Page 41 of Courting Claudia

“Very well. Mr. Middleton. I had a meeting with him today, and we ended up discussing my relationship with Richard. He said that Richard was not who I thought he was, and I should not marry him.”

“Did he give you any details?”

Claudia picked at a piece of thread that had come loose from the bedcovers. “No. Other than that marrying Richard would ruin my life.”

“Well, I’ve told you that before. But Mr. Middleton has connections. He has people all over town who give him information for his paper, and my father swears by it. So it is quite feasible that he would know something about Richard that even your father would not know about.”

“It seems so unlikely that Richard has a secret life. I don’t consider him boring, but he doesn’t seem—you can’t tell anyone I said this—he doesn’t seem clever enough.”

Poppy snapped her fingers. “Exactly. But that doesn’t prove that he’s not involved in something unsightly. Perhaps he does have a dark past. Maybe that’s why he’s so dull now. Makes him appear more unassuming.”

“I can’t see it. I think Richard is simply preoccupied with his work. He’s very involved politically, and I’m sure some of his decisions in the past have been controversial. Perhaps that’s what Derrick meant.” She should say more. Defend Richard, but frankly, after their last encounter, she wasn’t certain she knew him at all.

“That seems unlikely. People make unfavorable decisions all the time; that doesn’t generally warrant bad reputations. Derrick Middleton isn’t from our side of town, so to speak. His definition of a bad man is different than ours—a little harsher, I would think. If he has real information about Richard, I think you should be careful.”

“Should I say anything to my father?”

“No. He wouldn’t believe you, and he’d want to know who you’ve been talking to. I’m assuming you don’t want to tell him of your new relationship with Derrick Middleton.”

“He knows.”

Poppy’s eyes grew round. “He knows what?”

“That Derrick has been paying court to me. He waited up for me after the Finnigers’ ball. He said that someone had told him that I was seen dancing with Derrick on more than one occasion.”

“I wonder who told him. Richard wasn’t even at that ball. I suppose with your father’s connections, it could have been anyone.”

“I told him that Mr. Middleton had asked and that I didn’t want to appear rude. He told me I should have walked the other way.”

“I wish my parents would tell me I could walk away from some of my suitors.” Poppy toyed with the curls that framed Claudia’s face. “Speaking of the Finnigers’ ball, I heard some delicious gossip.”

“Really?”

“Mildred Blanlard told me and several other girls that she saw a couple pressed against the balcony. She said they were kissing so much, they were oblivious to everything around them.” Poppy raised her eyebrows.

Claudia’s lunch flipped in her stomach. Actually, she could imagine. If her father found this out, he’d kill her for sure. She licked her lips and wished she had something to drink, as suddenly her mouth had gone completely dry.

“Did she happen to say who the girl was?” If word got out about this, she’d be ruined. Not only in her father’s eyes, but everyone’s. Poppy’s parents would probably forbid their proper daughter to spend time with someone who behaved so disgracefully.

Poppy shook her head. “No, she said it was too dark to see. She tried to wait to find out, but her mother called her away.”

“That’s a relief. I mean for that girl. Can you imagine if Mildred saw you doing anything inappropriate? She’d put an announcement in the Times. She’s such a jealous sort. It’s no wonder that she hasn’t found a husband yet.”

Poppy eyed her suspiciously. “You’re acting peculiar. What are you hiding?” She gave Claudia a gentle pinch on the arm. “You know who it was, don’t you?”

“No!” she shrieked. Well, there was the way to hide her innocence. She was wretched at keeping secrets.

“Oh my God! It was you, wasn’t it? You and Derrick Middleton. I suspected as much.”

“How?”

“I saw you two at the art exhibit. You certainly weren’t being very discreet.”

“Oh, this is simply splendid.” Claudia dropped her head into her hands.

“Not to worry,” Poppy reassured her, “no one else saw you there. Except for Alistair, but he won’t tell. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t know. I wanted to, but I wasn’t certain how you’d feel about it. He’s not properly courting me, and my father will never allow me to have a legitimate relationship with him. There’s no respectable reason to allow him to kiss me.”