, but I wasn’t yet ready to put it all behind me.  I needed to be mad at him just a little bit longer.

Moments later, a light knock sounded at my ear.  I rolled off the door and opened it.  Without saying a word, I held my hand out to receive the manuscript.

“Keely, can’t we just talk a minute.”

I jutted my hand out farther in response.

“Be reasonable, Keely.”

“Are you going to give me the manuscript, or am I going to shut this door in your face?”

He held the manuscript over my open hand.  “But before I hand you this, I have to tell you; your father seems to think that these chapters are quite telling.  He glanced over them rather quickly, but he’s still very optimistic.  He noted a particularly heartbreaking scene that even got him a little emotional.”

The more he spoke the more eager I became to delve into these newfound chapters.  Heartbreaking... wow.  For my father to get emotional, it had to be good... really good.

Despite my anger at Hugh, I smiled and grabbed the manuscript.  “I can’t wait to read this.  Dad never gets emotional about this sort of thing.”

Hugh looked at me with a tender smile; a smile I’d never seen before.

“Thank you for bringing me this,” I said, closing the door.

But he held his hand out to stop the door from closing entirely.  “Keely...”

I looked into his pleading eyes.  “Not now, Hugh.  I just want to get lost in this.  I just want to wrap myself up in Jane’s words, in Jane’s world and forget the events of yesterday.”

He nodded his understanding and removed his hand from the door.

Alone in my room, I looked at the first page of the chapters and gently ran my hand over the text.

Yes, I thought as I settled into the armchair near the window.  This is exactly what I need; a few hours, just me and Jane.

FIFTEEN

After four hours of Jane’s delicious words, I stepped out of my room to grab a snack in the kitchen.  Just as I finished fixing myself a nice sandwich, I turned to find Hugh standing there, watching me.

“You finally decided to emerge from your hollow?” he said with a playful grin.

“Yep,” I said walking past him.  “And now I will return to my hollow.”

“I know you’re still angry with me,” he said, following me down the hall.  “But... we should be shooting a few key scenes tomorrow and I need to look at one of those scenes with you.  I’m having trouble figuring out the emotion I should bring.  I need your advice.”

I looked up at him, suspecting a ruse.  “Really, Hugh?  I know you.  You can figure things out quite easily.  I’m sure you’ll figure this one out.”

“It’s the scene where Knightley finally professes his love for Emma.  It’s tough.  I don’t want to come off too... you know, too sickly sweet, but I don’t want to appear too aloof, either.”

Ugh.  I felt a pang in my heart.  No.  Not that scene.  He couldn’t possibly be questioning that scene.  That scene had to be perfect.  The emotions on display had to be on point.

Looking down at my sandwich, I contemplated his issue.  Should I run the lines with him, just to be sure?

“Okay,” I finally conceded.  “Let me have my sandwich in peace.  I have one last chapter to read from what you brought me this morning, and then I’ll meet you and Dad in the conference room.”

A mischievous smile slowly crept to his lips.  “See you in... shall we say an hour?”

I nodded and briskly walked off.

But as I got to my room, I found myself unable to delve into that final chapter.  My mind repeatedly returned to Hugh.  I ate half my sandwich and suddenly longed to go meet with him.  I glanced at my watch.  Barely a half hour had past.

I certainly didn’t want to appear too eager, so I sat myself down and tried to concentrate on that final chapter.

“Darn it,” I let out after reading and re-reading the same paragraph.  He’d succeeded in completely ruining my concentration.

“Mr. Knightley,” a strange voice called from the other side of the door.

Frowning, I turned to look at the door.  The voice was clearly that of a man deliberately speaking in a high-pitched attempt to sound like a woman.

“Mr. Knightley?” the odd voice called out again.

I couldn’t help but smile as I walked to the door and opened it.

“Oh, my God,” I let out.  “What’s all this?”

Hugh stood there, a fan partially hiding his face.  Decked out in a historical gown that was clearly too tight, he fanned his face and batted his eyes.

“Mr. Knightley,” he said with that same high-pitched voice.  “I’d like a word with you.”

“Hugh, really.  What are you doing?” I said with a laugh.  “That gown is bursting at the seams.”  Not to mention the muscular arms topped with the tiny sleeves that were the fashion of the day.

He let the fan fall away from his face.

“Really?” I said with a wry grin.  “Blue eyeshadow.  That’s really not your shade... and that lipstick...”  I shook my head.  “Who did your makeup?”

“I did.”

“Yeah.  It shows.”

Ignoring my insult, he cleared his throat.  “Mr. Knightley, would you do me the honor of escorting me back to the conference room?” he said.

“Okay.  If I understand correctly, I’m Mr. Knightley in this scenario, while you’re Emma?”

He nodded demurely.

I’d never seen him give himself to such play.  I couldn’t refuse him and stepped out of my room.  He immediately hooked his arm in mine and walked on with dainty little steps.

“It is imperative that I speak to you, Mr. Knightley,” he said.

“Whatever for?” I said in a deep, manly tone.

We reached my father’s office and Hugh waited for me to open the door for him.  Eyes cast down, he entered the room, and I followed behind him.

“Where’s Dad?” I said, surprised to see he wasn’t already at work.

“Mr. Lee had to go to London,” Hugh said, still in character.

So, we are all alone, I realized.  Leaving the play acting aside, I looked squarely at Hugh.  “Okay.  What’s really going on here?”

He fanned his face then clucked his tongue as he slammed the fan shut and set his hand on his hip.  “Since it appears that I am unable to grasp the correct emotion for this scene regarding spoilt children,” he said in an ever higher pitched voice, “I thought I would be Emma while you play Mr. Knightley.”

“I see.”  Looking at his blushed cheeks, I stifled a laugh.

“Shall we give it a try?” He daintily pinched the skirt of his gown and turned away for a dramatic moment, only to face me once again.

“As you wish.”

He reached for the open script on the table.  “The script is right here.  It might help you; we are discussing Mrs. Taylor Weston’s baby girl.”

I shook my head.  “I know the scene quite well, thank you.  Where would you like to begin?”

He cleared his throat and took on an effeminate air.  “Poor child.  At that rate what will become of her?”

He looked expectantly at me.  For a moment I felt at a loss, then I said, “Nothing very bad”.  “No.  Wait.  That’s not right.  Give me a second.”

I closed my eyes and got into Knightley’s skin.

“Okay.  I’m ready.”

SIXTEEN

Hugh began again.  “Poor child.  At that rate, what will become of her?”

“Nothing very bad.  The fate of thousands.  She will be disagreeable in infancy and correct herself as she grows older.  I am losing all my bitterness against spoilt children, my dearest Emma.  I, who am owing all my happiness to you, would not it be horrible ingratitude in me to be severe on them?”

“But I had the assistance of all your endeavors to counteract the indulgence of other people.  I doubt whether my own sense would have corrected me without it.” 

“Do you?” I said, taking on the tone I wished Knightley to adopt.  “I have no doubt.  Nature gave you understanding.  Miss Taylor gave you principals.  You must have done well.  My interference was quite likely to do harm as good.  It was very natural for you to say, ‘what right has he to lecture me?’  And I am afraid very natural for you to feel that it was done in a disagreeable manner.”

I felt silly and wondered if this would do any good at all.  I wasn’t an actor.  Could I truly transmit to Hugh how I wanted him to play Knightley simply by playing him myself.  I doubted it, but I played along all the same.  The sooner we could get through the scene, the faster I would be able to return to my room.

Hugh batted his eyes.  “I am sure you were of use to me.  I was very often influenced rightly by you, oftener than I would own at the time.”

I cleared my throat for Knightley’s lines.  “How often when you were a girl have you said to me with one of your saucy looks, ‘Mr. Knightley, I am going to do so and so. Papa says I may,’ or ‘I have Miss Taylor’s leave’. Something which you knew I did not approve.  In such cases my interference was giving you two bad feelings instead of one.”

I looked at the boy, the man I’d known all my life.  How many times have we been to the same party, a party where the boys were a few years older than I was.  How many times had he escorted me home, putting aside his own desire to stay and have fun at the party?  The few times I’d gotten into mischief, he was there, bailing me out, helping me out, making sure that all ended well.

I’d come to rely on him, at times taking risks I would not otherwise take had he not been there to catch me when I fell.

He was my safety net, my security blanket... my knight in shining armor.

We played through to the end of the scene and suddenly stopped to look at one another.  The emotion was too real, too close to home.  Knightley knew Emma very much the way Hugh knew me.

“Well,” I said, dropping the manly tone and resuming my natural voice. “I think you get the idea.”

He nodded.  “I do.”  He resumed his natural voice as well.  “Thank you.  I do believe that was helpful.  Helpful indeed.”

“And now?”

“And now, I would like to run the lines as Knightley.  I would hate to get it wrong when you’ve got the camera on me.”

“You haven’t let me down yet.”

“And I want to keep it that way.”

Sobering, I looked around the office.  “I was hoping to discuss the chapters you brought me with my dad.”

“You could discuss it with me,” Hugh offered.

I considered his offer.

“I am working on this case, too, you know.”

“I know.”

“At some point you’re going to have to forgive me for yesterday.  You may as well do it now.”

“Fine,” I said sternly, but then smiled.  “But if we are to work together, you have to get out of that ill-fitting gown.”

He laughed and nodded.  “As you wish.”  He shrugged his way out of the garment, baring his chest and I had to bite down on a thrilled gasp.  But as the garment slipped to his hips...

“Stop!” I shouted with a giggle as I spun away from him.

“Truly, Keely,” he said.  “I would never so crudely bare myself to you.”

I peeked around to see the gown pooled at his feet, then glimpsed the jeans that he wore under the gown.  I turned to face him and fought to keep from staring at his bare chest.

“Please, Hugh,” I said with what I was sure was a fiery blush on my cheeks.  “Put on a shirt.”

With a knowing grin, he went to his workspace and grabbed the shirt draped over his chair.  “There,” he said after pulling it on.  “Is that better?”

“Much.”

We ran through the lines again, only this time he played Knightley while I read Emma’s lines.  He was good, reading the lines even better than I had.  Truth be told, he lived each line that he read, just as I’d hoped.  He brought the emotion I wanted.  He read on;

“Mr. Knightley,” he said.  “You always called me Mr. Knightley, and from habit, it is not so formal a sound, and yet it is formal.”  He looked tenderly into my eyes.  “I want you to call me something else, but I do not know what.”

“I remember once calling you George,” I said, “in one of my amiable fits, about ten years ago.  I did it because I thought it would offend you, but as you made no objection, I never did it again.”

“And cannot you call me George now?”

“Impossible, I never can call you anything but ‘Mr. Knightley’.”

Once again, the emotions filled the room, and I swallowed the strange sensations that took over me.

“That was all quite wonderful, Hugh.  I don’t see what more we can do with this scene.”

“Do you believe so?” he said as Knightley.  He’d told me of his desire to try method acting.

“Stay in character if you wish,” I said, ready to switch gears.  “But we do have work to do.”

He nodded and we settled in to work on the case of Jane Austen’s lost manuscript.  What sparse conversation that passed between us was all spoken, on his part, as Mr. Knightley. 

An hour or so later, when a knock at the door stopped our work.

“Keely?” Ayra called through the door.  “Are you in there?”

I quickly rose and went to open the door.  “Ayra.  What is it?”  I stepped out slightly to ensure she didn’t enter the room.

“I thought I’d bring you something to eat,” Ayra said gesturing to the tray in her hands.

“You’re always so sweet.”  I took the tray from her.  “Yes.  This is perfect.”

She tried to glance past me, her curiosity getting the better of her.

I smiled.  “You know how these legal things can be sometimes.  My father is quite stern when it comes to matters such as this.  It must all be kept quite confidential.”

“Of course.” She stepped back.  “It’s just that you’re working so hard... the movie and...” She gestured to the door.  “...whatever it is that you’re doing in there.”

I hated having to hide anything related to Jane Austen from her.  It was all so exciting, and I had no doubt she would be thrilled with what we were doing.  But I had to keep it secret, at least for now.

“We’re almost finished.” I gently pushed back on the door, indicating my desire to end the exchange.

“Well, it can’t be that bad now, can it?”

I frowned.  “What do you mean?”

“You’re in there working with Hugh, right?  Hot Hugh?”

“Hot Hugh?” I echoed.

She nodded.  “That’s apparently what every woman on set... and off... is calling him.  Hot Hugh.”

I couldn’t imagine what they would call him had they seen him bare-chested.  Sizzling Hugh?  Erasing the sizzling image from my mine, I shot an annoyed glance at the ceiling.  Hot Hugh, indeed.

“And you’re lucky enough to be stuck in there with him.”

I smiled.  “We’re working.  It’s long and tedious work.  His hotness helps not at all.”

“I can imagine.  How do you concentrate with that man around you?”

“That’s not what I mean.  I mean, that his hotness does not advance us in our work.  It’s all in his intelligence and knowledge.”

“Whatever you say, Keely.  Whatever you say.  Well, let me know if you need anything.”

I nodded and slipped back into the room.

SEVENTEEN

Even after Hugh left me, I continued to read Jane Austen’s lost manuscript.  Increasingly, I questioned whether it was a new manuscript at all.  Portions of the story seemed familiar.  The character’s name were all foreign to me, but their manners and ways were all too familiar.

I went to bed that night certain that I was misunderstanding something about the entire case.  There were a few pieces of the puzzle that were missing or...

I sat up suddenly and stared into the darkness of my room.

Yes.  That was it.  How could I not realized it sooner?

After a few heavy and excited breaths, I forced myself to lie down once more, but my heart would have none of it.  There was no possibility of sleeping.  I was far too eager to share my realization with someone.

Ayra?  No.  Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option.

Hugh.  Yes.  Hugh.

I sat back up again and glanced at the clock on my bedside table.  It was nearly midnight.  Calm down, I told myself.  There would be time to discuss Jane’s lost manuscript with Hugh tomorrow.  It was time to put Jane Austen aside and get some sleep.  We were to shoot a number of lengthy scenes the next day and I needed my sleep.

I lay back down again, closed my eyes and willed myself to sleep.

But barely three minutes later, I tossed the sheet off me and jumped out of bed.  Neglecting to pull on a robe or slippers, I rushed out of my room and tiptoed to Hugh’s room.

“Hugh,” I whispered loudly as I knocked lightly on his door.  “Hugh.”

Nothing.  I pressed my ear to the door and heard gentle snoring.

Darn.  I couldn’t wake him up... could I?

I knocked again, a little harder.  “Hugh.”

My need to speak to him grew more urgent.  “Hugh.”  I knocked without restraint and the door swung open.

“Keely?”  He glanced down at my delicate nightgown.  “It’s nearly midnight.  What are you doing?” 

For my part, I was once again faced with his bare chest, only instead of jeans he now wore only white boxer briefs that clung to him in an unimaginable manner.  My voice caught in my throat, and I found myself unable to speak.

“Keely.  What is it?  What’s wrong?”

“I...”  I looked at him, having completely forgotten what I wanted to say to him.

He opened the door wider and urged me to enter his room.  For some reason, I glanced up and down the hall before entering, as if fearful of being caught where I didn’t belong.

“Sit down,” he said, gently guiding me to sit on the edge of his bed.  “What’s wrong, Keely?  I know that you’re the ‘early to bed’ type.  What has you up so late?”

Please put some clothes on, I wanted to say as I shot a quick glance at his white boxers.

“The manuscript,” I managed instead.

Confused, he frowned.  “Okay.  What about it?”

“I just now realized something,” I said gaining more and more control over my emotions.  “There’s been something that’s been plaguing me lately, and I think I finally found why.”

“And you want to share that with me,” he said, urging me to continue.

“I know it’s going to sound crazy, and I’m not even sure if it’s a good thing or not, but...”

He sat beside me, once again throwing off my concentration.  Too warm.  Too hot.  Too close.  Too disruptive.

I stood and looked down at him.  “I don’t think that what we’ve been looking at is a new manuscript by Jane.”

“You don’t?” he said, clearly disappointed.  “It’s a fraud.”

“No.  I think that what we have is actually a portion of an already existing book by Jane Austen.”

“What makes you say that?”

“The last few pages I read...  there’s something about the characters that rings a bell.  Oh, the names are different, but I feel more and more confident that they are the same as in one of her other works.  It’s a missing part of a story we love.”

“Okay.  Which one?”

“That’s the problem,” I said as I turned away from him and paced back and forth.  “I don’t know.  These characters aren’t primary.  I’m not even sure they’re secondary.  It makes it harder to fit them into any of the stories I already know by Jane.”

“I thought you knew absolutely everything there is to know about every piece of work by this author.”

“I do,” I said, still pacing nervously.  “Or, at least, I thought I knew.”  I stopped suddenly and turned to him.  “But I do know someone who knows Jane Austen’s work even more than I do.  Ayra.”

“Keely.  We’ve already talked about this already.  You can’t discuss this case with her.  With anyone.  If word of this were to get out...  I hate to think of what the headlines would look like.  It could be disastrous for your father and his firm.”

“I could be vague about it.  You know, I wouldn’t come straight out and tell her anything pertinent.  I mean, what if I were to simply bring up the peculiarities of these characters to see if she comes to any conclusion of sorts... all without my divulging precisely what we’re working on?”

He remained seated as he looked up at me, sleep still in his eyes.  “Listen, I’m glad you came to get this off your chest.  I can see how excited you are by this revelation.  But, what if we sleep on it and we can decide on what to do or who to speak to tomorrow?”

I begrudgingly nodded.  “I guess.”

“Besides,” he went on as he reached for my hand and held it in a reassuring grasp.  “I think that we can crack this thing on our own.  Maybe you’ll even find the answer through your sleep, in your dreams.  Either way, we’ll figure this out.”

EIGHTEEN

After a day and a half away from the cast and crew, I was finally ready to face everyone again.  With the whole team gathered in the large ballroom, I pulled out my list of the scenes I hoped to shoot that day.  The cast was in a good mood while the crew seemed eager to move on and get the movie over and done with.

“If all goes well, I will need all of you at some point or other today.  We will have the dinner scene at the Woodhouse.  That means, Mr. Woodhouse, Mr. and Mrs. Weston, Mr. and Mrs. Elton, Jane, Knightley and Emma.  If you will all head off to wardrobe, as well as hair and makeup.”

“We have our own formal dining room set up to serve as the Woodhouse dining room,” Ayra said.

“Good. Then we have a few minor ballroom scenes.  After that, if all goes well, we’ll try to get to the scene after the ball with Frank Churchill.  We’ll need to get Emma and Knightley for that one.  Once the sun is up and high, we’ll do a small outdoor scene, and...”

I went on with my long, but reasonable list.

We went off to the dining room to prepare for the scene.  While the room was large and many changes had been made to make it different from our use in Pride and Prejudice, it still needed a few little touches.

“I don’t like the candles on the mantle,” I told the set decorator.  “And if you could find something more suitable than a simple jug to sit by the hearth.”

She nodded and headed off to make the changes.

“I love these dishes,” I told Ayra.  “Are they yours?”

She nodded.  “I’m glad you like them.  Jai and I found them in a lovely antique shop in town.”

“What about the silver?”

“I borrowed that from a neighbor, a kind woman who has a house filled with antiques.”

“I’m not sure about the tablecloth.  It seems a little too modern.”

“No.  We’re fine.  I looked it up.  It just happens to be a pattern that has stuck around.”

“Okay.  Good.”

“What seating arrangement do you have in mind?” she said.

“I was hoping you’d tell me.”

She smiled.  “Of course, we’d like to have Mr. Woodhouse at the head of the table.”

“Agree completely.”

“I would like to see Knightley seated between Jane and Emma.”

As Ayra went on, I nodded and slowly walked around the table, envisioning the various actors in their places.  I knew where I wanted the cameras set up and I knew what close-ups I hoped to capture.

“Where do you want us?” my chief camera operator said on walking in.

I gave him my directions and told him of my vision for the scene.

Soon, Knightley and Emma arrived with Mr. Woodhouse.

“Very good.  Beautiful,” I said, analyzing their attire.

Then Mr. And Mrs. Elton came in.  I looked at the peculiar style of Mrs. Elton’s hair.

“Too stodgy,” I said.  “I don’t like it.  I don’t like it at all.”

Mrs. Elton patted the heavy curls that were pinned to her head.  “I told her it was too stiff and unbecoming.”

I nodded.  “Would you mind going back and having her loosening it up a bit?”

Smiling, she nodded and left us.

The rest of the required cast finally arrived with Mrs. Elton returning in a few moments later.

“Good,” I said with a clap.  “Everyone’s here.”  I directed everyone to their seats.  “And, Mr. Weston, you’ll come in through that door there to give us all the good news about Frank’s aunt, Mrs. Churchill.”

“All right,” Ayra called out.  “We can bring out the food now.”

Her own personal staff arrived and filled the table with tantalizing food.

“We are mid-meal, so you may serve yourselves.  Remember, this is to shoot a scene, not to fill your bellies.”

With everyone in place and everything as it should, I called, “Action!”

The dialogue was smooth and unrushed, and everyone did a fine job of appearing to eat without it hindering their lines.

But when I looked at the monitor, the scene was far too dark.

“This won’t do,” I told the crew.  “We barely see their faces.”

“We’ll have to add two overhead lamps to help the candlelight a bit.”

I nodded.  “Sorry, everyone.  The scene is too dark.  We’ll need to shoot it again.”

Once the adequate lighting in place, Mr. Weston nodded and walked out the door to prepare for re-entry.

“It was perfect the first time,” I said.  “Let’s keep it that way.  Action!”

The dialogue was even smoother and better than before.

“Cut!  Perfect.  You are all so perfect.”

“Good,” Ayra said as she scratched out that scene from the long list of scenes still to be shot.

“Next, we’re going to shoot Mrs. Bates arrival to the ball and her chattiness with the guests.”

We moved to the ballroom and brought the needed actors to a discreet corner for the short scene.

“This should have been shot the same day we shot the dancing scene,” Ayra said with a touch of annoyance.

“I know, but Susie wasn’t ready then.  She’s ready now.  It shouldn’t take very long.”

“No, but the risk to continuity is larger.  Every article of clothing, every hairstyle, everything.”

“I understand.”

“I took photos of everyone and have sent them to hair and makeup as well as wardrobe, but still...”

“Don’t worry.  Everything will be fine.”

And, indeed, everything went off without a hitch.

“Next we’ll go outdoors for the scene with Emma and Knightley as they discuss her attempt to match Harriet with Mr. Elton.”

A few of the crew members grumbled.

“What’s wrong with them?” I whispered to Ayra.

“They’ve been going non-stop since this morning and haven’t had a lunch break.  It’s past dinner time.  Perhaps we could stop and give them a few moments...”

“Say no more.”  I clapped and looked to the crew.  “You have thirty minutes for dinner.  If possible, I would really prefer to get this last scene in before darkness is completely upon us.”

My chief camera operator came to me.  “I know how much the perfect dusk lighting is important to you.  All we need is ten minutes to grab a bite and then we’re good to go.”

I smiled.  “Bless you.  Ten minutes would be perfect.”

I went outside with Ayra, Knightley and Emma and showed them what I wanted. 

“Remember, Emma, Mrs. Elton has been a little snide with you.  She’s aware that you had hoped to fix her ‘Mr. E.’ with your friend Harriet.”

“Got it.”

“Knightley, you’re in a good mood.  This is a festive evening. You are having a pleasant chat with Emma that increasingly verges on a flirt... but not quite.”

He nodded his understanding.

By the time we’d run through the scene once, the crew was ready to go.

We set up and the actors got into place.

“Confess,” Knightley said with an amused grin.  “You wanted to see those two together; Harriet and Mr. Elton.”

Emma set a warm hand to Knightley’s chest and looked up at him with playful eyes.  “You know me too well, Mr. Knightley.  I dare say, better than I know myself.  How can I be two and twenty and still be so blind to the ways of love.”

“You still have so much to learn.”

She nodded.  “Poor Harriet.”

“I must say, she does have many qualities that a man could appreciate.  She would not have been a bad choice for him.  She would not be a bad choice for any man.”

“Had I known,” Emma said with a shake of her head.  “I would have never given Harriet hopes of an engagement.”

They stopped walking.

“The music has begun,” Emma said, glancing through the window where the musicians were set up.

“With whom shall you dance?” Knightley said.

“Why, with you, silly.  After all, we are not brother and sister.”

He laughed, the perfect throaty and amused laugh.

Oh, yes.  Hugh was so perfect as Mr. Knightley.  I looked at him, his charm, his smile...

Ayra suddenly elbowed me.  “The scene is over,” she whispered.

“Huh,” I let out.  “Oh.  Cut!  Cut.”

*****

“WHAT AN ACTION FILLED day,” Hugh said as he joined me in the small breakfast nook for a quiet and late dinner.

I nodded as I took a bite of the delicious stew Jai had made.  “On the one hand, I’m surprised we got so much done.  Yet on the other hand, I had  hoped that we might accomplish a bit more.”

“I’m not surprised.  You’ve always been a bit of an overachiever.”

I stifled a laugh.  “Me?  An overachiever?  I think you’re mistaken me for someone else.”

“Well, what else would you call someone who works all day shooting scene after scene, only to then go on to work on a mysterious manuscript?”

I smiled and sat back to watch him eat.  “You’re a sly one, aren’t you?”

“What do you mean?”  He was all innocence.

“You forget that I know you, Hugh.  I’ve seen you play this little game before.  You compliment me, it’s your little devious way of asking me for something... a favor.  So.  Where are you going with this?  What do you really want?”

He simply smiled.

“You want me to go up there and work on the manuscript tonight?  Is that it?”

Finishing his plate, he looked at me with those teasing eyes, the same look he would have whenever he wanted to trick me into or out of something.  “Oh, no,” he said.  “Not at all.  I wouldn’t dare impose.  But I must rush off to get as much work done as I can before your father returns.”  He rose and brought his dish to the counter.

“Don’t you dare,” I let out, giving into his ruse.  I took a last bite and quickly rose to follow him.  “You’re not going to work on that case without me.”

I caught a glimpse of his satisfied grin and chuckled.  We really were like two teens sometimes.

*****

AS I STROLLED THE GARDEN, taking in a little air and enjoying the peace and quiet, I spotted Susie seated by the water fountain.

“Hi,” I said as I came up to her.  “Everything all right?”

With a bright smile, she looked up at me.  “Oh, yes.  Everything is quite all right.”

I sat beside her, hoping to erase whatever misgivings she might have about the upcoming scenes.  “Are you nervous about your final scenes with Knightley?  These are the most romantic scenes.”

“No.  I’m not nervous at all.  In fact, I’m looking forward to it.  I’ve been looking forward to it for quite a while now.”

“Oh,” I said, a little surprised by her eagerness.  “Good.  It’s important that you two look comfortable together.”

“Oh, we are.  Quite comfortable, indeed.”

Hmm.  I didn’t quite like the sound of that.  “I take it this means you’ve been spending a lot of time together... running the lines.”

“We have,” she said with a blush.  “Hugh really is so easy to be with.  So gentle, and generous, and warm.  It certainly makes falling in love with Knightley easy.”  She turned to me with a gleam in her eye.  “And I can’t begin to tell you how I feel about Hugh.”

What? I nearly blurted.  What do you mean, feel about Hugh?’ and how long have you felt this way?

Oh, my.  Had I been so involved with the shooting of the movie and my work on the lost manuscript case that I hadn’t noticed how my lead actress was falling in love with my lead actor.

And what about my lead actor?  How did he feel about this?

“Susie,” I managed to say.  “Do you mean to tell me that you have feelings for Hugh?”

“Indeed, I do.  I’ve never known a man who’s given so much of himself.”

Playing the part of the pragmatic, older woman, I set my hand over hers.  “You know, this sort of thing happens a lot on movie sets.  The romance of it all can blur the lines between reality and fiction.”

“Oh, believe me,” she said.  “I know all about that.  I’ve seen it happen dozens of times.  But this is different.”

Different, how? I wanted to say, but I simply nodded instead.

“In addition to being so kind and generous, he is so easy on the eyes.  I can’t stop looking at him.  In fact, in scenes where my attention must be elsewhere, I find it excruciating.”

I patted her hand then brought my two hands together in a semblance of a prayer.  This couldn’t be happening, I thought as I squeezed my pressed hands between my thighs.

“Tell me, Susie, has Hugh... I mean does he...  What exactly has he told you on the matter?”

“It’s not so much what he’s told me as the way he looks at me.  The affection is so genuine.  No one is that good an actor.”

Right.

“And tomorrow, when we shoot that kissing scene...”  She drifted off and seemed to already be living the scene.  Her lips parted and came together again as her eyes closed.

“What about it?” I shot out.

Her eyes popped open as if awakening from a dream.  “Oh, I just know it will be perfect, and I know that Hugh will kiss me with the true passion of his heart.”

I pressed a tight smile.  Damn.

NINETEEN

“Okay, people,” I called out.  We hadn’t even begun, and my nerves were already frazzled.  My brief conversation with Susie the day before had left me troubled and with far too many questions.  “Let’s stop wasting time.”

We had set up at the far end of the garden where the path led to the forest.  The crew was ready to go, but Emma was having issues with her hair.

“We’re going to have to pin Emma’s hair down a bit,” Ayra said.  “The wind is...”

“Do what you have to,” I snapped.  “But do it fast.”

Hugh stood near Susie, his eyes on her as her hair was being more securely pinned down.  She spoke softly.  Too softly for me to hear despite my proximity to them.  What was she saying to him?  Rehearsing their lines?

I approached them.  “Just a quick reminder about this scene,” I said, cutting in.  “Knightley, you believe Emma to be heartbroken by Frank’s engagement to Jane, while Emma, you are aware of Harriet’s affections for Knightley and is convinced that Knightley holds the same affection for the young girl.”

Susie nodded as the hairdresser finished with her hair.  “I’m ready to go.”

“All right.  You’re going to stand over there, and you, Knightley, will come to her from there.”

He nodded.

“Okay... and... action!”

The wind was enchanting as it gently blew a single strand of hair into Emma’s face.  The sun’s position was perfect, lighting their faces just enough.  It was beautiful, even better than I had envisioned it.

“I didn’t know you were back,” she said to Knightley, her eyes filled with the affection she had for him.

“Cut!”

My two stars looked at me.

“I’m sorry, Susie, but at this stage you’re still unsure how Knightley feels and you yourself are guarding your feelings for him.  Remember, you believe him to love another, and this is painful.”

“Right.  Sorry.  I’ll get it right this time.”

“Good.  And... Action!”

She did much better and I could feel her angst.  She emoted perfectly.

“There is news,” Emma said.

“Yes.  I’ve heard.  Frank Churchill is to marry Jane Fairfax.”

“That’s right.”

“You must be heartbroken,” Mr. Knightley said, gently taking her hands in his.

“You are mistaken,” Emma said.  “Oh, I did allow my vanity to be flattered by his attention, but I felt no true affection for him.”

“You didn’t?”

She shook her head, pulling her hands from his to walk on.  “You were right about him.  I’ve not forgotten how you once gave me a caution, but...  I seem to have been doomed to blindness.”

He shook his head in a sympathetic manner.  “He will soon be gone.  They will be in Yorkshire.  I feel sorry for Jane.  She deserves a better fate.  He is a disgrace to the name of man and is he to be rewarded with that sweet, young woman?  Jane.  Jane, you will be a miserable creature.”

They slowly walked on together. Knightley huffed, his head low as he looked at the ground.

“I have never had a high opinion of Frank Churchill.  Yet, he is a most fortunate man, to have drawn such a prize, assured of the love of such a woman as Jane.  For all he’s done, everything is in his favor.  I do wish him well, for Jane’s sake.  A man would always wish to give a woman a better home than the one he takes her from.  Everything turns out for his good.”

“You speak as if you envy him.”

“I do envy him, Emma.  In one respect he is the object of my envy.”

Emma seemed perturbed and pained as Knightley waited for a response.  She opened her mouth to speak but...

“You have no curiosity?” Knightley said, stopping abruptly.  “You will not ask me what is the point of envy?”

Saying nothing, she walked on.

“Emma,” he said, grasping her hand to stop her progress.  “There is something I must tell you though you will not ask.”

She hesitated for a dramatic and pained moment, then, “No.  Don’t speak it.  Now is not the time.”

The pained expression on Knightley’s face was priceless.  Every woman in the theater would long to reach out to console him.  I wanted to do that.

“Fair enough.  In that case...”  He bowed and backed away.  “I’ll take my leave.”

But Emma quickly rushed after him.  “Mr. Knightley.  Mr. Knightley!”

He turned to abruptly face her, his hands quick to grasp her narrow waist.  “You do not wish to know why I envied Churchill, and now you do not want to hear what I must tell you.”

“You’re right.  How awful of me.  I am your friend, and I should always welcome your desire to speak to me.  As your friend, please, tell me whatever you like.”

“As a friend?”  He hesitated with such pain in his eyes, then he licked his lips and turned to her.  “My dearest Emma, for dearest you will always be.  I long to tell you what’s in my heart, what’s always been there, and now that you tell me of your lack of affection for Frank... I must tell you.”

The fear and sorrow in Emma’s eyes slowly turned to hope and a hint of joy.  The change was subtle... perfect.  The sun peeked through the leaves overhead, giving them both a dreamy look.

“If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more,” he went on.

She blushed.  I had no idea how Susie managed to blush on cue, but she did.  It was glorious.  But then I realized; in her mind had Hugh just confessed his love for her?  Was that blush real?  It had to be.

“It’s always been you, Emma.  Always.”  His tone was so deep and loving... so completely convincing.  “You and Mr. Churchill.  I realized then just how much you meant to me.  I had to save myself from seeing you give Frank Churchill such attentions.  I had to go away.  But learning of his engagement to Jane, I...”

The love in her eyes grew and became more and more obvious.  A tiny hint of a smile played on the corners of her lips.  “Oh, Mr. Knightley. My emotions are entirely yours as they’ve always been.”

He leaned in to kiss her, then hesitated, just inches from her lips.

I gestured to my camera operator to close in, tight, tighter.

I felt the emotional tension, the longing.  I even leaned into the anticipation of the kiss, getting lost in the romantic story I’d love for so long.  I could have sworn I heard Emma sigh in anticipation.  Knightley inched closer and their lips barely touched.  With her eyes open, she looked lovingly at him, the emotion so real.

And Knightley... Hugh.  He looked at her with such love, such tender affection.  Yes, he was acting.  But, my God, was he really that good?  Or had they been working together so often that their love simply blossomed?

Blasted!

“Cut!” I called out.

Startled, everyone turned to me.

“What’s wrong?” Ayra said.  “That was perfect.  We were all feeling it.”

I was caught off guard by my reaction to the tender scene and then by the crew’s reaction to my stopping the action.  But above all, it was the look of love that remained in Hugh’s eyes.  Method acting?  Bullshit... he was in love with Susie.  It was as clear as day.  He loved the beautiful actress in his arms, and I had to stand here and witness that expression of love.

“Keely?” Ayra said.  “Everything was going so well.  Why did you stop it?”

Yes.  Indeed.  That was perfect.  Too damned perfect.  So, what could I tell her?

“Um.” I stammered as I sought a reason for stopping such a perfect scene.  The sun.  The light.  The trees. The shadow.  Yes!  A shadow.  “There’s an unappealing shadow falling on her upper lip giving the impression of a mustache.”

My cameraman looked at me and seemed ready to argue with me, but he remained silent.

“Okay,” I called out.  “Just back up a bit.  Yes.  Perfect.  And... let’s start from ‘Oh, Mr. Knightley’.”

Everyone took their position.

“Action!”

It was torture, watching them get so close, closer, closer.  Their lips touched, then Hugh completely encompassed her lips with his.  The kiss started out tender and loving, but grew deep and passionate, far more passionate than I’d expected.

Ayra, standing right beside me, sighed, obviously moved by the heated kiss.

Despite my discomfort, I signaled to the camera operator to get in closer.  There was no way I was going to get this wrong and end up having to shoot this excruciating scene again.  We had to get it right this time.

“Why, Mr. Knightley,” Emma said as she pulled back from the kiss.  The gentle smile on her lips said it all.  She was taken in by the kiss.

“And... Cut,” I whispered.

Only Ayra heard me, and she immediately applauded.  “That was fabulous.  So real.  You two are so real together.”

Not having heard me or Ayra, Hugh continued to kiss Susie.  I couldn’t take it anymore.

Before anyone could say anything else, I walked off, careful to conceal my discomfort with the scene.  I hurried up the stairs, down the hall and rushed into the security of my dad’s temporary legal office.

I needed to find solace in Jane’s words, in holding the pages she might have once held. I needed to pull away from the frazzled sense of loss.  “How could you do this, Hugh?  How could you?”

Argh.  I couldn’t even find the words to describe how awful I felt.  And yet, I couldn’t help but wonder, why now?  Over the years Hugh had had many girlfriends, and it had never bothered me.  They never lasted for very long and I had never even given them a second thought.

Then why was I so bothered now?  Why?

Susie?  Did I simply feel that she wasn’t worthy of Hugh’s affection.  She was a Hollywood actress and he a successful lawyer.

“Oh,” I lamented as I wiped my brow with the back of my hand.  “This is what I get for trying to play matchmaker.”

How positively silly of me.  I’d tried to set Susie up with Mr. Eton and I’d gotten burned... really burned.  Susie was obviously infatuated with Hugh, just as he seemed to be extremely fond of her.

I grabbed the most recent pages Hugh had brought me, sat at my father’s desk and settled in to read Jane’s lost manuscript.  After a few lines, I had to stop.  My mind kept going back to that vision of Hugh’s lips on Susie’s.

“Come on,” I told myself.  “You’re a professional.  Get over it.”

I started reading again, and still my concentration failed me.

“Shoot!” I slammed the manuscript to the desktop and bolted out of the seat.

Biting my nails, I paced the room as the sting of tears burned my eyes.  How had I never admitted this to myself before.

Hugh... he’d always been there.  Without even realizing it, I’d relied on him for so long and simply took him for granted.  He’d always kept me in line even when my father was far too indulging.

“What’s done is done,” I said.  I pulled in a few deep breaths and returned to work.

I read the manuscript and Jane’s words finally pulled me out of my sour mood.  I read with increasing hunger as the story she told took an unexpected turn.

But there was something all to familiar in a particular speech.  I knew that speech.  I knew it word for word.

Those were Knightley’s words.  I was certain of it.  Though Jane had named him Mr. Dempsey, I knew it was Knightley.  There was no need to verify with Ayra because I knew.  I read on and discovered that the remainer of the story brought Knightley and Emma to an entirely different conclusion.

Anna looked at her father who’d wrapped himself up in a thick blanket to stave off a nasty draft.  He slept soundly, fatigued by the events of the long day.

“I love you, Papa,” she whispered.  “Oh, how could I ever leave you?”

She held his hand, warming his cold fingers.

“Anna?”

She stood suddenly and instantly blushed at the sound of her name. “Mr. Dempsey.  What brings you here?”

“I had to see you, Anna.  Before I go, I must speak with you.”

“Please.”  She set her hand on his arm.  “I do not wish to awaken Papa.”

They walked out to the garden and a sudden apprehension enveloped her.

“I’ve thought of you quite a bit these past days,” Mr. Dempsey said.

“And I’ve thought of you.”

She’d been longing to speak to him, to share with him the thoughts in her head.  Not only was she reluctant to leave her beloved Papa, but she’d suddenly come to realize so much about herself.

She was a strong woman who wanted so much out of life.  While she admired her sister’s ability to be a good wife and wonderful mother, Anna wanted more.

“You seem to have something to say,” Mr. Dempsey said.

“I beg of you.  Do go first.”

“All right.  If you insist.”

He knew not how to begin.  They’d known each other for so long and what he was about to say was unthinkable.  “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.”

“Yes.”

“And... Oh, Anna.  It pains me so to say what I must.”

“Then keep me waiting no longer, Mr. Dempsey; simply say it.”

“You are a headstrong woman.”

Anna knew that he was right.  She always had been.  “What of you, Mr. Dempsey?  Are you not headstrong?”

“Indeed, and I do believe that is where the problem lies.”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“Be truthful, Anna.  What do you believe results when two headstrong people come together?”

Anna instantly knew what would come.  “Disaster.”

“Oh! No!” I shouted into the empty room.  “No.  This can’t be!”

Stunned, I set the manuscript down and realized I’d been shaking my head since reading those fatal lines.  Was it possible that Jane Austen had not intended Emma and Knightley to end up together?

It couldn’t be.  It simply couldn’t.

But there it was, in her very own hand.  What was I to do?  Should I change the ending to my movie?  Audiences around the world would be devastated.  I was at a complete loss and totally confused about what to do next.

I read on, hopeful for a reconciliation.  Perhaps this would simply prove to be a temporary break in their budding relationship.  Perhaps they truly did end up with one another, just as they should.

But no.  As I reached the ending, my heart sank.  Emma, or Anna in this version, was to end up alone, tending to her father until his death.  As for Knightley, or Mr. Dempsey, he went on to marry Betsy.

I stared at the name.  “Who the hell is Betsy?”

But it didn’t matter who she was.  I didn’t like it.  I didn’t like it one bit.

I so desperately wanted to find Ayra and speak to her about it.  What would she have to say on the matter?  I felt certain that she would be as shocked and dismayed as I was.

No.  Knightley had to marry Emma.  It was written in the stars.

TWENTY

With the manuscript in my hand, I headed to the door, determined to find Ayra and finally speak to her about this new twist.

But as I reached for the doorknob, the door suddenly burst open, almost throwing me to the floor.

“Hugh.”

“Keely.  I’m so glad I found you.  You stormed off and I’ve been searching everywhere for you.  What are you doing cooped up in here while we’re all giddy about finishing the last scene.”

Having no real answer to give him.  I shrugged.

“Keely?” he insisted.

“What do you want me to tell you? The scene was over, and I simply left.  I have a lot of things to do, you know.”

“No.  I heard your heavy, angry steps.  What happened?  You didn’t even yell cut.  It’s Ayra who let us know the scene was over.”

“All right,” I said, thrusting my chin up at him.  “If you must know, I suddenly felt, as I am sure the entire crew did, that we were eavesdropping on a private moment between you and Susie.”

“Are you kidding me?  Keely, that’s the scene.  Knightley professes his love for Emma and there is a tender embrace.”

“That, Hugh, was not a tender embrace.  That was an all-out passionate, tongue-filled kiss.  Even when I called cut, you didn’t stop.”

“I didn’t hear you.”

“Right.  Because you were way too involved in that kiss.”  I refused to admit that I’d barely whispered the word ‘cut’.

“I was acting, Keely.”

“No.  Had you been acting you would have heard my call to cut.  But you didn’t.  Why?  Because you were way too involved in the kiss.  That wasn’t Knightley kissing Emma.  That was Hugh kissing Susie.  Admit it.”

“I will admit nothing of the sort.  I may not be a grand actor with years and years of experience, and perhaps my method acting needs a few tweaks, but I was fully engaged in the scene.  I was a man who’d known a young girl all her life and I was finally divulging my feelings for her.  All of those years of pent-up emotion, of being so close and yet seeing that relationship as unattainable.”

He looked at me, waiting for me to say something.

“I can easily imagine,” he went on, “how a man must feel when the object of his affections is at arm’s length, and yet there is nothing he can do to have her.”

“That is just proof of the wonderful writer Jane was.  She always fills her stories with such powerful emotions.”

His nostrils flared as he walked past me, came to his desk and then turned to me.

“I know you, Keely.  I know when you’re upset.  For you to run away from that scene... from any scene... is not like you.  Even if filming was over, you never leave a scene without congratulating your actors and giving the crew a pat on the back.  Why are you so upset?”

“Nothing.”

“Is it something I did?”

“No.”

“That kiss,” he said with a hint of a teasing grin.  “You didn’t like that I had to kiss Susie?  Is that it?”

I turned away from him and headed to my father’s desk.  “That’s all neither here nor there.  I have work to do.  Please leave me to it.”

He stopped me, grasped my shoulders and turned me around, holding me close.  “Let me tell you what I think happened, what I suspect.”

“I don’t want to hear it,” I stubbornly said.  “I don’t particularly want to know what you think.”

“You have a thing for me.”

“Ha!” I let out.  “Not too much of an ego now, do you?”

“Ego has nothing to do with it.  I see the way you look at me.  I’ve noticed lately the way you edge closer to me for no real reason... no reason at all.”

“Well, you’re wrong, Hugh.  You’re absolutely wrong.  I do not have ‘a thing’ for you.  You’re practically my brother, remember.”

“Practically, but not quite. Figuratively, maybe, but we were never related by blood or marriage.”

“You’re dreaming.”

“Really?”  He brought me closer and clamped his warm lips over mine.

My mind turned to putty and my knees to jelly.  All was forgotten except for the sensations he brought to my mouth.  I returned the kiss without even realizing it.  Before I knew it, I was pulling him in, holding him, caressing him, wanting more of him.

“Now, tell me you don’t have a thing for me,” he said.  Humor played in his eyes, and I knew he was simply toying with my emotions.

I slapped his chest and backed away, but my heart ached.  How did I truly feel about him?  He was so familiar, always hanging out at my house during high school, then hanging out with my father and me at my father’s law firm. Always trying to be a part of my family that he seemed like family. All these years, we were almost inseparable except for the last five years since I left my dad’s law firm and the law profession to go back to graduate film school and pursue my dream of becoming a filmmaker. We’ve lost touch, but he always seemed like family. He was the only person in the world who knew me so well.  Even better than my own father.  He’d seen me stumble and fall as a teen.  He’d watched me work hard to get through high school and then college.  He knew how much time I had put into building this career for myself and how important every movie was to me.

“Stop toying with me, Hugh,” I said quite solemnly.

As much as it pained me, I had to face the fact that he had fallen for a Hollywood starlet.  Susie Sweets was an adorable creature, and I had no doubt he was attracted to her from the very beginning.  But did he love her?  Or was this just one of those passing fancies that would end once the movie wrapped?

Devastated by the swirl of emotions, I turned to him.  I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him, not now as I realized just how important he was to me.

“Hugh...”

He grasped my hands.  “You do love me, don’t you, Keely. Admit it. You love me.”

“Yes,” I said. “Yes, yes, yes!”

Hugh smiled before kissing me. “I love you, too, Keely. I always have. I’ve always loved you, since high school, but you never saw me that way. It was only until you saw me with Susie. That’s when you saw me. All of this acting in your film, all of this being at Moon Manor was for you, Keely.”

TWENTY-ONE

In the distance, I saw a car come up the drive.

“Dad,” I let out in a delighted squeal.  “I have so much to tell him.”

I left Ayra and rushed down the hall.

It was early the next day, much earlier than I’d expected him.  I was eager to see him.  It seemed I had so much to tell him and yet, I didn’t know where to begin.  My movie was moving along quite well, I had figured out the mystery of the lost Jane manuscript and Hugh and I had finally opened up about our affection for one another.

I opened the door and rushed to him as he stepped out of the car.  The smile on my face was sure to tell him everything without my saying a word.

“You’re up bright and early,” he said as he came around to the trunk.

“As are you, Dad.  And I am so happy you’re back early.”  I reached inside the trunk for his smaller suitcase.

“You don’t have to do that,” he said.

“Please.  Let me.  Oh, I’ve missed you, Dad.  You didn’t even tell me that you were leaving Moon Manor.”

“I was called to an unexpected meeting.”  He pulled the larger suitcase from the trunk of the car and slammed it shut.  “You know how these things are.  I told Hugh to tell you about it.”

“He did.”

He chuckled.  “You’re so busy here with your movie, I bet it was a few days before you even noticed I was gone.”

“Don’t be silly.  I noticed right away.”  I opened the door for him and followed him in.

“By the look on your face, everything is going well here.”

I nodded again, not trusting my voice to say much more.  My excitement grew with every passing moment, so much that I felt certain I was going to burst.”

We took the stairs to the second floor.  “Are you finished shooting your movie?”

I shook my head and found my voice.  “We only have a few minor scenes to re-shoot.  Nothing too complicated or time consuming.”

“And the lost manuscript?”

“I’ve come to understand where that manuscript fits in with Jane’s work.”

“Oh?” he said with a knowing smile.

“You knew all along, didn’t you?”

He smiled broadly as we reached the door to his bedroom.  “I didn’t want to spoil the thrill of discovery by telling you everything from the onset.”

“Good thing, too.  It was, indeed, a thrill to slowly discover that this was simply an ending that had been edited out by the publisher.”

“And did it change the ending of your movie?”

“I considered it for a moment, but no.  In the end I knew Mr. Knightley had to marry Emma.”

He set his large suitcase on the floor, took the smaller one from my hand and laid it on his bed.  “And what of your own personal Mr. Knightley?”

I smiled.  Did he know about that as well?

“Dad, have you spoken to Hugh?”

“Not at all.  But I can see it in your eyes.”

“See what?”

He smiled and cupped my chin as he held my gaze.  “The love and admiration you have for Hugh.  That love and admiration that you’ve always tried to hide... not all that well, I might add.”

“You knew?  All this time, you knew?”

He shrugged.  “I suspected.  There were a few signs along the way.  You two were always close, and although you were raised and treated like brother and sister, the truth is, you two never really behaved like brother and sister.”

“We didn’t?”

He laughed.  “Believe me.  I have a sister, and I’ve never looked at her the way Hugh sometimes looked at you.  Oh, he played the big brother part reasonably well, but there was always that extra little something.”

Thinking back to my high school days, I laughed.  Now that I thought about it, Hugh was quite present in my life, much more than my friend’s brothers were.

“So?” I said.

He looked at me with surprise. “So?  So what?”

“What do you think?  About me and Hugh?”

He smiled, broad and proud, while his eyes glistened with tears.

“Do I take that to mean that you approve?”

His smile broadened.  “I may not be an expert on Jane Austen and Emma in particular, but I can see that Hugh is very much your Mr. Knightley.  He even has the looks and noble air about him.”

“I’m happy to hear you say that.”

“Did you really doubt it?”

I shrugged.

“Listen, I’ve watched him grow up into a fine young man just as I’ve watched you become a strong and beautiful young woman.  Hugh is a good man.  A hardworking and honest man.  Yes.  Yes.  I know all the jokes about lawyers, but he truly is an honest man.  And I have no doubt that he will do everything in his power to...”  He stopped and grinned.  “I know that modern women have the ability to find their own happiness, but I am sure that he will add to your happiness and fulfill you in every way possible.”

I smiled as he took old fashioned ways and blended them with modern sensibilities.

“I have no doubt, Dad.  Your natural instincts have never failed you... or me for that matter.”

He clasped my hand between his.  “Hugh has always been like a son to me, and now, that bond will be even stronger having him as my son-in-law.”

“I guess this explains why I never built a strong bond with any other man.  Somewhere in the back of my mind, I must have known that it was Hugh all along.  He was the man in my heart and there was room for no other.”

“My little girl,” he said with a smile.  “My sweet little girl.  I am more than happy with this news.  Happy, indeed.”

He led me out of his room, and we headed down the hall to his office.  “So, tell me... with all this work on the manuscript, have you shared your findings with Hugh?”

“I mentioned it, but he seemed uninterested.  But I’m dying to tell Ayra.  Already I foresee her scolding me for not telling her about it sooner, although I know she’ll understand.”

Inside the office, he picked up the lost chapters.  “You’ll be able to tell her now.”

“Really?”  I headed to the door ready to tell Ayra that very moment.

“Hang on,” he said with a snicker.  “I didn’t mean right now.  I want your opinion on this original manuscript.”

“Oh.  Right.”

“So, would you say that my client made a good purchase?”

I nodded.  “Of course, it’s not like finding an entirely new story.  Perhaps he’ll be disappointed to learn that this is simply the original ending to an existing story.”  I shrugged.  “The publishers decided to end the story with Knightley and Emma together instead of the way Jane intended.  That said, I think he’ll be very pleased to see that it is, indeed, Jane’s lost work.”

He smiled and seemed prepared to divulge more, but I decided to beat him to it.

“You made a very good purchase, Dad.”

Surprised, he gaped.  “How did you know it was me?”

“Oh, Dad.  I know how busy you can be with far more important cases than this.  To tell you the truth, I found it suspicious right from the start.  I just couldn’t understand why you would take on such a case.  But these last days, I came to understand it a bit better.  Of course, finding one of Jane Austen’s lost manuscript is a huge deal for someone like me, but for you?  You have no real interest in something like this.  Had this belonged to a simple client, I’m sure you would have let Hugh take care of it on his own.  Surely the junior attorneys at the London office would have figured it out.”

He laughed and leaned back against his desk.  “You’ve always been a bright girl.  Always so perceptive.”  He held the lost pages in his hand and looked at me.  “I have to admit that it was also an excuse to work with you.  These past weeks with you have been like old times.  Seeing you every day, seeing that smile, hearing you laugh.  Priceless.  I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

I reached for his hand and squeezed tightly.  “And it’s been a pleasure having you here, Dad.  Truly.  I do hope we’ll do it again soon.”

“I’m happy to hear you say that.  I have to admit, I do hope this experience will entice you to come back to work for my firm.  I happen to think that you and Hugh would make a great team.”

I smiled and released his hand, turning to run my fingertips idly over the top of my desk.  “That sounds nice, Dad, but...”  I didn’t know what to say.  Law... it just wasn’t my passion.  I turned to him, my mouth open to make the argument that my brain hadn’t yet thought through.

Nodding, he came to me before I could say a word.  “Yes, honey.  I know.  I know that this movie making business you’re so in love with is important to you.”

I looked down, hating to disappoint him.

“Don’t,” he said, setting a finger under my chin to raise my gaze back to his.  “Yes.  I’m disappointed... only slightly.  But it pleases me to no end to see you lose yourself in these lovely projects.  I can see how happy it makes you.”

“That said, surely I’ll spend more time at your offices if only through Hugh. Either way, I’ll always be a part of the family business.”

He smiled.  “And I know it will always be in good hands so long as you and Hugh are in charge.”

I laid my head to his chest as he held me, just as he would when I was a little girl.  I let out a little laugh as a thought came to me.

“What is so amusing?” he said, pulling back from me.

“Here I am making a movie about a matchmaker, and here I was trying to play matchmaker between one of my actresses and a speech coach, and all the while, you were playing matchmaker yourself.”

He smiled.

“You’ve known all along.”

His smile broadened.

“All those times... all the times I got in trouble and Hugh helped me out.  You knew.  You knew that we were building a bond that would never be broken.”

“I know my daughter and, as strong and independent as she is, I knew that Hugh was the man for her.”

“Oh, Dad.”  I hugged him tight.  “I love you.  I know I don’t say it enough, but I really do.”

“I know, dear daughter.  And I love my little girl more than she can ever know.  You’re my little angel.  No matter how old you get, you’ll always be my little angel.”

EPILOGUE

A Year Later

––––––––

SEVEN MONTHS LATER, Emma came out in the UK to rave reviews.  The film was wildly successful in England and the public couldn’t get enough of this particular vision of Mr. Knightley.

Though he hated doing interviews, Hugh played along, and the public loved him more and more.

A month later the movie came out in America, and while not as popular as in England, there was still a demand for Hugh.

The public loved everything about Hugh and the media couldn’t get enough of him.  But after a handful of interviews and the required promotional tour, he hung up his Knightley duds and settled in to his first true love; law.

Once things had settled down, we purchased our own Moon Manor... that is to say The Abbey.  It was a beautiful home with a larger ballroom than Moon Manor, an expansive dining hall and the grounds were as endless as they were magnificent.

“I can’t believe it,” Ayra said as she looked at our new home.  “This is splendid.”

“And not too far from Moon Manor.  I do hope you’ll come visit.”

“As often as I can,” she said, setting her hands over her extended belly.  “I wish I could come lend a hand fixing the place up, but...”  She looked lovingly at her belly.

I laughed.  “Don’t be silly.  I wouldn’t dream of asking for your help. If anything, I’m prepared to help you once that little one makes his or her appearance.  In your condition, all I want to see you doing is pointing out where I might get a particular decoration wrong.  We’ve spent the last several months making it our home, but there are still a few touches here and there.  And, of course, we have a few rooms upstairs that are not to our liking.  But they’re going to wait a bit.”

“This place is enormous.  So many rooms.  What are you going to do with all this space, Keely?”  She patted her belly.  “Fill it with dozens of children.”

“Not so fast,” I said with a chuckle.  “Actually my first project for this house is something you might be interested in.”

“Oh?  What do you mean?”  But her eyes lit up as the answer came to her.  “Oh!  No!  Don’t tell me you’re making another movie.”

I nodded as my smile broadened.

“Another Jane Austen?”

I nodded again.

“Oh, my God.  Which one?”

“Northanger Abbey.”

“Oh, Keely.  You’re killing me.  I do so wish I could participate in this one.”

“Whatever tidbit of advice you can give me will be greatly appreciated.”

She nodded, rubbing her belly with more and more affection.  “We’ve been baby-proofing Moon Manor for weeks now, and still we find areas in need of improvement.  And once the baby arrives, I won’t have time at all.”

“I know, although I do hope to consult with you once in a while.”

“Any time you like.  Call me anytime you have any questions.”

We wandered through the wide halls of The Abbey.

“Have you begun casting?”

“Not yet, but I have a few ideas.”

“And the crew?”

I shrugged.  “Many of the crew I worked with on Emma are already bound to other projects.  A shame really.  I enjoyed working with them.  They were easy and very hard-working.  They almost seemed to know instinctively what I wanted.”

“And who do you have in mind as Assistant Director?”

“I’m not sure.  I was hoping you’d suggest someone.”

She thought about it a moment.  “I don’t really know.  Have you put the word out?”

I nodded.  “But only two days ago.”

The heavy chimes of the doorbell rang out.

“I’m not expecting anyone,” I said as I turned back to go answer the door.

Ayra smiled that knowing smile that I knew so well.  “What are you up to?”

She simply smiled in response.

I opened the door to find Abbie, her eyes wide with excitement.

“Abbie?  What brings you to The Abbey?”

“I heard through the grapevine that you were looking for an assistant director.”

I glanced at Ayra and back at Abbie.  “Oh, you two.  You guys set this all up.  This is great!”

“As a member of the Jane Austen Association, I knew Abbie would be the ideal candidate for this project.”

“So, you knew I didn’t have anyone?”

She smiled so devilishly and shrugged.  “I didn’t know which Jane Austen book you were going to do next, but yes... I knew you were up to something.  And I knew I wouldn’t be there to help you, so...”

I put my arms around both of them.  “This is going to be great.  My best movie so far!”

*****

Sneak Peek

******

Northanger Abbie

Jane Austen Association Book 3

By

Kailin Gow

ONE

Abbie

––––––––

I AWOKE EARLY THE NEXT morning, just before the full rays of the sun warmed the sky.  I’d slept soundly, more than I would have expected considering the changes in my life.

Lying back in the gently scented sheets, I looked at my surroundings and marveled at it all.  Staying with Keely and her husband was like winning the lottery.  I couldn’t believe my luck.

I rose, took a quick shower and prepared for the day ahead, although I had no idea what to expect. Would we start work?  Would we finish our tour of Bath?  Visit a few of Jane’s old haunts? So simple jeans and a white blouse it was.

Looking out the window, my heart filled with the history of the place and the strong sense of being so close to Jane Austen.  Even in the home I’d slept in, I could feel her.

The previous evening, I’d wandered throughout much of my new home, pinching myself at every turn.

In addition to Hugh’s law office and Keely’s production office, the second floor housed an informal living space and a full bathroom.

On the third floor was the bedroom Keely shared with her husband and a second guest bedroom, both with their own bathrooms.

Keely had truly been modest in commenting on her sparsely furnished living room.  The rest of the house was immaculate and cozy, with warm colors, interesting antiques and the occasional flair for the dramatic, like the ornate chandelier in the formal dining room and several abstract works of art in the halls.

With the house silent and still, I didn’t dare emerge from my room for fear of waking Keely or her husband.

I sat by the window and opened the book I’d started on the train ride over.  The intriguing romance had quickly captured my imagination, and my arrival in Bath seemed to accentuate my sense of romance.

After only three pages, a knock sounded at the door.  I looked at the antique clock on the wall; not yet seven.  I set the steamy romance down and went to the door.

“Keely,” I said, surprised to see her up so early in the morning.

“Good.  You’re up.”

“I’m an early riser.”

“As am I, especially when I have a project in the works.”

She looked past me and I invited her in.

“Are you settled in?  Do you need anything?”

“No.  Everything is fine.  Perfect.  I couldn’t dream of a better situation.”

She glanced at the book I’d left on the desk.  “Oh, My Rapture?” she said with a teasing grin.

I bit my lower lip.  “It’s an intriguing love story.”

“I’m sure.”  She looked more closely at the book.  “A.B. Bind.  I’ve never heard of this author.”

“Do you need me for something?”

“I’m going to be a little busy today finishing up with the Lee Law Firm Hugh is setting up.  Just a few last-minute details.”

“Okay.”

“I would like you to go back into town, immerse yourself in the culture, the feel, the language of the town.  Find out as much as you can about the people and the history of the area.  What was and is expected of high society.  I’ll give you the tourist pamphlet I have, and you can go visit as many spots as you like.  I’ve highlighted a few spots Jane was known to patronize.”

“Sounds great,” I said with a nod.  “I would love to get to know Bath a little more.”

“And I need a good location to stand in for Northanger Abbey.”

“You mean, like Bath Abbey?”

She nodded.  “While I would love to use that location, I’ve been told it would be close to impossible.  If you can convince them to let us use it, I would be forever grateful.  Forgoing that, I would like you to find something suitably large and historical... high ceilings, beautiful stained glass.  It needs to be grand.  Who knows.  Perhaps I could get permission to use Bath Abbey for some of the exterior shots, but another location for the interiors.”

“I’ll get right on it.”

“Why don’t you come down for some coffee and breakfast.  We can discuss it further,” Keely said.

I nodded.  “I’ll be right down.”

She left me and I closed the door behind her, still blushing from her discovery of my reading material.  Returning to the steamy book, I picked it up, eager to quickly finish the few paragraphs of the spicy chapter.

“We have no right to be here,” Catherine said, her eyes begging him to argue with her.  More than anything, she longed to stay with him.

“And no one has the right to know that we are here at all,” he said.  “We are alone.  We are adults.  We are aware of our feelings and needs and...”  He leaned in closer, his warm breath on Catherine’s cheek.

His hand snaked around to the small of her back, bringing her closer to him.

“Pastor,” she whispered, her voice heavy with want.

“Your lips rightly belong to me, do they not?”

She nodded as she parted her lips, eagerly awaiting his.

Blushing profusedly, I slammed the book shut and hurried out to meet Keely in the morning room for breakfast.

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Northanger Abbie (Jane Austen Association Series #3) by Kailin Gow

Love Blossoms during the filming of Northanger Abbey

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Arranging Ayra (Jane Austen Association Series #1) by Kailin Gow

An arranged marriage setup gets complicated during the filming of Pride and Prejudice

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The Evolution of Emma (Jane Austen Association Series #2) by Kailin Gow

A well-meaning matchmaker finds romance during the filming of Emma

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Northanger Abbie (Jane Austen Association Series #3) by Kailin Gow

Love Blossoms during the filming of Northanger Abbey

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Persuading Penny (Jane Austen Association Series #4) by Kailin Gow

Second Chance Romance during the filming of Persuasion

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Sensing Selma (Jane Austen Association Series #5) by Kailin Gow

Love Makes Sense during the filming of Sense and Sensibility

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Christmas Park (Jane Austen Association Series #6) by Kailin Gow

Romance develops during around Christmas during the filming of Mansfield Park

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