“You’re shouting,” she replied, and her brow furrowed when she looked at him. Then when he staggered and nearly tripped over some man’s feet, she grabbed his arm to yank him back into the center to finish the promenade. “You look flushed. Are you well?”
James scowled and turned away to take his place at the end of the row opposite her. When the rest of the dancers had moved through and taken their places, he met her in the center and touched palms. Fervently, he wished her hand was bare, but they’d all put their gloves back on after the midnight meal.
Glancing at the motley group of toadies and harlots, James rolled his eyes.As if gloves would reinstate utmost civility to the pagan outdoor gathering!
Finally recalling she’d asked him a question, he tried to moderate his tone. “I am well.”
For her part, she was practically glowing with happiness. Well fed, dancing with every man, her head having been close to Payton in some secret chat —why wouldn’t she be happy?She was in her element.
James scowled again.
“Have you enjoyed the party?” she asked.
Of course she wouldn’t know whether he had or not seeing how she’d barely given him a glance and had been partnered with his friend at the sit-down meal under one of the two large tents.
“I have,” he declared although he would have enjoyed it more had they been keeping company. “Not as much as you, I warrant. You’ve been quite the gadfly tonight. Let’s hope you’re not arranging for another encounter like the one with Dodd.”
The thought of walking in on such a scene of sofa-swiving suddenly struck him as incredibly amusing, and he laughed.
But Glynnis didn’t even crack a smile. Her cheeks flamed, and she glanced around her, probably to make sure no one had heard.
Pursing her lips, she said nothing as they finished the dance. Everyone clapped when Prinny made a final promenade between the rows of dancers. And then they were dismissed.
To his amazement, Glynnis walked toward Payton, and then Payton came over to him.
“Are you in your cups, old man?”
“No!” James peered past his friend to Glynnis who looked downright dour.
Payton put a hand on his shoulder. “It seems you’ve been a bit of a guzzle guts tonight.”
James jerked his shoulder out from under his friend’s grip. “Ridiculous,” he said, feeling tired.
Marching over to Glynnis, he said, “Shall we go?” And he offered her his arm.
She didn’t take it. Instead, she looked to Payton with an uncertainty that gutted him.
“Take it,” James said quietly, having never in his life felt the humiliation of a woman not wanting to be on his arm.
She shook her head. “Lord Payton will walk with us.”
Fury raced through him.Was he to have a nursemaid?
“You will take my arm, or you will not return to my home.”
