Paula Freda

Audrey's Mr. Darcy Paula Freda

Audrey's eyes misted. Thinking about her great grandparents' love story always triggered in her an emotional response. Theirs was the kind of love she sought. Wil thought himself cursed because of his physical resemblance to the handsome actor portraying Austen's Fitzwilliam Darcy, Attracted to Audrey, what chance did he stand, when his rival was Singhen, a multi-millionaire archaeologist. Less Audrey Lambert is a self-sufficient woman, newly appointed as Manager of a Financial Consulting Department. Tall, sophisticated and well-educated, she hides well the simple dreamer within who finds immense joy seated in a window alcove reading the journals of her great grandmother's adventures and romance as she traveled with her husband in search of rare artifacts, often mysterious and mystical. To everyone, Audrey appears unattainable, especially to one of the financial consultants under her supervision, who considers himself cursed, because his name is William Darcy, from a long line of Darcys that had nothing whatsoever to do with Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy. What's worse, he resembles to a tee, the popular actor who portrayed the character in the movie based on Austen's novel. Inevitably, most women who date him, insist on comparing him with the character, to their eventual disillusionment. He doesn't have an English accent, born and bred in a small hamlet on Long Island, New York, a nice town with trees and malls, buses and trains and taxicabs. He isn't as tall or as confident, or as proud of bearing, and not one hundredth of a percent as rich as the fictional Fitzwilliam Darcy. One disappointed woman actually told him he had no right facially to resemble Austen's Darcy. She suggested plastic surgery. If only he could find a girl who dislikes Austen's Mr. Darcy. That's as improbable as finding a needle in a haystack. To his edification, he learns that Audrey dislikes the Darcy character, preferring looks akin to Bronte's Edward Fairfax Rochester. Attracted to Audrey, Wil is prepared to go to all lengths, even to growing his hair longer, dyeing it black, wearing elevator shoes to add more height to his 5' 11", and dressing in apparel a mix between respectable 18th century and cool contemporary. He is mortified when he reads the controlled laughter in Audrey's eyes. But surprised, soon after, at her request that he accompany her on an archaeological trip. Her trip has to do with company business and a multi-millionaire's account. Audrey tells Wil that she considers him one of the best and most conscientious workers in the department. He is honored, and sees a glimmer of hope for his chance to win her affections.... (Audrey is the great granddaughter of Elizabeth Grace whose story is told in the author's novellas and novel, The Adventures of Grace Quinlan and Lord William Hayden.)