Ophelia nodded. “I shall try my possible best.”
* * *
Lord Benjamin Gibbs, the Baron of Salsbury
Benjamin sipped from the bottle in his hand as his mind drifted to the conversation he had with his friend earlier. He was at the gambling hell, without Christopher.
“It is so strange seeing you here alone,” said a voice.
Benjamin turned around to see a familiar man behind him. They often saw him at the gambling hell but had never spoken, especially whenever he was with Christopher. “I’m Luke.”
“How do you? Luke?” he replied.
“Where is the rich boy you got for yourself?” asked Luke curiously. He was a tall, well-built man who was a lot older than Benjamin.
“I do not understand what you are saying,” Benjamin replied with languid interest.
“The Viscount that always follows you here? Where is he?”
Benjamin returned to his drink with annoyance. “If you wish to see Christopher, you will not find as he will not be coming here today.
“Not coming?” asked the man in surprise, drinking from the bottle in his hand. “What could possibly be the reason?”
“What is that to you? Why are you interested in my friend’s business?” Benjamin asked angrily.
Luke feigned a hurtful expression.. “Because you are clearly disturbed and your friend is not here to help you. Well, I am. You can talk to me while I buy more drink for us.”
Benjamin watched as he ordered more drinks and paid close attention to him. He was reluctant in having Luke as his company considering he did not even know this man and he did not want share his troubles with anyone.
“I am listening,” said Luke with mild enthusiasm.
Benjamin sighed and decided to talk. He was after all, tired of brooding all night.
“I have never been someone that was truly interested in woman,” he started. “They can simply be used and replaced. Even my friend plays around with women, uses them, then dumps them.” Luke chuckled as he raised his glass in agreement. “Now, I have finally found a woman, that I wish to spend the rest of my life with, however, my friend beat me to that too. He has fallen for this same woman.”
Luke raised his brows and poured more drinks for them both. “Did you tell him your thoughts regarding this woman?”
Benjamin shook his head. “What was I to say? To tell him he does not stand a chance? To back off? I do not even know if the young woman has taken a liking to him over me since she met him first.”
“Does he know where this girl lives?” asked Luke.
“No, but I do.”
“Have you told this lady your intentions?” Luke inquired.
Benjamin shook his head.
“Has your friend done anything to make his feelings known to the lady?”
“No… well, I do not know.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” asked Luke. “From what I see here, you have all the cards and you need to play it perfectly to win her heart.”
“How am I to do that?” Benjamin asked with an irritating tone. He did not understand where Luke was going with this conversation.
“You know her home address. Send her flowers, letters or even pay her a visit. I suggest you start with letters. Be mysterious. Women love that kind of a thing, and once she starts getting infatuated with you, you visit her.”
Benjamin could now see the logic in what Luke was saying and he was beginning to smile.
“Also, you can ask from your friend, the things he plans to do with the lady and once you know them, you can use them to your advantage. So you will always be a step ahead of your friend.”
Benjamin smirked and drank more. “Thank you, Luke. You just gave me a wonderful idea.”
* * *
Miss Ophelia Campbell
The sounds of female laughter floated through the hall as Ophelia followed her father and her cousin to the ballroom. After much persuasion, Charles had decided to accompany her to the ball.
She had never been this nervous before. The three of them glided through the open doors and down the staircase which curved around the right wall.
Ophelia tried not to scream as she saw the sea of people below. Instead, she held unto her father. Huge columns lined the walls, supporting the vaulted ceiling which was lit by hundreds of sparkling chandeliers. The band was playing soft melodious background music in a corner.
“Introducing Sir Campbell with his family.”
A smattering of polite applause filled the ballroom as the attention was directed at them, as expected. They curtseyed before descending down the stairs.
“Introducing Lord Dantes and Lady Canterbury,” the announcer continued introducing the next set of guests.
“Oh my. That was really something, wasn’t it?” Ophelia heard her father say as they found their way to the outskirts of the dancefloor. When they got to the corner of the room, he turned to face her and Charles.
“Now, I have to go and mingle. You two should do the same. I shall find the both of you once it is time to go,” said Mr. Campbell.
“Father, please be careful. Your health is really important and you need not give yourself much trouble,” Ophelia warned. She was really concerned for her father’s health. He had been weary since he got back from his journey.
“Thank you, sweet daughter,” her father said and kissed her on both cheeks before leaving the two.
“So, I still do not understand why you have requested that I accompany you here,” Charles said when they were finally alone.
“I just did not want to come here alone,” Ophelia replied.
“But, you very well know that it is requested for a young lady who is unmarried such as yourself, to get her dance card filled,” Charles stated in a mischievous tone.
“Oh, do stop whining, cousin,” Ophelia said. “You are here to make me feel comfortable, not add to my fret,” she replied.
“What frets you, cousin?”
“Marriage talks are enough to fret me and if you must know,” she continued. “I brought you here because I am not confident to take the embarrassment that is coming my way tonight.”
Charles frowned. “I do not understand.” After seeing that should would not elaborate further, he decided to change the subject. “Meanwhile, I would love to claim your first dance.”
“I will tell you all once you sign,” she replied, handing him her dance card.
* * *
Christopher Crampton, Viscount Barrington.
He looked up and saw Lady Anna, talking with his sister. Anna was one of Rebecca’s he had corrupted some months ago but who was kind enough to forgive him. Although she remained friends with Rebecca, she chose to keep her distance from him.
Christopher took a deep breath and walked towards the other end of the ballroom. He had just walked in some minutes ago and had already seen four ladies out of those he had been trying to avoid. He drank from the cup in his hand. He was also not interested in dancing.
Why isn’t Ben here yet? Putting on this event had been stressful for Christopher and he want to make his father proud. With Benjamin there, he was certain that he would have something to reassure him and to calm him down. That was one reason why he loved the man. He always knew what to say.
“My Lord,” said a voice beside him and he turned to see Mr. Campbell, his father’s trusted merchant.
“Mr. Campbell. How are you doing sir?” he asked the man with a smile.
“I am very well, thank you,” replied Mr. Campbell with a slight bow.
“I heard you went on a long journey this time. I hope you made enough profits to last us a long time?” Christopher joked and the man laughed.
“I certainly did. How is his lordship? I hope he is getting better?”
Christopher shook his head. “He is getting worse, if I must be frank with you. I am afraid that His Lordship is taking more time to relax. That is why he cannot be here tonight.”
“I understand,” Mr. Campbell r
eplied. “He needs all the rest he can get.”
“Yes and so do you,” replied Christopher, studying the man. He looked tired and his eyes were bloodshot. “You seem rather weary.”
“I am afraid the long journey took its toll on me. I suffered a great deal on the road but thankfully, I am home now.”
“Well, then you need to be more careful and look out for yourself.”
Mr. Campbell smiled. “You just spoke like my daughter. She keeps on reminding me of my health.”
Christopher frowned. “Your daughter? Is she here?”
“Oh, yes. She is. In fact, there she is, dancing with her cousin,” said the man, pointing towards a couple on the dancefloor.
The elegant lady was facing the other side and laughing excitedly, so he couldn’t see her face. However, she was in a blue silk gown which came to her waist in a silvery pattern to later flow outwardly like soft waves on the floor.
As the group got closer, he could see that her dark hair was arranged into a shiny pile the top of her head, leaving a few curled strands out. Finally, her partner twirled her around.
When Christopher caught her face, his stomach did a double flip.
“That is your daughter?” he asked in disbelief.
“Yes, that is Ophelia. My only child,” Mr. Campbell said with pride.
Immediately when he heard that, an unsettling feeling welled up inside him.
“Are you alright? You look troubled,” asked Mr. Campbell. “And isn’t that your sister, walking towards my daughter?’
Christopher looked again and saw Rebecca and Ophelia talking together. Ophelia and her dance partner had already left the dance floor while he wasn’t looking. The next thing saw was Rebecca pointing towards him and Ophelia’s gaze followed. When their eyes met, she looked away in total embarrassment.
“Have you two met before?” Mr. Campbell asked him but he found it difficult to reply as Rebecca was already coming towards him with Ophelia.
“Ophelia, I trust you remember my brother, Viscount Barrington. Brother, Miss Ophelia Campbell,” Rebecca said as she introduced them both.
“My Lord,” Ophelia said, bowing slightly while he bowed.
“Nice to see you again, Miss Campbell,” he said and then went ahead to properly introduce his sister to Mr. Campbell, and he to her.
“Oh! She is your daughter?” Rebecca asked the merchant who nodded.
“What a small world,” was all Rebecca could say.
Chapter 7
Miss Ophelia Campbell
While both her father and Rebecca joked nonstop, Ophelia kept fanning herself, not sure what she was supposed to say, especially since she saw the disappointed look on the Viscount’s face. She could finally see that perhaps, he was not contented with their class differences.
She turned around and caught sight of Charles, beckoning to her to come back as he was waiting for her at the dance floor.
She faced Christopher and swallowed as he saw her looking at him. “Excuse me, my lord and lady,” she said uncomfortably and then walked away back to Charles.
“What was that all about?” Charles asked as he led back to the dance floor.
“That was the reason why I had brought you here,” she replied, not looking back at her father and the Viscount, even though she desperately desired to. They stop at the edge of the dance floor and watched the dancing couples.
“The man looks familiar,” Charles said
“You mean the Viscount?”
“Yes. I think I have met him before. Where do you know him from?”
“I ran into him at the Christmas fair.”
“And now here he is, speaking with your father and directing his gaze at you,” said Charles in a low tone as he looked behind her.
This made Ophelia smile, but she was not sure what Christopher was possibly thinking. Perhaps, he was astounded by their class differences.
“Do you like this man, Ophelia?” Charles asked but before Ophelia could answer, “Oh, Ophelia, I think I need to excuse myself. I shall be right back and please do not wait on me. Get your card filled.”
She smiled sheepishly and watched him leave, wondering what could have caught his attention all of a sudden.
She was just leaving the dance floor when she came face to face with the Viscount.
Her heart practically stopped beating as their eyes met. For a while, he only stared at her before he bowed slightly. “My lady, if you are not yet engaged for the second dance, would you be so kind as to honor me?”
She couldn’t understand why she was beginning to tremble inside but she curtsied and gave him her card to sign.
Shortly after he had signed, the musician’s struck up the second dance and he led her back to the dance floor.
“You do look as beautiful as ever, Miss Campbell,” the Viscount said immediately as the waltz started.
Ophelia blushed but quickly composed herself. “I must say I’m flattered, my Lord,” she replied, wishing her heart would stop beating so fast.
“Once again, I beg your pardon for my clumsiness at the fair. I do hope you have forgiven me?”
She smiled, feeling a bit relieved that he was good with starting the conversation. Perhaps, he had no objection to their class differences. “Certainly, my Lord. My family and I did enjoy the fair, thanks to you.”
He smiled. The smile seemed to make his blue eyes sparkle more. “I am most glad.”
After this, they were both quiet but somehow, she felt more relaxed as he held her hand. There was something about this man that made her more aware of herself than she should.
Although they glided around the dance floor gracefully, she was hoping not to cause them both any embarrassment. At first, she thought of telling him her fear on getting the letter, but then she thought it might make her seem desperate or too forward, so she kept quiet and decided to enjoy herself in his presence.
Ophelia could see a couple of women at a corner of the ballroom, looking their way and talking in whispers. She was sure they were probably criticizing him for dancing with someone like her, especially since they were engaging in the couple’s dance that some still deemed inappropriate for unmarried women and men.
“You look, so serious? A penny for your thoughts?” he joked, smiling.
“Oh, I…I was just thinking of how grand this room is, and-how many people there are here, under just one roof,’ she said, knowing full well that the truth would not do any good. She wasn’t ready to lose whatever moment they were having.
“Well, my sister is good at doing the impossible,” he replied. “No matter the size of the room, she always manages to fill it beyond capacity.”
She smiled but still managed to glance at the women who were still looking at them and whispering.
“Are you alright? Would you care for a breath of air?” Ophelia saw his genuine look of concern, and she gave him a dazzling smile. The thought of stepping outside into the cool night air with him was far tempting to contemplate, she realized with regret. “No, my Lord. I am quite alright. Besides, it would be a shame not to finish my second dance.”
He shrugged and was about to talk again but Rebecca interrupted them, waving at them to come off the dance floor. They exited the dance floor as graciously as possible.
“I apologized for the intrusion brother, but Lord Middleton would like to see you. He says it has to do with father’s business.”
Ophelia saw the look of disappointment in his eyes as he heard this. For that, she was glad, probably he was enjoying her presence as well.
“Well, Miss Campbell,” said Christopher now looking at her. “It is a shame that we will not be finishing the dance. I hope to see you again when we can finish it,” he said, kissing her hand and bowing slightly before taking his leave.
“Finally, it’s the two of us,” said Rebecca, excitedly.
Ophelia smiled. “What can I do for you, my lady?”
“I would like us to be friends Ophelia. I would like to pay you a visit
tomorrow if you will have me.”
Ophelia was surprised. What would someone like Lady Egerton want to do with someone like her? She was not ready for another friendship which would only serve the purpose of reminding her of her low status, which had happened before.
“Well, say something?” Rebecca said again as Ophelia hesitated in her reply.
“Well, if it pleases you, my lady. I am certain that my mother would be honored to host you.”
A Lady to Redeem a Rakish Lord: A Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 5