Free Mr. Darcy Forever by Victoria Connelly Page B

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.’

Chapter 11
     
    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