Watching Prinny procure a glass of wine and press it into her hand, James felt a little shudder of apprehension. If she wasn’t careful, Miss Talbot would finish the night with her heels up andeveryonethe wiser, ruining her engagement and shredding any good reputation she might value.
Shaking his head, he reminded himself it was none of his business. Then he took a step forward.
“Good evening, Your Royal Highness. You look well tonight.”
Prinny stared at him, a hard, unforgiving stare, and James swallowed.
Egad!If he only had fluttery eyelashes and big breasts he wouldn’t be in this mess.
“Ialwayslook well,” the Prince Regent told him. “You, on the other hand, look like a man who failed in his duty.”
Ouch!“It’s true I was unable to bring home the Apollo Belvedere, but I did bring back some paintings and a sculpture never before seen in Britain, sir.”
“Are they here?” A spark of interest shone in Prinny’s eyes.
“Indeed, yes. I brought them with me from London. However, if you would rather place them on display at Carlton House, I would be only too happy to speed them back up to Town at your earliest request.”
The prince flared his nostrils. “We’ll see.” Then he looked at Miss Talbot. “Hargrove, do you know this delightful creature?”
Know her?He’d kissed her thoroughly, and every part of his body had become inflamed with yearning for her. Catching her eye, he imagined she could read his thoughts.
“Yes, Your Highness. Miss Talbot and I danced at Apsley House.”
“Good, then you may keep her company this evening. She’s in Brighton without a friend in the world. Except for me,” Prinny added, sparing her a warm glance.
She returned him a generous smile, and James rolled his eyes.
“And now, she has you, too,” Prince George continued. “Between the two of us, we can make sure she has plenty of amusement while being kept out of the clutches of any rascals, rakes, or niffy-naffy fellows.”
James nearly spit his teeth out.So now he was to babysit the incorrigible wench until her wretched fiancé arrived?
His expression must have shown his disrelish, for Prinny gave him another cold look. “In fact, for the duration of her stay here, I ask that you keep an eye on this delicate creature with hair like the most beautiful horse’s mane.”
Again, James caught the sable glance of Miss Talbot, who merely raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t in the least ashamed of her treatment of him in London.
“There are rods in brine for you if you don’t,” the Prince Regent promised, then spread his lips into a meager smile as if he were joking, although James knew he wasn’t. Any more slip ups and he would probably lose his viscountcy. He would actually prefer those salted rods to his back.
Still, he laughed as if the notion of being punished was ridiculous.
“I’m sure I can keep her out of the suds, sir.”
How hard could it be?
