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

Blackwood paused. Emmeline continued to stare at him, incomprehension written all over her face. “I heard him speaking of exacting vengeance upon a family that wronged him. Apparently everything was going according to plan. The man is clearly a blackguard.”
    “Lord Blackwood,” Emmeline replied softly as if she were talking to a man straight out of Bedlam , the insane asylum. “What on Earth are you talking about?”
    “The Count is not who he seems,” said Lord Blackwood. “He has some sort of sinister plot, and I assure you that his courtship of you is a part of this plot. A plot to ruin you.”
    “Why would he do that?” asked Emmeline. “What would he have to gain?”
    “He bears your family ill will for some imaginary injustice that was done to him in the past,” said Lord Blackwood, desperately trying to connect the dots. “Your grandfather knew his father, did he not? Perhaps they were engaged in some kind of business arrangement, and perhaps his father was wronged in some way. There are many possibilities, but what I am sure of is that he certainly has some kind of plot. And I am sure that you are a central figure in that plot because all he has done since he has come here has been to try to court you.”
    Emmeline took a deep breath. She had never been one to be lost for words, but at the blatant insult leveraged by Lord Blackwood, she found herself stunned. She soon regained her wits, however. It was a pity that Lord Blackwood felt that her social standing was of such unimportance. Clearly he believed that the Count the Coligny could not look beyond birth and peerage. She might not be the greatest beauty in Berkshire, but she had no doubt the Count had succumbed to her charms.
    “Lord Blackwood,” said Emmeline. “I understand, now, the purpose of your visit. You have seen the way that the Count de Coligny looks at me and do not believe me to be his social equal.” Emmeline clenched her fists.
    It took some time for her words of indignation to sink in. Her words left Lord Blackwood perplexed. She had misunderstood him.
    “No, you are mistaken,” he replied curtly.
    “Am I? The only other cause for your distressing behaviour, would be jealousy. That would require passion, and you are not a man of passion or any other strong emotion,” Emmeline exclaimed, looking very put out. “I do hope that you are not making all of this up, for someone of sound mind would not do such a thing.”
    “I assure you that I am not fibbing,” replied Lord Blackwood in an unemotional voice. Matters were progressing swiftly in an unwanted direction. He tried once more to make her see sense. “I admit that I do hold you in the warmest regard and have a great admiration for you,” he acknowledged, “but please don’t take this to mean that I would ever lie to win your affections. I am not so vile a person I would resort to lies. Your stubbornness in this matter will lead to disastrous consequences.”
    “I shan’t hear any more about it. Please show yourself out.” Emmeline turned and walked back to the house, her mind firmly set on avoiding Lord Blackwood and his lunatic accusations for the foreseeable future.

CHAPTER 6
     
    The next day, Emmeline enjoyed a lovely lunch with Phoebe Alexander. She was one of her dearest cousins, come to visit from Derbyshire. It was a welcome break. After the viscount’s visit, her mother had been incessant in her pursuit to find out his intentions. Despite Emmeline’s reassurance that he had no intentions to offer for her, she nattered on about it all morning. With relief, she had welcomed cousin Phoebe’s visit. She could barely restraint herself from telling her the entire story as they strolled through the common areas of Basildon Park, enjoying the spring blossom. Such beautiful weather was a rather rare occurrence, and Emmeline was determined to make the most of it.
    “I understand completely,” Phoebe said, nodding her head.  “Lord Blackwood, sounds like an