Mr. Darcy Forever (10 page)

Pie dropped them at the back of the abbey and they got out of the van, straightening their dresses and adjusting their bonnets.

‘
I’m so excited,’ Mia said. ‘It feels like decades since I was last here.’

Shelley linked arms with her like a true heroine and they rounded the abbey together and were soon lost in a sea of costumes.

‘
It’s the busiest ever!’ Shelley said. ‘I’ve never seen so many people before. This
must
be a world record!’

The crowd seemed to hum with excitement and Mia watched in delight as people posed in front of the great abbey doors and the Pump Room, all eager to have their photograph taken for posterity.

Mia had truly never seen quite so many people in costume in one place. But there was something rather surreal about it too for these heroes and heroines were definitely from the twenty-first century even though the clothes they wore begged to differ. Mia noticed that a number of them were pushing baby strollers and holding mobile phones, and there was even a Mrs Jenkins lookalike who was sneaking a quick cigarette. Then there were the give-away shoes. Whilst a good majority did their best with replica shoes from the period, there were still a few kitten heels and trainers half-hidden beneath the long dresses. What would Jane Austen have made of it all? Mia couldn’t help wondering.

There were so many magnificent costumes that it was hard to know where to look. Sky-blue and white seemed to be a favourite and it was such a fresh combination. Mia also loved the sweet apple-green and white she spotted a young woman wearing. It was all such a wonderful feast for the eyes and was rather like looking at a cloud of beautiful butterflies.

Then they spotted a woman with bright purple hair.

‘
That’s not very Austen appropriate!’ Mia said in disgust. ‘You’d think she could have toned it down a bit for the festival.’

‘
I wish there were more men,’ Shelley said. ‘Most of them are old enough to be my grandfather.’

But then they saw him – he was tall with bright chestnut hair and he was in full Regency costume.

‘
Oh, my goodness!’ Shelley exclaimed, a gloved-hand flying to her mouth. ‘It’s a real-life hero! Mr Darcy
does
exist!’

Mia looked in the direction Shelley was gazing and there stood the most handsome man she had ever seen although he actually had his back to them so it was impossible to tell if he really was handsome but if the long, slim-fitting coat and elegant black boots were anything to go by then he was a real stunner.

‘
I’m going to propose to him right now,’ Shelley said, ‘and don't try to stop me! Men like this don't come along very often.’

Mia giggled. Shelley was right. This man really stood out from the crowd. Not only was there a sorry lack of men in general but the ones who did join in the promenade tended to be a little older than your average Jane Austen hero.

But, before Shelley had time to go down on bended knee, the hero turned around.

‘
Oh!’ Shelley gasped, not only because he was just as handsome as she'd hoped but because he was holding a tiny baby in a little papoose.

‘
Probably best that you don't propose to him,’ Mia said with a little smile. ‘I think he's already taken.’

Sure enough, they then spotted a young woman with a tumble of fair curls tied loosely with a pale pink ribbon. She was wearing a simple white dress and a pretty rose-coloured Spencer jacket. A topaz cross hung on a fine gold chain around her neck and Mia immediately recognized it as a copy of Jane Austen's famous necklace.

Shelley, who adored babies, couldn't resist saying hello and had approached the couple before Mia could stop her.

‘
What an adorable baby,’ Shelley said. ‘What’s her name?’

‘
Cassie,’ the man said.

‘
Cassandra,’ the woman corrected.

‘
Like Jane’s sister?’ Shelley said.

The young woman nodded. ‘Cassandra Elizabeth Jane.’

‘
How perfect is that?’ Shelley enthused.

‘
Cassie for short,’ the man said.

‘
How old is she?’ Mia asked, peering down at the baby.

‘
Five weeks,’ the woman said.

Shelley's mouth dropped open in wonder. ‘Oh!’ she exclaimed. ‘Then I'm guessing this is her first Jane Austen Festival!’

The woman laughed. ‘And its youngest participant. It’s Dan’s first festival too,’ the young mother said, nodding to the tall gentleman beside her. I've been before but this is the first year I've dressed up and it's so much fun.’

Shelley nodded enthusiastically. ‘I come every year. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.’

It was then that the announcement came - the promenade was about to begin. Mia felt a funny fluttering in her stomach which she normally only ever felt when attending auditions.

‘
Come on, Robyn,’ the gentleman with the baby said and Mia and Shelley watched as she linked arms with him and they began to promenade.

‘
Isn’t that the most perfect family you’ve ever seen?’ Shelley said with a romantic sigh.

Mia nodded. ‘They looked so happy together, didn't they?’

‘
That might be us one day,’ Shelley said. ‘In fact, I'm not going to even consider getting married to a man unless he is willing to don Regency costume.’

‘
Me neither,’ Mia said.

‘
I think he was the only real hero here today and he’s taken,’ Shelley said.

‘
We can still look,’ Mia said, her eyes still fixed firmly on the gentleman.

‘
My, you really have got a bit of a crush on him, haven’t you?’ Shelley teased.

‘
Don’t be silly,’ Mia said. ‘I was only looking at the baby.’

Once Sarah reached the abbey, she wasn’t on her own for long. She was adopted by a group of Americans who had come over from New York especially for the festival. She also spoke to a couple from Hong Kong and two girls from Sweden. Jane Austen was truly a global phenomenon.

By the time they reached Milsom Street, they’d all discussed their favourite heroines (Elizabeth Bennet and Anne Elliot although Sarah put in a special word for Elinor Dashwood), their favourite heroes (Mr Darcy, Captain Wentworth with a heartfelt mention of Henry Tilney owing to them being in Bath) and the house that they’d all like to be mistress of (Pemberley was voted unanimously although Sarah couldn’t help thinking of Barton Cottage but she kept her thoughts to herself).

It was always an honour to walk the length of Milsom Street and Sarah thought of how it was this very street that General Tilney had lodged in with Henry and Eleanor in
Northanger Abbey
. Anne Elliot had also walked this very street and, of course, Jane Austen too. Sarah often thought it funny how she would think of the characters as if they were real people who had really lived, occupying this very world with the same strength of mind and passion as their creator had. But how many of the shoppers today knew of the Austen connection? Did they think about Tilney teasing Catherine, and Captain Wentworth brooding over Anne as they went from shop to shop? Or was it just the select few like herself who could never walk through the streets of Bath without imagining a whole host of fictional characters swarming around her? Whatever the answer was, Sarah knew that Bath would always hold a very special place in her heart and she couldn’t help thinking of Catherine Morland’s assertion, ‘Oh! Who can ever be tired of Bath?’

Mia and Shelley were rather enjoying being photographed by the Saturday shoppers who all took a moment out of their time to stop and watch the promenaders.

‘
He should definitely be in costume,’ Shelley said, nodding towards a handsome man who was taking a photo of them with his mobile phone. ‘Wouldn’t he look splendid?’

‘
Like Gabe?’

‘
So you noticed how splendid Gabe is?’

‘
No,’ Mia said, ‘I’ve just noticed how you want to dress up half of the male population of Bath.’

‘
It wouldn’t do them any harm,’ Shelley said. ‘I hate modern men’s clothes. All these ripped jeans and oversized trainers. Most unattractive.’

Mia nodded in agreement. Very few modern men dressed well, she had to admit.

‘
Good morning, ladies,’ a voice suddenly accosted them and they turned around to see a gentleman in naval uniform. Unfortunately, he was about sixty-five and had a bushy beard in which you could lose a whole battalion.

They nodded politely as he continued on his way.

‘
I’m afraid that’s all that’s left for us,’ Mia said.

‘
I think you’re right,’ Shelley said. ‘Why is life a constant disappointment?’

‘
Because we read fiction,’ Mia said and Shelley nodded, knowing it was true.

It wasn’t long before they were walking along the elegant curved pavements of The Circus. From there, they walked into Brock Street and on towards the Royal Crescent. It was always a highlight to enter the famous crescent and there was an opportunity to stop for photographs whilst a group of dancers entertained the crowds. The sunny weather had brought more people out than ever before and everyone stopped to watch the promenade.

‘
How beautiful everyone looks,’ Mia said as she surveyed the sea of bright costumes in the sunshine. There were so many sumptuous colours and fabrics and everyone looked so at home in the Georgian surroundings and Mia’s heart swelled with pride at being a part of it all.

After the dancing had ended, the promenaders ambled along the famous Gravel Walk which was beautifully shady after the brilliant light in the crescent but parasols remained up. After all one didn’t get to use them very often.

The walk ended in a flight of shallow steps and then the party turned to head back into town.

Shelley shook her head and sighed. ‘It’s all over,’ she said. ‘All over for another year.’

Mia turned to look at her friend. ‘But there's the rest of the festival to look forward to. We've got all sorts booked, haven't we?’

‘
Yes but this is my favourite bit and it always goes much too quickly.’

Mia smiled but then she grabbed Shelley’s arm.

‘
What is it?’

Mia’s mouth dropped open and she could hardly speak. ‘I think I saw someone.’

‘
Who? The ghost of Captain Wentworth? I’m told he haunts these parts,’ Shelley grinned.

Mia didn't say anything but her eyes were fixed on the crowd ahead. She could have sworn she’d seen Sarah but she’d lost her almost as soon as her eyes had alighted on her so, no, she couldn't be sure. Had her eyes played tricks on her? Had she only
thought
she'd seen her because she'd been thinking about her? Maybe it was just a blend of her anxiety that her sister would be there and an over-active imagination.

‘
She wouldn't be here, would she?’

‘
Sarah? Why not? She's as much a fan as you are and you're here.’

Mia sighed. Why indeed should Sarah not be there? She had as much right to attend the festival as Mia did.

‘
But she wouldn't,’ Mia reasoned with herself. ‘She can barely make it to the supermarket on her own.’

Shelley placed a hand on Mia’s shoulder. ‘Well, maybe she's changed. Maybe she's got help for her OCD. I mean, you don't know, do you?’

The question stung Mia. Shelley was right. She wouldn't know, would she? She had missed out on over three years of her sister's life just as her sister had missed out on three years of
her
life. So much could have happened - so much
had
happened – in that time.