The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen

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

  ‘Well, that’s only because he doesn’t know we’ll soon have all the time together we could ask for.’

  Morgan sighed dramatically. ‘I will tell him, I swear! Tonight.’ Then she grinned. ‘But drinks first – we’ll go, yes? All of us?’

  For a fleeting moment, Rose wished with all her heart Aiden was still in Bath and included in that ‘all of us’, but Morgan took her silence for acceptance and turned back to start texting again.

  Rose stared out of the window as the Hampshire countryside rushed by, trying not to notice the signs to Winchester as they passed and wishing she could go there now.

  Then she recalled the Love Heart and its message. If only she’d pocketed it, she’d at least have something to hold onto, something tangible from her lunch with Aiden. If only she could believe he’d chosen that particular one from the ones in his hand…

  Resting her head against the seat, Rose stared out of the window, seeing nothing of the scenery, only a whirlwind of make-believe images of what she wished were true. If only…

  * * *

  Rose woke slowly the following morning, barely moving a muscle other than to open one eye and squint around the room. Convinced of the earliness of the hour by the low level of light filtering through the curtains, she let her lid drop again, curling onto her side as she pressed her cheek into the pillow, trying to make sense of the feelings consuming her.

  Had she been in the midst of a dream? She stretched languorously, hoping some strand of it would come back to her, a hint of what had triggered this sensation of inner contentment. The fog of sleep cleared and familiar sounds took precedence – the slow rumble of traffic from the street above, the birds outside her window heralding the new day – but she was still confused. Shouldn’t she be depressed? Her lunch with Aiden at Chawton had been a bonus – a bounty she’d never expected before he disappeared from her city for another year – but it was over and done now.

  The resurgence of memories of the previous day swept away any remaining tendrils of sleep and, opening her eyes properly, Rose rolled onto her back. She felt… different somehow, as though the trip to Chawton had changed something tangible within her.

  For whatever reason, she had been feeling unsettled as the bus had careered along the country roads to Hampshire, as though she didn’t know what to expect, even though she’d visited Chawton many times before. It wasn’t until she stepped over the threshold into Jane’s former home that she had realised it must stem from her recent venture into an alternate reality, and she had been filled with a deeply satisfying sense of pride in having been such a crucial part in turning that around.

  The depth of her emotion in being there in Chawton, the awkward mixture of discomfort and pleasure during her impromptu lunch with Aiden were bundled up inside her as they had travelled back to Bath.

  Kicking back the covers, Rose sat up slowly. Yes, it had been quite a day; a full circle sort of day, with Rose coming to terms with emotions she hadn’t even begun to suspect were warring within her before the trip.

  She swung her legs out of bed and stood up, thrusting her feet into her slippers, and reached for her mobile. Perhaps this was what good therapy felt like – it certainly seemed to fit with what Morgan was always trying to tell her.

  Quickly checking for any messages, Rose grinned widely as she read three in a row from Morgan, sent not long after midnight. She’d gone for dinner with them at Morgan’s insistence, but had excused herself as soon as she’d eaten, leaving her friend to look over yet another dessert menu as James ordered coffee, claiming she needed an early night. She had smiled at Morgan’s knowing look, but she really wanted to spend some time thinking about Aiden with their meeting so fresh in her mind. It was an indulgence she’d never had before, and it had left her almost giddy with possibilities.

  Aiden… Rose walked slowly over to stand in front of the dressing table and eyed her reflection warily. In the half-light of early morning, she could almost believe he might… find her attractive? Her skin looked pale and luminous, but her hair was everywhere, of course, and she pushed it impatiently off her shoulders. His eyes had been so kind… fond, even? But what might he see in her? Morgan had said she was beautiful, but was that just her friend being – well, Morgan? Other than Jon, she’d never drawn the attention of anyone much. Wasn’t that why she’d put up with him for so long, convinced she had to stay with him because no one else was likely to want her, that she wasn’t anyone unless she was part of a couple? Believing all the negativity he threw her way, echoes of her mother’s words over the years, Rose’s low self-esteem had willingly succumbed.

  With a grunt, Rose turned her back on the mirror. Thankfully, she had seen the light; things were changing, and she felt like she could question everything!

  She jumped at the sudden ping of her mobile, and as she pulled back the curtains to reveal a beautiful autumn day, she glanced at the screen, unsurprised to see another text from Morgan: What time are we meeting? I’m hungry!

  Rose smiled. Morgan was always hungry, and she had promised to take her friend to a cafe she had found serving American-style pancakes before they headed off to this morning’s festival event.

  I can be with you in half an hour? Rose paused, then her curiosity getting the better of her, added quickly: Try biding your time telling me if you enjoyed the rest of your evening!?!

  Morgan’s response was rapid: another series of hilarious emoticons, culminating again in two little figures kissing. With a satisfied nod, Rose dropped the phone onto her bedside table and headed for the bathroom.

  Rushing ahead in her hopes for James and Morgan’s future? That was totally acceptable; but if there could be hope for something with Aiden… Rose’s insides flipped over, and she could feel the possibility welling inside her. Rose hastily turned the shower on, turning the dial to cold. She needed something to drown out her thinking – her overthinking. A year was a long time, as she already knew, but the first night was over, and this time she wasn’t going to let the next three hundred and sixty go to waste.

  Chapter Forty

  Despite her alleged hunger, it didn’t go amiss with Rose that Morgan ate nothing, though she pushed the food around on her plate a few times after liberally dousing it in maple syrup. It probably had something to do with the fact she didn’t seem able to stop smiling or talking – though there was nothing unusual in that, either.

  ‘I get it.’ Rose laughed as they paid up and made their way out into the street. ‘You like him. I think you lurrrve him.’ Then she ducked, as Morgan made a playful swipe at her.

  Their spirits remained high as they walked past the abbey and joined the main thoroughfare, making their way down to the lower part of the town.

  ‘Okay, apart from my boss, what’s been your favourite thing since you got here?’

  ‘Apart from you and James,’ Morgan sighed as they paused at a crossing, ‘it’s just being surrounded by the accent. Even though sometimes I get a little confused trying to decipher our common language. It’s still irresistible.’

  Rose merely raised a brow at her as they crossed over the road.

  ‘Not that I’m trying hard to resist!’ Morgan laughed. ‘What sorts of things do you worry about in housing here if you don’t have to worry about earthquake safety, anyway?’

  ‘Well, I suppose – oh, I’m sorry – oh, hi!’ Rose smiled widely, but the woman she had accidentally bumped into on the corner threw her a startled look before hurrying on, and Morgan grinned.

  ‘Is it normal to be so friendly to someone you’ve bumped into like that?’

  With a rueful laugh, Rose shook her head as they continued on their way, glancing back as Mary from the library disappeared out of sight. ‘No – I thought I knew her; turns out I don’t.’

  They turned the corner into Corn Street, and Rose caught sight of a familiar notice pinned to a lamp post, and her present happiness faltered slightly.

  Oh, Prancer! she thought sadly. How you must be missed!


  ‘What is it?’ Morgan looked concerned. ‘Rose, don’t worry – I am not making wedding plans or anything; it’s just that my heart hasn’t stopped thumping since he… no, wait.’ She sighed, placing a hand to her throat. ‘Since those precious, eternal moments before he leaned down and kissed me.’ She gave Rose a dreamy smile, and Rose rolled her eyes. ‘He’s a good kisser, you know?’

  Rose struggled not to laugh. ‘No – I don’t know! Nor do I intend to try and find out.’

  Morgan stared at her, then burst out laughing. ‘Oh! Right.’ Then she grinned. ‘Well, just take my word for it.’

  I did, muttered Rose under her breath. The first time you mentioned it; and, I think, the second. This must be the third, but – oh well. She tucked her arm through Morgan’s and urged her along the pavement towards the Mission Theatre.

  ‘Come on, let’s see if we can get you to an event suitably fascinating to take your mind off Lover Boy for an hour.’

  ‘Don’t worry, though; I know things don’t always last forever.’

  Rose, who had been living with those first few moments of infatuation for a few years now, merely smiled.

  ‘I’m not worried at all – I was a bit distracted.’ Rose gestured back up the road. ‘I saw a poster for a lost dog; I’m pretty sure I saw what happened to it, over by my flat the other day.’

  ‘Aw, that’s too bad. You haven’t seen anything about Mr Darcy, have you?’

  Rose shook her head. ‘Hey, I thought James had vetoed that name for the kitten.’

  ‘Well… who made him president? When my visa comes through, I could keep the kitten just as much as he could, and then what could he say about the name? Huh?’ Morgan winked at Rose as they arrived at the theatre doors. ‘And anyway, we all know I’m going to win him over, don’t we?’

  ‘Morgan…’ Rose stopped, then laughed. ‘Yes. We do all know.’

  They joined some of their friends inside then and enjoyed a fun and entertaining hour as they were told all about the intricacies of bonnet making and pretended not to covet one of the many fabulous concoctions on display near the front of the stage.

  ‘This is awesome – why haven’t we made our own?’ Morgan was eyeing the display up close now the presentation had come to an end and everyone was milling around near the stage.

  ‘Because when I suggested it as something fun we could do, you laughed at me, said I was living in the wrong century.’

  This reminder of the past brought Prancer to mind – a Prancer who was now happily settled in 1803, and Rose fished in her bag for her mobile and switched it back on. Morgan, in the meantime, was trying on one of the bonnets and taking a selfie. ‘Well, you shouldn’t have listened to me. I want one. Can we make one for the ball?’

  Taking the hat Morgan had discarded, Rose put it back on its stand. ‘Weren’t you listening to anything? Ladies didn’t wear bonnets to balls.’ Then, at her friend’s pretence at pulling a disappointed face, she shook her head. ‘Well, I suppose we could try. I’m sure you’ll get a chance to wear it before the festival is over.’ She eyed the elegant displays in front of them. ‘I’ve never done it before, so we can’t be too ambitious.’

  ‘How about I go straight to the source?’ Morgan pointed at the lady who had done the presentation. ‘She’ll give us a rough idea of what we need, right?’

  Rose eyed the queue of ladies in front of the presenter. ‘Okay. I need to make a phone call.’ She waved her phone at Morgan. ‘Shall we meet outside when you’re done?’

  ‘Work stuff?’

  Rose gave Morgan a look. ‘If you want to talk to James, you text him.’

  ‘Fine.’ Morgan sighed, and touched her hand to her heart exaggeratedly, then laughed and turned to join the melee of people crowding around the presenter.

  Rose walked out into the street, then turned and walked quickly to the end of the road and the lamp post displaying the notice about Prancer. Keeping an eye on the doors of the theatre, she tapped the number into her phone, the call connecting in a few rings.

  ‘Er, hello?’

  Five minutes later, Rose was back outside the theatre, just as people began to spill out onto the street, the last of whom was – typically – Morgan.

  ‘So? How did it go? Did you learn in fifty seconds how we’re going to do this?’

  Morgan raised both hands and waved them gleefully. ‘Yes, but we have to go to the hat store on Broad Street so we can get something to use as a base. And get some ribbons and things to decorate it with.’

  ‘Okay; there’s a great stall in the market; it’ll be the best place for ribbons and so on. Let’s go shopping.’

  ‘Can we get a sandwich, too? I’m starving.’

  They walked back the way they had come, but as they passed the poster of the missing dog again, Morgan gestured towards it. ‘Why don’t you call if you think you know what happened? Was it an accident?’

  ‘I just did – and no, the dog… well, as I said to the owner just now, he was… taken. I – er – I saw it happen.’

  ‘Wow! Dog-napping in Bath. And you and James told me it was so safe here.’

  They crossed over and headed for the centre of town, Rose shaking her head.

  ‘I know. Bizarre. Anyway, she seemed okay about it all. She’s quite elderly, said he was always running off, escaping from his lead and even from the house. I got the impression she was a little relieved. I don’t think she was up to chasing after him any more.’ Rose pointed to the right. ‘We need to go this way. To be honest, she seemed more thankful she was going to save money on socks.’

  ‘What?’ Morgan laughed. ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘Oh yes; she said Prancer – that was the dog’s name – used to eat them. She seemed quite chuffed about that side of it.’

  ‘Well, you did the right thing. At least she has closure, right?’

  ‘Yes, of course. I did feel bad calling her, though. I offered to drive her to the rescue centre if she wanted to get herself another dog, but she said her daughter had it planned. Seemed as though she was keen to find herself one that would be a bit less… active.’

  As they made their way towards Broad Street, Rose smiled to herself at such an outcome. Prancer had, hopefully, found a more active and willing companion in Cassandra, and the lady would get her wish and manage to adopt a non-sock-eating, stay-at-home dog who would be a faithful companion to her.

  Chapter Forty-One

  After a busy afternoon of shopping and an early evening festival event – this time a workshop on playing the harp – Rose and Morgan had said good night to their friends and headed to The Boater, the pub just across the way from Morgan’s flat, for dinner.

  Not entirely sure how it happened, though she suspected Morgan’s ability to text without seeming to do so might have something to do with it, James just happened to drop into the pub as they were finishing their meal, and joined them for a drink.

  Rose smirked as he sat down; his foot had come to rest against Morgan’s and, judging from her happy face, her friend hadn’t missed it either.

  ‘Look at what we bought.’ Morgan delved into one of the carrier bags under the table, unearthing a plain straw bonnet, which she perched on her head, and a huge pile of ribbons. ‘We’re going to make bonnets!’

  ‘Very fetching.’ James took a draught of his pint and picked up one of the ribbons. ‘How on earth are you going to use all of these? You look like you’ve raided the stall!’

  Rose laughed. ‘It was a bit like that.’

  ‘I thought you could take some, too.’ Morgan held out a few strands to him, but James looked taken aback.

  ‘Me?’

  ‘Not for you, silly! For Mr Darcy. He can play with them.’

  ‘I’ve told you umpteen times, that’s not his name.’ James shook his head. ‘And he is most definitely a she.’

  ‘Mr Darcy and I do not agree. And I shall tell the judge so when we are called to the Bar.’

  James looked resignedly at Rose. ‘Morgan’s
threatening to start custody proceedings if she doesn’t get to spend more time with the cat.’

  ‘I miss him.’

  Rose took a sip of her wine as Morgan removed her bonnet and began extolling Mr Darcy’s virtues, but the sudden ringing of her phone drew her attention – Aiden!

  Rose felt suddenly light-headed – it certainly hadn’t been a year yet… Vaguely aware of James gathering up their empty glasses and heading to the bar, she drew in a shallow breath and connected the call.

  ‘Hello? Yes?’

  ‘Rose?’

  ‘Yes. Hi, Aiden.’ There was a protracted silence down the line. ‘Hello? Are you still there?’

  ‘Oh, er, hi. Sorry. Bad line, I think.’

  ‘Is the service bad where you are? Do you want to call me back?’

  ‘No!’ There was another pause, then he spoke quickly. ‘Listen, I want to talk to you… I mean, there’s something I didn’t say to you…’ He stopped, and Rose heard him mutter an expletive under his breath. ‘Sorry. Look, I’m saying this all wrong. Can you meet me?’

  Rose frowned. ‘In Hampshire?’ It was a long way to go for a short meeting; she would look ridiculously overeager, wouldn’t she? Still…

  ‘No – no, I’m back in town.’

  For a second, Rose threw a frantic look towards the door to the pub, then almost laughed out loud at her own stupidity. ‘You’re – you’re here in Bath? I – I didn’t know.’ Of course you didn’t, idiot – why would you? Feeling ridiculously gauche, Rose tried to think straight. ‘But you only took the flat for a few days…’

  ‘I managed to get in at the Francis at short notice.’

  Rose’s head was in turmoil. Texting him sometime had been the most ambitious of her plans. Seeing him again so soon had never crossed her mind, and she glanced up, only to find Morgan watching her keenly.