He’d run his fingers through his hair and looked completely unaffected and better than ever. Mr. Darcy always looked hot when wet, didn’t he?
“Did Harrison and Lacey end up dancing?” I asked Patsy, who stood near the dance floor, her drink still in her hand.
“Yes,” she replied. “But they got into a big fight after and she stomped off.”
“What was their score?” I demanded.
“Harrison missed a step. They got a nine.”
I couldn’t help but smile at that news as Jeremy and I hurried across the floor to take our position in the center. We had one point to make up just to tie and my clothing was ruined. Oh well, I’d always liked a good challenge.
“We apologize for being late,” I said in the loudest voice I could muster. “We were just in the rain declaring our love for each other. In real life.”
“What?” came Mr. Periwinkle’s shocked voice over the loudspeaker.
“You heard me,” I said, winking toward the judges’ table.
Jeremy tried to fight his grin. His eyes sparkled like emeralds beneath his long, wet eyelashes. I wanted to kiss him again so badly.
“Miss Knightley,” he said, loud enough for those around us to hear. “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
“No, Mr. Remington, it is I whom you must allow to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
A collective, swoony sigh went up around the room. “That’s just how the whole thing should have happened in the first place,” I heard Lady Waverly-Jones say. She pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed at her eyes.
“Agreed,” said several people in her group in unison.
The waltz began and Jeremy led the way. It was perfect and neither of us missed a step. We stared into each other’s eyes the entire time. It was just like a dream...or the ending to a romance novel.
“If only I’d known how perfect you were in high school,” I whispered, gazing up into his handsome face.
“I wasn’t perfect in high school.”
“Neither was I.”
“Yes, you were. You were perfect for me. It only took me thirteen years to have the chance to convince you.”
I grinned at him. “I’m so glad I hired you, Mr. Darcy.”
“Likewise,” he replied.
Minutes later, when the waltz came to an end, he lifted me into his arms and kissed me. The entire crowd roared a cheer, and applause thundered across the ballroom.
We stopped and held hands, facing the judges’ table while Jeremy took an elegant bow and I did my best to curtsy in my sopping wet skirts. I shivered for what felt like five entire minutes until Mr. Periwinkle’s voice boomed across the loudspeaker again. “It seems we have a unanimous vote from the judges, which I daresay has never happened in all my years of participating in similar events.”
Whispers floated through the crowd before a hush fell across the room.
Mr. Periwinkle’s voice broke the silence. “With a perfect score of ten, plus an extra point for such panache, Dr. Knightley and Mr. Remington, I’m pleased to announce that you are the winners of this year’s Jane Austen Festival and Games.”
The crowd roared again and Jeremy grabbed me, picked me up, spun me around, and kissed me again. “We did it, Doc,” he breathed against my lips.
“We did it!” I echoed, pressing my lips against his once more.
Chapter 28
A Monday morning in early October
It was a beautiful fall day in Milwaukee when I floated into Dr. Holmes office to tender my resignation. I had on a flowy, flowered maxi dress that I’d decided was one of my favorite things to wear, pot belly and all. No control-top panties needed, and pencil skirts could go to the devil. I’d discarded the half-ass diet too. I’d never been happier.
“Dr. Knightley,” he said with tight lips the moment he saw me. He set down his pen and stood. His Deerstalker hat was sitting on the corner of the desk next to him. I stared at it, wishing he had it on because that’s how I wanted to remember him.
His eyes narrowed on me. “I’ve never seen you without your day planner.”
“Dr. Holmes,” I replied brightly. “Would you believe I threw it away? And I don’t miss it.”
That news seemed to trouble him. He cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “I believe congratulations are in order for your winning the competition.”
I held up a hand. “No congratulations are necessary. I’ve merely come to give you this.” I let the letter float to his