After writing all he needed to write, he left the house to see his friend. He needed his opinion if the wordings of the letter were romantic and convincing enough, that he was in love with her.
He found Benjamin at the field just as he had expected. He was feeding millets to birds that were settling on the ground. Christopher had never been to his house, he had tried to ask Benjamin why he never knew any of his family, taken him to his house, or met any one of his siblings. Each time, Benjamin always told him, it was better that way.
“Is everything alright?” Benjamin asked as Christopher dismounted.
“Everything is not alright, Benjamin,” he said, running a hand through his hair as he narrated all that has happened.
“I am confused. I do not know what to do. All I could think of was to pour out my mind to her, Benjamin. I needed her to know how I feel more than ever before.”
Benjamin inhaled. “You must have expected an opposition, friend. I told you about this.”
Christopher knew he did.
“This was why I was trying to come up with alternatives for you…”
“Do you not get it, Ben? For her, there are no alternatives. It is only her and there can only be her!”
* * *
Lord Benjamin Gibbs, the Baron of Salsbury
Benjamin was successful in hiding his look of victory. Everything was going as he had hoped with Christopher’s parents. They were one of the things he was hoping to ruin whatever chance his friend might have with the lady.
He collected the letter from Christopher and began to read.As Benjamin read from it, his eyes reddened and he felt uncomfortable. How Christopher had described hsi love for Ophelia made him jealous but he did his best to hide it.
“So, how is it?” asked Christopher.
“I think she will definitely love you more for you doing this,” Benjamin replied while facing the other side. He needed his eyes to go back to his normal color.
“So, you think I should send it?” asked Christopher.
“Yes, you should,” he replied, finally facing him.
“Alright, thank you,” he said gladly. “I think I will need your help with my parents.”
“You would like me to talk to them?” he asked as more birds flew close to him.
“Yes, I think that they will listen to you more .”
“That will be at the hunting party, I suppose?”
“Yes,” he replied.
“No, problemm. I will do everything I can do.”
Christopher hugged him before mounting his horse and trotted away.
Benjamin watched him until he was long gone and then he threw the last rounds of pebbles at the birds before squatting. He could still remember most of the things Christopher had written in his letter. They were enough to sweep a woman off her feet.
When he was done, he mounted his horse. He needed to get his own writing started and send it immediately.
* * *
Miss Ophelia Campbell
It was a beautiful Saturday morning at the Campbells. Both Ophelia and the Emily sat outside in the garden, sipping a hot tea from their respective cups. They were busy talking about some of their peers and their partners before Emily digressed into talking about Lord Campbell.
“I am thinking that perhaps, he is ready to tell you his intentions,” Emily stated.
Even though she loved the sound of that, she had to caution herself from getting too excited.
“Why would you think so?” Ophelia asked.
“Well, my last cousin got her proposal from a hunting party,” she replied.
Ophelia burst into laughter. “You are so silly, Emily. Just because it happened to Anne does not mean it will happen to me.”
Emily shrugged while munching a handful of sandwich. “Well, I am just saying.”
Finally, Ophelia relaxed and leaned back on her seat. “Mother told me I need to be careful and not be emotionally carried away.”
“Right. That is my thought too.”
“I think you are both right. I need to be prepared for disappointment and not depend upon his advances too much…”
As they were talking, a servant walked to them, bowed and handed her two letters.
“Miss Ophelia, these just came in for you.”
Ophelia and her friend exchanged glances before she collected it and then the servant walked away.
“Two letters!” Emily shrieked. “I must say your secret admirer cannot contain his excitement this time. Open it, Ophelia, lest I die of anxiety!”
She checked the address on both letters but when she saw the second letter was from the Crampton’s mansion, she felt a giddy drop of her stomach. She exchanged a knowing look with her friend before opening.. Quickly, Emily moved closer to her so they could read together.
Dearest Miss Campbell,
I find it rather difficult to live and listen in the silence. I must speak to you by all means as you are within my reach. Tell me that I am not too late when I tell you how deeply your arrow of love has pierced my soul. I am in half agony and half hope-I do hope I am not too late lest these precious feelings may be unrequited.
I offer myself to you and all my love, for you. I have loved no one but you, your beauty, unjust I may have been to other women but you alone have captured my heart for you alone I think and plan.
Have you not realized this? Has something not told you that this man has been caught under the spell of your angelic beauty?
For fourteen days, I could notsleep, hoping, wishing that I penetrated your heart just as you have penetrated mine. I can hardly think of myself without thinking of you.
Every minute, hoping to see you again, your shiny eyes and beaming smile. Your long flowing hair that cascades down your gorgeous body like the water from an heavenly fountain. Too exquisite, to good! Too beautiful a creature to be from this world.
I must stop here, uncertain of my fate but a word or a look when next we see each other will be enough for me to know if I am worthy of your love or not.
Yours in love,
Christopher Crampton.
“Oh my goodness!” cried Emily, using both hands to cover her reddened cheeks. If the letter had so much effect on her friend, Ophelia knew hers was greater.
Her blush seared through her cheeks and for some times, she thought her face was on fire. She suddenly felt so coy and tried to blink back the emotional tears that have clouded in her eyes.
“Oh my goodness!” Emily gasped once more time as she straightened in her seat. “That was the sweetest thing I have ever read.”
Ophelia said nothing. She was simply speechless but excited. Still, it was too good to be true that Christopher had this feeling for her. All this while, she had thought she was the only one who had been having a sleepless night but now, she was not alone.
This was a dream come true and she could not find words to contain her joy. Christopher found her beautiful, the way he had described her hair, her eyes, her smile….she felt suddenly shy.
Quickly, she tore open the second letter, hoping it would be from him as well.
Sweet Miss Campbell,
Without a doubt, you are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. Every time I see you, write to you or think of you, my heart sings.
You are the definition of beauty in my mind and eye and I can no longer wait to reveal myself to you. I have been caught under the spell of your angelic beauty and I am afraid lest my declaration of love comes too late.
You are truly the most beautiful lady in my heart and mind, my sweet lady. Everything about you ignites a spark.
You are the Nymph that undoes me, the fairest of the fairest. You are the grief of my heart, the joy of my eye. The cause of a flame I once thought I was without.
You are my deepest secret and my greatest desire. Spending a life with you is not enough.
From yours in love,
Secret Admirer.
“I do not understand,” said Emily all of a sudden as they finished readi
ng the letter.
“Nor do I,” replied Ophelia, looking from one letter to the other. “These two seem really similar and I do not understand why this secret admirer of mine has decided to hide himself from me.”
“Both are hoping in the letter that their declaration of love has not come late and both seem to be deeply in love with you, Ophelia,” Emily cried throwing her arms into the air. “This is too good to be true. This is the sweetest thing!”
Ophelia was relieved that Christopher had confessed his intentions to her. At least, now, her mother would not be too worried if he was serious or not. She could see how serious he was. However, what about this other man who seemed very much interested in her as well?
“I think you should put your mind more on the Viscount, Ophelia. Do not worry too much about your secret admirer. Sooner or later, he will realize that he is already too late.
Ophelia sighed but deep down, she was overjoyed. The only thing in her mind was seeing Christopher again. Just as he has stated in the letter, a word or a look would suffice. She was more than happy to give those.
Chapter 19
Miss OpheliaCampbell
The carriage halted and Charles stepped out if the carriage before helping the two ladies, Ophelia and her mother .
They were in an open field and the party had already started. There were few men on their horses while some were just standing, aiming and shooting at far away birds in the sky.
“I hope we are not too late,” Ophelia heard her mother say as they walked towards the center of the field.
As they approached the tent, Ophelia could feel her heart beating softly while she scanned through the gentlemen for any sign of Christopher. Instead, she saw Rebecca coming towards her.
“Finally!” she said as she got to them. “I thought you might not make it.”
Ophelia smiled, curtsying slightly. “Of course not, my lady. I would have told you if I would not be able to make it.”
“Mrs. Campbell, how so nice of you to have come with your daughter.”
“Yes, my lady. I hope we have not come rather later?” asked Mrs Campbell.
“You are right on time,” Rebecca said before finally turning to Charles “You must be Mr. Doddleton, please, come. “
The three went with Rebecca to the tent where she introduced them before finally showing to them their seats.
Ophelia was sitting in between her mother and Rebecca. They had only barely sat when Rebecca announced-“Finally, here comes my brother and my parents.”
Ophelia looked up as the carriage pulled over at the center of the field and when Christopher stepped out, her heart began to race faster than it was before.
If the little distance could make her heart beat this fast, she could not fathom what would happen when he finally speaks to her.
She managed to look away as he drew closer with his parents, and she stood up along with everyone else.
Ophelia couldn’t look at him, she was instead looking at Rebecca who had left her side to meet them.
“Father, dearest, meet my friend, Ophelia Campbell, her mother, Mrs. Campbell and Mr. Charles Doddleton is the cousin,” said Rebecca.
“Your grace,” said Ophelia, her mother and her cousin at the same time , curtsying and bowing.
“Oh, you are Ophelia, I see,” said the Duke with a smile.
The Earl and the Countess smiled pleasantly at them.
“Your husband is away, I suppose, mrs Campbell?” asked the Earl.
“Yes, your grace. He will be back on Christmas Eve, hopefully,” said Ophelia’s mother.
Ophelia caught the duke’s eye just as he passed her with his wife. He looked more like Christopher, except for the gray hair and wrinkles. It was no doubt that Christopher would look this same way once he got to his age.
Christopher was still talking to his sister before he walked over to Charles.
“I am so glad that you showed up, Mr Doddleton. That’s a nice costume,” he said.
Ophelia looked over at her cousin who managed a smile. “Thank you for inviting me your grace.”
Finally, Christopher walked to her mother, exchanged pleasantries and then walked up to her. The closer he got to her, the more she could feel that crackling in the air, like a static just because he was about a foot away from her.
“Miss Campbell,” he said, his voice to her ears were cool and as clear as crystal.
“My Lord,” she said with a slight bow. She could not bring herself to look up at him for fear of drowning in his blue eyes.
“You look really lovely,” he said with a smile and that was all. He was walking away from her. He and Charles were walking to the rest of the men to take part in the hunting.
It was quite strange or so, Ophelia thought. She was not sure if she should be disappointed or relieved. It was difficult to say this was the same man that had written that letter to her. Still, she cleared her throat to enjoy the sport.
* * *
Christopher Crampton, Viscount Barrington
The bird hunting lasted for about an hour and during all the time he spent shooting on his horse, he tried as much as possible not to look too often at Ophelia.
However, it was difficult. Just with the little time he had spent with her that morning, his mind was filled with the thought of her. Her lips appeared fuller, her eyes, even sparkled than before. It took all of his will power not to stare too hard at her. He couldn’t understand how long it would take him to resist whatever thing was binding him to her.
At the same time, he needed to be careful as his parents would be putting more attention on him and Ophelia. They were not in support of the relationship..
* * *
Miss Ophelia Campbell
It was several minutes later in the evening at the mansion. Most of the guests have begun to arrive. Ophelia and her mother had changed into their gowns. Now, she was standing, behind her mother who was sitting down, talking about how she was afraid that her husband would get killed sooner or later.
“Mother, you oughtn’t speak of such negative things about father,” cautioned Ophelia.
“He could have been here,” Helen continued. “But he works everyday, around the clock. Even the Duke had to take a break and joined the hunting party this morning. Some time with your family should not be too hard.”
Just as Ophelia was about to respond, Rebecca came quickly to drag her away.
“I hope you are having an enjoyable evening,” she asked Ophelia as they walked together along the passage of the ground floor.
‘Yes, my lady. Now, that I am finally away from my mother,” Ophelia replied.
Rebecca laughed. “I apologize for leaving you to yourself, my husband just came around and I had to tend to him You look absolutely lovely.
Ophelia smiled and nodded. “Thank you, my lady and I do understand,”she replied. The only thing she could not understand was why she hadn’t seen Christopher or Charles.
“Have you by any chance come across my cousin?” she finally asked.
“I think he should be with Christopher,” replied Rebecca. Just then, the front door opened and both came in, laughing. They were still in their hunting costumes.
Ophelia was surprised, what happened to these two and could it be that Charles no longer suspected Christopher to be a terrible person?
“Brother Dearest, father has been asking of you, where have you been?” asked Rebecca.
“Oh, I just had to engage Mr. Doddleton here in a horse race,” replied Christopher, breathing heavily while he made his way to the punch bowl which was directly opposite them.
Ophelia looked around the room, almost everyone in the room was tall, including Charles and Rebecca but Christopher towered over most of the other men nearby. His hair gleamed blue black in the light and Ophelia noticed how trim his body was. He was an athletic man.
“Well I suppose you won, as always,” Rebecca replied while a servant went to whisper something in his ear as he poured himself some punch.<
br />
“Unfortunately, I met my match, sister,” he replied. coming over towards them once again. “I’m afraid, father summons me. Please excuse me.”
Ophelia was already getting tired of his constant disappearance. He was ignoring her on purpose, or perhaps, he was avoiding her. She thought the whole reason for inviting her there was to talk to her.
A Lady to Redeem a Rakish Lord: A Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 14