Mr. Darcy Forever (17 page)

‘
Why would I be joking?’

‘
Because – well, just because.’

He leaned forward and fixed her with a penetrating stare. ‘Tell me about yourself.’

‘
What do you mean?’

‘
Your life story. I want to know everything.’

Sarah's eyes narrowed in suspicion. ‘Why?’

‘
Why not?’ he said.

‘
Well, there really isn’t much to tell.’

‘
All the really interesting people say that,’ he said.

‘
But it's true. You should be talking to Mia. She's far more interesting than I am.’

‘
But she’s already told me everything. I want to know about
you
.’

Sarah couldn't help feeling uncomfortable. She was never happy when the attention was fully on her but she was doubly uncomfortable with Alec’s attention because it seemed so clear to her that he'd been flirting with her sister. So why did he now seem so interested in her? Maybe it was to get around her so that she wouldn't object to him and Mia being together. Perhaps he saw her as a parent-figure that might stand in the way of him and Mia.

‘
You don't need to worry about that,’ she said. ‘I don't mind you seeing Mia.’

‘
What?’ Alec said, looking baffled.

But Sarah didn't get a chance to explain because Mia came running up the garden.

‘
Hey!’ she shouted, waving at the two of them. ‘Don’t you both look lazy sitting there in the sunshine? What have you been talking about? Me?’

‘
Yes,’ Sarah said. ‘What else?’

It was the second day of the Jane Austen Festival and Mia and Shelley were in the kitchen, looking out onto a bright Sunday morning sky.

‘
Are we wearing our dresses again today?’ Shelley asked.

‘
Of course!’ Mia said. ‘I’ve been looking forward to wearing mine all year. I can’t very well wear it in London, can I?’

‘
Imagine the looks you’d get on the tube!’ Shelley said.

Mia collected the breakfast dishes and piled them into a bowl of hot soapy water. ‘Your neighbour’s out,’ Mia said casually.

Shelley got up from her chair to look. ‘Oh, just look at the poor lamb.’

Mia looked up from her soapy water and saw the rather pathetic sight of a man with a sling trying to hang a basket of washing out on the line.

‘
Do go and help him, Mia!’

‘
Why don’t you go?’

‘
Because I’m doing the dishes,’ she said, suddenly pushing Mia out of the way.

Mia rolled her eyes. ‘You are the most unsubtle of match-makers,’ she said. ‘I’ve told you, I’m not interested in men at the moment.’

‘
Yeah, yeah. What is it Mrs Smith said in
Persuasion
? “Every man is refused - till he offers.”’

‘
But how am I even meant to help him? There’s a great big fence between us.’

‘
Yes but a bit’s broken towards the back courtesy of Bingley. Just nip through there.’

Mia rolled her eyes. She wasn’t going to get any peace until she acquiesced, was she? Walking the length of the garden until she came to the gap in the fence, she looked back at the window. Shelley nodded her forward, her eyes wide and eager and Mia slipped through the fence, careful not to snag her clothes on the Bingley-sized gap.

‘
Hello,’ she said as Gabe looked up from his washing basket. ‘Don’t worry. I’m not a burglar. Shelley thought you looked like you needed a hand.’

Gabe turned around and gave her a smile that really was quite cute - for an older man, Mia thought.

‘
I certainly could use another hand,’ he said. ‘It isn't easy with just one.’

‘
I hope you're not left-handed.’

He shook his head. ‘Luckily, no.’

Mia bent down and picked up a checked shirt from the laundry basket and pegged it on the line. She couldn't remember the last time she'd hung washing outside. In her little flat in London, one had to do one's best with an airer above the bath tub and a rotating system on two small radiators which fugged up the windows and caused the wallpaper to curl. It was rather nice to have a washing line and to see the clothes fluttering about in the warm autumn breeze.

‘
You don’t have to do this,’ Gabe said.

‘
It’s no trouble,’ Mia said.

‘
I mean, it’s very good of you but I can manage. Sort of.’

Mia smiled. ‘I’m actually quite enjoying it. I don’t have a washing line.’

Gabe stared at her as if she was an alien.

‘
I live in a bedsit in London,’ she explained.

‘
As I did too. A long time ago.’

‘
Oh, did you?’

‘
Whilst I was training to become an architect. Had to slum it for a few years in dreadful accommodation but got out as soon as I could.’

‘
Yes, it’s lovely here. Shelley’s lucky to have such a great place.’ Mia bent down and retrieved a white shirt, clean and crisp, and pegged it on the line. They were followed by a pair of black boxer shorts and Mia instantly felt a blush creep over her cheeks.

Gabe cleared his throat. ‘Sorry,’ he said, taking them from her.

‘
It’s okay,’ Mia said but she couldn't help feeling embarrassed. It wasn't the sort of situation to befall the heroine from a Jane Austen novel, was it? She delved back into the basket and chose a safe T-shirt, allowing her blush to ebb away.

‘
Thanks so much,’ he said, a smile tickling his mouth as the last shirt was pegged onto the line.

‘
That’s okay,’ Mia said before hopping back through the broken fence.

‘
I was just going to make a cup of coffee. Would you like one?’ Gabe said.

Mia hesitated and looked back at the kitchen window where Shelley was still flapping her hands as if to shoo Mia back from whence she came.

‘
Okay,’ Mia said, entering Gabe’s garden again. She followed him into his house, taking one last look at Shelley who was giving her the thumbs up.

The kitchen was a lovely bright room with pale blond cabinets and a fabulous grey slate floor and there wasn’t so much as a teabag out of place. Only having ever dated young men whilst at drama school or those who had recently graduated, Mia was used to a totally different kind of kitchen. She grimaced as she remembered the filthy, sticky floors and sinks overflowing with crusty dishes. She'd never have accepted a cup of coffee from one of those kitchens. Perhaps there was something to be said about the older man after all. Perhaps a modern-day Willoughby would have a kitchen that looked like a student’s whereas a modern-day Colonel Brandon’s would be more akin to Gabe’s.

She watched as Gabe went to put the kettle on. She gave his clothes the once-over. His shirt was checked and looked a little old-fashioned and made him look as if he'd stepped out of the magazine,
Country Life
. He was wearing fawn-coloured corduroy trousers which also gave him the look of a landowner. All he needed was a Labrador and a couple of rifles slung over his shoulder.

‘
How do you like your coffee?’ he asked, starting her out of her rural daydream.

‘
Milk, one sugar, please.’

A moment later, he handed her a terracotta mug and invited her into the living room next door.

Gabe’s house was exactly like Shelley's only a mirror image. But, unlike Shelley's, it seemed far less chaotic even though it was crammed full. Mia whistled when she saw the book-lined front room. The far wall was packed from floor to ceiling with books and there were neat bookcases along the other two walls as well. The rest of the wall space was taken up by framed prints of buildings that Mia didn't recognize. Perhaps they were buildings which Gabe had designed.

‘
So, you’re here for the festival?’ Gabe said, sitting down on a dark red sofa and motioning for Mia to do the same but she was much too much of fidget to sit. Besides, she was still looking around.

‘
Yes, I came through from London especially,’ she said. ‘I used to come every year but … well, things get complicated, don't they?’

Gabe’s eyebrows rose a fraction, as if he wanted her to explain. ‘And you're obviously a Jane Austen fan?’

‘
Of course. I don't think anybody should live in Bath unless they adore Jane Austen.’

‘
Really?’

‘
Yes,’ Mia said. ‘Why - don't you?’

‘
Well,
adore
is a pretty strong word. I'm not sure I adore her but I've read a bit.’

‘
A bit?’ Mia stared in wide-eyed horror. ‘What – bits from each book?’

Gabe laughed. ‘I read
Pride and Prejudice
once. It was a long time ago and I don't remember much about it. Is that awful?’

‘
Yes!’ Mia said. ‘That’s
really
awful!’

‘
Then I shall try and remedy the situation. Which books would you recommend?’

‘
You have to
want
to read them,’ Mia said. ‘They shouldn't be forced upon you.’

‘
But I
do
want to read them. Perhaps then I'll understand what all the fuss is about.’

Mia sighed. ‘You’ll have to read
all
of them. There are only six and you really shouldn't take any short cuts. But, I suppose you should start with
Northanger Abbey
and
Persuasion
as they are both set in Bath. They were also her first and last completed novels so they’re a bit special.’

‘
Thank you,’ he said. ‘I shall buy myself some copies straight away.’

‘
Good,’ Mia said, nodding her approval.

Gabe smiled.

‘
What?’

‘
You don’t mince your words, do you?’

‘
No,’ Mia said. ‘You have to say what you think in this life. There’s no point hiding your feelings. That would just be a waste of time.’

Gabe nodded.

‘
You agree, then?’

‘
Although I'm not sure I’m able to follow your lead.’

‘
Why not?’

‘
Because if I told all my clients what I was really thinking, I'd never have any employment at all.’

Mia frowned. ‘But how can you keep your thoughts back?’

‘
I hide behind a very thin veil of politeness. I listen to what my clients have to say and, if I disagree with them, I bite my tongue and then try to coerce them around to my way of thinking.’

‘
But doesn't that drive you crazy?’

Gabe shrugged. ‘It’s all part of the job. I just have to get on with it.’