They both chuckled and seconds later, Martins came in again, this time holding a bouquet and a letter.
“My lady,” he said, bowing slightly to Ophelia before handing to her the items.
“Who are these from?” Ophelia asked with a deep frown creasing her brows.
“Mr. Pyke’s footman came to drop this off,” Martins said.
“Well, thank you. You may leave,” Ophelia replied with a lack of interest.
“Oh, goodness! Who are those from?” Emily asked, grinning from ear to ear as Martins left.
“I am about to find out,” Ophelia replied as she tore out the letter from the envelope. After reading through the first two lines, she scoffed and stood up to discard the letter into the roaring fireplace.
“What did you do that for?” shouted Emily in horror. “You could have at least allowed me to read it!”
“It is from Peter. Who else would send me these if not him?” Ophelia said in disgust. “I detest him so much. I cannot tolerate his continuous pestering. It is becoming quite burdensome. I’m afraid, I may have to turn down his proposal afterall.”
Emily sighed. “Be reasonable, Ophelia. You barely go out these days and if you do not go out, how will you find a suitor? You need to go out more often. Thankfully, we have the fair to prepare for. Be patient; do not discard him so soon. If you let him go now and fail to find someone that matches your taste at the fair, you will be left without your last resort.”
“He is lesser than my last resort. He is too pompous. I wish I had allowed you to read the letter. He was asking if he could chaperone me to the fair and made it seem as if I were a lucky woman to accept his offer. He stated how other women were clamoring for him to take them to the Christmas fair but he, being the ‘kind hearted’ person that he is wanted to take me instead. As if to pity me. He also wanted me to dress in similar colors so that we matched because he does not want me to embarrass him. I must reply to his request promptly for he has ‘little time to wait for my reply’. Such impoliteness is intolerable!”
Emily shook her head. “I do agree with you but be more patient. Go to the fair and then afterwards, if you still feel like turning down his proposal, you may do that.”
Ophelia nodded. “I shall do that, Emily. Thank you.”
Emily leaned back on the couch. “What was your mother saying before I came in? I could not help but notice some tension as I walked in.”
“Oh! We were talking about marriage as usual. I wanted to seek her opinion on something, and we ended up talking about my marriage situation. She said that if I do not hurry with my decision, they may have to find a suitor for me.”
Emily shrugged. “That is how it is, Ophelia. I honestly do not understand why this seems like a difficult task for you.”
Ophelia glared daggers at her. “Just because you were lucky in getting yourself engaged to your distant cousin, whom you have had a crush on, does not mean it is going to be that easy for the rest of us.”
Emily straightened up. “I do not mean it like that. I apologize if it seems a bit proud, but have you simply asked yourself what would happen if you found no suitor?”
“Is it not obvious that this is the reason why I chose to keep Peter around?”
“Then you are willing to live a life of everlasting pain, because I know you will never be happy with him.”
Ophelia shrugged. “Society determines what choice we have, Emily. Once I marry him, I would not have any expectation. I already know him to be the arrogant peacock that he is.”
Emily was quiet for a while. “What is it that you seek in a man, Ophelia?”
She looked up all of a sudden. “Well,” she started putting down her embroidery work. “I do not want a man who will not be around and who always travels, leaving me to an empty house.”
Emily smiled. “You are still worried that your father might not make the fair?”
“Oh! Yes, I am. This Christmas fair is just preparation towards Christmas and if father can not even make it to that, what are the odds that he will make it home for Christmas?”
Emily smiled. “Well, I know you are used to it and knowing how close you both are, I am certain that you will forgive him if he does not make it. But you honestly would not settle for a man like your father?”
“A man that does not stay around like my father. And we are not as close as we use to be, though I wish we were,” Ophelia corrected her and continued. “However, if that is the case with Peter if we finally marry, I honestly would not mind not having him in the house at all.”
Both ladies laughed.
Chapter 2
Barrington’s Estates, Westborough, London.
Christopher Crampton, Viscount Barrington.
The only noise that could be heard in the Crampton’s dining room was the noise of cutleries as the family, excluding the father, ate their breakfast.
Christopher looked up at his father’s empty seat, sighed and then continued with his meal. His father had been sick for weeks and nothing seemed to be improving his health.
Different physicians had come to treat him but there was little they could do. While they ate their breakfast, his father laid in his sickbed, in his room.
He glanced at his mother, seeing the look of sadness and exhaustion on her face. He knew of her worries but understood that he could never feel the way she felt about her beloved husband during this troubling time. He looked at his older sister who trying her best to keep the solemn atmosphere a bit more cheery as she ate her food quickly. She was just twenty-nine years of age and was already married. Since her husband was away on business and they had no children of their own to care for, she had decided to stay with them to help take care of the him while their mother tended to their father. She was quite capable of taking care her parent’s estates as well as her and her husband’s.
“Is everything alright, brother?” Lady Rebecca asked.
“Why are you in a hurry to finish your food? Why do not you take things easy?” he asked.
Lady Rebecca looked at their mother and then back at him. She looked like she was about to say something but instead shook her head.
“Have you two arranged for your travel to Eltonwood?” asked their mother.
“Yes, mother. I have,” Lady Rebecca replied.
“And what about you?” asked their mother as she looked at Christopher.
“Mother,” he started. “Is it really compulsory for me to go? Why can I not stay at home with father?”
Their mother shook her head. “No, son. I shall stay at home with your father. I am his wife, not you. So you need to start making the arrangements.”
“Has father finally decided not to go to the fair?” Lady Rebecca asked eagerly.
“As the Earl of Barrington, he insists on making an appearance, but I really wish he would stay at home. He is not well enough,” said their mother.
“He also said something about wanting to host some business associates in the house a week after the fair,” said Christopher.
His mother sighed and shook her head. “Your father would cause his own sudden death with all this. He barely takes a rest and the physicians all warned against this.”
“I shall talk to him, mother,” Christopher said calmly. He reached for his mother’s hand across the table and caressed it warmly to calm her down.
“If it pleases you, I shall see to it that he does not go to the fair and you can stay at home with him.”
His mother gave him an appreciative smile before they continued their meal.
* * *
Several hours later, Christopher stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his cravat. He checked the time on his pocket watch and frowned, wondering why his friend was not here yet. He was interrupted from his thoughts when a knock sounded on the door.
“Enter,” he said, hoping it would be Benjamin but it was his mother.
“Mother, is everything alright?” he asked, turning to face her.
“I need to speak with yo
u,” his mother said while going to sit on the bed.
Christopher frowned, seemingly knowing what their conversation would be about. Nevertheless, he sat on the bed beside his mother.
“Son, you do know your father’s health is unpredictable?” she started, and he nodded. “All we can do is hope for the best but at the same time, we must prepare for the worst.”
Chris frowned. “What is this about?”
“It is about you, son,” said his mother. “When do you plan to get married?”
Christopher inhaled. He had expected that. “I shall get married, mother. I am just not ready for it.”
“Why are you not ready? What else are you waiting for? You are twenty-seven, son. Do you wish to grow old before finding a reputable lady to settle with?”
Chris checked the time and stood up. “Mother, I need you to put your mind at rest and stop fretting over this. I shall find a good girl, soon.”
His mother also stood up to face him. “You are going to be an Earl, and it is important for you to get married as soon as possible. There are limitations to what your father can do at this time. Besides, once he knows that you have stepped in to embrace your responsibility, he will finally be able to relax.”
Before Christopher could respond, another knock sounded on the door.
“Enter,” replied Chris who was relieved when his friend came in. “Finally! What took you so long. I have been waiting for you,” Christopher said.
“I apologize,” replied Ben, walking to the Countess to take a slight bow. “My lady, how do you fare this evening?” he asked, removing his hat.
“Very well, son. Thank you. How are your parents?” asked the Countess.
“They are well on their travels and send their greetings.”
“That is good to hear. Well, I shall take my leave then,” the Countess said as she left the room.
Christopher heaved a sigh of relief which caused his friend to stare at him.
“What happened?” asked Ben.
“I will tell you all about it, but for now, let us go to our destination.”
When the two of them left the room and made their way down the stairs, Lady Rebecca met them on the final step.
“Are you going to the gambling hell again, brother?” she demanded angrily.
Christopher hushed her to keep her voice down. He did not want their mother to hear about where he was going. And unlike his mother, Rebecca did not like Benjamin, believing him to be a bad influence on Christopher. Christopher, however, did not see it that way.
“Why must you speak so loudly?” he whispered to her while Benjamin by-passed them both.
“Chris, if you do not come home on time tonight, I shall tell mother everything that you have been keeping from her,” Lady Rebecca threatened.
Christopher feigned his surprise. “And what have I been keeping from her?”
“The fact that you gamble every night. You sleep around with various women, some of which were actually my friends. Do you have any idea how many friends I have lost to your rakish behavior?”
Chris sighed and put his arm around his sister. “Your friends were too gullible and greedy, sweet sister. All they cared about was wealth and status. If you are losing such friends, I daresay it is a good thing. You do not need such friends in your life, lest they influence you negatively.”
“And what about you?” she asked, eyes widened. “Ben is not a good person. I do not know why you trust him so much.”
“Because he is smart and he knows what he’s doing. Look Rebecca, I shall be back in the midnight hour. And I have faith in you to not tell mother,” he said before kissing her on both cheeks and leaving with his friend.
* * *
The two men got to the gambling hell an hour later. It was a place Christopher loved visiting. The drinking, gambling, and women were all the things that got him excited about the place.
The gambling hell was located in a dark alley at the center of the city. It did not matter if you were a man of nobility or if you were a pauper. All these did not matter at the gambling hell. Both a pauper and a gentleman could gamble together as long as they had money and guts.
While Christopher liked the drinks and the women, Benjamin loved to gamble. He was the best gambling man Christopher had ever known. They had met about a year ago at a ball and he was the one that had brought him to the gambling hell for the very first time. Somehow, they have managed to become best of friends and Benjamin helped Christopher unleash his wild side.
The smoke of cigars as well as the poignant smell of wine filled the entire room as they entered. They took their usual spot at one corner of the gambling hell while a waiter came to tend to them.
“So, mother thinks I need to settle down,” Christopher said as he drank from the bottle of absinthe in his hand.
Benjamin smiled. “Then you must get married.”
“To who?” Christopher asked bewildered.
“I suppose you can pick someone from all those numerous ladies that shamelessly throw themselves at you.”
Christopher scoffed and shook his head. “No, I cannot. All they care about is wealth and titles. I wish to go to the Christmas fair and try my luck.”
Benjamin smiled. “Are you quite certain that you are ready to settle down?”
“Yes, I am. My father’s health is not what it used to be and I need to be more responsible.”
Benjamin picked up his cup. “Well, then let us cheer to a positive outcome.”
“You shall accompany me to the fair will you not?” Christopher asked him pointedly.
“Of course. Who else would be your right hand man?” said Benjamin. They both laughed and drank.
“Your sister still does not approve of me,” Benjamin said as he lite a cigar and began smoking.
“She does not know you the way that I do,” Chris replied. “You should have gotten used to that.”
“It has been a year already, Chris. Why does she not like me?”
Christopher shrugged. “Maybe because you made a pass at her sometimes ago. You should not have done that.”
“I was just trying to be nice and friendly since she looked so lonely. Besides, at the ball, I did not know she was married, and we had yet to become friends then.” Benjamin replied. “That incident actually led to our friendship, if I recall very well.”
“Still, she is my sister and that makes her your sister by association. You need to be patient with her and show her that you are not a bad person. Besides, how could you not know that she was married?”
“I was drunk, Chris! Surely, that should serve as a genuine excuse for my behavior. It happens to just about everyone. Anyway, if I had not done that, there was a possibility that we would never have met, so I do not regret it.”
Christopher laughed. “Give her some time. She will come around. She still thinks you are a bad influence on me.”
Benjamin smiled. “I know. That was pretty evident before we left your place. And to be fair, I only introduced you to this ‘bad world’. You were the one who took full advantage and got involved heavily in drinking, gambling, and women. I just wish I knew how to make her like me.”
“Why do you care about that?” asked Christopher.
“I care about your family and your sister is part of it,” Benjamin replied.
“Or perhaps, you like my sister,” Christopher joked.
“Not in the way you think,” Benjamin replied, puffing out the smoke.
Christopher shrugged. “Just give her some time, she will come around.”
* * *
Lady Rebecca Egerton
Rebecca checked the time on the long-cased clock by the staircase. It was close to midnight and her brother was not yet back. She sighed. He was lucky that their mother was sleeping, or she would surely be crossed with his tardiness. Did not he say he would be back by midnight?
She stood up and strode to the window to see if he had arrived. She hoped that once he came back, she could talk some sense into
him without his friend around.
Not that she had not done that several times before, but most of time, he had always come home drunk and would forget whatever was discussed the next day.
Rebecca held no trust for Benjamin and could not understand why her brother picked him to be his best friend. She and Christopher had always been close since childhood; practically each other’s best friends.
He knew most of her friends, but he did not have friends of his own. His only other best friend from childhood was their cousin, Jeremy who was no longer in England, but had relocated to Spain about four years ago.
A Hidden Duke For The Passionate Lady (Regency Historical Romance) Page 27