Jane Bites Back_ A Novel - Michael Thomas Ford [85]
—Jane Austen, Constance, manuscript
REBECCA COULD DO LITTLE BUT STARE AT BYRON. CHIARA DID THE same. Jane, although she was more than a little annoyed, could hardly blame them. He was handsome, even more so with the addition of the goatee. It hid his chin, which Jane had never found to be his best feature.
“You?” Rebecca said when she finally regained her voice. “You’re Penelope Wentz?” She giggled and looked around, as if surely someone must be playing a joke on her. Then she looked at Chiara, who continued to stare at Byron, completely speechless.
“I know this must come as a bit of a surprise,” Byron said smoothly. “But I assure you that I am indeed she.” He then turned to Jane and pretended to see her for the first time. “I don’t believe we’ve met,” he said, extending his hand. “I’m Tavish Osborn.”
Jane gave him a look that said she didn’t think this latest caper of his was at all funny. “Jane Fairfax,” she said.
Byron stepped back. “Jane Fairfax!” he exclaimed. “The author of Constance.”
“That would be I,” said Jane without enthusiasm.
Byron turned to Rebecca and Chiara. “Have you read her book?” he asked. “In my opinion, it’s the finest romance to come out in the past century. Er, decade.”
“Aren’t you kind,” said Jane as Rebecca and Chiara exchanged puzzled glances.
Finally Chiara cleared her throat. “Pardon my surprise,” she said to Byron. “I—we—” She looked at Rebecca, who nodded. “We assumed you were a woman.”
Byron laughed lightly. “I can understand why,” he replied. Then he fixed Chiara with one of his most sensual looks. “But I promise you that I’m very much a man.”
Chiara blushed as Jane caught Byron’s eye. “Oh, please,” she mouthed at him. He grinned and winked.
“Well, this is certainly going to be a huge revelation!” Rebecca said. “Honestly, I don’t know what to think.” She looked Byron up and down. “You. Penelope Wentz.” She giggled again.
Byron looked at his watch. “I believe it’s just about time to begin,” he said.
“Of course,” Rebecca said, shaking her head as if she’d been dreaming and needed to wake up. “Why don’t we take our seats?”
The four of them ascended the platform. Chiara took the first chair, and Jane took the one farthest from her. She was relieved when she saw Rebecca start to take the seat beside her. Then Byron stepped between them.
“Would you mind?” he asked Rebecca.
Rebecca shot Jane a disapproving look. “Not at all,” she said flatly. Jane saw Chiara crane her neck around to see what was happening and frown when she saw where Byron had chosen to sit. She assumed he would sit between her and Rebecca, she thought. That way they could both pretend, he wanted to be near them.
“Penelope Wentz?” Jane said in a low voice when Byron was seated. “I suppose you killed the real one.”
“Not at all,” Byron replied. “I am indeed Penelope Wentz.” He raised one eyebrow. “I am, after all, the most romantic man in the world.”
Jane snorted. “I can’t believe you,” she said, shaking her head. “You promised to stay away.”
Byron held up one finger. “But I also said that I would be back one day.”
“That was three months ago!” Jane said. “I’d hardly call that a suitable intermission.”
“Welcome to this morning’s panel.” Rebecca’s announcement prevented any further discussion between Jane and Byron. Jane sat back in her chair and tried very hard not to look at him.
“We’re thrilled to have with us today some of the most exciting names in romance fiction,” she continued. “You all know Chiara Carrington, author of such novels as Whichever Way the Wind Blows and The Gift of Love.”
She paused to allow the audience to applaud. “And we’re pleased to introduce Jane Fairfax, whose novel Constance is making big waves in the book world.”
Jane noted with some disappointment that the applause for her was less enthusiastic than the response Chiara had received. Beside her, however, Byron clapped loudly. She resisted an urge to kick him under the table.
Rebecca took an audible breath. “I’m sure that many of you are here because you want to see the face behind the Penelope Wentz novels,” she said.