The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen

by The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen (retail) (epub)

  ‘Oh I do.’ Rose gestured to the right. ‘Let’s go this way – it’s less congested.’

  Morgan followed obediently, but Rose didn’t miss her friend checking her mobile for about the tenth time in so many minutes.

  ‘So – any word from James since he dropped your keys off this morning?’

  Morgan made an uncharacteristically nonchalant noise as she stuffed her phone back into her reticule, but Rose stopped walking and pulled her friend into a shop doorway. ‘Morgan, are you blushing?’

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Morgan winked but couldn’t hold Rose’s gaze.

  A sense of joy bubbled up in Rose’s heart as her suspicions were confirmed. ‘I knew it. You like each other, don’t you?’

  ‘Well… I can’t speak for him, but I’m pretty much a goner.’ Morgan paused, then sighed. ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘What? What on earth are you sorry for?’

  ‘I swear I didn’t come here to hit on your boss. I feel – well, I thought it was just – a flirtation – he’s so nice, and he’s tall and handsome and…’ Morgan shook her head. ‘Anyway, last night, when we found Mr Darcy, and we were walking to find you – I couldn’t stop looking at his mouth when he spoke.’

  ‘Oh dear, you are in deep, aren’t you?’ Rose grinned and set off again, Morgan in her wake.

  ‘Oh yes, I’m glad you think it’s funny – I’m lucky if he didn’t notice since I stopped paying attention to what he was saying. I’ll tone it down if we see him again, I promise, and obviously I will control myself if I end up…’ A strange consciousness flooded Morgan’s face as they reached the pedestrian crossing on George Street. ‘Oh my God! I didn’t tell you.’

  Rose grinned. ‘What? Don’t tell me he kissed you with his wonderful mouth and you’d forgotten until now? Morgan – what? What is it?’

  ‘These last few days have been great, haven’t they? Barring, you know, me being a strumpet and the whole thing with your delusional neighbour trying to set the place on fire?’

  Rose laughed. ‘What makes you think you’re a strumpet? Just because you like my boss who – so far as I can see – likes you back? You’re being very odd, Morgan; just spit it out.’

  ‘Okay.’ Morgan drew in a deep breath. ‘How would you feel if I told you my dad thinks a few weeks won’t cut it, that he’s looking into getting me a role in the new office? You know what writing’s like – you can do it anywhere.’ Morgan started to smile. ‘Bath even, if I want.’

  Rose gasped. ‘Honestly? Oh, Morgan! That would be… I just can’t put into words how fantastic it would be! Is it – when will you know?’

  Morgan shook her head. ‘Not sure. He only mentioned it as I was packing to come here – which, obviously, was ten minutes before I left for the airport. That’s what my mom was all excited ’bout during our Skype chat – she seems to think it’s a given.’

  ‘You sound like you’re not sure it’s a good thing? Have we freaked you out, all us Brits?’

  A cluster of costumed people walked past, and Morgan gestured up the hill. ‘Let’s keep going.’

  ‘Only if you tell me what the problem is.’ Rose fell into step beside her.

  ‘It’s not a problem – not a real one. I didn’t want you to feel as if you should be responsible for me. But then, I’ve needed nothing but rescuing since I got here – 24/7 – which might be a lark for a little visit but now you’re in danger of being stuck with me for a few years.’

  ‘Don’t be daft. I think it’s brilliant. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me, but – now I almost wish I didn’t know – I’ll be on pins and needles until it’s definite.’

  ‘Me, too. I know I had the cushion of the London office, but to be able to stay here for a while and be nearer you…’

  Both girls exchanged tremulous smiles as they reached the top of the hill and joined the milling crowds around the Assembly Rooms; it may have taken them years to finally meet in person, but neither of them was looking forward to saying goodbye, and this looked like a timely lifeline.

  Chapter Ten

  Ever since the Jane Austen Festival’s inception, Rose had watched the opening promenade, with hundreds of people walking in full costume through the streets of the Georgian city, a fitting backdrop for such a picturesque and popular event. How she had envied their easy confidence in their costumes, surrounded by shoppers, day trippers, students and sports fans, all milling around the city as they always did on Saturdays.

  But, even though it had taken Rose all these years to participate rather than simply watching from the side lines, she had always been excited by it. This year, the walk with Morgan was something Rose was sure she would remember for the rest of her life.

  Everyone was in such good spirits. The sky was cloudless and a light breeze lifted the curls around the ladies’ faces and stirred their pretty shawls as they greeted friends, old and new, and prepared to set off. There were older couples, entire families, groups of young girls, friends of all ages and backgrounds all sharing this one common love – Jane Austen.

  Cameras were pointed here, there and everywhere as locals, visitors, family and friends and even the local press all jostled to take photos of the beautifully attired gathering of festival-goers.

  Gradually, all Rose and Morgan’s friends who had travelled from various parts of the globe arrived, with hugs and introductions and lots of laughter surrounding them. Dresses and hairstyles were admired, but nothing caught the eye of their friends and total strangers alike more often than the crosses hanging around Rose and Morgan’s necks. Before long, Morgan had run out of the cards she had stowed in her reticule giving the details of Cascara’s Custom Collections, who no doubt was going to be very busy with repeat orders in the near future.

  A group of very handsome Redcoats had gathered near the head of the slowly forming line, and they affably agreed to have their picture taken with Morgan and Rose and then, being American, Morgan asked for another in which they pretended to march her in custody.

  Rose turned away smiling happily, only to meet the eye of Jenny, who was standing apart from the general crowd. She waved at her, unsurprised when all she received in response was a quick inclination of her head, though she did at least give her a wide smile, too. Tempted to go and invite her to walk with them, something held Rose back.

  She felt sad to see her always alone, but watching her now, it was clear she was perfectly happy, her bright gaze darting here and there, taking in the people, the costumes and, every now and again, glancing at the festival programme and shaking her head in what appeared to be bemusement. Surely more a fan than a forger today, mused Rose, and she turned back to find Morgan being delivered back into the safe hands of her friends by the escorting militia.

  Before she could point Jenny out to her, however, they were joined by a young man, stylishly attired in a smart uniform and performing a low bow over Rose’s hand as he greeted them.

  ‘Well met, ladies.’ He turned to Morgan.

  ‘Morgan, this is Leo. Leo, this is Morgan, a friend of mine from the USA.’

  Leo repeated his formal bow to Morgan, then offered them each an arm as the line of people began to move. Rose shook her head at the friends behind them, who were wolf-whistling and calling out to them, laughing at how quickly they had acquired a handsome male escort.

  ‘This is great. Look at all these men with their wives on their arms. They don’t look like they’ve been forced into it, either!’ Morgan was looking this way and that as they walked. ‘I hope they’re getting huge bonus points.’

  ‘I can’t speak for all of them, but it’s very possible they simply enjoy this as much as their partners.’ Leo smiled at Morgan. ‘There seem to be more men here every year.’

  He was a very nice man, but Rose knew he was younger than her in more than years – very much a boy rather than a man – which didn’t bother her particularly except she always felt on edge around him, as though any moment he would ask her out for a drink
or a meal, and she’d have to reject him. With a sigh, Rose fixed a smile on her face and looked around, leaving Morgan to chat to Leo. She didn’t miss Jonathan at all, but there were times when she missed the protection of being with someone, of having a ring on her finger as a barrier.

  And Leo’s not Doctor Aiden Trevellyan, is he? Rose looked quickly around. There was no denying she felt a little jittery whilst they remained at this end of the town. Thankfully, they weren’t walking along the Royal Crescent this year – the thought of the doctor happening to look out of his window and see her traipsing past dressed like this made her skin go cold, despite the sunshine.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Morgan was peering round Leo at her. ‘You look like you’re going to throw up!’

  ‘No – I’m fine.’ Rose forced a smile as they left the Circus behind and walked along Brock Street, praying James wouldn’t be out and about either. His flat was barely steps from the Royal Crescent.

  ‘It’s quite warm for September,’ added Leo. ‘It will be much more shady once we’re on the Gravel Walk.’

  ‘You’re adorable, Leo. Are you single?’

  ‘At the moment, yes.’ He glanced quickly at Rose, who decided to become very interested in the people lining the route to watch the parade.

  ‘Well, we’re going to have to change that today.’ Morgan patted Leo’s arm. ‘This is going to be highway robbery for you – you could sweep any girl here off their feet with your smart uniform and charming self.’

  ‘Not sure it works on everyone…’ Leo murmured.

  It was with relief that they crossed the road just before the Royal Crescent and headed back towards the town along the Gravel Walk, though the watching crowds hadn’t lessened at all.

  ‘This must be what it feels like to be famous,’ called Chrystal, one of their friends in the cluster of people behind them. ‘All these cameras going off on all sides!’ She blew a kiss at some of the spectators. ‘Y’all make me feel like a star!’

  ‘You’ve always been a star,’ laughed Sandy, another friend who was walking by her side. ‘It’s just taken the British public till now to realise it.’

  Swept along, surrounded by happy banter, smiling faces and her speculation over whether Morgan’s dad would come through with the visa for his daughter, Rose sailed up Gay Street, back around the other side of the Circus and past the Assembly Rooms again, sparing no further thought for her potential embarrassment. She was enjoying the moment and simply didn’t want it to end.

  Before long, they had reached Milsom Street and were cutting a large swathe through the shoppers, again drawing lots of good-natured attention as the long line of promenaders made their way through the streets towards the lower part of the town. Rose couldn’t fault a moment of this walk now she was into her stride. She’d stopped looking down, fearful of catching the eye of someone – anyone – who might make her feel a fool for dressing up like this. So infectious was the feeling of goodwill around them – even down to several rugby supporters, in town early for that day’s game, giving them some gentle ribbing as they passed by – that she found herself able to relax and really enjoy the moment. She could hear Morgan’s constant happy chatter as she regaled Leo with talk of her home and caught snatches of laughter and conversation from their other friends who followed in their wake. As far as Rose was concerned, she didn’t want the walk to end.

  It was as the procession slowed almost to a halt after passing the abbey that something caught Rose’s eye, and she glanced over towards Cafe Retro, growing so cold this time, she shivered, causing Leo to turn towards her in concern and pat her on the arm, giving her a reassuring smile.

  James and the doctor were standing outside the coffee shop, cardboard cups in hand, deep in conversation. James, thankfully, had his back to them, but the same couldn’t be said for his companion.

  Rose tried to shrink down a little in the hopes Tess, another friend, who stood directly in front of her, would conceal her with her bonnet. If only she wasn’t so tall, or her hair such a recognisable colour.

  Oh God… don’t look over here, don’t look over – no, no, no, no…

  ‘Rose, what are you doing?’ Morgan twisted around and stared at her, but to Rose’s dismay, she then glanced up and said brightly, ‘Oh look, it’s James! And your Aiden.’

  Rose had seen Dr Trevellyan’s indifferent gaze as his eyes roamed over the three of them, and there was nothing she could add to this other than a strangled, ‘Yes, I know.’

  Turning away, she tried to engage Leo in conversation, conscious she was babbling. She could only guess what her face portrayed – surely her crippling embarrassment had frozen her features?

  ‘James is waving – at least, I think you could call it a wave.’ Morgan waved energetically back, smiling widely. ‘Though he looks a bit… surprised.’

  Rose tried not to hear, convinced her humiliation was complete, and thankfully the walkers began to move on again.

  Morgan looked back, confused, pulling slightly on Leo’s arm. ‘Shouldn’t we go back? Say hello?’

  Rose pulled Leo’s arm in the opposite direction. ‘No, Morgan. No, we really shouldn’t.’

  Before long, they had reached the end of the promenade, and Leo reluctantly drifted away to join the battalion of soldiers whilst Morgan puzzled over the expression on James’s face.

  ‘He looked – well, you might have read it more accurately. You know him better.’

  ‘What? Sorry.’ Rose shook her head. ‘James? I’m afraid I didn’t see it. Was he – did he look… funny, then?’

  ‘He just looked…’ Morgan hesitated, then began to laugh. ‘Like he couldn’t quite believe his eyes. I take it you never told him we were doing this?’

  Blowing out a breath, Rose shook her head again, then smiled reluctantly. ‘No. I take it you didn’t either?’

  Morgan started to giggle. ‘Seriously, his face was hilarious. Wish I’d taken a picture!’

  Thankful she hadn’t got a photo of the doctor’s blank expression, Rose turned with relief to talk to Marita, over from Norway with her family and who’d just come to admire the necklace. Dressing up in period costume might seem silly, and possibly a bit of an embarrassing thing to do with one’s time, to some people, but a small part of her wished there had been something… some reaction, even if a negative one. She wasn’t entirely sure he’d even seen her, or if he had, that he’d realised who she was, and that hurt.

  Looking around at the happy, milling crowds in their wonderful costumes, Rose drew in a long, slow breath. There were musicians in the bandstand and impromptu dancing had begun. Friends were helping each other, adjusting bonnets or retying ribbons, and everywhere people posed for photographs, some with tourists who were delighted to find Bath overflowing with people in period dress, and Rose felt her spirits rise again.

  This was what mattered; these lovely people, all her friends and, most of all, Morgan – not a distant crush on someone who was never going to look at her and see the real Rose. It was enough of a reprimand to bring her to her senses.

  ‘Morgan?’ Turning back from taking photos, her friend smiled up at her. ‘There’s an open-air cafe over there; shall we go and find a nice cup of tea?’

  ‘Does it have to be tea?’

  Chapter Eleven

  ‘I can’t believe we slept in so late.’ It was almost one o’clock the next day, and Rose and Morgan were hurrying past the Parade Gardens but had to stop short when they came to the pedestrian crossing.

  ‘I still feel drunk!’

  Rose glanced fondly at Morgan as they waited for the lights to change to let them cross. ‘You only had three drinks from when we met the girls for last night’s dinner until we stumbled home in the early hours.’

  ‘Ah, but I have a delicate constitution, don’t ya know?’ Morgan grinned as their chance came, and they hurried across the road and on past the back of Bath Abbey as it chimed the hour, heading for Cheap Street.

  ‘Here it is.’ Rose gestured across th
e street to Bill’s Restaurant. ‘I think you’ll love it.’

  ‘I love everything here. What’s not to like?’

  They hovered inside the doorway as the staff hurried to seat the people waiting in front, and Rose cast her eyes over the full tables. ‘I hope someone thought to book a—’

  ‘Hey, over here!’

  Rose grinned and waved at the people crammed round a table at the back of the restaurant, whispering to Morgan, ‘We can’t be as late as we thought! Marita isn’t here yet.’

  Morgan laughed as they followed a waitress to the booth. ‘That’s no consolation. Don’t you remember her saying when she left last night that she was lunching with her family and would join us afterwards? Hey, Rose, look who’s with them.’

  Rose sighed as she caught sight of Leo’s beaming smile. ‘He seems to have taken to the girls.’

  ‘Or to one in particular?’

  Slapping Morgan’s arm in playful reprimand, they greeted their friends and squeezed into the booth, Rose making sure to sit in the space next to Sandy and leaving Morgan to sit next to Leo.

  ‘Hey, Rose, did you hear Winchester is closed?’

  ‘What? The city?’

  Sandy laughed. ‘No. The cathedral.’

  ‘Oh! I’m gutted.’ Morgan looked it, too.

  ‘How odd, especially during the festival.’ Rose frowned.

  ‘Some sort of repair work. Think they’d have timed it better, wouldn’t you?’ Leo shrugged, but as the server arrived at that point for their order, they all hurriedly turned to the menus.

  * * *

  More than an hour later, having enjoyed a lengthy but hilarious brunch, Rose looked around, stirring her tea and conscious of a blissful contentment.

  ‘Hey, look! It’s her again,’ Morgan whispered as Tess asked the waitress to bring more tea.

  Rose followed Morgan’s gaze. Sure enough, there was Jenny, alone as always, standing in the street outside the restaurant and studying something Rose suspected was a map. Turning back to face the booth, she sighed.