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 gentlemanâhonestly, not a gentleman at all, heâd saidâfor her to befriend.
âI can assure you, Miss Prattley, Iâm not a manwho settles for less than what he desires. And I desire youâ¦â
Then he paused as if that was the end of his statement, as if he simply meant to say he desired her.
ââ¦to go riding with me.â
That was the rest of his statement. He didnât desire her. He was toying with her.
And then she saw him, the pale blondâhaired man who strolled into the lobby. Richard. If he saw her with Derrick, he would certainly tell her father.
âI really should get to my seat. I believe the show is going to start directly.â
He held his arm out to her. âIâll escort you.â
âNo!â She practically shrieked the word. âI can manage on my own, thank you.â
Then he followed her gaze and gave a little nod. âI see that Lord Foxmore has arrived. Is that why youâre scurrying off? You donât want him to see me with you, do you? Well, he should have secured your engagement, if he didnât want you with another man.â
âThatâs not it at all. And I am not scurrying. I simply like to get to my seat on time.â
âIâll make a bargain with youâIâll leave you to your own devices and keep old Richard from seeing us together if you agree to go riding with me.â
She brought her hand to her throat. Richard took a few steps forward and began to scan the room. âYes, I shall go riding with you.â
âIâll have someone pick you up tomorrow morning at eight. You do rise that early?â
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 hadnât 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 gossipsâ eyes, as most ladies wouldnât 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 wouldnât , a voice inside her said. No matter if she kissed every man in London, perhaps in England, sheâd never forget the way Derrick Middletonâs 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 Claudiaâs father would cease his badgering.
âSo what was that all about?â Poppyâs question startled her out of her reverie.
âGracious, Poppy, you scared me.â
âWhat did he want?â
âWho?â
âWhatâs the matter with you? Mr. MiddletonâI saw him here speaking with you only a few moments ago.â
âOh him. Well, he came to invite me to go riding with him.â
âAnd?â
âAnd I accepted. I