Free Courting Claudia by Robyn DeHart Page A

had no choice,” she added quickly. “He practically blackmailed me.”
    â€œBlackmailed? With what material?” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Have you been holding out on a delicious secret?”
    â€œOf course not.” Except the kiss, but she couldn’t very well tell her that. “It was Richard. I didn’t want him to see us speaking, and Mr. Middleton used it against me. I’m not quite certain why he asked me to go riding with him.”
    â€œPerhaps you’ve captured him with your charms.”
    Claudia released an unladylike snort. “That must be it,” she said dryly. “Be serious, Poppy. I’m in a dreadful situation.”
    â€œHow is it remotely dreadful when a man that looks and charms like Derrick Middleton is paying attention to you?” Poppy released a tiny shriek and brought her hand to her mouth. “ Oh ! He’s courting you.”
    â€œShhh! Not so loud. He is doing no such thing.” Claudia winced and leaned closer to her friend. “He claims that he’s courting me, but it simply cannot be the truth.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œHonestly, Poppy. Have you seen him? What on earth would a man like that want with me?”
    â€œThere’s no reason why every man on earth wouldn’t want you.”
    â€œYou are biased because you are my friend.”
    â€œI am biased and I am your friend, but I’m also being truthful. There is not one single reason I can think of as to why Derrick Middleton or any other man wouldn’t want to court you.”
    Claudia opened her mouth to speak, but Poppy cut her off.
    â€œUnless…” Poppy frowned.
    â€œUnless what?” Claudia asked.
    â€œIt could be your father.”
    â€œMy father? What does my father have to do with anything?”
    â€œYour father isn’t exactly warm and inviting, Claudia. Perhaps men are afraid of him, and that is why Richard is your only suitor.” She raised one finger. “Until now. I think it’s splendid.”
    Claudia rolled her eyes. “You would.”
    â€œNobody said you have to marry him. Although given the choice between Richard and Derrick…Look at it this way, perhaps a little competition will spur Richard into action.”
    â€œHeavens no. I don’t want Richard or anyone else knowing that Mr. Middleton is playing this charade. But I do want to spur Richard into action as you say.”
    â€œHow are you going to do that?”
    â€œI’m not certain.”
    â€œI cannot for the life of me understand why Richard is dragging his feet. He has your father’s permission and yours. What is he waiting on?”
    â€œHow should I know? Maybe he doesn’t want to marry me.”
    â€œThat’s rubbish.”
    â€œThe waiting is not sitting well with my father either. I can’t be certain, but I believe he instructed me to seduce Richard.”
    â€œHe did no such thing!” Poppy said incredulously.
    â€œI believe that is precisely what he meant when he said, ‘Claudia’—she deepened her voice—‘use what God gave you.’ And when I asked for clarification, he boldly proclaimed, ‘Your womanly wiles.’”
    â€œHe said that? ‘Your womanly wiles’?”
    Claudia giggled.
    â€œI can’t believe he said that. As far as my father is concerned, I have no womanly wiles,” Poppy said. She made a face and shook her head. “What a horrible conversation to have with one’s father. How embarrassing.”
    Embarrassing was right. It had been. Humiliating too. Poppy’s father had it right. He encouraged his daughter to marry, but not in a dishonorable or deceitful way. That’s the way itshould be, wasn’t it? Whose father encouraged his daughter to seduce men?
    Only hers apparently.
    She would try to encourage Richard to propose, but she wouldn’t put herself in a compromising situation to ensnare him.