Mr. Darcy Forever by Victoria Connelly Page B

decision. She'd been working hard - harder than usual which was saying something because she was a renowned workaholic - but even she had realised that she couldn't keep up the pace and, when she'd realised that the festival was fast approaching, she’d booked her tickets for the events, telling herself that it was a well-deserved treat.
    There was just one fear that hovered in the back of her mind. Would Mia be there? She must have asked the question a hundred times but there was no way of knowing the answer. Even if she was there, they might not even see each other. Bath was a large place and there were many events to attend and it was quite possible that they might just keep missing each other. But what if they didn't? What if Mia was there and they ran right into each other at the very first opportunity? What would happen then?
    ‘ Don’t think about it,’ Sarah said to herself as she began to pleat the bottom of her jumper between her fingers; it was an action that occurred whenever she was anxious.
    That evening, she took a walk, making her way towards Pulteney Bridge where she listened to the River Avon wending its way through the city from under the three fine stone arches. She then made her way to the abbey which was lit up like a magical lantern and, although she felt more peace than she had done in a long time, she couldn’t help looking out for Mia, imagining that she might emerge from behind one of the Bath stone colonnades at any moment.
    The streets were still busy with people out in search of an evening meal and Sarah smiled as she saw a couple of young women dressed in Regency costume. They obviously couldn’t wait for the official beginning of the festival the next day.
    For a moment, Sarah felt a little lonely. Everybody seemed to be in pairs, walking and laughing with a companion and sharing their delight in the evening with them. But Sarah had nobody to share her evening with. Not anymore.
    And it’s your own fault, a little voice said. You only have yourself to blame.
    She took a deep breath. There was nothing she could do about that now.
    Ever practical, she looked at her watch and decided that it was high time she had something to eat. On her own. It wasn’t ideal but it was the only option available to her so she just had to get on with it.
    Eating out was fraught with worries when one suffered from OCD and Sarah was always a bag of nerves. She managed to survive by returning to places that she knew over and over again and she did this now, wending her way through the streets to a little bistro with not so much as a napkin out of place.
    Luckily for her, her favourite table in the corner was available. Sarah didn’t like window tables because people would stare in and look at you eating which was most unnerving. Nor did she like tables in thoroughfares where waiters would brush by you or fellow eaters would bump into you. So that usually left very few choices available to her when she ate out. But, tonight, she had her favourite table and that made her happy even though she was dining alone.
    She was halfway through her main course when somebody caught her eye. It was a man sitting in the opposite corner of the restaurant reading a book. He had short, dark hair that was cut exceptionally neatly and closely to his head and he was wearing an immaculate navy jacket. He was handsome but didn't look aware of the fact even though he obviously took a pride in how he presented himself. It seemed to Sarah that he wasn't out to impress other people and he was totally unaware of her staring at him. But it wasn't his face Sarah was trying to get a good look at but rather the cover of his book. She was always fascinated by what people were reading and couldn't help wanting to know what this handsome stranger was reading now. Would it be a historical biography or the latest best-selling thriller?
    She didn't get to find out until she'd finished her meal. It was then that the gentleman stood up and Sarah's