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

by Lucinda Nelson

  Several minutes pasted and they fell into silence. Benjamin then realized that he needed to know more about what Rebecca might have told him from her visit.

  “So, did she tell you some things that could help you on your mission for Miss Ophelia’s hands?”

  “Oh! She did! It is just like you have said, Ben. I am not the only one contending for her hand. I have a rival as well.”

  Benjamin raised his brows. “A rival?”

  Christopher nodded.

  “What could this rival have that you do not have?” asked Benjamin.

  “Well, that would be that he is mysterious, my friend.”

  Benjamin frowned but then feigned ignorance. “Whatever that means, surely it cannot be that bad for you. You do have an air of mystery that intrigues women as well?”

  “Well, at least, he is bold enough to write his intentions of love and send it to her. I have to hide behind my sister to do all the work for me.”

  Benjamin remained quiet. Ophelia must have told Rebecca about the letter. That would mean that they had grown closer and he was certain that Rebecca would do everything to make sure her brother claimed Ophelia’s hand. He would need to talk to Luke tonight to figure out what to do about Rebecca.

  “So, what do you think I should do?” asked Christopher.

  “OH! You mean about the rival?” Benjamin asked his friend who nodded.

  “Well, just be yourself that’s all,” he replied.

  The carriage halted and they opened the door to climb out.

  Christopher was just removing his gloves when Benjamin spotted Rebecca and Ophelia coming from the other end of the road.

  He colored immediately, looking for a way to avoid being seen by Ophelia or Rebecca.

  “Good heavens!” Christopher gasped. “She is here! What are they doing here? I thought we were supposed to meet back at home?”

  Benjamin realized it was too late as Christopher had seen them.

  “I will need to excuse myself and…”Benjamin mumbled.

  “No, you cannot leave,” said Christopher. “At least not without meeting Ophelia. Here they come.”

  Chapter 11

  Miss Ophelia Campbell

  “I hope you are not tired, Ophelia?” Rebecca asked her as they walked together.

  Ophelia only smiled. “Not at all. I find the walking enjoyable. I more able to see a lot of beautiful things around town this way.”

  “Well, I am glad. So, have you been to London before?” she asked.

  Ophelia nodded. “Yes, some months ago. I came to see Duchess Amelia Aughton before she moved to Spain,” she replied, hoping to not be asked about it any further. Her poor experience with the Duchess was one of the reasons why she had such a distrust for those of the ton, for she had been greatly embarrassed and taunted. She could never forget what had happened.

  Rebecca frowned. “Aughton? That name sounds familiar…”

  “Might be someone else,” Ophelia replied hastily as she tried to change the subject to a shop they were passing.

  Amelia had met her at a ball when the hem of her gown got caught under someone’s feet. It caused a slit to form, greatly upsetting and embarrassing Amelia who had spent an exorbitant amount of money to have the gown made. Thanks to Ophelia’s quick thinking, she took the Duchess into a private room where she was able to savage the torn gown by stitching it in a way that fit with the established design using her needle and thread she had in her reticle.

  So grateful was Amelia that she requested that they be friends and invited her to her home the next day for tea with her friends. While at the tea gathering, Ophelia told her more about herself and mentioned that her father was a successful merchant. Amelia showed her displeasure of associating with someone of a lower class then she was. She taunted Ophelia which caused her other guests to join in the harassment. Ophelia left the tea gathering in tears and headed back home to Havenswood.

  Oh! There is my brother,” she said excitedly. “And his friend,” she added in a disinterested voice.

  Ophelia looked ahead of her and was surprised to see the Viscount looking at them. He looked dashing in his buff trousers and tailcoat. When Ophelia saw the man standing beside him, she was immediately surprised.

  What could Mr. Gibbs be doing there and with Lord Crampton?

  The two men crossed to meet them.

  “Miss Ophelia Campbell,” Christopher said bowing slightly and removing his hat while she curtsied. “It is with great pleasure that I am seeing you once again. How have you been?”

  “Very well, my Lord,” replied Ophelia in a pleasant way.

  “Please, meet my friend, Lord Benjamin Gibbs, the Baron of Salsbury. Benjamin, this is Miss Ophelia Campbell,” Christopher introduced.

  Ophelia wanted to ask the Baron if he remembered meeting her, but what he said next made her realize he probably did not.

  “Miss,” he said removing his hat and taking her hand to his lips. “I have been very anxious to meet you,” he said, with a dashing smile.

  Ophelia was tongue-tied. Was it really too dark that night that he had no memory of her? He was also a baron?

  She curtsied and said, “Pleasure to meet you again, my Lord,” she said on purpose. “Surely, you have not forgotten me so soon?”

  Both Rebecca and Christopher looked at Benjamin.

  “Are you acquainted?” asked Christoper directly at Benjamin who looked confused.

  “I must say I am flattered,” he replied. “I do not recall that we have met before for I surely would have remembered someone as beautiful as you. ”

  Both brother and sister were now directing their gazes at Ophelia.

  “Well, you were the one that helped my family and I get back home after the fair when our money was stolen,” Ophelia explained.

  The man looked surprised and then smiled. “Ah. I remember now. I apologize my lady. I have trouble with remembering faces and it was dark that night. What a small world,” he replied.

  “My lady” he said, nodding slightly to Rebecca who gave him a broad smile and then walked over to him. “My Lord, good to see you again. Might I formally invite you to the family Christmas dinner tonight? I know we had a rough beginning and for the sake of my brother, I would like to make amends,” she said.

  “I am honored, my lady,” Benjamin replied with a slight smile and a bow.

  “Would you come with me for a second? I would love to discuss some things with you,” Rebecca said.

  “Certainly,” replied Benjamin and left with her.

  They walked further away from them but remained within viewing rang. Ophelia was happy to see Christopher again.

  “Forgive my manners, Miss Campbell,” said Christopher, walking closer to her while keeping the socially acceptable distance between them. “I meant to tell you that you look as beautiful as you did at the ball,” he stated, putting his hat back on.

  Ophelia tried hard not to blush and managed a smile. “Thank you, my lord. You looked rather handsome yourself.”

  Christopher smiled. “You are most kind. Thank you for hosting my sister at your home. She has said many wonderful things about you and your family.”

  Ophelia smiled, realizing she was enjoying every minute spent with the Viscount. “I enjoyed her company as well, my Lord.”

  Christopher smiled. “I look forward to seeing you at dinner tonight, looking as beautiful as you always do.”

  “I hope you do not expect so much from me,” Ophelia said with a smile as she curtsied. “I fear the day that I might disappoint you if my beauty does not measure up to what you see now.”

  “I think not,” he replied. “I daresay no matter how you dress or how you look, you will always be beautiful.”

  Ophelia could not stop herself from blushing as she heard that.

  “I shall content myself with thoughts of your beautiful countenance till then, Miss Ophelia. Adieu, for now.”

  He spun around smartly and continued down the cobbled street to meet his frien
d who was now waiting for him beside the carriage.

  “You are blushing,” said Rebecca as she got to her side. “My brother must have said things to make your heart flutter.

  Ophelia smiled wanting to tell Rebecca about the flirtatious exchange. However, her gaze was fixed on Benjamin who tipped his hat at her before entering the carriage after Christopher.

  “It is strange that his lordship did not remember you, Ophelia” Lady Rebecca stated as they watched the carriage move.

  “Indeed,” Ophelia replied as they went their way.

  Christopher Crampton, Viscount Barrington

  Ever since the encounter with the Ophelia and his sister, Christopher had been a little disturbed. Why did Benjamin not say anything about meeting Ophelia all the while?

  Christopher was confused by Lord Gibbs’ statement about not being good with face when he knew that he had an eye for detail which made him so good at gambling.

  “Are you alright?” Benjamin asked.

  They were on their way back home after their trip into town.

  “Not really,” he replied. He had never been good at hiding his worry.

  “Well, whatever it is, you can tell me.”

  “You do not remember meeting Miss. Campbell at the fair?” he asked, making sure not to sound suspicious.

  “No, I do not. It was quite a surprise that she had remembered me. I merely helped two ladies and an elderly woman who was robbed of her purse.”

  “You never mentioned that when we were talking about the fair,” said Christopher. “As a matter of fact, you brushed off what you were going to tell me, making me believe that you did nothing at the fair.”

  Benjamin chuckled. “You are not accusing me of hiding things from you on purpose, are you?” he asked.

  Christopher shrugged. He did not want to make things difficult between them.

  “No, I am not,” he replied.

  “I could not get a better look at their faces. Whatever I did was out of the goodness of my heart. I never had a motive for doing that.”

  Christopher sighed and nodded. “I believe you, friend. We will speak of it no further.” Christopher adjusted himself in his seat and looked out the window. “We shall be home soon, just in time for dinner,” he said in a pleasant tone. “Very good,” Benjamin responded. They both remained silent for the rest of the ride.

  Chapter 12

  Lord Benjamin Gibbs, the Baron of Salsbury

  The carriage halted as they got back to the estates. Christopher climbed down from the carriage and was going inside but stopped and turned to look back at Benjamin.

  “Are you not coming?”

  “I shall be right behind you,” Benjamin said, fiddling with his boots. Chris nodded and went inside.

  Benjamin then leaned back and slammed the seat with his hand. Things were getting out of hand and he could not control it. He was not expecting to have met Miss. Campbell that day but he felt it was good to feigning ignorance.

  He climbed out of the carriage and was heading towards the front door when he saw movement by the window of the second floor. He looked up and there stood Ophelia.

  She seemed to be talking with someone else. The curtain was pulled apart, making it easy for him to see her freshly curled hair and the red neckline of what he believed would be Rebecca’s silk gown.

  She was smiling, and then she laughed.

  Benjamin felt his heart warm up as he heard the muffled sound of her laughter. He was still looking at her when she looked out the window and then down at him. The laughter stopped but she had a smile on.

  He tipped his hat to her while she waved back at him before walking inside.

  * * *

  Miss Ophelia Campbell

  “Who are you waving at?” asked Rebecca as she walk peered out the window but saw nothing.

  “Lord Gibbs,” she replied. “He was there just a moment ago,” she said, pointing to the empty space.

  Rebecca pulled down the curtain and then turned to face her. “I still do not understand how you remembered Benjamin but he does not remember you.”

  “Well,” replied Ophelia. “It was indeed a late night encounter. So, I believe it is quite normal for him not to have remembered me.”

  “But you remembered him,” continued Rebecca. “And you were the lady. I often thought a man should be in a better position to remember a woman after a first encounter. He must have surely remembered something about you.”

  Ophelia thought so too, but she decided not to think so much about it.

  “It appears you are not so fond of Lord Gibbs, are you, my lady?” Ophelia asked.

  Rebecca shrugged. “Well, not so much. I do not trust him.”

  “You do not?”

  Rebecca shook her head. “My brother found him after the embarrassing ball incident, and brought him home. Since then, he has been following him everywhere, dragging my brother to foul places with unsavory people.”

  “So, you do not like him because of the people he associates with? Does this have to deal with class differences” asked Ophelia curiously. She wanted to know what it was that Lady Rebecca found unpleasant about Lord Gibbs and would make her think he had corrupted her brother. From what she saw, they both were upstanding people.

  “No. You should know, dear sweet Ophelia, that I do not discriminate when it has to do with classes. I do not care what class you belong to. I really had a great time when I came to Havenswood.”

  “So, you think his lordship is just different?” Ophelia continued.

  “No, I think he is not to be trusted and I fear he brings out the worst behaviors in Christopher,” she replied. “Ophelia, do tell me more about how you met him that night?”

  Ophelia recounted how her mother and Emily were robbed and how Benjamin tried to catch the thief but failed. Then he offered them a ride home in his carriage. Rebecca frowned. He could have easily paid the fare for a carriage of their own. Why would he go out of his way to take them home when it would be a long way from his home? And then not remember any of that? This is quite odd indeed.

  Rebecca did not want to worry Ophelia so she decided to look into the matter at another time. “I do not trust the man but you need not worry about him. He might have slipped his mind at the moment,” Rebecca said with a reassuring smile. “Well, enough of that. We should head down for dinner.

  Ophelia followed Rebecca out of the room and down the stairs where they were greeted with laughter and talking.

  “I thought it was just the family having dinner,” she said confused. “There must be about twenty people in here.”

  “Oh, no. Some of mother’s friends and father’s business associates are here as well and we are expecting more people.”

  Ophelia inhaled. She had never been to a dinner filled with people of high nobilities before. She hoped she would not embarrass herself.

  * * *

  Ophelia pushed away her nerves and smiled. She understood the value of a graceful entrance and even though she was not expected to make a grand one, she knew it would determine how she would be addressed by the other dining guests.

  She would not want to be seen as timid or embarrassed. She would need to make a good impression and she intended to do so.

  Her dining gown was more than appropriate for the occasion, and in addition to the gown, Rebecca had made her wear some of her diamonds, making her look exceptionally beautiful as they sparkled softly in the candlelight. The only thing on her mind was how Christopher would feel on seeing her for she wanted her impression to be good.

  There was an enormous arrangement of roses which spread a delicious scent through the air. A butler dressed in black answered the door every now and then as more people came in.

  The guests had separated into smaller groups. In one corner of the room was an older woman whom she recognized instantly to be the Lady Crampton.

  It was difficult not to recognize her for there was a large portrait of her in the parlor, close to the door. It was difficult f
or anyone coming in not to notice it.

  She bore a striking resemblance with Rebecca. The height and the cheekbones were the only things Christopher shared with his mother.

  The several ladies that surrounded her all held a cup of wine and smiled as they listened to her speak. There was a gentleman by the fire, playing a mandolin which sounded really good. Some men sat on the chairs while others on the sofas, laughing at a joke one of them had just made.

  “These are some of the men that run Britain, along with their wives, sisters, and a few friends. There will be more men after we have dined.” Rebecca said to her as they slowly descended the stairs. “Try not to be intimidated. You have every right to be here just as they do. As far as they are concerned, you are part of the family. Rebecca gave Ophelia a reassuring squeeze of her hand. “Just be yourself. The only one you need to impress is my mother. Others, you can simply be yourself around.”