CHAPTER XXIV
IfJohn Gaunt had deliberately planned to fan his wife’s dawning love into a fierce flame, he could not have acted in a manner more calculated to bring this about, for when Lady Mildred saw that he was deliberately avoiding every opportunity of intimate conversation, she became utterly miserable, although she had led him to believe that this was what she herself desired.
It was strange to her, this feeling of interest in her husband, and all day she found herself wondering what he was doing. At first she did not regret the attitude which she had taken up, but slowly it was being revealed to her that all other considerations were as nought when compared with love. With this realization there came a feeling of timidity which restrained her impulse to go to Gaunt and tell him what was in her heart.
What mattered his actions, however strange—what mattered his damaged reputation, so long as he loved her with the deep passion of which she had been permitted to catch a faint glimpse. She would force herself to forget the many mysterious things which surrounded her, and would only remember that he was her husband, and father of the child that she was rapidly growing to worship.
Of one thing she was convinced, that there was nothing mean in Gaunt’s nature. If he had been guilty ofconduct which he was endeavoring to hide, and which was preying on his mind, it was nothing of which he need feel ashamed; and thus it will be seen that Lady Mildred did not yet understand the nature of the man that she had married.
On the morning that the Baron had paid his second visit, she had been communing with herself, and had decided to put an end to the estrangement that existed, but when she went down to lunch, her husband was not there.
Her sister and Edward Drake were present, and it very soon became clear to her that the atmosphere was electrical, for each of them avoided addressing any remark to the other.
Drake confined his attention to Lady Mildred, and the latter immediately began to imagine that he had proposed marriage to Lady Ethel, and had been refused.
At last the uncomfortable meal came to an end, and Lady Mildred rose from the table.
“Will you come to my room, dear?” she said, and Lady Ethel followed her obediently.
“What has happened?” Lady Mildred asked when they were seated.
“I hate him, he is a beast,” Lady Ethel said vindictively.
“I suppose you mean Mr. Drake. What has the poor man done?”
“He has been very rude, and I believe he looks upon me as a child,” she cried passionately.
“You are not much more than a child, Ethel. But what is it all about?” Lady Mildred asked with an indulgent smile.
“I really did it for the best. When the Baron left this morning I followed, and went with him to the park.”
“It was a stupid thing to do. Baron de Croiseuil is not a desirable acquaintance,” Lady Mildred answered disapprovingly.
“I only went for your sake, Mildred. I could see that you and John were miserable, and I guessed that it was all owing to the Baron, so thought I might help.”
Lady Ethel was crying quietly, so her sister suppressed the angry words that were near her lips, and kissed her tenderly.
“There is no reason why you should make such a fuss about it,” she said gently.
“I never imagined that Mr. Drake could be so rude. He told me that I was a meddlesome little busybody,” Lady Ethel said hotly.
“They were rather strong words.”
“And I really didn’t mean to tell the Baron that you and John had quarreled; it slipped out.”
“Mr. Drake was quite right,” Lady Mildred broke in vehemently. “Besides, it is untrue that my husband and I have quarreled. I love him dearly.”
“Well, you have a funny way of showing your affection,” Lady Ethel broke in, and then began to sob in earnest.
Even at school she had been thoroughly spoilt, for her winning ways had endeared her to all, and Drake’s strong words had come as a shock. Now her sister was adding to her misery, but she quickly recovered herself and sailed out of the room with rather a pitiable attempt at dignity.
Lady Mildred was annoyed at the occurrence, but she had more weighty thoughts to occupy her mind, and could only wonder how John would receive the advances which she had determined to make. To her great disappointment he did not return, and so soon after six o’clock she commenced to dress for dinner. Latterly she had taken but little interest in her toilet, and her maid was surprised and pleased by the care she took in choosing her gown. At last she was satisfied, and critically examined her reflection in the long mirror. The least vain of women, she knew that she was looking her best, and when she entered the drawing-room, excitement had brought a becoming touch of color to her cheeks.
It was a few minutes before Gaunt entered, and gave a quick glance around the room.
“I haven’t much time to spare,” he said hurriedly, and as he spoke dinner was announced.
During the meal Lady Ethel was particularly gracious to Captain Drake, and practically ignored his brother.
“Drake, we must be going,” Gaunt said after a glance at his watch.
Lady Mildred also rose and accompanied them to the hall.
“Will you be very late, John?” she said nervously.
“No. I shall be back as soon as the meeting is over,” he answered, and could not keep a note of surprise from his voice.
“Then will you come to my room?” she said in a low voice.
“Very well, dear,” he answered, and gave her a quicklook, but her face was turned away, and he uttered a faint sigh which failed to reach her ears.
Lady Ethel had followed more slowly, and she did not appear to notice Edward Drake who was standing near.
“I hope you have recovered,” he remarked with a smile. “Perhaps I was a little hard, but you really deserved all that I said. I can see that you are still angry with me, but if you take a night to think it over, you will arrive at the conclusion that I was right.”
“I was not aware that Mr. Gaunt had appointed you father confessor to the whole family. Mr. Drake, you really take too much upon yourself,” she said haughtily.
“Come along,” Gaunt cried impatiently.
For a time Lady Ethel sat with her sister, but she was ill at ease, and at an early hour expressed her intention of going to bed. Lady Mildred was relieved by her departure, for she wished to be alone with her thoughts.
A clock chimed ten o’clock, and she went to her bedroom, where she summoned her maid and clothed herself in a dressing-gown covered with clouds of filmy lace that was priceless. Every jewel was removed except her wedding-ring, and at last she was satisfied with her appearance.
“If it were my last mistress, I should say that my lady was about to receive her lover,” was the maid’s unspoken thought.
“May I say that my lady is very beautiful to-night?” the maid remarked respectfully, and she regarded her mistress with the eye of an expert.
It was the first time that she had dared venture upon a compliment, and she half expected a rebuke as a reward, but Lady Mildred only smiled faintly.
“There are some deep red roses, my lady. At your breast they would give the one finishing touch that makes perfect. May I fetch them?” the maid asked eagerly.
“Am I a simple little fool?” Lady Mildred asked herself when she once again entered the room to which she had invited her husband.
Time passed slowly, and once or twice she took up a book only to throw it down again with a sigh of impatience. Eleven o’clock struck, and she began to wonder if he would fail to come.
But at last there was a knock at the door, and in answer to her call John Gaunt strode into the room. His face was drawn and he had the appearance of a man who was exhausted physically and mentally. But his eyes lighted up with admiration and passionate love when they rested on his wife.
“Sit down, dear,” she said nervously. “You look very tired. Did you have a successful meeting?”
As she spoke she took up a cushion, and placed it beneath his head.
“I don’t often wait on you, John,” she said in a low voice.
He could not keep the wonder from his face, for never had she been so gentle, and so entirely fascinating. But he remembered his determination, and kept a tight hold upon himself.
Then she sank down on the rug beside him and rested her elbows on his knees. At first her eyes were cast down, but suddenly she raised them and looked straight at him.
“Mildred,” he whispered hoarsely.
“John, dear, let me tell you what is in my heart,” she began tremulously. “I don’t think that I am the same woman that you married, for I feel——Forgive me if I say a lot about myself, for that is the only way in which I can make you understand. When we married, I did not care for you, I’m not sure if I even liked you, for at times you made me afraid. However, I was watching you and learning. But I was blind and selfish until baby came, and it was not till then that I began to understand something of what life can contain.”
John Gaunt scarcely dared to breathe as he listened. He knew how deeply she must be moved to reveal herself so openly to him.
“Since baby came it has been a gradual awakening. Even when I asked you to take me away on the yacht, I did not fully understand. I only knew that my feelings towards you had changed, and that you occupied my thoughts almost entirely.”
As she continued her voice took a deeper tone, and her eyes were not removed from his, so that he could see their changing expression and gathering passion.
“And then you refused to go away with me, and I was deeply hurt, for I naturally thought that you did not want me. I even feared that I had lost your love, and it was agony—agony.”
He could feel the trembling of her arms, and he longed to clasp her to him. But dare he do so, with his past unconfessed? He had decided that he would not again seek her love until he could go to her with clean hands, and yet———
“But soon it was revealed to me that the world was nothing. If you have sinned in the past, if you fear thatpeople will make charges against you, that could not affect you and me, John.” Her voice was tremulous, and there was a wild appeal in her eyes.
“John, it is difficult to say the words, but I love you, body and soul, even as I believe that you love me.”
She rose to her feet and looked down at him with an air of pride in this declaration of her love.
“All petty considerations have vanished. I make no conditions. I ask no favor of you, save that you shall love me.”
He remained silent, and a great fear clutched at her heart.
“John,” she whispered faintly.
With a cry of passion he took her in his arms and crushed her to him.
“Mildred.”
And her lips sought his, for the first kiss of acknowledged love.