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

tone. “You pay me too much attention, your lordship. More than in proper.”
    “Well,” said the Count, “there is only so much that I can do to stop myself. After a certain point, my admiration of you flows out of my and I can do nothing to make it cease.”
    “I don’t mind,” said Emmeline, though she blushed and looked away. “It is rather pleasing to hear you speaking of me in such a way. I...I did not think that I could be so admired.”
    “And why would you think that?” asked the Count. “You are pleasing, not just to the eye but to the spirit as well. Talking to you is as talking to a person of true culture, something that I have found sorely lacking ever since I came to England. Forgive me, mademoiselle , I hope I do not offend, I simply mean to say that the people of this country, and this city, are just not as...culturally refined as the people I am used to being with. You, however, have made me miss my home far less. Your personality reminds me of the women of my home, and that is a great compliment, I can assure you of that.”
    “It is a wonderful thing to be admired so,” said Emmeline. “It is doubly wonderful since I admire you the same way. My mother has been very eager to marry me off to somebody, anybody, but I always felt that waiting for the right man was paramount. And yet, everyone would ridicule me for what they thought of as childish fantasies. A dashing gentleman that is handsome, cultured and charming all at the same time, does not exist. And yet, here you stand, and here I stand vindicated.”
    The Count hesitated for a second and then said passionately, “Run away with me to Gretna Green, we can become husband and wife in but a few days.”
    “My lord!” Emmeline replied, fanning herself. She was honestly lost for words, but she had to admit that she liked the idea of it. The Count was, after all, the man of her dreams. When one finds a person they truly love, marriage is the right path to take.
    “Yes,” said Emmeline after giving it a few seconds thought. “Yes, I would love to marry you, I would be honoured, in fact.”
    The Count grasped her hands again and looked as though he would hug her but stopped himself for fear of causing offence. “Oh my dear,” said the Count, “you have truly made me the happiest man in England. We shall elope tomorrow evening. Pack lightly my dear, for my fortune is enough to afford all the clothes that you would ever desire. I shall call on you in the evening and we will run away to be married.”
    Emmeline and the Count parted ways, with Emmeline headed towards the drawing room, where all the women were congregated. However, Emmeline’s approach was interrupted by Lord Blackwood intercepting her. He had a stormy look about him.
    Without preamble he looked at her sternly and said, “Emmeline, I forbid you to elope with this man.”

CHAPTER 8
     
    “Were you spying on me, my lord?” Emmeline asked indignantly.
    “Heavens, no!” said Lord Blackwood. “I was out for a walk, the men were smoking and I had to get some air. As I was walking, I heard you and the Count talking and I heard your plans. You cannot go with him, Emmeline. Stop this foolishness now before your reputation is completely tarnished.”
    “You know nothing of our love,” Emmeline replied. “He loves me truly; I know it in my heart. I know it from the way he speaks to me, from the way he looks at me.”
    “Emmeline,” Lord Blackwood exclaimed, exasperation colouring his features, “If you do this, the Count is going to ruin you. Can you not see how he’s trying to charm his way into your good graces? If you go with him, you are going to end up ruining your family!”
    Emmeline was shocked at Lord Blackwood’s boldness.
    “What do you know of love, sir? There is not a passionate bone in your body.”
    “You want passion?!” Lord Blackwood replied, his voice velvety smooth, lethal. Emmeline stopped dead in her tracks.
    “Eh…yes. I mean, you are a cold