His Lady Mistress

240 His Lady Mistress‘We...we did,’ she said, forcing a smile, despite the beatbehind her eyes.‘Max is here this evening, Julian,’ remarked Richard.Braybrook glanced at him. ‘Yes. So I saw. About time.Shall we, my dear?’With another wholly false smile, Verity gave him her handand curtsied.Her headache worsened as she danced, until she felt sickwith it and the blaze of light hurt her eyes even as the screechof the violins shredded her and the roar of conversationpounded on her brain. If only she could escape to some dark,quiet corner...close her eyes...Braybrook whirled her through a turn and she stumbled,dizzy and confused. Even when they had completed the turnthe room kept spinning.‘My lord...please. Could we stop?’He frowned down at her. ‘I think we’d better.’ He swungher out of the dance close to one of the doors leading on tothe terrace. ‘Hmm. Breathe in through your nose and outthrough your mouth. That should help if you feel sick.’She shut her eyes and obeyed him. It worked. Opening hereyes, she smiled shakily. ‘Thank you, sir,’ she said. ‘If youwould excuse me, I think I might go out on to the terrace fora moment.’He nodded. ‘Of course. A little fresh air will help too.’Relieved that he understood, Verity took one, and thenanother, careful step. Now that she was not spinning around,she felt less dizzy, but the blinding ache remained. She wouldhave to go home, but right now she doubted that she wouldmake it across the ballroom without fainting.Gratefully she breathed the cool air of the terrace. Afterthe over-scented heat of the ballroom it felt like paradise. Abroad balustrade ran around the edge, wide enough to sit onsafely. Light poured from the windows, but she could see adarker corner where she could rest her eyes.To her surprise she found that Lord Braybrook had accom­