Page 21 of Courting Claudia

Where was he? It wasn’t like Richard to be late. Not even to the theater.

Claudia scanned the theater lobby again and still found no sign of him. She stood with Poppy, although Poppy was surrounded by young gentlemen all eagerly awaiting a smile or something. Poppy was as friendly to each of them as she was to every person.

Poppy was gloriously beautiful, and men always took a second look. Claudia, on the other hand, was not unattractive; she was what men often referred to as charming. But charming didn’t keep a man by your side. Charming didn’t give you more than one man to choose from. Two if you were lucky. Or extremely wealthy. Both things Claudia had never been. She had a dowry—a nice one, but certainly not enough to warrant a line of suitors.

Claudia sighed. What would it feel like, even for a moment, to have men fall all over themselves to get your attention? She shook her head. It was a silly thought and deserved no more attention. She wasn’t that kind of woman, and she never would be.

Poppy said something, and her entourage guffawed. Claudia tried not to roll her eyes. She pitied her friend. So beautiful, but since she had no dowry, not one of those men would ask for her hand. Claudia wasn’t certain which of the two of them was in the worse situation.

She glanced around the room again, searching for a sign of Richard, and instead found someone staring at her. That never happened. But there he was, Mr. Middleton, standing across the room, simply watching her. He held his glass up in a silent toast and smiled in a manner that made her shiver all the way up her back. A smile for only her.

He made his way to her, and before she could protest, brought her hand to his lips. She felt his soft breath caress her through her gloves. Trapped in his gaze, she almost forgot where she was. Almost.

“I hoped I’d see you here tonight. You look lovely, Miss Prattley, as always.”

She nearly snorted. Lovely. He certainly was giving this courting thing all he could. But she was too clever to fall under his spell. He might be sinfully attractive, and perhaps he had given her a knee-weakening kiss, but that did not mean he was seriously in pursuit of her hand.

With that in mind, she pulled said hand away. “It’s certainly a surprise to see you.” She tried to sound cool, disinterested, but doubted she was convincing, as he didn’t turn to leave.

“Come riding with me tomorrow,” he said.

It didn’t sound like a request. Her heart quickened. Regardless of how utterly thrilling it was that he wanted to spend more time with her, had sought her out this very evening, she could not encourage his charade. “I cannot.”

“Oh, but you must. I have a gentle mount just perfect for a lady such as yourself.”

“That’s very kind, but I really mustn’t.”

“You mustn’t. That doesn’t sound the same as you’d rather not. I’d hate to think my company is that unpleasant.”

“Oh no, it’s not that at all. Your company is quite pleasant.” She shouldn’t have said it, but it would have been rude to allow him to believe otherwise.

He was silent for a moment. His gaze wandered to Poppy and her group, and he studied them for a while before he spoke again. “Tell me about all of those men around your friend. Is she some sort of enchantress who has bewitched them?”

“Her beauty bewitches all men. Frankly, I’m surprised you’re here talking to me instead of over there with her.”

“There’s no one else I’d rather be talking with. I’m positive Lady Penelope is a most entertaining converser, but to warrant a crowd of five men? I’m not so certain.”

“Look at her.”

She watched him glance over at Poppy. His eyes roamed the length of her. Claudia’s breath caught in her chest while she waited for his reaction. She’d seen it in men time and again. This was where he’d see how foolish it was to stand here talking with her, and he’d walk away. But to her surprise he shrugged and turned back to her.

“She’s very pretty,” he simply said.

“The most beautiful woman in all of England.”

“That’s a heavy statement. And I’d disagree. I think there are prettier women and some equally pretty.” He met her gaze. “A woman’s beauty does not lie only in her face. You have to look at the entire body. The graceful curve of the neck.” His eyes moved down her neck, and his words burned like fingertips. “The delicate skin of the wrist, the way her body moves when she walks. All of those factor into whether or not a woman is beautiful.”

She didn’t know how to respond to such a comment. She could scarcely catch her breath. Did he think her beautiful? How foolish. No man thought her beautiful. Even Richard with all his poetic words of love had never uttered anything that so much as suggested she was beautiful.

So rather than face the awkward, she changed the subject.

“Do you enjoy the theater, Mr. Middleton?”

She thought she heard him chuckle, but his expression never changed. “Most of the time. I admit I do not attend that often. I see now that that is a mistake. I suppose had I been attending more often, I might have met you sooner.”

“You flatter me, Mr. Middleton, but surely you came this evening with a party. Perhaps a paramour?”

“I came this evening because I had a feeling you might be here, and I wanted to ask you to ride with me tomorrow. You have not given me the answer I came for. And I must point out that I would not be courting you if I had a paramour. Obviously you think me an utter cad.”