“Good,” replied Rebecca. “Shall we take a walk together? I promise to make it worth your while.”
“Very well,” replied Ophelia with a forceful smile.
“Good,” replied Rebecca and took Ophelia’s arm in hers. Together, they walked away from the dance floor.
* * *
Christopher Crampton, Viscount Barrington
Christopher was disappointed. He had wanted to go out into the cold night to speak with Ophelia in private, to understand the more fascinating things about her, but business had come in the way of that.
He attended to Lord Middleton and after they were done discussing things, he thought of going back to check on Ophelia but was surprised to see his sister and Ophelia walking out of the ballroom. Rebecca was saying something that Ophelia was laughing to. He frowned, wondering what his sister was up to.
“Here you are,” Benjamin said behind him .
“Oh, great! I thought you were never going to show up,” Christopher said, tapping Ben on the chest playfully. “You were just a bit late in meeting Ophelia.”
Benjamin frowned. “She is here?”
Christopher nodded. “Of course she is here and why do you look so white?” Chris joked, laughing at his friend. “One would think you are the one in love with her.”
Benjamin smiled and adjusted himself. “Nothing is wrong friend. So, did you speak with her?” he asked, taking a cup of drink from the waiter that passed by.
“Oh! I did, even though it was not as long as I had hoped. Also, I got the shock of my life, Benjamin.”
“Really? Please do not tell me she is engaged.”
Christopher chuckled. “Of course not. She is the daughter of my father’s top merchant.”
Benjamin raised his brows. “Is that going to be a problemm?”
“Of course not,” replied Christopher as they both walked together. “You do know that I do not care about classes. If I did, you and I might not be as close as we are. I am happy that she is the daughter of someone close to the family. I daresay that fate is working in my favor, friend.” Christopher said excitedly. Benjamin did his best to hid his jealousy and annoyance, to which Christopher was oblivious to.
“Well, are you certain that your father would support this idea of yours given your status? You can always let go of her and get someone else who is of status, if that is going to be a problemm of course.”
Christopher stopped walking, lost in thought. He couldn’t explain his feelings for Ophelia yet or why he was driven to her but, he wanted to get to the bottom of it.
“I cannot stop thinking about her,” he blurted. “She has bewitched me. I am caught under the spell of her love,” he confessed with a smile. “The little time I spent dancing with her made me feel on top of the world. I have never felt this way with any woman before.”
“Are you certain about that?” asked Benjamin. “Tongues may start wagging and your mother might not want anything that would cause people to start pointing fingers, or tarnish your family name.”
Christopher went quiet. His mother had always warned him against doing anything that would bring shame to the family. Before the sickness of his father, she had spent time giving him suggestions on the types of ladies of the ton that he could pursue.
If she finally discovered that he would be going for a merchant’s daughter, she might have a stroke. Most especially, his reputation with ladies, has never been a secret.
“I know, but, how can love be powerful if it is not tested?” Christopher asked and began to walk again.
“So, you wish to continue pursuing her?” asked Benjamin.
“I have barely even started anything, dear friend,” Christopher replied. “I wish you had met her. She just recently left with Rebecca. I think my sister is working on making things easier for me.”
Benjamin gave him a tight smile. “That is interesting.” He downed the rest of his drink and place the glass on a tray as a servant passed. “Well, I wish you all the best, Christopher.”
“Thank you.” Christopher said as he smiled and place a firm hand on Benjamin’s shoulders.
“So, how do you propose to continue this friendship with her?”
They were now both standing and watching the groups of dancers perform complicated steps of a reel dance.
“Well. I shall be inviting her to a dinner party soon or perhaps, through Rebecca, I shall get invited to a dinner. I am looking forward to speaking with her, Ben. I think she likes me as well. It was evident in our conversation.”
“How can you be so certain of that? You did tell me it was just for a short while.”
Christopher shrugged, “I am not certain. I am just trying to be positive,” he replied.
“Isn’t that Lord Bailish waving at you at the other end of the room?”
Christopher turned around and saw his father’s closest friend beckoning to him to come over. “Yes. You are right. Please, excuse me,” he said and left.
* * *
Lord Benjamin Gibbs, the Baron of Salsbury
He waited until his friend was out of sight before he walked towards the exit of the room. On getting out, he heard a laughter which he recognized to be Rebecca’s. He was certain that Ophelia would be with her.
He walked carefully towards the direction of the noise and realized they were in an open field, looking upwards as if trying to count the stars.
He watched from afar, at Ophelia. He could not see her face properly from where he stood but all the same, she looked gorgeous in the blue gown. He was sure the color of the dress made the color of her eyes shine, remembering how mesmerized he was by them when he first met her. He thought that piling her hair fitted her more, for it drew much attention to her neck and shiny silver pendant which lay comfortably in the hollow of her chest. It was now covered by a thick shawl to keep warm from the winter night.
His mind drifted to what his friend had said, about inviting her to dinner. His face hardened as he pictured both of them together. He had not expected that she would be here, but fate could be funny at times.
But why fate always made her come second when it comes to him, Christopher and Ophelia was what he could not understand.
He thought he had found her first at the fair and now, wished he had again at the ball. If he had found her first this time, he would have taken the liberty to tell her his mind. Well, that would be too forward, he thought and put a hand into his pocket.
He brought out a letter which had been carefully written and sealed. It was the letter he had written for her. His plan was to send i, without his name attached.
Luke had said that women loved mystery. In each letter, he would confess his love. He planned to do this for about two weeks until he would ask her to meet, with her chaperone of course.
With this, he would get ahead of his friend who obviously was still trying to come up in an approachable manner to further pursue her. “I will not lose to him,” he whispered at the cold night sky.
* * *
Miss Ophelia Campbell
Ophelia laughed at Lady Egerton’s jokes but occasionally, she would look back as she felt she was being spied on. Even when she looked back, she couldn’t see anything except darkness.
“Are you alright?” asked Rebecca.
“Yes, my lady. I just feel as if someone is watching me,” she replied.
“I think you are just nervous. The way you were nervous when you were with your father and my brother. Tell me Ophelia,” Rebecca started. “Is there anything that worries you?”
Ophelia was surprised at her question. She had a lot of things that worried her, one of which was Christopher. Could she tell her that she was beginning to spend more time thinking about her brother and that, she worried that he might not like her as much as she wanted due to her status.
She was used to men attempting to get close to her but then backing out on hearing her status. This was another reason she was not ready to throw herself at the mercy of any man.
Al
l she wanted was a man that would love her regardless of her status and a man who wouldn’t be away from home for so long. She desired such a man to be Christopher but she wasn’t so certain.“My father’s health worries me,” she blurted out. That was half the truth but it was the truth nonetheless.
“Well, that shows how good a daughter you are. I worry about my father too, and if he had only listened to me during those times, perhaps, he wouldn’t be lying on a sick bed now.”
Ophelia smiled. “I am sorry about your father,” she said.
“I am glad that we both care about our fathers, even though they are stubborn and hardly listen to us. That is one thing we both share,” Rebecca said excitedly. “I am hoping to know more about you, Ophelia. What other things do you find pleasure in doing?”
Ophelia wanted to tell her that she loved hunting, but that was generally for a lad, not a woman. “Well, riding horses, painting, and reading”.
“Wonderful!” Rebecca clapped. “Then you must be good with colors. Perhaps, you can help me out in choosing a color for my room which I am thinking of repainting.” Ophelia nodded in agreement.
“And, in turn, I can teach you some things which I know how to do, and which you do not.”
Ophelia laughed. “I would love that very much.”
Ophelia was surprised and confused about the friendship between the two of them. She still had reservations about it considering her past interactions with people of her status.
She decided to ask what had been bothering her. “My lady, may I ask you something?”
Rebecca replied, “Certainly.”
* * *
Lady Rebecca Egerton
Rebecca had been waiting for this. She herself knew that it was a normal thing for Ophelia to be curious about her sudden interest to become friends with her.
“May I know why you are interested in me, my lady? Surely, you have friends who are more in your class that are more interesting than I am?"
Rebecca smiled. “Oh, I do have friends and acquaintances,” she replied. “But, a lady of my class only gets to have many friends who either are busy gossiping about her, or busy gossiping about her family. You are mature and you seem to be someone I can relate with. You love painting and I love drawing. I think we both will complement each other. Besides, I love riding horses too. We can race together.“
Ophelia smiled with relief. “Well, then, may I invite you to my house tomorrow if you have the time?”
Rebecca was surprised. “Oh! I would love that indeed! Tomorrow it is!”
“Well, then, shall we go back in before we catch our deaths in this cold?” asked Ophelia while pulling her shawl tighter. “I think my father would have been looking for me, wondering where I am.”
“Very well, we shall go in together,” replied Rebecca and they both left. The truth which Rebecca knew she should have told her was that she did not have many friends anymore.
Thanks to her brother who had corrupted the few friends she had and scared off some of the others. Now, she had no one to truly confide in, with her friends now feeling more like acquaintances who only socialized with her when in public. Her husband was not always around and the brother she had would rather spend all his days and nights with Benjamin.
As they were going in, they walked into Mr. Campbell and Charles, the one Ophelia had been dancing with.
“Father, I was just coming to get you,” Ophelia said.
“Thank you, Lady Rebecca, for returning her to us. We shall be taking our leave now.”
“Alright, sir. I hope it will be alright to visit the family tomorrow?”
The father looked at Ophelia in surprise and then back at Rebecca with excitement. “We shall be delighted to host you, Lady Egerton,” he said.
“Thank you, sir. Well, farewell. Till tomorrow.”
Ophelia bade her goodbye and she left with her family. Rebecca stood at the door and waved at them until the carriage was gone and then just as she prepared to go back inside, Christopher came out.
“Did you see them leave?” he asked, seemingly out of breath.
Rebecca frowned. “I did. Why are you breathing like that?”
“I thought I could catch up with them but I was wrong,” Christopher replied.
“With them?” Rebecca asked, looking at him suspiciously. “Or with Ophelia?” she teased.
Christopher smiled. “Stop teasing, sister. It fits you not.”
“I saw the way you were looking at her when you two were dancing tonight, brother.”
“Of course. I cannot explain how I feel about her Rebecca. I need to talk to her,” Christopher replied. “Were you able to ask her certain questions that could give me a hint about her?”
“You mean, for me to ask if she was engaged?” she asked with a quirked brow.
“Well, of course. I would not want to dote on another man’s fiancé.”
Rebecca breathed in loudly. “Well, not to worry, brother. I shall be going to see her tomorrow.”
Christopher looked surprised. “To see her? You mean you are going to their home?”
Rebecca nodded excitedly but her excitement stopped as she saw Benjamin walking up to them.
“What is he doing here?” she asked with a frown.
“Now, do not be rude, sister. I invited him of course,” Christopher replied.
Benjamin finally got to them and bowed slightly. “My lady, you look rather beautiful tonight,” he said.
Rebecca looked at her brother and could read the look he was sending her, so she managed a smile. “Evening to you too. Now, kindly excuse me. I need to find my husband,” she said and withdrew.
Chapter 8
Miss Ophelia Campbell
“I hope you enjoyed yourself last night, Ophelia?”
“Oh, yes, mother. I did,” she replied. She had just entered the parlor to find her mother knitting.
“Where is father?” she asked, sitting down. She couldn’t believe she missed breakfast for waking up late.
“He went horse-riding,” replied her mother. “So, tell me, did you see the Viscount?”
Ophelia inhaled. “Yes, I did, mother, and we danced for just a little while for he had to attend to business.”
“Oh, dear! What a dreadful night for you!”
Ophelia was surprised. “It wasn’t dreadful, mother. I enjoyed his company within the little time.” “But, if he was interested, he should have come back to you,” said her mother.
“I was outside with his sister. Besides, let’s not get ahead of ourselves please, mother. Our classes might be a hindrance.”
Her mother sighed. “Your marriage chances are getting slimmer by the day, Ophelia and I am afraid for you.”
Ophelia was quiet. She knew her mother was right.
“His sister is coming today,” Ophelia added.
“I understand. Your father told me. Do you think she will somehow bring the both of you together?”
Ophelia shrugged. “Mother, can we stop talking about me and the Viscount? You are making me seem desperate.”
“But you should be for a woman of your age,” replied Mrs. Campbell. “And I do hope the Lady Rebecca will bring you two together for if there is any friendship you should be making, it should be the one that will increase your marriage chances.”
Ophelia sighed. This was one reason why she detested spending time with her mother. All they would discuss would center around nothing else but marriage.
The door opened and Martins came in with a letter in his hand.
“Miss Ophelia,” he said. “This came in for you just now.”
Her mother stopped knitting, looking at her with a deep frown. Ophelia also couldn’t understand who could have sent her letter. Perhaps, Lady Egerton had changed her mind concerning her coming. Or perhaps it was another letter from Peter.
“Thank you,” she said and collected the letter.
She tore it open and began to read. There wasn’t a specific address on it but it was addressed to he
r.
Dear Ophelia,
I do hope that this letter meets you in good condition. I must tell you something that has been going through my mind ever since I set my eyes on you. I cannot think, eat or drink without wishing you knew how much you have captured my heart. Your return of affection would give me a greater hope in this uncertain world. I hope one day, you will get to love me as I have grown to love you.
From your secret admirer.
“Well, what is the content and who is from?” her mother asked, unable to contain her excitement.
Ophelia frowned. She read it over and over again but nothing made sense to her so she handed it over to her mother who was too happy to accept it.
A Lady to Redeem a Rakish Lord: A Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 6