Free Courting Claudia by Robyn DeHart

back of her neck prickled. How she wished she could say yes, but she could not encourage a relationship with this man. Her father would be furious. Richard himself had said that Mr. Middleton was the wrong sort of gentleman—honestly, not a gentleman at all, he’d said—for her to befriend.
    â€œI can assure you, Miss Prattley, I’m not a manwho settles for less than what he desires. And I desire you…”
    Then he paused as if that was the end of his statement, as if he simply meant to say he desired her.
    â€œâ€¦to go riding with me.”
    That was the rest of his statement. He didn’t desire her. He was toying with her.
    And then she saw him, the pale blond–haired man who strolled into the lobby. Richard. If he saw her with Derrick, he would certainly tell her father.
    â€œI really should get to my seat. I believe the show is going to start directly.”
    He held his arm out to her. “I’ll escort you.”
    â€œNo!” She practically shrieked the word. “I can manage on my own, thank you.”
    Then he followed her gaze and gave a little nod. “I see that Lord Foxmore has arrived. Is that why you’re scurrying off? You don’t want him to see me with you, do you? Well, he should have secured your engagement, if he didn’t want you with another man.”
    â€œThat’s not it at all. And I am not scurrying. I simply like to get to my seat on time.”
    â€œI’ll make a bargain with you—I’ll leave you to your own devices and keep old Richard from seeing us together if you agree to go riding with me.”
    She brought her hand to her throat. Richard took a few steps forward and began to scan the room. “Yes, I shall go riding with you.”
    â€œI’ll have someone pick you up tomorrow morning at eight. You do rise that early?”
    She nodded.
    He placed a kiss on her hand that burned through the glove to her skin, then left her standing in the lobby with not a single thought in her head.
    Claudia watched Derrick walk away, then found Richard to see if he looked in her direction. He was engaged in a conversation with a gentleman she did not recognize. Perhaps he hadn’t seen her exchange with Derrick. But he would find out about them riding together. Surely people would see them.
    Truth be told, that thought thrilled her. She would be the talk of the town if it became known that dashing rogue Derrick Middleton was courting her. But her father would never approve, and she had Richard to consider. Riding that early should keep her from most of the gossips’ eyes, as most ladies wouldn’t be out until after noon.
    She would go riding with him, do her best to remain unseen, then cut her ties with Mr. Middleton. For the time being, she should focus on Richard.
    She had a plan for their next meeting. Since Richard insisted on playing the gentleman even this far into their courtship, she would take matters into her own hands and instigate their first kiss. Yes, that would work perfectly.
    Once she kissed Richard, she would forget her kiss with Mr. Middleton. No, she wouldn’t , a voice inside her said. No matter if she kissed every man in London, perhaps in England, she’d never forget the way Derrick Middleton’s lips felt melted against hers. Or the way his tongue had moved seductively through her mouth. No, she would never forget that. But kissing Richard might spur him to propose sooner, and the sooner he proposed, the sooner Claudia’s father would cease his badgering.
    â€œSo what was that all about?” Poppy’s question startled her out of her reverie.
    â€œGracious, Poppy, you scared me.”
    â€œWhat did he want?”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œWhat’s the matter with you? Mr. Middleton—I saw him here speaking with you only a few moments ago.”
    â€œOh him. Well, he came to invite me to go riding with him.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œAnd I accepted. I