Page 40 of Courting Claudia
“Promise me something,” he said. “Find out everything you can about Richard before you agree to marry him. Don’t do it simply for your father.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
“In the meantime, continue working for me. At least until Richard actually proposes. In return, I will do my best to prevent any more news about us from reaching your father. Rest assured, our relationship, business or personal, shall be a secret.”
She chewed at her lip. She wanted to.
“Claudia, I know you love it. Give yourself permission to enjoy life for the time being. We’ll cross the marriage bridge when we come to it.”
“Very well. But as soon as he proposes, I must quit. And you must accept that.”
“You have my word.”
“The next time we see each other in public, please don’t ask me to dance or bring me a drink.”
“Your father may dictate your actions, Claudia, but he will not dictate mine. I will be discreet, as I want to protect you, but I shall court you as long as I want. And until you personally want me to stop, then don’t ask me again to stop for your father’s sake.” His hands clenched into fists at his sides. “Do you want me to stop?”
She looked up at him, her blue eyes glistening with tears. “I told you, it doesn’t matter what I want. I should go. My father will only be out for a short time, and I want to be home when he returns.”
He let her leave, but he refused to allow some domineering father to tell him he couldn’t court a lady of his choosing. He acknowledged that was the rebel in him. But he also knew he would make a better husband for Claudia than Richard.
Regardless, marriage should be about mutual love and respect, and while he respected Claudia, he couldn’t offer her love. He couldn’t offer any woman love. He wouldn’t give his heart to another after Julia casually dismissed him.
But he also knew he couldn’t continue to court Claudia unless he was serious about marrying her. It wasn’t fair to her. He didn’t want to hurt her; she had enough pain in her life with her bastard of a father.
He had a hell of a decision to make.
Instead of having the driver return her home, Claudia gave him Poppy’s address. She needed to talk to someone. So much had happened, Claudia desperately needed a friendly face. She was let into the drawing room where Poppy’s mother sat mending.
“Claudia, how good to see you.”
“Lady Livingston, I trust you are well.”
“Aside from worrying about that daughter of mine, I’m doing well. I do wish you’d encourage her to get serious about securing herself a husband. I don’t want her left all alone like my dear cousin Abigail.”
“Mother, do stop your fretting,” Poppy said from the doorway.
Claudia gave Poppy a look she hoped expressed her need for them to talk alone.
Poppy caught on. “I’m glad you’re here. I need you to help me pin one of those dresses you gave me.” She smiled lovingly to her mother. “Mother, I hope you don’t mind us deserting you.”
“Not at all. I believe I’d like to take a short nap. We have a busy evening ahead of us. You girls run along.”
Once in the privacy of Poppy’s bedroom, Poppy asked, “What’s the matter?”
Claudia shook her head. They climbed up onto Poppy’s tall, four-poster bed as they’d done since they were little girls and settled in for a talk. It was much more difficult than it had been when they were children, as now they couldn’t lounge about because of their corsets and other undergarments restraining them.
“I recently heard some news that Richard might not be all he claims to be. Do you think he’s a bad man?”
“Richard Foxmore? No. He’s boring and arrogant. But I wouldn’t say he was a bad man—presuming you mean evil when you say bad.”
“It was implied to me that Richard has some questionable activities in his past. And that if my father knew of them, he would not allow me to marry him. Can you imagine?”
“Who told you such a thing?”
Claudia looked away. She wasn’t in the habit of keeping things from her best friend, but when it came to her relationship with Mr. Middleton, she hadn’t been very forthcoming.
“Tell me.”