“I know, but what if he’s lying?” she asked. “Lady Egerton did say she does not trust him.”
“But is there any reason for him to have lied to you?”
Ophelia thought for a while but was unable to come up with a reason.
“But,” she said after a while. “If Lord Gibbs is nursing feelings for me, then he might need to hide a lot of things from his friend, like having met me.”
“But we do not even know if Christopher wishes to marry you or not. This is not his decision alone. This has to deal with his parents as well.”
Ophelia sighed.
“So, even if Lord Gibbs is your secret admirer, you need to avoid him as much as possible!”
Ophelia took a seat and began to think about the little thing she knew about Benjamin.
“I do not know much, I’m afraid,” she said. “But he has been a kind man and I see him as tolerable.”
“So, you think he is not dangerous?”
“I do not know, Emily,” she replied. “We are not yet sure if he is the one or not.”
“I understand but everything is still based on assumptions. He did say he saw you a few days ago…” Emily continued. “That could have been at the dinner.”
“Or that could have been somewhere in London when Lady Egerton and I were taking a walk.”
Emily raised her brows. “So, now you do not wish for your secret admirer to be Lord Gibbs anymore?”
“I do not wish it to be Lord Gibbs at all, Emily. Do you know how difficult this will be?”
“Enlighten me.”
“Well, he is Christopher’s best friend, Emily. I do not wish to be the cause of their drifting apart.”
Emily sighed and sat on the couch. She seemed to be lost in thoughts as well.
“So, you think they can fight to have you?” asked Emily.
“Of course. Isn’t that what happens in all these great love stories between a hero and a villain?”
Emily laughed. “So, who is the villain?”
“Lord Gibbs of course, who else? He gives me the creeps. There is something vaguely strange about him. He seems to be a man of deep secrets. I mean, the way he chose to talk about Christopher instead of talking about himself even if he is interested in me.”
“Well, maybe he is not interested in you, then.”
Ophelia exhaled loudly. “What do I do, Emily?”
“One thing you must do is keep the letters away from your new friend.”
“You mean Rebecca?”
“Of course, who else?”
“But she already knows about the first letter.”
Emily stared at her. “Why would you tell her that?”
“She found the letter herself when she came here. She asked me and I couldn’t lie to her. She has been nothing but kind to me ever since the fair.
“Well, what else did you tell her?” asked Emily.
“Nothing more. She only knows about the first letter, she does not know about the subsequent ones.”
“Good,” said Emily. “Keep it from her.”
“But why? You do not think it will hinder anything do you?”
“Would you just listen to me for one second, Ophelia?” Emily shouted at her friend. “Keep it from her. One of your flaws is that, once you are worried about something and you share a tip with someone, you feel obliged to tell them everything.”
Ophelia wanted to object to that but Emily continued. “I know she might want to ask you but just tell her, that was all. Once you open your mouth, you will vomit everything to her, including your suspicions about Lord Gibbs. You had said she never trusted him, she can blow it out of proportion!”
Ophelia was calm as she realized her friend was saying the truth.
“If she blows it out of proportion, it will not only ruin a friendship, it will ruin your reputation and that of your family. Then everyone in the ton will start blaming you, saying you are the cause of this. This will further give them more reason not to affiliate with the middle class!”
Ophelia burst into laughter as her friend ended her speech. Emily hated it when someone did not listen to her.
“You have thought an awful lot about this through, and you have made your point, Emily. I shall not tell the Lady Edgerton anything about the letters again, or about my suspicions.”
Emily inhaled. “That’s better. Always listen to me Ophelia Campbell.”
“Yes, my lady,” Ophelia joked and they both laughed.
“So, are you visiting London again anytime soon? Emily asked after a while.
“I am not sure yet, but something tells me I shall receive an invitation soon.”
“So, about Christopher, you also need to be careful around him,” said Emily. “Try not to be all over him, an endeavor to keep your emotions in check.”
Ophelia nodded. “Yes, I understand, but Emily, he is so charming I wish you two had met already.”
“Of course, we met at the fair, have you forgotten?”
“Oh! That’s true. I forgot.”
Emily laughed. “You are quite taken by him already, but you must tread carefully. Do not be too hard on him and too free to him. You do not want to push him away and at the same time seem too easy.”
Ophelia nodded. “I understand, Emily. I will work on that. Thank you very much.”
However, Ophelia knew this was an impossible task for her to do. Ever since the other night, the only thing that was on her mind was the moment Christopher had tried to pick something from her hair.
The only thing she dreamt of since then was how she would feel when he kissed her. How it would feel having him wrap her in his arms and make love to her. Kissing her in her most intimate parts.
She could not understand what kind of spell Christopher had cast on her. She had always been wise and had never been someone who thought of things like this, but she could not stop herself from thinking about him. The worst part of it was that, she enjoyed thinking about him and having these sinful thoughts.
Perhaps, she would try to think of certain boring things anytime his picture comes to mind. Things like stitching and arguing with her mother should do the trick!
Chapter 16
Christopher Crampton, Viscount Barrington
Ever since the last time Christopher had visited the Campbells, his mind had been unsettled. He knew he definitely saw Charles somewhere but he could not fathom where.
The second day at the gambling hell, he had to tell his friend, Benjamin about everything that happened. Even though he had made up his mind not to tell him anything again about Ophelia, due to the way Ben had discouraged him the last time.
However, he only had one friend to speak to. Besides, the only person he could speak to who was his sister who would only make him regret more of his pasts.
“It must have been during the fair,” said Benjamin, sipping from his bottle.
Christopher frowned. “No, it is not the fair. I told you we have never met until the last ball.”
Ben shrugged. “It could be in the street.”
“No, friend. I think it must have been in one of those ill-famed places you have taken me to,” Christopher said. He was worried about the whole thing.
Ben stared at him. “I did not remember you objecting to taking you to all these places.”
“And now I am beginning to regret it as this could be the only thing that would stand between Miss Campbell and I.”
“If she truly loves you, petty things like your past should not matter to you, my friend,” he said, patting him on the shoulder.
Christopher sighed. The last time he had seen her, he had managed not to stare too long at the way the white gown perfectly accentuated her curves.
He knew she was beautiful, but he had never known she was as well curvy. He pictured rubbing his hands all over her skin which he has assumed would be soft to his touch. He wondered how she would react if he ended up placing a kiss on those pair of full lips of hers.
“Now, might I ask why you are
smiling?” his friend asked.
Christopher adjusted his expression and stood up. “I think I must go home and get some sleep,” he said, putting the imagery of a naked Ophelia out of his mind.
Ben looked surprised. “Your father has fully recovered and you have lesser work to do. Why in a hurry to go home?”
Christopher stood up. “Because I am trying to be responsible for Miss Campbell. My chances are very slim due to the encounter with her cousin, I must not make it any more slimmer. Goodnight, Ben.”
* * *
Lord Benjamin Gibbs, the Baron of Salsbury
He scoffed as Christopher left before finally standing up to meet Luke by the bar. He has been talking with Luke earlier before Christopher showed up.
“What has happened to him this time?” asked Luke, puffing his cigar.
“Nemesis,” replied Benjamin while the bar man poured some drink for him.
“His past is finally doing our work for us, isn’t it?” Luke continued.
“Aye, it is,” Benjamin sipped from the cup and then put it down to turn to Luke, “I understand the reason why I am interested in his misery. I want the lady he wants. He has always had every girl he wanted but this one, is mine. However, I do not understand why you are keen on helping me. Pray, tell me. Is there something I am unaware of?”
The older man chuckled and removed the cigar from his lips. He tapped the bottom of the cigar against the metal ash tray and then faced Benjamin.
“Abigail was a lady I sought for many years. I have never been in love before. I never believed in it until I met Abigail. I did everything I thought was necessary but she was not interested in me or maybe she could have been in love with me but your friend ruined every chance I could have had with her.
I bought her the finest of everything. It was a mistake to have taken her to the Cardinals ball late last year where she saw him for the first time. She fell for him while I was busy attending to some things.
He used her and he corrupted her. Abigail’s reputation was ruined and out of shame, she was taken to Germany never to return.”
Benjamin was surprised. He couldn’t understand who the lady in the story was.
“For this reason, I am going to take away the woman he loves and I am going to help you in every way possible to have her to yourself.”
Benjamin smiled, now he could understand everything.
“You must know Abigail Sherriton, do you not know her?”
Benjamin searched through his mind. “Indeed, dear friend. My friend has corrupted many women and I am afraid, he does not tell me their names nor does he keep their records. However, I understand your sorrow and your quest for revenge. Men like Christopher think they can take as much as they want but together, we can teach him a lesson which he will never forget.”
Saying this, they lifted their cups, cheers and gulped down their drinks.
* * *
Christopher Crampton, Viscount Barrington
The next morning, Christopher had to attend a horse race event somewhere uptown, he had forwarded a letter to his friend, inviting him along but Benjamin had turned the invitation down. He has been thinking that something was off with his friend but he could not understand what it could be.
Since the dinner, he was yet to see Rebecca. She had been spending most of the time at her husband’s estates rather than with the family. He was hoping to talk to her about Ben but then, she has never trusted Benjamin, she might blow things out of proportion.
Or maybe he was already blowing things out of proportion. Just because he spent some time with Miss Campbell alone at the dinner or his inability to have remembered having met her at the fair were not enough reasons to start doubting his friend. Or were they?
Now that the Earl was on his feet, he could attend to more businesses while Christopher could handle more of the social events like the one he has been invited to.
Many men all over London brought their horses for the competition. It was also a place where someone who needed a horse could be assured of getting the best.
The tent under which Christopher sat was one out of about hundred tenths on the field. Men of noble births sat next to him. Most people that brought their horses for the competition were mostly from the lowers classes. One set had just finished their competition when another set filed in. Each man on their horses as they trotted to the center of the field.
Christopher colored when he recognized one of the men as Mr. Charles Doddleton. He was looking at the other way so, there was no way he could have seen him.
Now, he needed to start planning how to make him his friend, or his chances with Miss Campbell would be at risk. He did this by placing all his bets on the Doddleton’s horse but at the end of the competition, the horse did not perform as expected and he lost.
An hour later, while they got to the end of the event, Christopher searched for him and found him brushing the back of the horse behind a tree close to the event.
“Hello, Mr. Doddleton, it is good to see you again,” he said.
The young man turned to look behind him abruptly but then his look of surprise turned into that of suspicion.
“My Lord,” he said, taking a bow. “I was wondering who must have put such a huge bet on myself and Doddleton,” he said, referring to his horse. “Sorry , you lost, I did not come here to compete, we only came here to have a good time.”
Christopher smiled. “No apologies needed, I assure you. I enjoyed the show. It is interesting that you had to name your horse after you.”
“Yes, we are close,” he replied and continued brushing the horse’s body.
“So , how is everyone? Mrs Campbell…and your cousin?” Christopher purposely hesitated on the last two words.
“They are alright,” replied the young man with a languid interest.
“Might I invite you to a hunting party at my estates, this weekend?”
Finally, Charles paused what he was doing and then looked at him. His frowned were deeply curved, “I’m afraid but I might have to decline, my Lord.”
Christopher raised his brows. “I insist, please. Think of it as a way to get to know me more and to be friends. Besides, you can bring anyone you want, including Miss Campbell, but for that I might have to send some formal cards.”
The young man threw him a quizzical glare but then nodded. “Alright.”
“Good. So long, Mr Doddleton. See you soon,” Christopher said before walking back to his courage, making effort not to look back at the man who was staring at him.
* * *
Miss Ophelia Campbell
Ophelia sat in front of the mirror, busy brushing her hair. While she did this, she pictured Christopher telling her she had a beautiful hair, each time she thought of that, she smiled.
She could picture him brushing his hand over her long black hair. She wondered how that would feel like, to have him so close….
Still, could he be thinking about her as she had been thinking about him all these days? She needed to stop doing this, she has promised Emily to be careful. She tried to picture her mother sitting to knit, all at once, the emotion that was building up in her seemed to be melting.
Her imagination was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Yes, please, come in,” she groaned.
The door opened and her mother stepped in.
“Thank God, mother. Would be kind to help brush my hair?” she asked, handing her mother the hair brush but the look on her mother’s face made her frown.
“Is everything alright?” she asked.
“Sit child, we need to talk,” said her mother, sitting on the bed.
Ophelia dropped the brush on the mirror stand to pay attention to her mother. She also noticed there was a card in her hand.
“This is an invitation from the Cramptons to a hunting party,” explained her mother.
When Ophelia heard that, her heart skipped a beat. She found herself smiling, now rest assured that definitely, Christopher has been thinking ab
out her.
“Wipe that smile off your face, daughter for this is the reason why I need to talk to you.”
Ophelia inhaled. “I am listening, mother.”
“I understand that you care for Lord Crampton and it appears as if he might care for you however, just like I have earlier, said, we need to be careful.
Do not get your heart too involved for future sake. We still do not know where this is headed. I believe that if he is serious about you, he should have shown that.
A Lady to Redeem a Rakish Lord: A Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 12