James waited until the music stopped, and then he made his move. Her eyes widened as he approached. He almost imagined she thought he would grab hold of her and kiss her again. That’s what he wanted to do.
“I think I like this room as much as the ballroom at the Castle,” he said by way of beginning.
She said nothing, but Payton nodded. “I agree. There is something welcoming about this one. What do you think, Miss Talbot?”
“I think it’s because the musicians are above us.” She glanced toward the curved balcony that protruded into the room. “Their position caused the music to float all around us,” she offered.
James looked into her eyes. “I believe you’re right, Miss Talbot. It’s the music. Will you allow me the next dance?”
“No,” she said, unnerving him.
Would she truly offer such a public insult by refusing to dance with him?
“That is, I have already promised it to a Mr. ...?” She looked at Payton as if he were her chaperone, and thus keeping track for her.
“Mr. Caldwell,” Payton supplied. “You know,” he said to James, “the Earl of Ware’s son.”
James nodded. “Yes, I know him.” He could accept being put off for an earl’s son. But he had another question in case she meant to shun him the entire night.
“Areallyour dances taken?”
Payton laughed, which annoyed him, but he tried not to show it.
“I ask because this lady is so beautiful, I can imagine I am too late.” James’s attention didn’t waver from her face. His compliment was real, and in a way, he knew he was too late because of Aberavon.
“The dance after is free,” she allowed, and his spirits lifted. She wasn’t going to punish him all night.
“In that case, I will see you then.”
“You don’t have to hurry off, do you, old chum,” Payton said. “Tell me what’s happening with the cursed art, and what was Morley telling you? He always knows which way the wind is blowing when it comes to investing.”
James hesitated. Strangely, he felt as ifhewere the one escorting Glynnis that night and Payton was the interloper. However, her stance, closer to his friend, belied his wistful notion.
“If the lady doesn’t mind such talk,” James said.
Glynnis hesitated only briefly. “Of course not. You two gentlemen talk. The dance is about to begin anyway.”
As she spoke, her next partner arrived and took her away. James watched her depart, his gaze fixed upon her until Payton spoke.
“What is going on with you tonight? You don’t seem yourself. Nor did you the other night, for that matter, with all that sucking the monkey until you were drunk as David’s sow.”
James ignored his friend’s colorful way with words.
“Actually, I have good news,” he said, deciding to address the main reason for his recent foul mood,notGlynnis but Prinny. “Our prince is going to take precisely one vase from the wagonful of art I brought him.”
“That’s good news?” Payton asked.
“Wellington wants the rest, and Prinny knew it all along. He was punishing me, and now he’s finished. The sea air or Mrs. Fitzherbert or who know what has made him forgive me.”
“That’s grand. Then you can leave this horrid place whenever you wish,” Payton said, laughter in his voice.
“I agree I was hard on Brighton when I first arrived. It’s not as bad as I thought.” James’s gaze swept over the dancers again to locate her, a vision in sunny yellow silk. The saturated hue set off her dark hair to perfection. “However, I believe I’ve not been given permission to leave until after His Highness’s birthday masquerade.”
“Ah, yes, when we watch Prinny become a little boy again, expecting everyone to fawn all over him and give him presents.”
“You mean like every day?” James quipped. They shared a laugh and were back on their old footing. He glanced toward the dance floor once more.
“She’s quite the gimcrack,” Payton said, knowing where he was looking and at whom.
