Free A Jane Austen Encounter by Donna Fletcher Crow Page A

Students of Muriel’s at St. Frieswide’s. At least, Polly was, and she recommended Jack.”
    “Albion Press?’ Elizabeth asked.
    “Bit of a pun, that. Of course, Albion’s an old name for England, but an Albion press was an early hand printing press. A real contrast to today’s all-electronic approach, but it emphasizes our main market niche— history.”
    “What do you publish?”
    “Textbooks, biographies, scholarly work. We’re launching a new line of facsimiles of historical documents. I understood Muriel wanted to offer us something in that line. I don’t quite understand why she brought the Chronicle’s crime reporter into it.” He nodded toward Beth.
    “What is Muriel’s new book about?”
    “Ah, Analysing Jane —an analysis of Jane’s style and how she worked. I’ve seen the rough draft. An examination of Jane’s rewrites of Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice . I thought it was nearly finished, but she said she’ll now be adding a chapter on The Watsons .”
    Muriel, her trademark purple blouse shimmering in the light from the window, called for their attention again. She held up the box from the end of the work table and told about its donation, then went on to mention a few of the items lying out on the table. “Unfortunately, the most interesting of my discoveries has gone missing, but I assure you I will recover all in time for Albion Press to include a facsimile in my book.”
    “Her discovery?” Elizabeth raised her eyebrows, but she didn’t comment further. “So are you interested? Will you publish the facsimiles? If she finds them, that is.”
    Paul shook his head. “Possibly. But it’s early days. This seems most unorthodox.”
    “Exactly what I think,” Elizabeth agreed. “I wonder what she hopes to gain by such grandstanding.”
    “Occupying the ground so no one else will take credit for the find. Typical.”
    Elizabeth was startled by the caustic tone in the newcomer’s voice. “Gerri, I didn’t realize you were here.”
    Before Geraldine could reply, Muriel rapped on the table for attention. “So, that’s the story to this point. I knew you would all want to be in on the excitement. You can be assured I’ll keep you updated as the documents are studied more closely. And when we recover the letters, of course. I’m sure they’ll turn up. Merely misplaced or in the possession of someone simply wanting to study them for academic purposes, no doubt.” She looked around the room meaningfully, her eyes resting on Arthur, Geraldine, Robert, Elizabeth, and Richard each in their turn. “I pledge to work tirelessly for the recovery of this valuable find for the literary world, and I shall personally lead the undertaking. The Jane Austen Quest, I’m calling it.” As she spoke the last, she looked aside at Beth’s notes to be certain the reporter had recorded the title correctly.
    Red-faced, Robert pushed his way forward. “Dr. Greystone, I really must protest. Nothing has been established. All this publicity—it could be very harmful . . .”
    “Nonsense. Exactly what you need. You’ll see—when the article comes out in the Chronicle , it’ll double your visitors. Especially if the national press picks it up—and they will. You mark my words. And you, Paul,” she turned to the publisher. “Double our print run, eh?”
    “But what about the police enquiry?” Elizabeth asked.
    “Precisely my point,” Muriel replied. “No sense in someone else trying to take credit for the find or to sell it on now that it’s known as stolen property.”
    Elizabeth didn’t catch Robert’s muttered reply. But the look he shot at Muriel should have been enough to make even that redoubtable lady take a step backward.

Chapter 8
    BY COMMON CONSENT THE next morning, Elizabeth and Richard gave the Jane Austen Centre a wide berth and Elizabeth more than once found herself looking around her to be sure Muriel didn’t waylay them for some scheme—scholarly or promotional—of her