Novel girlfriend of Nelson (4)

I believe the answer is:

emma

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'novel' is the definition.
(novel by Jane Austen)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for emma that I've seen before include "Mrs Bovary" , "Retired chief in Ian Fleming" , "Ack -, a term for a.m." , "Novel by June Austen" , "Eponymous heroine" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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