He nodded, his emotions for the moment making it impossible for him to speak. When he had cleared his throat, he said: “She was wearing a posy of them, pinned to her dress, last night. This one fell into her lap, and Severn — ” he ground his teeth at the recollection — “Severn had the temerity to demand it of her! As though he had but to ask, and she must submit to his wishes! I was within an ace of calling him to account, I can tell you! I must have done so, had not Miss Milborne given him such a set-down as — Kitten, she held it out to me, and said with the kindest smile, the most speaking expression in those glorious eyes, that I should have her rose, if I cared to take it! If I cared to! I slept with it beneath my pillow, and I shall carry it next my heart until I die!” He looked imploringly at Hero, and said with an effort: “She could not have done so had she not felt a preference — could she?”
“Oh no, indeed she could not!” Hero cried. “It must be certain! It is the most touching thing I ever heard! Oh, Sherry, is that you? Do, pray, come in, and see what Isabella has bestowed upon dear George!”
“Hallo, George!” said the Viscount, strolling across the room. “My God, Kitten, what a scrape you put me into just now!”
She gave an involuntary giggle. “I know. And if you could but have seen your own face! But never mind that now! Only look!”
The Viscount eyed the rose disparagingly. “Where’s the sense in keeping that?” he asked. “It’s dead. I see nothing at all wonderful in it.”
“But, Sherry, you do not understand! Isabella gave it to George last night!”
“Did she, by God?” said Sherry incorrigibly. “Lord, what a flirt the girl is!”
Lord Wrotham sprang to his feet, quick rage kindling in his breast. Hero, well accustomed by this time to his starts, shrieked: “George, if you call Sherry out, I won’t invite Isabella to go with us!”
His lordship paused, clenching his fists. “Sherry!” he said menacingly, “unsay those words!”
“Damned if I will!” responded Sherry. “You can’t call me out in my own house. Devilish bad ton! Besides, of course the Incomparable is a flirt! Nothing in that! I’d lay a monkey she did it to make Severn jealous. Don’t tell me he wasn’t there! You can’t humbug me, my boy!”