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Both Lizzy’s boat and the racing shell were being inexorably carried down river. She was greatly relieved to see Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley bob to the surface. Once they were both safe, she swam for her father’s boat. When Lizzy reached the side, Jane’s face betrayed her anxiety.

“ Are you all right, Lizzy? And Mr Bingley? My goodness.”

“ We are both fine. Right as rain. I’m going to swim for shore.

Come and get me there. It will be easier for me to get into the boat.

” With that, Lizzy swam for the reeds. With strong strokes she covered a fair distance and then, dragging herself up the deserted bank, she realised that she was cold to the bones.

Soon their rowboat slipped into shore, and Jane and Charlotte clambered out, dragging with them Lizzy’s corset and the rest of her clothing.

They worked as a team doing her up as quickly as they could.

Then Jane embraced her so fiercely it nearly knocked her off her feet. “You’re a bona fide heroine, Lizzy—” She hung on tight. “—and if you ever do anything like that again, I will strangle you.” Then she burst into tears. Lizzy held her sister for a long moment.

“ It’s all right. Everything is all right.

” She suddenly felt like laughing but had no idea why.

With her dress covering her soaking underclothes, she, Jane, and Charlotte climbed back into the rowboat.

Although she was still drenched and chilled, Lizzy felt a good deal safer now she was dressed again.

Since they had beached themselves on shore, they were now behind the shell that had drifted farther to the centre of the river and farther downstream.

A kerfuffle of men’s voices drifted over as the rescue boat dragged Mr Bingley’s teammates, himself, and Mr Darcy from the river.

The vessel had a wide hull, and because of its design, didn’t rock or capsize when hauling people aboard.

Elizabeth and her party watched as Mr Darcy, clutching Mr Bingley fast, fought the current.

They were soon hauled aboard the rescue boat.

Once the shell was securely fastened and all the men were aboard, the rescue vessel turned and began to chug upriver towards the crowd they had just left.

When it passed them, Lizzy watched as someone threw a blanket around Mr Darcy’s shoulders.

He was dripping wet, his white shirt and short trousers clinging to his body, accentuating every line and curve of muscle.

Her breath caught in her throat. He didn’t see her or her little crew safely nestled in the reeds.

Within a few moments, they were gone, and Lizzy took one of the oars once more as they steered themselves back onto the river and made their way towards the dock. Jane sat close.

“ We were so worried about you, Lizzy. You were under water for such a long time. And Mr Bingley. Are you sure he is all right?”

“ He is all right now, really. And I wasn’t underwater. I was under the boat…” She confided all that had transpired—how Mr Bingley breathed his pocket of air until Lizzy and Darcy could retrieve him.

“ I may not have any sons, but I’d put you up against any man, my Lizzy. Heroic, that’s what you are.” Her father patted her hand, his face glowing with pride.

“ Still, Papa, there might be a scandal. I mean, women don’t usually fling off their clothes and go swimming in the Thames before God and everyone.”

“ We will take whatever comes, Lizzy. You did the right thing. I can see that now. Your mother might need a bit of soothing, however. I expect we will never be able to attend the regatta again.” Her father did his best to sound wistful, but Lizzy knew better.

If he never had to leave his library at Longbourn again, he would be the happiest man alive.

“ We will speak no more about it, agreed?” Sir William finally contributed his two-penny worth. “It is our secret, and ours alone who the mysterious ‘Lady of the Lake’ is.”

“ Lady of the River, Papa,” said Charlotte. “Don’t worry, Lizzy. We’ll just say you fell in the river whilst standing in the boat and ruined our outing.” She grinned and let out a musical laugh.

“ Oh, well, thank you very much.” Lizzy laughed too.

When they arrived back at the hotel, it was obvious to her mother that something had happened. Elizabeth’s clothes were soaked, and she shivered, her hair in disarray.

“ Oh, my goodness, Elizabeth, what happened?” The news of Lizzy’s swim in her underclothes in front of a team of rowers might have already reached the hotel, but on the slim chance it hadn’t, she attempted to avoid a scolding by her mother.

Charlotte gave an uncomfortable laugh. “Elizabeth fell out of the boat, Mrs Bennet. She must have lost her balance.” Sir William remained stoic, but he shot a glance at his daughter.

“ Oh, Lizzy. I don’t know what to do with you.

Mr Collins very much would like to meet us and may already be here.

He can’t see you like this. Go and make yourself presentable at once.

Oh, my poor nerves.” Her mother began to flutter about whilst Jane, taking a more practical approach, went to run a hot bath for Lizzy.

Grateful, Lizzy left her father to smooth her mother’s ruffled feathers and, on reaching the bath, sank gratefully into the hot water. She realised then just how cold she was and let the soothing heat of the water permeate its comfort into her bones. A soft knock came on the door.

“ Lizzy, it’s Jane. May I come in?”

“ Of course.”

The door creaked open, and Jane sat down on a small stool near the tub and put her face in her hands. She gave a shudder, then wiped each of her cheeks. “I wanted to see if you were all right.”

Jane struggled to hold back tears, and Lizzy frowned. “I’m fine, just a bit cold. Are you all right?”

Jane didn’t answer immediately, only directed her gaze at the ceiling. “I wanted to thank you for saving him. For a time I thought I’d lost you both.” She broke down into tears.

Lizzy didn’t know what to say. She quickly changed the subject. “Come along, now. Take that little pitcher there and pour it over my head. I’d like to wash my hair. It smells like bilgewater.”

Jane began to laugh through her tears. “How would you even know what bilgewater smells like? All right, let me help you.”

The hot waterfall felt delicious, and Lizzy lathered up her hands with German green soap and massaged it through her hair. Jane stayed to help her rinse it off, neither of them speaking.

“ I think I’ll let you finish your bath in peace.” Jane moved towards the door.

“ Jane?” Lizzy stopped soaping herself in the tub.

Jane turned to face her.

“ I don’t know how any of this will turn out. I can’t imagine what Mr Bingley’s sister will think of me jumping into the river in my underclothes.”

“ You saved her brother’s life. She should be grateful.”

“ Mr Darcy saved his life.”

“ No, you did too. I’m so proud of you, Lizzy.” The tears threatened again. Lizzy could hear it in her sister’s voice. “I love him, you know… Mr Bingley.”

“ I know. Everything’s all right now. Perhaps you should inquire where the team is staying and send him a note.”

“ Oh, do you think that’s wise? We’re trying awfully hard not to give you away.”

“ Craft it carefully so that anyone who reads it won’t know a thing. If it’s not too intimate… I could take a look at it before you send it off.”

Jane blushed, or perhaps it was the heat from the steam in the bathroom. “Stop it, Lizzy. You are wicked… brave and wicked. I’ll go and do that at once.”

Lizzy was left to reflect on the momentous events of the afternoon, of the rescue of Mr Bingley, of her impending disgrace… of Mr Darcy.