Free Undressing Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos

was code blue for one of my clients while I was at that party,” Vanessa said.
    “But, apparently, meeting for the third time was the charm. Here we are!”
    “What do you mean ‘here we are’?” Vanessa asked.
    “I mean we’re here, at the hotel.” Chase smirked as he paid the cabbie. “Everybody out and straight to the Emporium!”
    Who was this man-pirate? She knew the conference hotel well, but which portal had she fallen into with rebellious bonnet makers’ daughters and pirates from her past? Had they really gone to high school together? When would be a good time to tell Aunt Ella about tomorrow’s doctor’s appointment? And what state of undress would Julian be in after being left improperly chaperoned with a roomful of Darcy fans?

Chapter 4

    M other and daughter were reunited, Batman was brought into the fold of bonnet makers, and the scandal had been averted. Vanessa made Julian her next priority despite her compulsion to check up on her aunt. She explained to Chase that no, she wouldn’t have time for lunch; she needed to find her client.
    Her phone pinged with messages. “Thank you, Chase, for wrangling our wayward young Janeite back. It was very nice of you.” He seemed about to say something, but she left him with that and hurried to the main conference hall, where all that was left on the chair where Julian had been sitting was an untied cravat and a note.
    She sent out a post:
    MIA: Mr. Darcy. Message me with any sightings. #JASNAagm #UndressingMrDarcy #heissointrouble
    When she picked up the cravat, it looked out of place in her black-manicured fingers.
    And a
note
?
    The note, nothing more than a thick piece of paper folded in half, had hints of his cologne, that musky, citrusy mix. Or was it coming from his cravat? She held the cravat to her nose, and yes, it came from the fabric, and the cologne hit notes of fresh lime. She began to realize that Julian was the first man in a long time that had the power to make her slow down and smell the—cravats—
    “Did you find your Mr. Darcy?”
    It was Chase who approached from behind her, a corner of his lip upturned in a smile, amused at catching her with her nose in Julian’s cravat! She whisked it away from her face and folded the starched thing as best she could, and the note fluttered to the floor.
    Chase picked it up and handed it to her.
    “No, I haven’t found him, but he left this note.”
    “Seriously?”
    “He doesn’t like to break his Mr. Darcy character by using a phone.”
    “I see.” Chase smiled.
    She could see he thought something snarky, but he didn’t say it.
    “I thought you had to find Paul,” Vanessa asked.
    “I do, but he’s not picking up. His phone’s probably not getting great reception in here. I figured he’s with your aunt and the Englishman. So. Where is this elusive client of yours?”
    She unfolded the note.
    Dearest Vanessa,
    He had gorgeous penmanship. She’d never seen her name so beautifully written. Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen her name handwritten in cursive by any man in a long time.
    I have had the pleasure of meeting one of your friends, Lexi Stone, who has kindly invited Sherry, Kai, and me to lunch at the sushi restaurant in the building. She asked your aunt and Paul, but they declined. Please join us at your earliest convenience.
    Yours,
    Julian
    “Is everything all right?” Chase asked.
    “Yes,” Vanessa lied. It hadn’t taken Lexi long to find Julian. Then again, maybe Lexi had changed. “But Paul and my aunt aren’t with them.”
    She didn’t know what to do first—try to find her aunt or hunt down Julian. She dialed Kai. “Kai? Where is everyone right now?”
    “We’re in the lobby having coffee at the coffee bar. Well, Julian’s having tea. Your friend Lexi bought us lunch. Why haven’t I met her before? She’s really something.”
    “She’s something, all right. Is Julian with you? And Sherry with the equipment?”
    “Yeah. Speaking of which, I have to