“I’m sure Prinny will have food and drink available all evening,” he promised. “Let’s get a little of both, shall we?”
Glynnis was glad James was in such good humor, especially after she’d sabotaged his dispersion of the works of art. Approaching the first tent, they removed their gloves — James tucking his into his pocket and Glynnis rolling hers and sliding them into her reticule. Each took a glass of champagne in one hand and a small fish tartlet in the other, easily eaten in two bites.
“There’s Miss Talbot,” the Prince Regent declared, gesturing with his hand for her to approach. The small group who surrounded him melted away.
She curtsied and rose to see him smiling.
“I thank you for inviting me, Your Highness.”
“And I thank you for bringing your lovely countenance. I shall even forgive you for bringing Hargrove.”
But his expression belied his words, and he smiled at the viscount. “I’ve had a very good day today, Hargrove, and thus, you may bring me more of your ugly art. Although none of it will suit the redesigning of my Royal Pavilion, I may keep everything you showed me today and send it all to London.”
“To Carlton House, sir?” James asked.
“God, no! I might send it to Buckingham House as a gift to my parents.” The prince drained the champagne he was holding and then handed the empty glass unceremoniously to James.
“I shall see you on the dance floor, Miss Talbot. Isn’t it a clever idea?” Then Prince George turned away to welcome other guests.
James set the glass down on a nearby table.
“He is our future king,” he muttered quietly, not to her but to the world in general.
Glynnis smiled. Prince George seemed a mercurial fellow to lead a nation, but since she’d never met King George, she had no way of knowing whether they were all so spirited and somewhat silly.
“In any case, do you feel more at ease?” she asked her companion. For her part, she didn’t. If the prince said he wanted the art, then he also might dismiss her new landlord, setting him free to leave for London.
“Do I feel better because he stated at the beginning of a long night of drinking that he will take the art off my hands?” He shrugged. “Quite possibly by tomorrow, he will have lost his good humor over whatever cheered him today, or he will simply forget entirely about his promise. Regardless, I will show up with the blasted stuff tomorrow and hope for the best.”
Glynnis was about to remind him she wished to accompany him when she saw Lord Payton enter alone through the south gate.
“There’s your friend.”
James waved him over, but before the man could arrive, she asked, “Is Lord Payton a bachelor?”
She would swear she saw James stiffen, or at least stand a little taller with rigidity.
“Yes.” He fixed her with his blue eyes that had recently flecked darkly with desire for her. “Why do you ask?”
“No reason really. I don’t recall him in London during the Season, thus I assumed he was a happily married man staying out of the ballrooms.”
James nodded. By that time, Lord Payton had reached them and greeted them both.
“Champagne for everyone. My treat,” he said, snagging a glass from a passing servant’s tray.
They all laughed.
“Are you starting to see the charm of Brighton?” Lord Payton asked his friend.
James glanced sideways at her, and she felt her cheeks grow warm at his obvious interest.
Lord Payton coughed. “I meant outdoor parties in the zingy salty air,” he clarified. “Prinny has brought the entire indoors out with the dance floor and musicians.”
“It is a lovely idea,” Glynnis spoke up, determined to get the man’s attention. Probably, if he was a friend of the viscount’s, he was of similar ilk, a certain degree of wealth, too. And as she now knew him to be unmarried, she intended to go after him full tilt like a knight errant. “Do you enjoy dancing, my lord?”
“I do, and I will announce now that we shall have the first dance unless this lout or the prince has already claimed it.”
“No, indeed,” she said. “Neither have claimed the first. I look forward to it.” And because she knew the best thing was a little mystery, and also to avoid any strange looks from James, she added, “I am going to take a look at the aviary. I’ll see you gentleman anon.” That gave neither of them permission to join her.
