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

by Lucinda Nelson

  The servant nodded and left. Then the man turned to Christopher.

  “Lord Crampton, the last time I saw your father was a few years ago. Quite a surprise that you have come to visit me, but I must disappoint you, I do not allow strangers in my home. The only thing that made me invite was the content of this letter. Please have a seat.”

  “Yes, my Lord. I understand and I appreciate you. But I must ask you, do you think this has anything to do with the unfortunate event?” Christopher asked and sat down.

  The man stared blankly into the empty space. “I do not enjoy reliving the most terrifying day of my life but yes, I think it has everything to do with the death of my wife and children. The authorities have been trying for a long time to solve the mystery of the accident for it was discovered it was a set-up. Whoever did it, did lousy work. However, the constables could not find enough evidence to connect the suspect to the crime.”

  “Then you must have suspected someone,” Christopher went on.

  “A man in my position would definitely have a lot of enemies but one thing I do not understand was what such enemy would stand to gain from my demise. However, having no wife and no children prompted me to give up the role of the head of all merchants in the province. I did not want any position. I have no interest in it.”

  “Please, permit me to ask, Lord Nathaniel,” Christopher quickly asked. “You were once the head of the Merchants.”

  The man nodded.

  “And after you left the position, someone else had to take over?”

  The man nodded. “Of course. That is the way it is. Lord Andrew Gibbs of Salsbury had to take over.”

  Christopher gasped. That was Benjamin’s grandfather. Why would the grandfather plot something like this with his grandson?

  “But might I ask, where did you get this letter?” Baron Lindemuth asked.

  “From the Gibbs manor,” Christopher replied and the man stared at him as the realization hit him.

  “The old man sent you here?” he demanded in horror.

  “We cannot be too certain,” replied Christopher. “I have a feeling he knows about this, but I do not think he orchestrated the whole thing.”

  “I need to notify the authorities immediately!” said the man and dipped a hand into his pocket to bring out a whistle. He blew the whistle and a male servant rushed in.

  “Yes, my Lord.”

  “Get me constable Richardson and Andersen immediately. Tell them I just solved the case.”

  “Yes, my Lord,” said the servant and hurried out.

  “How can I ever thank you, Lord Crampton?” asked the man. “My wife and children will be vindicated and justice shall prevail. But tell me, why are you doing this? I know you did not know me.”

  Christopher nodded.

  “My fiancé’s life is in danger right now and I believe that whoever wrote this letter, is the one who abducted her, he said. He brought out two letters which Ophelia’s mother had given him. They bore the same handwriting with the letter Elias had given him. He showed the three letters to the other man.

  “Absolutely, you are right. There is no doubt that the writer is a single person, but you seem to know the person. Is he a friend of yours?” Lord Lindemuth asked suspiciously.

  “He used to be,” he replied. “His name is Benjamin Gibbs.”

  The man frowned. “Fredmond’s son?”

  Christopher frowned. “Who is Fredmond?”

  “Well, he is late, with his wife. Fredmond was Andrew’s only son. You see, I was once in love with Katia, Fredmond’s late wife, but something happened and she rejected my proposal. I had a feeling that Fredmond had something to do with it and I could have sworn that he was a bit mad, literally. He had no friend and he was always away in a farmhouse. He forcefully had his way with Katia or so the rumor went. She never knew what he was capable of, of course.

  Then when she realized she was pregnant and her reputation was ruined, she had no choice but to marry him. If you ask me, I think he was obsessed with her. He poisoned her. When she came visiting and had his way with her. He never knew what he was doing, like I said, he was mad. The shame was too much for Katia so she got very sick during pregnancy. She later died after giving birth and Fredmond hung himself.”

  Christopher gasped upon hearing this. Benjamin had lied his parents being aboard when in fact they were no longer among the living. It seemed as if history was repeating itself all over again and now, instead of Katia and Fredmond, it would be Benjamin and Ophelia. No! He was never going to let that happen.

  “If he has your fiancé,” continued Lord Lindemuth. “Then you need my help. Even though the rumor was long been buried and no one talks about it anymore, I remember the truth, for Katia wrote to me on the point of death. If you are looking for your bride, I suggest you get to the farmhouse first, that will be the only place he will take her to.”

  “Please, do you have the direction to the farmhouse?” asked Christopher.

  “I’m afraid, I do not, but his grandfather is still alive, with enough pressure, I know he will give us what we want.”

  Chapter 39

  Christopher Crampton, Viscount Barrington

  “And you are certain that he is going to be here?” asked Constable Richardson.

  Christopher and the two constables whom Lord Lindemuth had directed to him were in front of the gambling hell, alongside, Rosa, the Campbell’s maid, the one that had opened the door for the letter man.

  The four of them were sitting at a table looking out for the arrival of Benjamin’s friend.

  “Once you see him,” Constable Richardson said. “Just point and leave the rest to us. Do you understand?”

  The maid nodded.

  After some time of looking around the gambling hell from where she sat, she gasped and pointed towards the entrance.

  Christopher looked up and saw the same man he had always seen with Benjamin. “There he is,” he said to the two constables who stood up and walked towards the man.

  When Benjamin’s friend saw them, he began to run but Christopher was able to catch up with him and pulled him to their table.

  On seeing Christopher his countenance changed and the fear was replaced by hatred.

  “Hello, again,” Christopher said but he spat at Christopher’s face.

  He only chuckled and wiped his face before angrily hitting him across the jaw. “I know you and your friend took Ophelia and I swear to you, I will make sure you both rot in jail.”

  “Where is he?” demanded Constable John.

  “You are only wasting your time,” replied Benjamin’s friend. “I am never going to say anything and I assure you,” he said, turning to Christopher. “You are never going to see her again.”

  Christopher signaled to the men to take him away. Finally, he straightened up and gulped down the drink in his cup.

  “You may go home,” he said to Rosa. “I still have a place I would like to visit.”

  * * *

  Christopher Crampton, Viscount Barrington

  He got to the Gibb’s manor some minutes after the constables had left and he knocked.

  Elias opened the door, he was not surprised to see him, but he looked frightened.

  “Is Lord Gibbs here?” he asked Elias who nodded.

  “Good,” said Christopher as he entered. “Tell him he has a visitor.”

  Elias nodded and disappeared down the corridor. Some seconds later, a tall and lanky man with silver hair which was almost reaching his shoulders came out. He also had a pair of dark glasses.

  “Who is it?” asked the man. He also had a stick in his hand.

  “It is I,” replied Christopher as he turned to face the man. “I know you and your grandson tried to kill Lord Lindemuth for the head merchant position. I have the evidence and I can spare you if you tell me where the farmhouse is.”

  The man frowned and removed his glasses. That was when Christopher realized he was blind.

  “I do not understand what you are s
aying young man”, said the man. “But I would never plan anything with that bastard. Whatever he did was his own doing.”

  “I apologize,” Christopher started. “I never knew you were his voice trailed off.

  “Blind?” asked the man as he found a chair with the help of his stick.

  “Yes,” he replied.

  “Well, it changes nothing,” replied the man. I am still waiting for the reason you have come to see me.”

  Christopher swallowed. “I know your grandson had a hand in the accident that took place sometimes ago with the Lindemuths family.”

  The man frowned. “How can you say such? Why would you even come here and ask me such?”

  Christopher knew this would be difficult but he was prepared to give it all he could.

  “Because I saw a letter that was written, orchestrating the whole thing and I know his handwriting.

  The old man was a bit calm but then sighed, his head was bent low. “I tried so hard to make him better than his father,” he said bitterly, shaking his head. “I did everything I could to make sure he does not follow his father’s footsteps. Alas! What more can a blind man do? I have failed,” he lamented.

  Christopher was quiet. Now, he was beginning to feel sorry for the old man.

  “What do you want me to do?” he finally asked Christopher, looking up.

  “That is not all,” said Christopher. “He has my fiancé, locked up somewhere I do not know and I want to find him. I know this is difficult but please, her life is in danger.”

  The old man was silent for a while and then shut his eyes. A tear dropped from one of his eyes and he inhaled deeply.

  “History is repeating itself again,” he later said. “Benjamin was born with this mental sickness and was later institutionalized when he when he was a bit older. I thought he would be better by the time he was release but now I can see that he has grown even worse than I can imagine.”

  “Please, do you know where he could be?”

  “There is only one place he visits,” said the man. “He only visits this place whenever he wants to get away from everyone. It is the old farmhouse. I shall tell Elias to take you there. I am sorry for everything he has put you through. But please be careful, and do not hurt him. He is the only family I have left.”

  Christopher nodded. “I understand sir.”

  * * *

  Miss Ophelia Campbell

  Ophelia shifted uncomfortably in the chair in which she was bound. She was doing this, hoping to slacken the ropes and gain her freedom.

  She was also doing this as stealthily as possible for lying in the bed was a sleeping Benjamin.

  She looked around her for anything that would help her but there was nothing. Even if there was a weapon, how would she get to it when both her feet and hands had been bound?

  While she was almost giving up, she saw a movement by the window.

  It was too dark to be certain as the only form of illumination in the room was the candle by the mirror stand.

  She looked away but something forced her to look at the window again and she whimpered when she saw her cousin, Charles. He placed a finger on his lips, telling her to be quiet.

  He was also mouthing some words to her. She tried to follow the movement of his lips, “Chris-to-pher, will form a distraction. Get ready!”

  She nodded expectantly just in time when Benjamin turned to his side.

  Charles went back into hiding and a loud noise that shook the whole building erupted.

  “Benjamin, you bastard! Open this damned door and face me man to man!”

  Ophelia’s breathing became heightened as she recognized Christopher’s voice.

  Immediately, Benjamin opened his eyes and stood up.

  “I see, Christopher has come to join the party,” he said angrily standing up and walking out of the room.

  Once he was finally out, Charles climbed in through the window with a knife in his hand and began to loosen the rope. Quickly, Ophelia was freed and was about to climb out the window when the sound of a cocked gun stopped her in her tracks.

  “If you even think of moving,” said Benjamin behind her. “I shall blow your cousin’s head off.”

  Ophelia turned around and raised her hands up alongside her cousin.

  “Do you take me for a fool?” Benjamin asked, laughing. “You are even more stupid than I thought, he said, pointing the gun at them.

  “Now, toss the knife over here,” he ordered.

  Charles tossed the knife over and Benjamin pulled it closer with his feet. “Now, tie her back to the chair,” he ordered.

  “No,” Charles retorted.

  “I said, tie her back to the chair!” he ordered again, shooting out of the window.

  The noise of the gun deafened Ophelia and it must have deafened even Benjamin for he did not hear when Christopher ran into the room with the constables who pointed a gun at his back.

  “Drop it!” shouted one of them.

  “No. You drop it!” Benjamin shouted back, facing the men. While he was distracted, Charles leapt at him and punched him hard on the neck. He slumped to the ground immediately.

  Ophelia ran into her cousin’s arm while the men bundled an unconscious Benjamin out of the room.

  * * *

  “Thank you so much for everything,” Ophelia said to Christopher as they got to the carriage. His carriage was also waiting beside Charles’ carriage. The constables had already left with Benjamin tighten up.

  “You do not need to thank me,” he said, walking closer to her and holding her hands. “It is my duty to protect you, Miss Campbell. I am sorry that all this happened to you,” he said, gazing lovingly into her eyes.

  “But what if something had happened to you?”

  “Nothing happened to me,” he replied with a smile, brushing back her hair with his hand. “I had backup. Your cousin helped me.”

  “Will you be coming tomorrow?” she later asked.

  “Of course, more than anything,” he added and they both smiled.

  “We should get going, it is past midnight,” Charles announced from where he sat in the carriage.

  “Goodnight, my Lord,” she said before going to meet her cousin in the carriage.

  Meanwhile, Christopher waited until their carriage moved before he went back to his, where Elias was waiting.

  “Here you are,” he said, handing Elias the key he had used into opening the door of the manor.

  “Tell the elder Lord Gibbs that it is done.”

  Elias smiled. “Thank you, my lord.”

  * * *

  Miss Ophelia Campbell

  Ophelia inhaled deeply and rested her head against the carriage wall as they went on their way.

  “Are you alright?” Charles asked.

  “Everything is still like a shock to me,” she said. “I am going to be alright.”

  “He will not be able to do anything to you anymore,” Charles said, holding her hand. “He will be locked up for good.”

  She nodded and turned to face him. “Thank you, Charles.”

  Her cousin smiled. “You should not thank me at all. You should thank Lord Crampton.”

  Ophelia chuckled. “So, you both are friends now?”

  “Well, you can call us something like that,” Charles replied.

  Ophelia laughed. At least, something good came out of her abduction.

  Later the carriage pulled over in front of the cottage and Charles helped her out of the carriage.

  She wondered how worried her parents must have been.

  Quickly, she hurried to the front door and opened it without knocking and when Rosa saw her, she screamed and rushed to hug her.

  While this was going on, her mother rushed downstairs. She must have heard the noise and when she saw Ophelia, she stopped.

  “Mother, it is I, I am back home,” said Ophelia as she pulled away from Rosa and was going to meet her mother who shouted for joy and rushed towards her.

  Both mother and daughter em
braced. Later, her mother pulled away to check her all over.

  “Did he hurt you? Did he do anything to you?”

  “No, mother,” she replied happily. “He did not do anything to me.”

  “Oh my darling!” her mother cried again before hugging her. While they were embracing, her father also came out. Ophelia could see the bags below his eyes. He must have been worried sick.

  “My darling,” he said calmly but excitedly as Ophelia hugged him, kissing both his cheeks.