Courting Claudia Read Online Free

She took a deep breath. “He was handsome.” She shrugged and tried to look indifferent.
    Poppy’s eyebrows raised.
    â€œIf you like that type of man,” Claudia quickly added.
    â€œWhat type of man?”
    â€œHe’s not very polished.” She scrunched her face. “He’s wild—admitted it himself.”
    Poppy narrowed her eyes. “So what you’re saying is that he’s not the type of man you find attractive.”
    â€œCorrect.” She nodded once for emphasis.
    â€œAnd what type of man do you find attractive? Richard?”
    Richard was kind, the perfect gentleman. But was she attracted to Richard? No, not especially.She supposed he was nice to look upon, but he wasn’t precisely handsome. His features weren’t sharp and defined; they were softer, gentler.
    At least, her heart never raced around him. And her hands never itched with sweat. She’d never been particularly fascinated by his mouth. All things she’d experienced yesterday with Mr. Middleton. “Richard is lovely,” she finally said.
    â€œRichard is lovely? Listen to yourself. I’ll tell you what Richard is—Richard is not right for you.”
    â€œI cannot understand why you dislike him so.”
    Poppy shrugged. “I don’t trust him. He’s too agreeable to be genuine. And I don’t think he pays proper attention to someone he’s supposed to be courting. You know what you need?”
    Claudia shook her head.
    â€œA decent husband. Someone who will take you away from here and let you be yourself. Someone who will love you. Like Stephen and Anne—he adores her and allows her to do as she chooses. Look at them.”
    Claudia turned toward the dance floor. Anne was four and twenty, three years younger than Claudia and Poppy, but they’d all been friends when they were girls. Anne and Stephen had married last year. He did adore her—it shone all over his face. He looked at her as if she were the onlywoman in the room. The only person in the room. A love like that would be wonderful. More than wonderful—but love like that didn’t happen often, and certainly not to women like Claudia.
    Claudia raised her chin a bit. She twirled a stray curl behind her ear. “You and my father agree on something, isn’t that a miracle?”
    â€œAgree on what?”
    â€œOn my needing to marry.”
    â€œI don’t, however, think Richard is the right man for you. If your father is so fond of him, why doesn’t he marry him? He certainly could use someone’s love to soften him.”
    â€œIf my mother’s love couldn’t soften him, then no one’s could.”
    â€œTrue indeed. In any case, you deserve to find a man who loves you—you should have the freedom to marry your choice and not your father’s protégé.”
    â€œWe both know that marriages like Stephen and Anne’s are very rare. And might I point out that you are not married either.”
    â€œNo, but I have plenty of suitors.” Poppy flashed her a smile.
    A footman walked by with a tray of champagne. They each took a glass. Claudia sipped at the sparkly liquid, enjoying the bubbles tickling her nose.
    â€œYou don’t like any of them,” Claudia said.
    â€œThat’s not true.” Poppy stuck her chin out and crossed her arms. “Why, last month I almost fancied myself in love with Christopher Newman. Then he up and married that girl from the country. He didn’t want to marry me.” Her voice softened. “None of them want to marry me. Simply because my dance card is always full doesn’t mean, when it comes down to it, I’ll have my pick. I know my fate. I shall have to marry some old codger like old man Weatherby with yellowed teeth and bad breath.”
    â€œIt won’t happen like that.” Claudia took Poppy’s hands and squeezed them. “You’ll find someone lovely. You’re