A Lady To Redeem A Rakish Lord (Historical Regency Romance)

by Lucinda Nelson

  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 could not 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.

  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 thought?” 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. She was glad for that believing he had enjoyed himself in her presence as much as she enjoyed his.

  “You do realize dead sister that people will talk poorly of our etiquette. That makes this the second time tonight you have interrupted a dance,” Christopher said, but held no malice behind his words. “Since we are the hosts, I believe people will forgive this small offense, dear brother,” Lady Rebecca said with a smile.

  “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.”

  “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. “Indeed she is. It is as if fate orchestrated our meeting. Why do you look so white?” Christopher joked, laughing at his friend. “One would think you’ve seen a ghost.”

  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 problem?”

  “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 problem of course.”

  Christopher stopped walking, lost in thought. He could not 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.

  He did not know how she would respond if she discovered that he would be going for a merchant’s daughter. Also, if his rakish behavior with women was also uncovered, his mother’s heart would surely stop beating.
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  “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.

  Why had fate made it so that Christopher me her first and not him? He could not understand it.

  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 could not 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.

  All she wanted was a man that would love her regardless of her status and a man who would not 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 would not 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 Rebecc
a, 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.