Winning the Viscount’s heart (Regency Romance) (Regency Lords Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

awful bore.”
    “Well, I would not go that far,” Emmeline replied, suddenly annoyed that her cousin had such low regard for the very man she herself was criticising, but a moment ago. Phoebe regarded her with a puzzled look.
    “More of a cold fish and an old fuddy-duddy.” Both girls giggled at the statement.
    Suddenly, Emmeline heard a deep voice greeting her from behind. She turned and saw, to her immense delight, the Count de Coligny standing before her.
    “Miss Knight, you are a vision at all times, it seems,” said the Count. “I am utterly mesmerised.”
    “Your lordship, that is high praise indeed,” Emmeline replied, blushing profusely, as she curtsied. She proceeded with some introduction.
    “This is my dear cousin, Miss Alexander, come to visit us from Derbyshire.”
    “Good afternoon, Miss Alexander,” the Count said as he elegantly kissed her gloved hand.
    “Good afternoon my lord. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
    “The pleasure is all mine.”
    “You will excuse my continental manners Miss Alexander, but I have a matter of importance to discuss with Miss Knight and must beg your leave to whisk her aside for but a moment.” Phoebe smiled and gave her consent with a nod.
    “Shall we walk together?” the Count asked Emmeline, “that is, if this is agreeable to you.”
    “Of course,” said Emmeline. “I would love to.” She nodded to her cousin who proceeded at a slower pace until she was far enough to provide privacy, but close enough to act as a chaperone.
    The Count cleared his throat and turned towards Emmeline.
    “I hope I am not being too bold, but from the moment I laid my eyes upon you I realized that you are not an ordinary woman. I would deem it fair to call you a woman truly remarkable in every way. I would not be remiss in saying you are, quite possibly, the single most beautiful woman that I have ever met.”
    “Oh, Count de Coligny,” Emmeline replied, looking away bewildered. She had her fairy tale come to life before her. All she had ever envisioned. But in that very moment, she could not shake the image of Lord Blackwood, pleading with her to have a care. She frowned, annoyed that the image of him was ruining her moment. “I am very honoured by your kind words, my lord.”
    “I can assume, then, that I was not too bold in my declaration?” the Count asked.
    “Yes,” Emmeline replied with a smile. “I would say that you were most certainly not too bold. Matters of the heart are a passionate affair.”
    “Well, then, permit me to say something else,” the Count replied. “I am thirty-eight years old and have met many women over the course of my life, but none of them have been quite like you. You are everything that a man could ever wish for in a bride.”
    Emmeline felt as though her heart had stopped in her chest. Such a beautiful declaration of sentiment, and that, too, from a member of the French peerage.
    “My dear Count,” she replied, looking up at his handsome face. “Please rest assured that your sentiments and affections are reciprocated. Never have my feeling for any gentleman run as deep.”
     
    While Emmeline was experiencing this lovely declaration of love in Basildon Park, her brother was facing a distinctly more uncomfortable situation back at home. He was about to tell his parents that he had lost a great deal of money while gambling with the Count de Coligny.
    “Mother, Father” said Archibald, cautiously entering the drawing room.
    “I am afraid that I have a most unpleasant matter to discuss with you.” His father looked up frowning.
    “During my visit with Emmeline at Count de Coligny’s soiree I was too eager and confident in my own abilities and lost a significant sum of money at the cards table.”
    “What do you mean by significant amount of money ,” his father asked confused.
    “Five hundred pounds,” Archibald answered, looking decidedly embarrassed.
    “My word,” Mrs. Knight cried, fanning herself.
    “Five hundred