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

by Lucinda Nelson

  Benjamin shrugged. He could remember his friend had gone into the inn with Abigail while he had stayed in the carriage.

  “So, what happened next?” he asked.

  Christopher threw him another puzzled look. “Why are you asking me all these? This happened many months ago.”

  “Well, I’m just curious. I happened to see a lady that looked like her,” he lied.

  “Really? For I never saw her again after I told her I could never marry someone like her. She wrote to me that she never wanted to see me again and that she had left London for good. I do not think she will come back.”

  Benjamin sighed.

  “I have done some terrible things, Benjamin. I used to be a better person. Why did you never try to stop me from making those terrible mistakes? Why did you seem to always indulge me into being a scoundrel?”

  Benjamin could feel the pain in his tone, but he only laughed. “But you were enjoying yourself with that kind of life and you were happy. I did not force you engage in those activities. I merely presented them to you.”

  Christopher leaned back. He had a look of regret. “I was never like this, you know. I never knew how to talk to a lady but I have broken the hearts of so many ladies. I cannot even count them. Most of which must have genuinely loved me. I cannot stop having this fear that misfortune will catch up on me. I am terribly sorry for everything I have done to that poor girl and others like her.”

  Benjamin smirked. “You do not have to be sorry. They were forcing themselves all over you and you took the opportunity that was presented. You are a lucky man. I have never stolen the heart of any girl and I only supported you because you are my friend.”

  Christopher shook his head. “I still feel bad. And I should not have blamed you for my actions.”

  Benjamin was getting irritated. Why would he get blamed for what Christopher did? Benjamin could still remember all the times they would gist about those silly women that he ended up sleeping with. He could remember how both he and Christopher would laugh at their desperation to be with him as he gave details of their encounters. But Miss Campbell was different from those women and because of this, he wanted her all to himself.

  “I would like to see the letter before you send it if that would be alright,” he said to Christopher who looked at him.

  “Why?” he asked.

  “Because it is necessary for you to be as romantic as possible,” Benjamin replied. “Just trying to be supportive.”

  Christopher nodded. “Alright,” he said and then went back to his reading while Benjamin looked out the window. Once got to know what was in the letter, he could write a similar one to confuse Ophelia and to cover his tracks.

  Chapter 18

  Christopher Crampton, Viscount Barrington

  Christopher had just entered his room when a servant came to tell him his presence was needed in his parent’s room.

  He frowned. “Was it my mother or father that summoned me?” he asked the servant.

  “Your father, my Lord,” the servant said with a bow.

  That was puzzling, Christopher thought. Between his two parents, he was only closer to his mother. He and his father only talked about important things like events or business. He wondered what the summoning was all about.

  He untied his cravat and followed the servant to his parents’ room. When he got there, the servant bowed and took his leave. His mother was not in the room, only his father was lying on his bed.

  “Father, you requested for me,” he said.

  “Come a bit closer, son,” said the Earl. “Grab a seat. This is important.”

  Christopher was not surprised to hear this. He took a seat by the window side and brought it closer to his father’s side.

  “Son,” started his father. “When do you plan to marry?”

  When Christopher heard this, his stomach dropped. His father had never talked to him about marriage before.

  He looked at his father, properly. “Are you dying, father?”

  “Do not be stupid. I am as strong as I have ever been. I will be even stronger tomorrow. I am not asking you this question because I am dying.”

  Christopher found himself relaxing but still confused with the question. “Might I ask why we are having this conversation, father?”

  “Because you are my son, and because I have someone that I want you to marry.”

  Christopher was more surprised as he heard this. “You have someone I need to marry?”

  The father nodded. “This family is the only reason our business did not collapse while I was sick and you had to take charge. Did you ever wonder where all the capitals were coming from?”

  Christopher did wonder but he had assumed that they had accumulated enough wealth over the years to sustain them.

  “I could have died from that sickness, son,” said his father who continued. “We spent a lot on my medicinal needs and it could have ruined us but thankfully, the Mercers saved us.”

  The Mencers?

  Christopher searched through his mind to picture who the Mercers were, but nothing came up.

  “I am afraid, father. I do not think I understand what you are saying. I have never heard of the Mercers before.”

  “Nonsense,” said his father. “Of course, you have. You just simply have never met them before. I have spoken of the Mencer’s several times in this house.”

  “Then why have they not been invited to our parties?” Christopher inquired trying to wrap his mind around the situation.

  “They are private people. They do not socialize as often as most of the people we know do. What I am getting at is that, we joined financial forces together based on a pact to get our children married.”

  Christopher’s heart sank. “But father, what if I already have someone I want to marry?”

  “Well, then that means, it is a good thing that I am telling you on time. You must end that engagement and focus on what I am telling you. We need you to marry a lady with a good title.”

  “But father, what about a lady that is only wealthy with no title?” he asked, thinking of Miss Campbell. “Or is title the most important thing?”

  His father frowned at him but then, he straightened up to sit properly on the bed. “Title is everything, my son. You must realize that. We need make good business decisions that affords us our wealth. Still, I cannot help but wonder, who is this lady that has won your heart? According to your mother, you have never been serious regarding marriage.”

  “But father, I assure you,” he pleaded. “I am serious. I am in love with a lady, the Campbell’s daughter,” he confessed.

  “You cannot be talking about my merchant’s daughter,” said his father.

  “Yes, father. Her name is Ophelia and….”

  “Nonsense! I hope you have yet to propose to her. Because this will not only ruin our business, it will also affect our reputation. What were you thinking?” said his father, coughing before finally lying back on the bed. His father dismissed him shortly after.

  * * *

  Sadly, Christopher stood up and walked to his room. He threw himself on the bed as the realization finally hit him. Perhaps he could talk to his mother. He stood up, about to go in search of his mother when the door opened and she came in.

  “Oh! Mother! Sweet mother! What am I going to do?”

  The Countess looked at him with a confused frown. “What has come over you, son?”

  “Father has just told me that I cannot marry the lady that I loved. He says I must marry another,” he said.

  “But you have not proposed to her, have you?” asked the mother.

  “No, not yet but, mother, is there anything that can be done? To make father change this fate he has subjected me to?”

  His mother inhaled. “This is beyond your father, son. This has to do with the future of our business. You must understand.”

  Christopher shook his head. “I cannot let go of her mother. I cannot.”

  “You have to, else, you will be puttin
g her and yourself at risk for ridicule. It is good that you have yet to speak to her. It is the Campbell’s daughter is it not?”

  “Did father tell you?”

  The Countess shook her head. “Not at all, I had an inclination since the dinner,” she said.

  “It is because of her that I am throwing the party and it is too late for me to cancel it,” he stubbornly said.

  “Do not waste the lady’s time when you know you cannot marry her. It will be unfair for her,” his mother said before leaving.

  After his mother left, Christopher brought out his writing materials. He felt the urge to write to Ophelia, more strongly than he had ever felt. He just wanted to pour out his heart to her. He was certain that whatever just happened had further fueled his desire for her.

  After writing all of his emotions and explanations into the letter, he left the house to see his friend. He needed his opinion about the wording of the letter to make sure that it was romantic and convincing enough. To let her know that he was in love with her and intended to pursue her regardless of what is father wanted.

  * * *

  He found Benjamin at the field just as he had expected. He was feeding millets to birds that were settling on the ground. The filed was about 30 minute walk away from Benjamin’s estates. Christopher had never been to his house before. He had tried to ask Benjamin why he never spoke of his family in great detail, allowed him to visit, or hosted any events at his estate. Each time, Benjamin always told him, it was better that way or that there was nothing to tell. As far as Christopher knew, he had no siblings and his parents were always away on trips.

  “Is everything alright?” Benjamin asked as Christopher dismounted.

  “Everything is not alright, Benjamin,” he said, running a hand through his hair as he narrated what happened in the past few hours.

  “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 even better than he had hoped with Christopher’s parents. He factored in that possibly, hoping to ruin whatever chance his friend might have with Ophelia.

  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 his 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 regain his cool and calm demeanor.

  “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 would be at the hunting party, I suppose?”

  “Yes,” he replied.

  “No, problem. 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 Emily sat in the enclose terrace that over looked the garden, sipping a hot tea from their respective cups. Snow had begun to fall outside. They spent their time talking about some of their peers and the gossip in the paper 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 on a 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.”

  “My sentiments exactly.”

  “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 it. 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 not sleep, 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 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 time, she thought her face was on fire. She suddenly felt so coy and tried to blink back the emotional tears that had clouded in her eyes.

  “Oh my goodness!” Emily gasped once more 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 drea
m 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.