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

by Lucinda Nelson

  “I’m sorry…” he started saying before a loud movement from somewhere close pulled them apart instantly. The door that led back into the library was still opened but through the curtain, Ophelia quietly gasped when she saw her cousin strolling in and moving towards one of the shelves.

  He must have heard her for he looked towards them instantly.

  “Ophelia!” he called out, his hand was wrapped around a book.

  Quickly, she stepped into the library while Christopher followed behind.

  “Charles, what are you doing here?” she managed to ask as confidently as she could. She could not betray both her emotions and that of Christopher who had just walked in.

  “I was looking for…” started Charles but then his face tightened as he saw Christopher. “Why are you wearing his jacket and what were you two doing outside, alone?” he asked.

  Ophelia could sense the anger and jealousy in his voice. He was watching them both suspiciously, with great intensity.

  Ophelia inhaled and removed the jacket. “Lord Crampton was kind enough to offer me his jacket due to the cold outside,” she replied. Then she turned to Christopher, “Thank you, my Lord,” she said, handing the jacket to him while avoiding his gaze. However, their hands brushed and Ophelia could still feel some of the sparks she had felt earlier.

  “Perhaps if you had stayed downstairs like the rest of the people, you would not be standing outside and catching a cold,” Charles blurted.

  Ophelia gasped. “There is no reason to be rude, Charles,” she cautioned. “Please, forgive my cousin, my Lord. Excuse me,” she said and then left the room, not waiting for her cousin who later came after her.

  She was angry. Who did Charles think he was to be talking to her as if she was a child?

  “I know you kissed him!”

  She stopped as she heard that. They were along the passageway and just some steps downstairs where the rest of the people were. She knew he knew. There was no point in hiding it.

  “Yes, I did,” she replied, warmly. But she decided not to be angry and share everything with him.

  “And it was the most beautiful thing, Charles. I am so, excited.”

  “Then, you must be more foolish than I had thought! Have you no decency?” he retorted.

  Charles!” she gasped.

  “How could you have been so stupid to have fallen for him!”

  “He loves me, and I love him too,” she replied firmly.

  “Do you know how many ladies have fallen for him in the same way you have? What happens if someone had caught you two? Do you know the repercussions? Your reputation would be ruined.”

  “No one caught us but you, and there isn’t going to be any repercussions. I think you are just jealous, Charles. Excuse me.”

  She climbed down the stairs as quickly as she could. She could not bear to talk any further with him, else she might end up loosing her temper.

  By the time she got downstairs, more guests have arrived. There were more women this time. She walked to the table, for a private moment to get a hold of her emotions.

  She was standing behind a group of about four women who were talking in whispers and who had no idea she could hear them.

  “Was this not this time last year that he took Rosaline to his room to corrupt that poor girl!” said one of the women.

  “It is a shame that Lady Crampton does not know the kind of shameful son she has. Yet she thinks she is better than everyone else just because her husband is a respectable Earl, but her son deviated from the righteous path a long time ago,” spat another.

  No, it could not be! Ophelia thought. They could not be talking about her Christopher.

  “I heard the Sherriton’s daughter vowed not to come to London again after Christopher had slept with her and then told her he could not marry her!”

  Ophelia could feel the throbbing of her eyes and the trembling of her hands as she waited. Fear and shame consumed every part of her nerve. She knew if she stayed longer, she might burst into tears. But her feet stayed rooted to the ground as she waited to hear more.

  “He is indeed a terrible handsome devil!”

  “That handsomeness has ruined the reputation and virtue of lots of ladies. I wonder who the next victim will be this time.”

  A tear rolled down her cheek as she knew the answer to that. Without waiting any further, she walked out of the room.

  Chapter 21

  Christopher Crampton, Viscount Barrington

  Christopher walked downstairs some minutes later to find Ophelia, but only saw Charles and Mrs. Campbell talking. There were no signs of Ophelia and after what Charles had almost witnessed, he could not find the courage to confront him and ask where Ophelia had gone.

  He hoped Charles had not been too hard on his cousin. While he attended to some of the guests, he felt a light brush on his shoulder and turned around to come face to face with his father. He was standing next to a pretty lady who was dressed in a lovely green and white muslin gown.

  “Father, is anything the matter?” he asked.

  “Son, meet Lady Justina Mencer,” said his father. “She is the daughter of Lord Mencer of the Hampton’s Estates.”

  Christopher was uncertain why his father was introducing him to the young woman for his mind was still preoccupied with finding Ophelia. Nevertheless, he gave her a slight bow. “My lady. How do you do?”

  The lady gave a shy curtsy without saying anything. Christopher looked at his father, wondering what he was supposed to do next.

  “I want you to give her a proper tour of our mansion.”

  Christopher frowned. What in god’s name did his father mean by that? Just as the Earl turned to go, Christopher quickly excused himself from Lady Mencer and went to have a private talk with him.

  “Father, who is she? I do not understand why you have brought her to me.”

  “She is the lady I intend for you to marry. Do you not remember,” his father said with a frown before leaving.

  Christopher looked shocked when he heard this. Then realized came as he remember the conversation he had with his father in his bed chamber. Of course. The Mencers. How could I have forgotten?

  He grimaced as he watched his father walk away before proceeding back towards Lady Justina.

  “Well, my lady…I…” he started with a forced smile.

  “Please, make no attempt to impress me,” the lady blurted out immediately in a low voice. “I do not mean cause offense, but please understand,” she continued. “Do you see that man over there?”

  Christopher looked towards the direction she was indicating with her head to see his father standing with another man who was dressed expensively.

  “Yes,” he replied as he turned back to face her.

  “That is my father, and he is keeping an eye on me,” she replied, looking at her shoes.

  He frowned, not understanding how that was any of his business to know. Perhaps he was watching to ensure that the two of them got along because of their arranged marriage.

  “He wants us to marry, but I do not like you, nor do I approve of you.”

  Christopher was more surprised at the audacity of the lady but felt impressed that she would address him in this manner.

  “I am only here to appease my father, but the one whom I truly love is planning a way for us to run away together and you are going to help me.”

  Christopher made to protest but the lady squeezed a folded paper into his hand.

  “That is the letter you shall give to your father. It will explain my decision to elope and you and your family will be cleared from scandal. When my father hears of this, he will realize that I am long gone and have chosen to marry the person I truly love, regardless of him being our stable boy.”

  When she had finished her explanation, Christopher grinned in delighted and was eager to help her with her scheme.

  “Well, it will give me great pleasure to help you on this plan of yours, my lady. Just tell me what I need to do.”


  Lady Justina looked relieved and managed to smile at him. “You seem happy to help me my lord. I have been thinking you would decline and tell my father.”

  “And why would I do that? Do you not know how easy you have made my life with this scheme of yours?”

  Justina looked at him suspiciously. “Do you not fancy me? Or has your heart been stolen by another as well,” she asked with a smirk.

  He nodded. “I am very much in love with the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

  Justina laughed softly. She was indeed a pretty lady with the way her eyes lit up when she laughed. “Well, that could only be the reason behind your enthusiasm,” she said, looking at the grand clock near the stairs. “It is almost time,” she whispered. “All you need to do is to ask me to visit the gardens with you and make it loud enough for my father to hear. He still looking at us intently.”

  Christopher stepped back a bit before taking a slight bow and extending his hand. “Would you care to take a walk with me to the gardens, my lady?”

  She nodded and took his hand into hers. Once she retrieved her shawl, he led her out of the room making sure to give his father a nod before they walking out.

  When they got to the garden and closed the door behind them, Justina embraced him and kissed him on both cheeks.

  “Once I leave, do not go back in immediately. My father must not see you alone yet.”

  Christopher nodded.

  “Thank you for doing this my lord. You are a very honorable man. Whoever the lady is, is lucky to have you. Do not let go of her. Fight for whom you love,” she said before pulling away and running into the arms of another man who stood beside a carriage.

  Christopher watched as they both kissed before climbing into the carriage. He stood by, watching as the carriage left.

  * * *

  Miss Ophelia Campbell

  “Ophelia, what happened to you? We were looking all over for you,” her mother asked once they returned home.

  Ophelia had remained quiet during the carriage ride home, refusing to talk to her mother and Charles. When she had left the room where she had overheard the gossiping ladies, she had gone straight into the carriage to cry her eyes out. Several minutes later, Charles had stumbled upon her in the carriage when they were ready to go home.

  All through the journey, her mother had asked her why she was in there and why she had been crying, but she could not bring herself to say anything. She only gave slight nods and head shakes in response.

  She was too ashamed to say anything. Everyone had warned her not to fall for him, but she stupidly did anyway.

  “Ophelia! I am talking to you!” Shouted her mother again.

  “Mother, I am alright. I only went into the carriage because I was tired of the party. It has been a long day and I needed rest,” she lied. All the while, Charles was paid close attention to her but did not speak.

  “So, if that was the case, why did you not tell Lady Rebecca or Lord Christopher where you had gone? We were all looking for you,” continued her mother.

  “I apologize for causing you worry, mother” she said. “I shall go to bed now.” She excused herself from the room as she managed to hold her emotions together.

  Her mother stared at her as she left. She had only gone a few steps away from the room when Charles pulled her back along the small passage that led to her room.

  “What is wrong with you?” He demanded, holding her firmly. “You must tell me what happened with you and Christopher!” He stated.

  “Nothing happened!” She retorted, pulling her hand from his grip as her voice wavered. But then she burst into tears and quickly rushed to her room. She slammed the door behind her and jumped on her bed.

  “Did you find him with another woman after he kissed you?” Charles asked, coming to sit beside her.

  Once she had calmed down, she managed the strength narrate everything she overheard from the women at the party.

  “I knew it. That bastard! I am going to kill him!” He shouted as he stood, but Ophelia asked him calmed down.

  “No, please, do nothing. I am the fool. I should have listened to you and now I regret everything. Even his own friend tried to warn me of his flaws. Thankfully, nothing became of this and I will detach myself from him immediately.”

  Charles turned to face her. “Are you certain that you do not want to tell your mother?”

  She nodded. “Yes. She warned me to not occupy my thoughts of only him, Charles. She warned me that he could possibly not have romantic interests in me. I do not wish to hear her say ‘I’ve told you a thousand times’.

  “So, do you plan to tell him all that you heard?”

  Ophelia shook her head. “No. He will realize that I discovered his scheme when we no longer correspond. Regretfully, I also plan to sever the friendship I have with Lady Rebecca. I think it best for everyone to be in their places. It will make things easier for me.”

  Charles inhaled and drew her close. “I am so sorry for your heartache, dear cousin. This will make you wiser now.” After a few minutes of them embracing, Ophelia informed Charles that she wished to retire for the night.

  Once Charles had left the room, Ophelia climbed into bed not bothering to remove her dining gown. She found it difficult to sleep as the memory of the kiss kept coming back to her. How she wished she had heard from those women before climbing the stairs with him? How had she succumbed so easily to his charms? Her suspicions where solidified when she happened spy Christopher outside with another woman who had kissed him on his cheeks, and they had embraced as if they were fairly familiar to one another. What sort of a man would break the hearts of so many innocent women?

  She wanted to erase memories they had shared but knew it was impossible. She could still taste the softness of his lips and the smell of his breath. Well, one thing was certain, it would never happen again.

  “Yes. I see things clearly now,” she said before drifting off to sleep.

  * * *

  Christopher Crampton, Viscount Barrington

  He took in a long breath as he hit the bed that night. Things were working really well between him and Ophelia, but it had ended abruptly with the intrusion of her cousin.

  Christopher could not stop feeling that the man had a personal vendetta against him. How he wished he could just recall the place they had found each other.

  He glanced at the letter on the table, the one Lady Justina had given to him. After she had left with her lover, Christopher had taken a walk around the estate to clear his head before coming back inside. By the time he got back, the Mencers were already looking for their daughter.

  “Where is Justina?” asked her father. “Where is my daughter?”

  “Oh, She request a carriage take her home for she felt ill, my Lord,” he had replied.

  Furious, Lord Mencer and his wife left, followed by some of the men that had come with him.

  “What was that all about?” Christopher’s father had asked him minutes later.

  “Justina said she had to go. She was not well,” he lied.

  “Something is wrong,” said his father but Christopher had quickly left the room before being questioned further. He found Rebecca with her husband as they were about leave for their own home.

  “Where have you been?” Asked his sister. “Have you been with Ophelia for we have been looking for her.”

  This seemed strange to him. “Ophelia? Did something happen to her,” he asked in a panic tone.

  “Her family could not find her for some time, but later found her in one of the carriages and have since left.”

  Now, this had surprised Christopher.

  “Did she give you a note?” he asked but Rebecca shook her head.

  It was rather strange that she would leave without saying good-bye to him. Perhaps, she was afraid of her cousin, he thought.

  He shifted his thoughts to the kiss they had shared. It was the best kiss he had ever had with anyone. It seduced all his senses and took him to a place
he had never been before.

  He wished Mr. Doodleton had not come, but at the same time, it was good that he did for he knew not what he would have done with Ophelia if they were not interrupted.

  He had come to realize that Ophelia was a lot different from all the ladies he had been with and he was going to treat her in a special way. He would do the right thing and propose to her. Now more than ever, he was certain that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

  Chapter 22

  Christopher Crampton, Viscount Barrington