Had she?Glynnis was sure she’d only thought it.
“Of course not!” And as the rest of the guests had arrived including some new faces she hadn’t seen the night before, the prince divided them up into groups of four. He looked happier even than at his party the night before.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. And then she went to her assigned team with Hargrove and another man and woman. They all greeted one another, and the play began.
By the luck of the draw, Glynnis’s team went last, and as she waited for the three groups ahead of her to clear the first hoop, she realized without her parasol, her hat wasn’t providing enough shade to keep her head cool. When they started, the other lady in their group handed her parasol to her partner who dutifully held it over her as she swung the mallet, sending her blue-painted ball through the hoop.
Managing to hit a ball from the team ahead of them, she yelled “Roquet,” even though Glynnis was certain they were to keep their points and their score confined to their own four balls.
Glynnis didn’t make it through the hoop on her first try with her yellow ball, but did so on her second, as did both the gentlemen. Naturally, the Prince Regent finished his fourteen points first about an hour and a half later, hitting the brightly colored winning pin.
By then, Glynnis’s skin felt clammy and her heart was racing despite doing nothing more strenuous than ambling around the parched lawn. Licking her dry lips, she focused on the hoop, but it seemed to be moving.
“Stay still,” she ordered.
“Are you well?” she heard Hargrove ask, but a buzzing in her ears made her wonder if a hive of bees was nearby.
She felt the mallet slip from her grasp, and then ... nothing.
***
JAMES CAUGHT MISS TALBOTbefore she hit the ground. A chorus of concerned murmurings went up around them, but she was oblivious. He looked down at the lovely creature in his arms. Her eyelids remained closed with her dark lashes fanning her cheek.
After a moment, Prinny stepped closer and observed the scene.
“You may take her inside, Hargrove. The sofa in the main salon under the dome is most comfortable.”
James nodded and strode across the lawn carrying Miss Talbot high in his arms against his chest. One often heard of fainting damsels, and in some of the stuffier ballrooms in London, he’d heard murmurings some lady had fainted by and by. But Miss Talbot was the first he’d seen do so close up. It was a strange thing to be holding so much female flesh out in public.
In a short while, however, they were indoors and alone. He set her upon the very sofa Prinny had mentioned. Naturally, it was red velvet with gold tassels. He couldn’t recall ever laying a woman down without it being quickly followed by a kiss or the removing of clothing. Maybe that was why he felt so mesmerized by her shapely form and parted lips.
The cushion pushed her hat forward as he released her, and since it looked uncomfortable, he untied the ribbon and removed it. She stirred, and her eyes slowly opened.
“Oh,” she moaned. “I feel ill.”
A footman stood in the doorway. “Would you bring a glass of ale or lemonade?” James asked him.
Then he touched her forehead. It was clammy. After brushing a few tendrils that clung to her skin, he lifted her gloved hand and patted it.
“Just catch your breath a moment. I’m sure it was simply too much sun.”
He watched the rise and fall of her chest as, surprisingly, she did as he instructed.
“I fainted,” Miss Talbot declared, eyes widening.
“You did.”
“That’s my first time ever,” she said, looking at their joined hands. “One minute I was concentrating on the yellow ball, and then, here I am.”
“It was my first time catching someone who fainted,” he confessed. “You added a measure of excitement to the party, I must say.”
“I’m ready to sit up,” she declared.
When she started to rise, he wasn’t sure whether to force her to remain prone, but in the end, he helped her to a seated position.
The footman returned with a tray, set it down and poured a glass of lemonade, handing it to James, who in turn gave it to Miss Talbot.
“Drink it down.”
