Undressing Mr. Darcy Read Free Page B

leather equestrian-like boots came into her sight. She deliberately looked right into his face and tried not to stare at his gorgeous dark eyes. He, meanwhile, looked away from her and downward, to the headline on Aunt Ella’s magazine.
    “Miss Morgan, I see you are reading about the archeological excavation recently completed at Austen’s childhood home. It seems the Austens were not even as well off as the Bennet family.”
    Aunt Ella nodded in recognition of a kindred spirit and her gold earrings bobbed in agreement. “Amazing what can be gleaned from broken china plates and rusty nails.”
    He switched his leather-bound book to his other arm. “She was an author with great gifts, not the least of which were a rich imagination and spunk.”
    “Shall we head off to my chaise-and-four in the parking lot?” Vanessa asked. “Or would you like to check your phone first, Julian? There’s free Wi-Fi here.”
    “Check my phone? No, no, thank you.”
    “Let’s get Julian settled,” Aunt Ella said.
    The September heat created mirages in the distance on the blacktop, and surely he had to be hot in those boots and tailcoat.
    Certainly he was one of the hottest clients she’d had in a while, literally and figuratively.
    “I’m reminded of a Jane Austen quote,” he said as he shielded his eyes with his book. “In a letter to her sister Cassandra, in September of 1796. Perhaps you’re familiar? ‘What dreadful Hot weather we have!’”
    Aunt Ella nodded her head and chimed in on the second half of the quote with him: “‘It keeps me in a continual state of Inelegance’!”
    They both laughed, and Vanessa did, too, thrilled to see her aunt enjoying herself. Resigned to what was sure to be more than the usual dose of all things Austen, she navigated them toward the car.
    Julian laughed. “Did I mention that Security asked me aside and gave me a thorough search?”
    “No!” said Aunt Ella.
    “Regency-era profiling?” joked Vanessa.
    “Yes. I suspect they half assumed they’d find a sword in my luggage.”
    “That’ll make a fabulous post,” Vanessa said. “Hold on, it’ll only take me a minute.” She pulled out her phone.
    “Oh, dear, Julian,” Aunt Ella said. “I must apologize for my niece.”
    “No apologies necessary.”
    Vanessa keyed in:
    Mr. Darcy gets a pat down at the airport. #JASNAagm #UndressingMrDarcy #shocking
    “The poor dear is always on her electronic devices for work, Julian.”
    “Three replies already.” Vanessa smiled as she pushed the wheelchair with one hand.
    “It is most unfortunate,” Julian said. “I cannot tell you how I valued my year without all of that as I wrote my book by candlelight. I’m extremely skeptical of modern technology. When it comes to reading, I like a real book. When it comes to conversation, I prefer it in person, preferably over a cup of tea.”
    “My sentiments exactly!” Aunt Ella said.
    Louis Armstrong singing “You like tomato and I like tomahto” played in Vanessa’s brain. But she couldn’t call the whole thing off, could she?
    Once at the car, while Julian and Aunt Ella played the politeness game over who should sit in front, Vanessa whisked the wheelchair back to the cart corral. By the time she got back, she found Aunt Ella sitting in the back and Julian waiting on the driver’s side, where he opened her door for her and made a flourish with his hand.
    The last time a man had held open a car door for her was . . . what? Senior prom?
    “Thank you?” was all she could muster. He was attractive
and
polite.
    “The pleasure’s all mine,” he said.
    Once he’d opened his door, he leaned in.
    “I’m sorry, would you mind if I removed my coat? It’s a bit warm.”
    Sorry? And “a bit warm” for a woolen tailcoat? She had to smile at his British propensity for apologies and understatement.
    “No, I don’t mind,” Vanessa said. “By all means, take it off.” She laughed. “With your
Undressing
show I’m sure you’re