Carleigh seemed propelled to his feet. It appeared to him that he came up with a whirling motion. If he could only have gone on whirling and rising, like certain cardboard toys he remembered to have seen, it would have been such a satisfaction.
But, instead, he seemed to whirl straight into his mother-in-law's open arms, which closed affectionately--oh, so affectionately!--around him. And it wasn't at all a nice kiss she gave him or he gave her.
There was nothing maternal about it. It was so ardent that he felt ashamed, and when he was at length released and caught sight of Rosamond's eyes he was more ashamed than ever. He couldn't understand himself.
He didn't love Sibylla Veynol. He was sure he didn't. He would have been delighted never to see her again. And he did love her daughter. Yet this was the way it had been before.
Then their kisses had been in secret. Now that she had the right she chose to demand them openly. Heretofore she had told her daughter things. Now she meant to show her.
"I don't know whether to kiss you, Rosamond, or not," she said. "That letter you sent me from San Remo was a very low piece of work."
"But, mama--" began Lady Carleigh, and got no farther.
"What must the world think," her mother went on, "when it learns that you are married and that I was not bidden to your wedding?"
"Why, mama--" the bride attempted once more.
"I don't blame Caryll in the least," mama continued. "I am sure that he had nothing to do with it. He would have been only too glad to have me there. It was you, my ungrateful daughter--my own flesh and blood--who was at the bottom of it all."
"Oh, I say--" It was Carleigh who made the attempt this time.
"No, you needn't speak," Mrs. Veynol checked him. "You are a gentleman and wish to take the blame on your own shoulders; but, no matter what you said, I shouldn't believe you. Fortunately, I know my own daughter at last."
"It--it was the only way," Rosamond faltered.
"It was a very wicked way. Still, I don't see how I am to blame you. Caryll is so fascinating it is all I can do to resist him myself. But--oh, dear, I had quite forgotten!"
She turned abruptly to where a fair-haired young man, slightly round-shouldered, stood hat in hand behind her. "Let me present Mr. Miles O'Connor, Lady Carleigh--Sir Caryll Carleigh."