‘I don’t want to go,’ she said.
Alec cleared his throat. ‘But you have your life in London to go back to.’
She glared at him as if he’d said the worst thing imaginable, but he didn’t seem to notice, because he was looking at Sarah.
‘Good-bye, Sarah,’ he said quietly, moving toward her and kissing her. Sarah took a step back, shocked that he had kissed her on the mouth in front of Mia. ‘Keep in touch,’ he said.
‘Of course we will,’ Mia answered.
Sarah didn’t say anything but grabbed Mia’s hand and dragged her away from Alec before she could launch herself at him again.
‘I can’t believe he kissed you!’ she said. ‘I suppose he didn’t want you to feel left out.’
‘It was just a quick kiss,’ Sarah said, feeling herself blush.
‘He’s a great kisser, isn’t he?’
‘I—I wasn’t really thinking about it.’
‘What else could you possibly be thinking about when he was kissing you?’
Sarah panicked. ‘I was thinking that we should get going.’
Mia laughed. ‘Oh, Sarah! You’re the least romantic person I know. It’s a good job Alec’s fallen for me and not you, isn’t it?’
Sarah didn’t answer, and the two of them got into the car. Mia instantly fell silent as if the reality of leaving was finally hitting her. She glanced quickly at her sister and could see tears brimming in her bright eyes, and at that moment, she hated Alec. Why did he have to be there that week of all weeks? And why did he have to make them both fall in love with him? He had spoiled everything, and she would never forgive him for it.
Sarah started the engine and drove the car out onto the drive that would lead them to the end of the estate and out into the real world once again. Being at Barton Cottage had been like living in a beautiful, safe bubble, but that bubble had burst, and it was back to normality.
‘Ready?’ she said to Mia as Alec appeared behind them to wave them off.
She nodded, which caused her tears to spill down her face. Opening her window, she madly flapped a hand out of it.
‘Wave to Alec,’ she told Sarah, but Sarah chose to ignore her. She merely lifted her eyes briefly to the rearview mirror and saw him standing there. He was looking right at her.
***
Sarah was very good at getting over the holiday blues. She threw herself into her work, talking to new clients, sorting out accounts, and dealing with the endless muddles people seemed to get themselves into when trying to keep their own books balanced.
She would have worked right through the whole weekend, if it hadn’t been for Mia’s arrival. She’d popped down on the train from London to get away from a party that was taking place in the flat above hers.
‘I don’t know what they’ve got to party about,’ she said, taking a sip of tea out of one of Sarah’s white china cups, ‘but they always seem to be having them, and it always sounds as though my ceiling is about to come down at any moment.’
‘Can’t you complain to the landlord?’
‘He seems to leave town whenever they happen. He’s probably got some luxurious country estate to retreat to that his tenants are paying for.’
‘I wouldn’t be surprised.’
Mia sighed and flopped dramatically into a chair, looking as if she were about to spout a speech from a Shakespearean tragedy.
‘It’s not just the party,’ she said. ‘I’ve had a crappy week. I went for an audition for a dreadful play that I didn’t even want to be in, and I didn’t even get a callback.’
Sarah frowned. ‘Well, isn’t that a blessing, if you didn’t even want to be in it?’
‘That’s not the point,’ Mia said with a gargantuan sigh. ‘But that’s not the worst of it. Alec hasn’t called me. Don’t you think that’s strange?’
‘It hasn’t been that long.’
‘Sarah, it’s been over two weeks,’ she said, twisting around in the chair, her forehead wrinkled in consternation. ‘I gave him my number. I gave him all my numbers—even my neighbor’s number. I thought he would have called by now.’
‘Maybe he’s been busy. His job’s pretty stressful, you know.’
‘Did he talk to you about his job?’
Sarah bit her lip. ‘Erm—not really. Just, you know… that he’s always kept busy.’
‘But a phone call doesn’t take long, does it? He should have called me by now. It’s really mean of him to keep me waiting like this.’
‘Do you want another cup of tea?’ Sarah asked, escaping into the kitchen. She felt awful because Alec had been calling her every day since they left Devon. At first the calls had been one a day, but the number slowly increased, and just yesterday, he’d called her four times. In fact, she was a little worried that the phone might go whilst Mia was there.
Last night, they’d been on the phone for hours. In fact, Sarah had just started watching the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice when Alec rang, and the film was long finished before they hung up.
How easy it was to talk to him! They never seemed to run out of subjects. Sarah hadn’t had such an easy relationship with a man for ages. ‘Not ever,’ she corrected herself.
‘What?’ Mia called from the living room.
‘Nothing,’ Sarah quickly said. ‘I’m just talking to myself again.’
Mia appeared in the doorway. ‘I’ve called his home number and his mobile and I’ve left a message everywhere, but he hasn’t called me back. What’s going on?’
Sarah hated hearing the pain in her sister’s voice, but more than that, she hated hiding the truth from her. She could offer no words of comfort for her sister, because if she did, they would be lies, and she couldn’t do that. ‘How’s your job?’ she asked instead.
‘Sarah! I don’t want to talk about my job. I want to talk about Alec.’
Sarah switched the kettle off and turned her full attention to her sister.
‘I can’t stop thinking about him,’ she said. ‘We got on so well. I found it so easy to talk to him, do you know what I mean?’
Sarah nodded, knowing exactly what her sister meant.
‘It sounds corny, but I really felt like we’d connected, and that doesn’t happen very often, does it?’
‘No,’ Sarah said, ‘it doesn’t.’
Mia threw her head back and groaned at the ceiling. ‘Why are all men so horrible?’
‘Not all men are. Just most of them are.’
Mia gave a tiny smile. ‘It must be genetic. Perhaps they don’t even know they’re all horrible.’
‘Perhaps.’
‘It’s so unfair. No matter how hard I search, I always end up with a Wickham or a Willoughby rather than a Darcy or a Wentworth.’
‘That’s the unwritten law of love,’ Sarah said. ‘We all have to suffer our share of cads before we find our hero.’
Mia looked at Sarah for what seemed like an age.
‘What is it?’ Sarah asked.
‘I don’t know what I have to complain about. I mean, you’ve never found your hero, have you? And you’re so much older than me.’
‘Well, thank you, dear sister. I can always rely on your honesty.’
‘Oh, you know what I mean.’
‘You mean my chance of happiness has long passed, and I’ll remain an old spinster like Miss Bates from Emma.’
‘I don’t mean that at all. Oh, I don’t know what I mean.’
‘I think you mean that you’re impossibly impatient and that you expect to fall in love with the perfect man and to find your dream job before you reach the old age of twenty-two.’
‘That’s not so unreasonable a request, is it?’ Mia said with a little laugh.
There was a pause, and Sarah wondered what to say next. Part of her wanted to end the masquerade right there and then, but the other part—the greater part—wanted to keep it a closely guarded secret for as long as possible. It was prolonging the agony, of course, but she was kind of hoping for a miracle to come along. What that mirac
le was, she had no idea, but she was hoping it would solve the problem of their both being in love with the same man.
Just then, the telephone rang.
‘I’ll get it,’ Mia said, seeing that it was right next to her.
‘No, don’t!’ Sarah said, but it was too late. Mia had lunged for the phone and picked it up.
‘Hello?’ she said.
Sarah swallowed hard and looked at the clock. Alec had never called this early before, but there was a first time for everything, wasn’t there? She watched Mia’s expression and saw her frown. Was it Alec? What was he saying to her? How would he explain ringing Sarah? Perhaps he would say that he’d lost Mia’s contact details—all of them—and was ringing her sister in order to get in touch.
The agonizing seconds ticked by, and finally Mia replaced the phone in its cradle.
‘Who was it?’ Sarah blurted.
‘I don’t know,’ Mia said. ‘It was all silent, and then they hung up.’
Sarah breathed a sigh of relief. Her secret was safe—for now.
Chapter 29
Where had she gone? Shelley had run down more streets than her dainty shoes were really capable of and was standing in front of the Pump Room again. She’d tried ringing Mia’s mobile, but it was obviously switched off, and Shelley had been forced to leave an angst-ridden message for her.
‘If only she told me what was going on,’ she said quietly to herself. ‘I might have been able to help.’
How could you possibly have helped? a little voice inside her asked.
‘I don’t know,’ Shelley said. ‘Perhaps I could have slapped Alec too!’
She certainly wanted to slap him now for having scared her friend off like that. What was she going to do?
She dialed a number on her mobile and waited.
‘Pie? It’s Shelley. Is Mia there? Are you sure? Have you looked upstairs? I don’t mind waiting. This is important.’ Shelley sighed as she listened to the huff, puff of Pie walking up the stairs. ‘Oh,’ she said a moment later. ‘Well, if she comes back before me, tell her to give me a call, okay?’
Shelley tried a different number. ‘Gabe? It’s Shelley. Is Mia with you? Yes, something is wrong, except I’m not quite sure what.’
***
Mia knew that she couldn’t hide in the ladies toilets in the Jane Austen Centre forever, no matter how kindly Mr Darcy was looking after her. Splashing her red face with cold water, she looked at her reflection in the mirror. She could handle this. What was she getting so worked up for? Hadn’t she’d moved on from this ages ago? If so, why had she responded the way she had?
It was just the shock of seeing him again, she told herself. It had brought everything all back to her. She hadn’t been prepared; she’d just been enjoying tea and scones. She hadn’t expected her past to walk in on her like that.
Venturing forth from the restroom, Mia slowly walked back up the stairs, passing the gift shop before braving the great outdoors once again. She paused on the steps beside the Regency gentleman who nodded at her as she looked up and down Gay Street. A good number of people were around, but luckily she could see no sign of Alec. Taking a deep breath, she turned right, walked up the street that had once been home to Jane Austen, and entered the splendor of The Circus.
She needed to walk. She couldn’t go back and face Shelley just yet. She had to think things through.
You knew this was going to happen, a little voice inside her said. You’re going to have to face this properly sooner or later.
‘I know. But can’t it be later?’ she whispered.
She followed the curve of The Circus around to the right, aware that the sun had disappeared behind thick, dark clouds and that the temperature had dropped. Mia wished that she were wearing jeans and a proper coat rather than her flimsy Regency gown and shawl, which were no protection against the autumn elements.
She entered Brock Street. It was an impressive street lined with beautiful three-story Georgian houses and linked The Circus to The Royal Crescent, but it was often overlooked by tourists en route from one place to the other. Mia had a vague idea of where she was going, knowing there were benches by the green that overlooked The Royal Crescent. Perhaps she could sit there for a while and gather her thoughts.
She didn’t get that far. As soon as she entered The Royal Crescent, she saw him. He was standing by the railings, shielding his eyes as if that might help him in his search for her.
Mia stood frozen for a moment, not knowing what to do, and in that instant, he spotted her.
‘Mia!’ he shouted, causing a group of tourists to turn around.
Mia turned and ran but, despite her years of jogging, she knew she couldn’t outrun Alec, not when wearing such a restricting dress. How on earth had heroines managed to outrun heroes in Jane Austen’s time? she wondered briefly. Not that you’d want to outrun most of them, she thought, but it wasn’t Mr Darcy or Henry Tilney who was chasing her; it was Alec.
Chapter 30
You shouldn’t have rung me so early,’ Sarah told Alec as he entered her house.
‘How was I to know Mia would answer the phone?’ he said. ‘Anyway, don’t you think it’s time we told her?’
‘No.’
‘You’ve got to face it sometime.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I want the whole world to know how I feel about you, Sarah.’
Sarah walked away from him. This was all happening too fast, she thought, and her head was spinning. Everything was new and strange. She wasn’t used to being in a relationship, and she certainly wasn’t used to having a man in her house. She watched as Alec paced the front room. He didn’t really look at home there, and she felt anxious about the possibility that he might want to move in with her; however, not having him there was equally scary.
‘Everything’s so neat,’ he suddenly said.
Sarah swallowed hard and nodded. This was usually the deal breaker. Once he realized what she was like, he’d run a mile.
‘You don’t mind?’ she asked tentatively.
‘No, I like it,’ he said.
Sarah smiled, relief filling her.
‘I could do with a bit of organization in my life,’ he said.
‘Could you?’
‘Yes,’ he said, moving toward her. ‘And I think you’re just the woman for the job.’
Before she could respond, he was kissing her, and all thoughts of incompatibility vanished. How easily our worries fade when we’re being kissed, Sarah thought. She was no longer thinking about the fact that she’d never seen Alec’s own house and didn’t know how tidy he was; neither was she thinking about her sister and the problem still lurking out there in the future that would have to be faced.
At least she wasn’t thinking about those things until they stopped kissing. Then, all her worries and concerns flooded her mind once more. ‘This is all wrong,’ she said.
‘Why? Tell me why.’
‘Because you’re meant to be in love with Mia.’
‘Why?’ Alec said, his forehead etched with bemusement.
‘Because she’s the one who met you, and she cares for you so much.’
‘Mia’s a child,’ he said. ‘You’re the one I love. You, Sarah. And I want you to tell me that you feel the same way, because I know you do.’
Sarah shook her head. ‘This shouldn’t be happening.’
‘Stop punishing yourself! Why won’t you let yourself have a bit of fun?’
‘Because it will be at the expense of my sister.’
‘She’ll get over it. She’s a grown woman, for goodness’ sake.’
‘But it’s my job to protect her.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I always have.’
Alec groaned and flopped down into a chair. ‘Do you want to be with me or not?’
Sarah sat down next to him and picked up his hands gently. ‘Of course I want to. There isn’t anything else that I want more.’
‘Well, then,’ Alec said simpl
y.
‘We have to tell Mia.’
Alec shook his head. ‘No. You have to tell Mia.’
Sarah closed her eyes, knowing he was right. ‘Okay,’ she said.
‘You’re going to tell her?’
‘Yes.’
‘When?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Do it tomorrow. Don’t put it off. Just get it over and done with.’
She nodded.
‘She needs to know if she’s going to have a brother-in-law.’
Sarah’s eyes widened, and Alec smiled at her before reaching into his pocket for a small blue box. He handed it to Sarah. ‘Open it!’ he said.
Sarah’s fingers were shaking as she opened it up, and tears welled up in her eyes when she saw the diamond solitaire, perfect in its simplicity.
Alec took it out and placed it on her ring finger. ‘You’re shaking, Mrs Burrows.’
‘Kiss me,’ she said, so he did, and it was the first time in Sarah’s life that she wasn’t worried about a man wearing shoes in the front room.
Her happiness was short-lived, however, because she knew she had to tell Mia. She might have been able to hide an affair from her sister, but she couldn’t hide a marriage.
‘Just get it over and done with.’ Alec’s words echoed through her brain. He’d made it sound so simple and easy, but she knew it would be the hardest thing she should ever have to do.
How was Mia going to respond? Would she realize that Alec and Sarah were the better match and that it had been wrong of her to think she had a future with him? She’d be absolutely delighted with the news, and Sarah would be flabbergasted at Mia’s offer to be her bridesmaid.
She shook her head. That wasn’t going to happen, was it? It would most likely end in carnage with faces being slapped and noses being punched.
Picking up the phone later that evening, Sarah rang her sister’s mobile.
‘I’m coming into town tomorrow. Do you want to meet me for lunch? It’s my treat.’
‘Oh, dear. I was so looking forward to the moldy lettuce in my fridge,’ Mia said. ‘Of course I’ll come to lunch. I love it when my rich sister treats me.’
‘You’ll be on time, won’t you?’
Mr. Darcy Forever Page 17