Page 66 of An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street
‘You knew, didn’t you?’ she says softly.
‘No. But yes, in a way. I think I knew without realising I knew. Or without thinking it could be possible. Too many coincidences. Those emails reminded me of Darcy. Talking to Darcy reminded me of readingOnce Upon Another Timefor the first time. I said they were similar without realisinghowsimilar. I’m surprised, but I’m not surprised. There are so many parallels between them. I noticed them, I just didn’t think it was possible that the mysterious unknown author and my mysterious unknown neighbour could be one and the same. And the sole reason he’s doing this is because he didn’t want to let me down.’
‘Awwwww.’ Cleo hugs me while bouncing at the same time. ‘Now ifthatisn’t love then Ireallydon’t know what is. Someone who has been anonymous for so many years agreed to a public appearance because it would help your business. Nowthatis a man who would do anything for the woman he loves.’
It makes my heart swell in my chest, but I can tell from his body language that he’s never been more uncomfortable than he is right now. Mrs Potts is still held carefully in his arms, but he’s stiff and awkward with a gait not unlike a wooden plank as he takes his seat on the stage and settles Mrs Potts on his lap, who seems utterly unperturbed by the extra attention.
‘So, Mr… um… Darcy.’ Ali takes the seat on the opposite side of the stage. He was clearly not expecting this turn of events and doesn’t know what to call him, although the comparison tothe well-known romantic hero may not be so far off-base if what Cleo’s saying is right.
I knew Darcy had pushed himself outside of his comfort zone to be here tonight, but to sit on a stage in front of a couple of hundred people, to admit who he is and what he used to do… that’s so far out of his comfort zone that it’s not even in the same stratosphere, and he’s doing itforme.
‘Well, I’ve got to admit we weren’t expecting this, Mr… Darcy.’ Ali looks flustered as he shuffles through pre-prepared interview questions on index cards that he probably wasn’t expecting to use.
I can see how hard Darcy swallows, his blue Beast eyes not daring to look up from the floor, both gloved hands stroking Mrs Potts like she’s giving him a much-needed focal point.
‘Well, I suppose we’d best start with a thank you for coming.’ Ali puts his index cards on his lap to start a round of applause, and everyone else in the room swiftly follows, and I clap like I’m in a daze. I simultaneously want to stand here and listen to every single word he might say and storm the stage and throw my arms around him.
‘I’m sure I’m not the only one who wasn’t expecting you to show up, and now I know who you are, I also see why you did, so let’s have a round of applause for our favourite bookshop owner, Marnie Platt – our very own Beauty to our very own Beast.’ Ali stands to indicate me, and every eye in the room swivels towards me, and my Belle dress feels like it’s going to have aHunger Gamesmoment and erupt into flames undersomany curious gazes.
‘There are so many things to ask you that I really don’t know where to start. I suppose the obvious one is… why now? Why stay hidden for so many years, but choose now to appear at a book festival?’ Ali’s eyes fall on me. ‘Of course, I havesomeidea myself, but you must’ve had many requests for publicappearances over the years… What is it that makes our little book festival so special?’
Darcy goes to speak, but the words catch. There’s a glass of water on the table beside him, and he obviously needs it, but he can’t drink without lifting the Beast mask and he’s not going to do that on stage. He swallows a few times and tries again.
The moment we’ve all been waiting for.
‘Ever After Street is a very special place, and some of the businesses on this street deserve much more recognition than they get. I have a particular fondness for the Tale As Old As Time bookshop…’
Everyone in the room is completely silent, hanging on his every stilted word.
‘Ah, Miss Platt, there you are.’
I groan internally. Speaking of moments we’ve been waiting for. Mr Rowbotham has finally caught up with me.
Cleo’s still standing to my right, enraptured by what Darcy is saying, but he sidles up on my left, still so dripping wet that people nearby step aside to give him space.
‘Not a good time,’ I say as politely as I can. He clearly has no grasp of how important this moment is.
‘A couple of months ago, I made a mistake,’ Darcy is saying. ‘I did something cruel and vindictive that I shouldn’t have done, and my actions caused a problem. I thought my being here tonight might go some way towards fixing that problem.’
What is he talking about?
‘You’ve done an excellent job with the garden, Miss Platt,’ Mr Rowbotham says to me.
‘You had a look then?’ I hiss at the man hovering at my left. Doesn’t he realise this is a monumental life moment? It’snotthe time for talking about gardens.
‘I did, but only out of curiosity as I happened to be in the area. I must say you’ve done remarkable work.’
‘Curiosity?’ What ishetalking about? Whyareso many people talking about things that need further explanation today?
‘Well, there was no need to bother after the complaint was withdrawn, but I thought I’d pop my head in for a quick look—’
‘It was withdrawn?’ I turn to him in surprise.
Back on the stage, Ali has gone rogue from the index cards. ‘Ah, so you’re here in a guilt complex capacity?’
‘Not just that,’ Darcy replies. ‘The people here are my friends and neighbours. They’ve been kind to me. I didn’t want to let any of them down. They deserve better.’
What is he on about? A guilt complex capacity?What?
