Page 52 of Courting Claudia

“I know that. I’ll take you to Poppy’s. I’m sure you can stay there until we wed. I’ll send a carriage for your things. You can include a note with instructions for your maid.”

She wished she were the kind of person who knew what to say to her father to make this all right. But she wasn’t. She took one last glance at the door, then walked to the carriage. They would talk later. Once he accustomed himself to the idea of her marrying Derrick. Once his anger subsided.

They were halfway to Poppy’s before Derrick spoke.

“I’m sorry you had to hear all of that.”

She couldn’t look at him. She simply kept her focus out the window and let the tears stream down her cheeks.

He didn’t know what else to say. She wouldn’t even look at him. Her tears shocked him. Not because they were unwarranted, she had every right to cry, but because he was used to seeing her vivacious, not beaten down like this. It stirred something inside him. Something that demanded he protect her at all costs. And that scared the hell out of him.

Hell, he hadn’t even been courting her—not really—and now he’d have to tell her that. He certainly couldn’t go into a marriage with that lie above them. But not today.

He certainly hadn’t meant for them to be compromised. He shouldn’t have been so reckless. He’d lived through enough scandals—he certainly didn’t need to be tied to another. And he couldn’t allow Claudia to take the blame. Her father was capable of making her life unlivable.

He’d had doubts in the carriage on the way to her father’s house. Her soft words promising to release him from his duty had been tempting. He wasn’t ready to marry again. But after seeing her father and hearing the filth he had to say, there was no question of what to do.

While he wouldn’t be able to offer Claudia a marriage full of love, he could certainly give her respect and treat her kindly. He refused to give her his heart, but he’d make up for it every other way he could.

What of her heart? Would she offer it freely to him? Probably not. Especially after he explained the truth behind his courtship. It was completely unfair to expect her to love him when he couldn’t offer her love in return, but he acknowledged that he desired just that. He was a selfish bastard.

Once Claudia was settled in an upstairs room at Poppy’s house, and after Lady Livingston had fretted over her for a quarter of an hour, she was left alone. But her solitude was brief. Only a moment later, Poppy poked her head into the room.

“If you’re not ready to talk about whatever has happened, I’ll understand, but you look just awful. Are you all right?”

She had totally forgotten that the tears had probably left her usually rosy cheeks with white streaks and that her eyes more than likely were puffy and red. She gave Poppy a weak smile.

“I’m fine.”

“Can you tell me what happened? I obviously know that something happened at Lady Oliver’s, but she wouldn’t say.” Poppy’s brow furrowed. “Which is unusual, but I’m assuming since the dowager duchess was there, she censored herself.”

There had been a time when Claudia told Poppy everything, but ever since she’d met Derrick, some things seemed too personal, too intimate.

“Derrick and I are engaged, and my father is upset, to say the least.”

“Engaged?! How marvelous.”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. It was somewhat unplanned and very sudden.”

“Does this have anything to do with your kiss the other night at the ball? Did someone see you? Were you compromised?”

“Not at the ball.”

“When?”

“Today. At the card party.” How humiliating. It was bad enough that Lady Oliver knew, but to admit to your best friend that you lacked control…She buried her head in her hands and waited for Poppy’s disappointed reaction.

But instead, Poppy laughed. Not a little giggle, but a full-out chuckle.

She snapped her head up. “What is so funny?”

Poppy smiled widely. “I’m enjoying the irony of your situation. Your father wants you to marry Richard because it will be good for your reputation, so what do you do—go and get yourself compromised with a man your father despises. And at a tea and card party. In the middle of the afternoon. It couldn’t have happened any better had I planned it myself.”

“Poppy, it’s not funny or ironic. It’s dreadful. I’ve ruined my reputation and tarnished my father’s in the process. He’ll probably never forgive me. This would never have happened to you. You’re the very picture of decorum.”

“It has nothing to do with decorum and everything to do with the fact that I’ve never had a man like Derrick Middleton pull me into his arms. I’m not laughing at you, and I certainly don’t find it humorous at your expense.” She scrunched her nose. “You know, I hate to admit it, but I’m enjoying the fact that this must be awful for your father.”

“That’s a rotten thing to say.”