Winning the Viscount’s heart (Regency Romance) (Regency Lords Book 2) Read Online Free
Author: Regina Darcy
almost hear the people around them gasping under their breath. It was most unseemly for an unmarried man such as the Count to pay such homage to a young maiden such as Emmeline. And yet, he did not care. These Englishmen were so boring, so prudish. They would associate any inappropriate behaviour with the fact he was from France, and would excuse him for anything and everything that he did.
He danced with Emmeline, taking care to tread the line between propriety and impropriety with great expertise. He touched her just enough to make her know he was interested, but not enough that anyone around them would object. And she looked at him with the wide eyes of a girl completely and utterly in love.
He would have smiled his wicked smile if that would not give the game away.
He asked her for the second dance, and this time there was a barely suppressed muttering around them. “Such a lovely dress,” said the Count. “Are you prone to dressing with such grace at all balls, or would it be too bold for me to assume that you have dressed this way for my pleasure?”
Emmeline blushed profusely and said, “My lord Count,” said Emmeline. “I do think that is a tad bold.”
Her tone was not harsh, however. It was more of a teasing tone, the tone that one would use if they were not overly displeased with the state of affairs. The Count smiled inwardly once again. He knew that he had captured his prey.
They danced twice more, and the fourth time that they danced the people around them were itching to stop it from happening. On the morrow, the gossip would be rampant. This was just not how things were done in England. However, they were all guests in his home, and they would have to bear with their host’s eccentric mannerisms.
Now that he had successfully worked his charm on Emmeline, it was time to focus on Archibald.
“My esteemed guests,” said the Count de Coligny, “Now that we have danced to our hearts content, I think it is time that we start with activities that are equally fun but perhaps a little less tiring. Would anybody like to play cards?”
There was a general murmur of approval and everyone gathered around the tables to play cards. The Count de Coligny turned out to be incredible at both whist and faro. People mumbled that the Count was as lucky as the Devil himself. Archibald in particular fell prey to the Count’s skill. He lost a great deal of money, and by the time the party was over he was left rather red faced and embarrassed.
The Count watched them depart with a satisfied grin. His plan would soon come to fruition.
CHAPTER 5
Lord William Blackwood was feeling rather irritated by the current state of affairs. He was standing on one of the outside balconies if Archester Manor, trying to clear his head. Frustration had him firmly in its grip. It was rather obvious that Emmeline was developing affection for the Count de Coligny, and it was also clear that the Count had affection for her. Their comportment this evening had been scandalous to say the least. Even as the uncharitable thought crossed his mind, he was painfully aware it was fuelled by red-hot jealousy. He sighed as he nursed his drink.
Emmeline and her brother had just left, and he had sorely wished to bid her goodbye so she may at least acknowledge his existence, but even something as simple as this seemed entirely beyond his abilities.
Suddenly, he heard two voices from the garden below. His ears pricked up. The two men were speaking in rapid French. Lord Blackwood was fluent in French, but he was not a native speaker, and therefore a lot of what the two men were discussing was lost to him. But, he could understand enough to be able to get the gist of the conversation.
One of the two men was definitely the Count. The second gentleman was someone he could not quite pinpoint, someone whose voice he did not recognize. However, judging from how they were speaking to each other, it was clear the two men knew each other well.
“It
He danced with Emmeline, taking care to tread the line between propriety and impropriety with great expertise. He touched her just enough to make her know he was interested, but not enough that anyone around them would object. And she looked at him with the wide eyes of a girl completely and utterly in love.
He would have smiled his wicked smile if that would not give the game away.
He asked her for the second dance, and this time there was a barely suppressed muttering around them. “Such a lovely dress,” said the Count. “Are you prone to dressing with such grace at all balls, or would it be too bold for me to assume that you have dressed this way for my pleasure?”
Emmeline blushed profusely and said, “My lord Count,” said Emmeline. “I do think that is a tad bold.”
Her tone was not harsh, however. It was more of a teasing tone, the tone that one would use if they were not overly displeased with the state of affairs. The Count smiled inwardly once again. He knew that he had captured his prey.
They danced twice more, and the fourth time that they danced the people around them were itching to stop it from happening. On the morrow, the gossip would be rampant. This was just not how things were done in England. However, they were all guests in his home, and they would have to bear with their host’s eccentric mannerisms.
Now that he had successfully worked his charm on Emmeline, it was time to focus on Archibald.
“My esteemed guests,” said the Count de Coligny, “Now that we have danced to our hearts content, I think it is time that we start with activities that are equally fun but perhaps a little less tiring. Would anybody like to play cards?”
There was a general murmur of approval and everyone gathered around the tables to play cards. The Count de Coligny turned out to be incredible at both whist and faro. People mumbled that the Count was as lucky as the Devil himself. Archibald in particular fell prey to the Count’s skill. He lost a great deal of money, and by the time the party was over he was left rather red faced and embarrassed.
The Count watched them depart with a satisfied grin. His plan would soon come to fruition.
CHAPTER 5
Lord William Blackwood was feeling rather irritated by the current state of affairs. He was standing on one of the outside balconies if Archester Manor, trying to clear his head. Frustration had him firmly in its grip. It was rather obvious that Emmeline was developing affection for the Count de Coligny, and it was also clear that the Count had affection for her. Their comportment this evening had been scandalous to say the least. Even as the uncharitable thought crossed his mind, he was painfully aware it was fuelled by red-hot jealousy. He sighed as he nursed his drink.
Emmeline and her brother had just left, and he had sorely wished to bid her goodbye so she may at least acknowledge his existence, but even something as simple as this seemed entirely beyond his abilities.
Suddenly, he heard two voices from the garden below. His ears pricked up. The two men were speaking in rapid French. Lord Blackwood was fluent in French, but he was not a native speaker, and therefore a lot of what the two men were discussing was lost to him. But, he could understand enough to be able to get the gist of the conversation.
One of the two men was definitely the Count. The second gentleman was someone he could not quite pinpoint, someone whose voice he did not recognize. However, judging from how they were speaking to each other, it was clear the two men knew each other well.
“It
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