Finally, he stopped. They both needed to suck in large breaths, which they did, staring at one another.
“Shall we do so again?” he asked when she looked at him with a glassy gaze and reddened mouth.
“We can, yes, but I meant, shall we go at once to see the prince?”
It was his turn to utter that one small word.“Oh.”
What an idiot!He lowered his hands from her head, dragging some errant locks of her hair as he did.
After another moment in which he was certain his cheeks were taking on a ruddy pallor, he said, “I apologize.”
But she merely shrugged. “An honest mistake. It’s something we do well together, don’t you think?”
He did!Better than he’d ever done with any other woman in fact. He hoped she felt the same. He had no idea how much kissing Miss Talbot had done in her life, but he knew she’d done some. On the other hand, it was a question no one had ever politely asked him before.
“Yes, we do it very well together. But we shouldn’t. Again, I offer my apologies. Let’s put your new parasol to good use and go to the Pavilion. Hopefully, with you along, Prinny will agree to see me and at least talk about the art.”
And the Regent responded as James’s anticipated, allowing them access to his person after they were announced.
“I’m so glad you came by, Miss Talbot, even if you’re back withthisrogue. What happened to Dodd? Or your fiancé, for that matter?”
But Prince George didn’t really want an answer. He started to laugh with good humor before she could say anything. They found themselves walking with him into his private apartments where he ordered wine for all three of them.
“Tell me,” he said once they were seated, “are people enjoying my little assemblies?”
“Immensely, Your Royal Highness,” Miss Talbot promised him. Then she shot James a glance, raising her eyebrow, then back at Prinny. “Before your next gathering, sir, wouldn’t you like to install some new art to astound your guests?”
The Prince Regent made a sour face. “Take care not to put me in a bad mood over Hargrove’s failure.”
“Failure?” Miss Talbot exclaimed. “Oh, sir, you must see what he has brought you from Paris. The most wondrous paintings and sculptures.”
“Notthemost wondrous,” Prinny pointed out sullenly. “He didn’t get what I asked him to bring me.”
“That may be true, Your Highness, but your guests won’t have the pieces side-by-side to compare. They will see only your new acquisitions and marvel at them. I vow you will want to take them all back with you to London to display in your other homes.”
“Perhaps,” Prinny allowed, with the first perk of interest.
James proffered an invitation.
“Would you care to come to my house on the Marine Parade, Your Highness, to look at them?”
Prinny grimaced.
“Not really, unless you are on the Circle. Are you?”
“No, sir.”
Prinny folded his arms over his large stomach that appeared to be bursting his buttons. “Then you must bring them here.”
James felt the end in sight for the first time in months.
“When?” he asked, trying to keep the eagerness from his tone.
“Before the next party, naturally, as the lady said.”
All hail the miracle-worker, Miss Talbot!
“I shall bring them by tomorrow, Your Highness.” James wanted to dance a jig of happiness. As soon as the pieces were accepted, he could be on his way.
