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The roar of the crowd abated somewhat by the time Darcy and his Beefeaters Club team crossed the finish line, being the fourth boat across, but they made a good showing.

More to the point, he couldn’t wait to share his near triumph with Elizabeth.

He so wanted to talk to her about the events of the previous day.

To tell her how much he admired her. He knew that the difference in their families, their fortunes, their social standing was an obstacle to any future together, but it was no use.

He couldn’t get her out of his mind. He had to speak to her.

When they reached the stands, there was much excitement from all their most loyal supporters.

Caroline rushed to embrace Bingley, but he looked right over her shoulder and locked his gaze with Jane Bennet.

As soon as Caroline freed him from her embrace, he jostled his way through the crowd and took both of Jane’s hands in his.

It was no use. He was smitten and there was nothing Darcy or Charles’s sister could do about it.

“ Oh, Mr Darcy. You did so well. Congratulations.” Caroline looked at him so expectantly that it made him uncomfortable.

“ Thank you very much, Caroline. I do think we did all right, considering…”

Col Fitzwilliam came to the rescue, slapping him on the back.

“Considering? You did very well, very well indeed. Now, let’s go have a drink to celebrate.

” He offered Caroline his arm, and Darcy shot him a look of gratitude.

Col Fitzwilliam winked at him. Darcy searched the crowd but couldn’t see Elizabeth anywhere.

Not having been introduced to anyone in her family but Jane, he approached her and Bingley.

“ I beg your pardon, Charles, Miss Bennet, but where is Miss Elizabeth?”

Jane looked about. “I’m sure I don’t know. Perhaps Mama would.” Taking a few steps through the crowd, she took an older woman in an enormous hat decorated with ostrich feathers by the arm and led her back to Darcy and Bingley.

“ Mama, I would like to introduce you to Mr Darcy, he is a friend of Mr Bingley’s. Mr Darcy, my mother, Mrs Bennet.”

Darcy inclined his head. “Pleased to meet you, I’m sure.”

Before her mother had a chance to utter another word, which appeared as though she might, Jane intervened. “Mama, Mr Darcy is looking for Elizabeth.”

“ Oh, Lizzy? She had a headache and went back to the hotel I believe.” She then began to chuckle.

“You would not believe it if I told you, Mr Darcy, but our clumsy daughter managed to fall into the river yesterday. I believe she might have caught a chill…” Mrs Bennet then began to look around, her gaze stopping at a small group nearer the river.

“And I was so hoping that she and Mr Collins would have a chance to know each other better. Oh, Mr Collins. Come here, please and meet Mr Darcy.” Her voice carried over the crowd.

Darcy hoped against hope it was not that Mr Collins. In a few seconds, it was revealed that indeed it was.

“ Oh, Mr Darcy. How nice to see you here. I thought that was you in the boat. Very good show if you will permit me to say.”

Before Darcy could reply, he went on, addressing Mrs Bennet.

“Mr Darcy and I know each other quite well. Mr Darcy is the nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who is a patroness of my little parish. She condescends to let me preside over services at her chapel at Rosings. What a grand lady. You are so fortunate, Mr Darcy.”

“ Yes, fortunate.” It was all he could think of to say.

Being Lady Catherine’s nephew had never made him feel fortunate, but this little toady couldn’t stop singing her praises.

He continued to do so for some minutes, stopping all other conversation.

When he finally took a breath, Darcy found it an opportunity.

“ So nice to see you again, Mr Collins. If you’ll excuse me…

Mrs Bennet, Charles, Miss Bennet…” Darcy didn’t wait for any objections to his departure but took the opportunity of a lull in the conversation to escape.

He knew the hotel in which the Bennets were staying, having seen the note from Jane, and resolved to go there immediately.

Darcy did not want to disturb Elizabeth, but by the same token, longed to see her again.

On one hand, her actions the previous day were shocking by any standards.

Divesting herself of her dress in public and plunging into the Thames…

he was scandalised. At least part of him was scandalised.

On the other hand, what she did was admirable, even heroic.

If it wasn’t for her, he wouldn’t have found Bingley in time.

He was sure of it. Her disregard for convention also meant a disregard for the consequences of her actions on her own reputation.

Perhaps none of these thoughts occurred to her, as they always would to him.

Perhaps she just saw someone in trouble and jumped in to help, leaving the consequences to be pondered after the fact.

Either way, she had worked some sort of magic on him.

All of the qualities he had convinced himself he wanted in a woman, in a wife, had been blown from his brain by the explosion that was Elizabeth Bennet. He must speak with her.

He climbed into his motorcar and was at the Cherry Tree Inn within a quarter of an hour. Inquiring after Miss Bennet, he was met with disappointment.

“ No, sir. None of the Bennet family is here. They are picnicking and then attending the regatta. Perhaps you could try in the evening.”

“ Are you quite sure? Miss Elizabeth Bennet is supposed to be here.”

The desk clerk turned around to peruse the small boxes of room keys. “I’m afraid not, sir. Their key is here.”

Where could she be? And, more importantly if she was not ill, why did she miss the race?