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

pounds! Boy have you lost your mind?” his father exclaimed. “The money you so easily threw away, was hard-won by me and my father before me. You are not a child anymore; you are a young man of eighteen. I have cautioned you on many occasions not to try to imitate those who are above your station. To them the loss of such a fortune is but a pittance.”
    “I understand, father,” said Archibald, lowering his head in shame. “I will be a lot more careful next time.”
    “Indeed you will,” Mr. Knight replied irritated. “Your monthly stipend will be reduced to help you reflect on your behaviour and you are forbidden from gambling with the Count de Coligny ever again, is that understood?”
    “I understand, father,” Archibald replied, repentant. “I will not play cards with the Count under any circumstances.”
    As Archibald walked away, he felt miffed. The Count had been cheating, he just knew it. It simply wasn’t possible for someone to be that good at cards unless they were the Duke of Hazard .
    The Count had won every single hand, in every game, even the ones that he played against other people. Archibald sighed. There was no way to prove the Count had been using unfair means to win the card games. Since this was the case, Archibald, and everyone else who had lost a great deal of money playing against him, would have to accept the money was gone and there was no way to get it back.
     

CHAPTER 7
     
    Emmeline was a tad more excited than was seemly. But she cared not a jot. After all, at this rate she would be a Countess before month’s end.
    A card had been left inviting the entire Knight family to Mr. and Mrs. Grove’s residence for an evening of entertainment. Emmeline had high hopes the Count would be in attendance.
    Mr. and Mrs. Knight presented their apologies, since Mr. Knight had caught a chill during the day. They both were of the opinion there could be no harm in Emmeline attending though, as long as her brother Archibald was there to act as a chaperone.
    Just as she had suspected the invitation had been extended to the Count, and he had graciously accepted.
    The evening flew by. The Count focused all his attention on Emmeline.
    “Your beauty is truly breath-taking!” he exclaimed, giving her a short bow and kissing her hand. He was acting almost appropriately today, which was odd. However, he had a glint of mischief in his eyes.
    The only slight disturbance was the realisation that Lord Blackwood had also been invited to the soiree. He had been watching her interaction with the Count with a frown from the outset. Emmeline had no intention of letting his sour mood dampen her joy.
    As the guests ate, Emmeline had to sit a small distance away from the Count as the difference in their social standing would not permit a closer proximity. However, the Count continued to give her sly looks and smile her way. He praised her looks and flirted with her across the table, without a care for what anyone else might think, and Emmeline blushed the whole way through. She did not mind, however. The room was abuzz with scandalous whispers.
    After the dinner was over, the woman were to retire to the drawing room to have a spot of tea, whilst the men were to stay in the dining room with their cigars and port. However, the Count gave her a look and snuck outside on a pretext. Emmeline felt her heart flutter, and she deviated on her way to the drawing room and instead followed the Count into the garden. She was surprised at her own scandalous behaviour, however in that moment she was too caught up in the romantic nature of the night, to have her wits about her.
    “Emmeline,” the Count said, grasping her hands.
    “Your Lordship,” Emmeline replied.
    “How wonderful it is to finally be able to display my love for you,” he continued. “To be able to hold your hand and not have to pretend like there is nothing between us.”
    “You were hardly pretending very well,” Emmeline replied in a mischievous, teasing