Read Dreaming of Mr. Darcy for Free Online Page B

energy on paper.
    What she loved most about the Cobb was how welcoming it seemed to be—how everyone could walk there, from toddlers with grandparents to the dozens of dogs who came to Lyme with wagging tails and lolling tongues.
    At the end of a particularly long day of ripping out old shelves and painting walls, there was a knock on the door. Kay had been sitting in the living room at the front of the house. Although it hadn’t been decorated yet, it looked jolly enough, with her old sofa and a couple of armchairs, and she was already beginning to feel quite at home there.
    She’d just been rereading a few of the Lyme Regis pages from Persuasion and wondered who on earth was calling. She hadn’t been in Lyme long enough to make any friends, and she hadn’t yet opened Wentworth House for business. Kay walked down the hallway and unlocked the door. There was a slim woman standing on the step. She looked about forty years old with a careworn face that wasn’t smiling.
    â€˜You’re a bed and breakfast, aren’t you?’ the woman asked, desperation in her voice.
    â€˜I guess I am,’ Kay said.
    â€˜Good,’ the woman said. ‘It’s just possible that you could save my life.’
    Kay didn’t quite know what to say to that. She’d never saved anyone’s life before, but before she could say anything, the careworn woman invited herself in and was talking ten to the dozen.
    â€˜I’m Teresa Hudson. You’ve probably seen some of my films. Passion of a Lady , Two on a Tower —that sort of thing. I’m a director. We’re making Persuasion here in Lyme, and the whole cast and crew are with me. How many rooms do you have?’ she asked, bustling about and poking her head around the door. ‘It’s very small, isn’t it?’
    â€˜Five,’ Kay said. ‘I have five rooms, all en suite.’
    â€˜Five? Twins, double?’
    â€˜Three double, two twin, but the twins aren’t quite ready. We’ve been redecorating, and I wanted to—’
    â€˜I’ll take them. I’ll take all of them. Doesn’t matter if they’re ready. We’re a bit desperate, you see. We’ve been staying at The Three Palms up the road, but a burst pipe’s made a few of us homeless, and there’s absolutely nowhere left in town. I’ve got production assistants running up and down the streets hammering on doors. It’s ridiculous. Somebody mentioned this place, except it didn’t look very promising from the outside.’
    â€˜I’ve just moved in,’ Kay said, feeling it necessary to explain but annoyed that she had to. This was, perhaps, the rudest woman she’d ever met.
    â€˜We’ll want breakfast and dinner. No lunch. We’ll be eating early and late, okay? Now, let me see the rooms.’
    Teresa didn’t bother to wait for Kay to lead her upstairs but made her own way, opening doors and peering inside.
    â€˜Nice,’ she said. ‘Small, but nice. Paint smells a bit strong.’
    â€˜We’ve just decorated,’ Kay said, ‘as I explained.’
    Teresa nodded and got out her mobile from her jacket pocket. ‘Les, it’s Teresa. I’ve found somewhere. Parking?’ she said. ‘Is there parking?’
    â€˜Not far away,’ Kay said, pointing in the direction.
    â€˜Yes, there’s parking nearby. You know what Lyme’s like.’ There was a pause, and Teresa frowned. ‘Hurry up and finish eating and then get yourselves down here. Marine Parade. It’s a place called—’ she stopped and looked at Kay with raised eyebrows.
    â€˜Wentworth House.’
    â€˜Wentworth House,’ Teresa repeated with a wry smile. ‘I know. It’s fate,’ she said, snapping her phone shut. ‘Right, I’ll choose myself a room.’
    Kay watched in total bemusement as her first guest disappeared up the