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

by Lucinda Nelson

  * * *

  Christopher Crampton, Viscount Barrington

  It had been about two hours since Miss Campbell had gone, but Christopher could not take her off his mind. Most of the guests had left and it only remained a few of his father’s closest friends who were allowed to see him in his chamber where he rested.

  Rebecca was with her mother in a different room while a few of the other guests were in the parlor, including Benjamin. Benjamin was talking with some of the men.

  While he sat, reminiscing on the times he had spent with Ophelia, he heard a movement behind him.

  “My Lord, I thought you had been avoiding me all night.”

  He looked around to see Lady Katrina, a lady he once bedded. She was a tall girl but slender with all of the height that went well with him. He had always tried to avoid her. He never wanted to bed her but he was drunk and she was persistent.

  It had happened in the house about two months ago during a dinner that was held for his mother’s birthday. Only Benjamin knew of this incident, and Christopher had been trying to avoid her ever since.

  He was surprised that she came to the dinner as he had made sure that her family was not invited.

  “Katrina,” he said, standing and looking surprised. “I never knew you were here.”

  The lady shrugged. “I didn’t get my invitation and I was worried.”

  He inhaled. “I apologized about that,” he said. “There must have been some sort of mistake.”

  “Well, I thought so for I know you would not have uninvited me. We did have a good time two months ago.”

  Christopher knew what she was doing, quickly, he glanced towards Benjamin for help but he seemed to be busy with the men he was talking with.

  “About two months ago, I am deeply sorry,” said Christopher. “I was drunk.”

  “You need not apologize,” said Katrina. “You embarrass me if you do, my Lord.”

  While they talked, Rebecca approached him and she looked angry.

  “Can you please excuse me and my brother,” said Rebecca to Katrina.

  Katrina looked at Rebecca and nodded but then gave him a knowing look before leaving.

  “What are you doing, Christopher?” Rebecca demanded angrily. “To think you had turned a new leaf?”

  “I was not doing anything, sister,” he tried to explain but Rebecca would hear nothing of such.

  “To think I have been so stupid to have trusted you with Ophelia. How could you?”

  Saying this, she walked away angrily. As she left, Benjamin came to meet him.

  “What happened?” asked Benjamin.

  Christopher sighed and sat in a chair. “My sister is angry with me. She thinks the worst of me.”

  Benjamin frowned. “What did you do?”

  “Did you not see me talking with Katrina just now?”

  Benjamin shrugged. “No, I did not. I must have been so immersed in my conversation. What did she want?”

  “What do you think she wants?” said Christopher. “She reminded me of what happened between us and now, I am afraid that my past will somehow tarnish whatever chance Miss Campbell and I may have.”

  Benjamin sighed. “Well, perhaps, you should get a better option.”

  Christopher stared at his friend. “How can you say that? Knowing how much I truly care for her?”

  “Well, you seem to be confronted by many difficulties,” replied Benjamin.

  Christopher shook his head, picked up his cup and left for his room.

  Chapter 14

  Miss Ophelia Campbell

  They got to the Angleton manor before noon. The servant who opened the door was an old man whose hair was completely white and who seemed very thin even to the bones.

  “You are most welcome Mrs. Campbell and Miss Campbell,” said the man, unsmiling.

  “Thank you, Jonas,” replied Ophelia’s mother as they stepped in together. The house was not expensively furnished but it was clean all the same.

  It was exactly the way Ophelia had remembered it while growing up. She and her mother had once come there many years ago.

  “Oh, Helen!” shouted Mrs. Angtleton. She was a tall woman who spent her time gossiping about other people. Ophelia had heard so much about her from her mother and this made her realize that her mother wasn’t quite taken by the madam.

  “Oh, sweet child! Look at you!” said Mrs. Angleton to Ophelia. “You have grown into the most beautiful woman I have ever seen! Now that I can see for myself, I realize everything about the rumors are not entirely untrue. Just quite unfortunate that you do not have any suitors coming for you!”

  Ophelia was aghast when she heard this. She threw her mother a shocking look but before she could reply, the other woman was hugging her.

  “Come, I have made some tea,” said Mrs. Angleton as they followed her to the parlor.

  Later, they were all seated as Mrs. Angleton went on and on, telling her mother things she had heard and seen in previous encounter with other visitors. Of course. Her mother said nothing. Mrs. Angleton simply did the talking.

  Ophelia was bored to death where she sat comfortably on the couch. While her eyes wandered over everything, the thought of Christopher came to mind and she found herself smiling, knowing she was going to see him again.

  However, she could not place another feeling that was trying to surface. She could recall what Charles had told her, to be careful with him. She could also remember what Lord Gibbs had said.

  She could not shake the thought of these two correlating and she wished Lord Gibbs had gone ahead to tell her what Christopher’s flaws were before they were interrupted.

  She inhaled. For someone like Christopher to have his eyes on her was something she could not explain, especially when she had realized she might be infatuated on him as well. Now, she was not certain if this was affection or something more.

  Still, she found herself coloring whenever she remembered how he had referred to her as being breathtaking. She had been too preoccupied with looking at him that she hadn’t seen Lord Gibbs’ reaction.

  She could also remember how he had gone ahead to pick something from her hair. That was the closest they have every gotten to and that moment. Her breathing had ceased, she could not stop thinking of how she would feel if he had tried to kiss her.

  A young man walked in, his shoes made a rhythmical noise against the floor as he came in. This had distracted Ophelia. He wore a burgundy double-breasted coat, a pair of strapped trousers and shiny shoes. In his hand was a brown hat and a bouquet of roses.

  Ophelia was unable to see his face as he was facing her mother and their hostess.

  “How do you fare, Mrs. Campbell?” said the man.

  “Oh! Boris! Look at you!” cried Ophelia’s mother. “Your mother was just telling me you were back from Spain. How are you, dear?”

  “Very well, thank you very much,” he said before turning around to face Ophelia.

  Ophelia and Mrs. Angleton’s children had never met. The two of them have stayed in Spain all their lives. But now that she was seeing one of them and was not a bit impressed.

  He was ridiculously tall and very unattractive. He seemed broader through the chest and his eyes were the color of mud. He had a crooked nose which seemed flattened across the bridge. She wondered if he had gotten them in a fight.

  “Ophelia, this is Boris, my first son,” said Mrs. Angleton proudly. “He is an officer in the Army. He even bravely fought in the finally years of war against the armies of that mad man Napoleon Bonaparte. Boris, this is Ophelia.”

  When Ophelia realized he was in the army, she understood why his nose appeared misshaped.

  “Nice to meet you, Boris,” she said as he handed the bouquet to her.

  “You too, Ophelia. I hope we can be friends,” Boris said smiling. Ophelia preferred he not smile at all. It furthered worsened his looks.

  “Of course,” she said as excitedly as she could.

  “Go ahead and show her the garden,”
said Mrs. Angleton.

  Ophelia was surprised that his mother would meddle but then she realized this was a setup and even her mother knew about it.

  She left with Boris and he showed her the garden which was not as beautiful as the garden they had at home. Most of the flowers were not watered and were losing their color.

  “The weather seems to be quickly changing as the week progresses,” Boris said trying to start a conversation. “Yes, it seems so,” replied Ophelia with little interest. Boris continued. “Some say that it may snow soon, but it will not be a harsh winter.” Ophelia only nodded in agreement.

  “So, what do you do?” asked Boris as he changed the subject.

  “Nothing,” Ophelia slurred. She knew this was going to be the most boring walk of her life and the only thing that would brighten up her mood would be to think of Christopher who would be coming to her house the next day.

  “Surely, you have some things you are keen on. Tell me. I’m sure as a woman of your standing, you have silly little things to entertain yourself with,” he said in a haughty tone.

  Ophelia was surprised at how rude he was, but she took it as part of her punishment for coming with her mother.

  She went ahead to tell him some of the things she loved doing such as painting and embroidery, and things she hated doing.

  “That is all there is to know about….”

  “So, do you mind if I come to your house tomorrow?” he asked all of a sudden, even before Ophelia could finish her sentence.

  She stopped in her tracks and faced him. “Why would you come to my house?”

  “Well, if I am going to make you my wife, I intend to get to know you. I need to know what I am getting in this arrangement.”

  Ophelia gasped. “Your wife? I do not know you, Boris and that is not how things work with me. Maybe you should go back to that Spain of yours and learn how to better treat a lady, and while you are at it, do treat your face. Thank you for the flowers, they are beautiful,” she said the last calmly before walking out of the compound.

  * * *

  “That was a rude thing to have done, Ophelia!” her mother chastised her later when they got home.

  “That was an embarrassing thing you made your friend and her son do. I do not appreciate you finding suitors for me, mother. Especially ones that only see me as property. I am alright on my own!”

  “No, you are not!” shouted her mother. “Very soon, your father will become weary from his constant travels and die. When I follow suit and then you will be left alone. Who will take care of you when we are both gone, Ophelia?”

  “You two are not going anywhere, mother,” she said calmly, careful not to raise her voice at her mother. “And if you please, I would like to take a nap.”

  * * *

  When she got to her room, she threw herself on the bed and took in a deep breath. Before she took her nap, she sent letters to her friend and her cousin, telling them what happened and hoping one of them would be kind enough to come the next day to meet Christopher.

  Later that night, Emily had returned hers. She would be busy taking care of her mother who had taken ill but promised to come see her the next day. Christopher on the other hand promised to be available.

  * * *

  Through the night, Ophelia found it difficult to have a good sleep. She was too excited to sleep, knowing it was just a few hours till she would be seeing Christopher again.

  Later when the morning broke, she took her bath and her mother picked out a dress for her, before going ahead to fix her hair. Even though they had a row the other night, it was already forgotten.

  “You look so beautiful,” said her mother to her before leaving.

  Several times later, Charles came in and she told him what transpired at the Angleton, which he found amusing.

  “I am surprised that you have never seen Boris before. He was in England for some time before he went to Spain,” he said. They were both in the parlor.

  “Charles. It was the most embarrassing moment of my life,” she said. “Mother is making men treat me like a future property they might acquire, and I am getting tired of it. I love her dearly, but this has got to stop.”

  “Does your father know about this?” asked Charles.

  “Father hardly stays home, so there is no way he would have known and even if he does, there is little he can do.”

  Charles sighed. “Well, I am sorry about that, but she is only trying to look out for you,” he explained.

  While they were talking, Ophelia’s mother was upstairs in her room.

  “So, Crampton is coming here this morning?” asked Charles.

  “Yes,” she replied, unable to stop herself from smiling.

  “I see,” remarked Charles.

  The feeling Ophelia had been trying to suppress came up again. “Please Charles, whatever it is that you think you know of him, please do not tell me yet. Get to know him. I am certain that he is not who you think he is.”

  “Well, I am hoping he’s not. Perhaps, I must have mistaken him for someone else.”

  Ophelia nodded eagerly. She was happy he was trying to stay positive for her sake.

  The servant came in.

  “Miss Campbell, a carriage is here,” said the servant.

  Upon hearing this, Ophelia’s heart did a double flip.

  “Please bring our guest in,” she replied, now standing up with Charles. She could feel her heart beating frantically. She quickly looked at herself in the mirror of the cabinet that was in the parlor. She had taken the time to braid her hair and to look as pleasant as she could. She was also in her best Sunday dress.

  When Christopher came in and their eyes met, she tried not to faint of too much excitement. She was successful in keeping her excitement to herself.

  He was in a blue and black coat and waistcoat. The blue color fitted him perfectly more than any color. Behind him was his footman who had a basket in his hand.

  “Miss Campbell,” he said, smiling pleasantly and coming over to kiss her hand.

  “These last two days were the longest days of my life,” he said as he pulled away.

  Ophelia blushed. He knew exactly what to say to make her blush.

  “My Lord,” she said. “This is my cousin, Charles Doddleton.”

  She watched as Christopher turned to meet Charles and then his usually pleasant face turned red. However, he quickly got over it before extending his hand to Charles.

  “Happy to meet you, Mr. Doodleton,” he said uncomfortably.

  “And you too, my Lord,” replied Charles with a dead-pan expression.

  “Excuse me while I fetch my mother.” said Ophelia and she left.

  * * *

  Christopher Crampton, Viscount Barrington

  Christopher was left with Charles in the room and for that he was uncomfortable. He could not stop thinking that they had met during one of his regrettable actions in the past.

  He searched through his mind, but he was unable to come up with where he had seen him exactly.

  He shifted uncomfortable in his seat as Charles stared at him coldly. Unable to take it any longer, he decided to speak.

  “Mr. Doddleton, please forgive my asking, but have we met before?” he asked.

  Charles shrugged, still with his dead-pan expression. “Is there anything you are worried about, my Lord?”

  Christopher shook his head.

  “Good. Then you do not have anything to worry about.”

  Christopher was about to say something more but Mrs. Campbell came in with Ophelia who made the necessary introductions.

  “We are glad to be finally meeting you again, my lord,” said Mrs. Campbell. “Thank you for the enjoyable time at the fair.”

  Christopher smiled. “You are welcome, Mrs. Campbell. I wish to invite the whole family to another Christmas dinner when the time comes.”

  “Oh, we shall be delighted,” replied Mrs. Campbell. “Come, Charles,” she beckoned to him. “I need your help with something.�
��

  “Yes, Aunty Helen,” said Charles and excused himself.

  Chapter 15

  Christopher Crampton, Viscount Barrington

  Finally, it was just the two of them. He sat on a couch while she sat at the one directly facing him.

  She was wearing a white gown trimmed with pale yellow lace. Matching ribbons with tiny silk flowers were threaded through her dark braided hair. She looked exquisitely beautiful.