She cowered away from him.

“Dicky!”

“ ’Tis very well to cry ‘Dicky,’ and to smile, but I have experienced that before. Sometimes I think you are utterly without heart!⁠—a selfish, vain, extravagant woman!”

The childish lips trembled. Lady Lavinia buried her face in the pillows, sobbing.

Carstares’ face softened.

“I beg your pardon, my dear. Mayhap that was unjust.”

“And cruel! And cruel!”

“And cruel. Forgive me.”

She twined white, satiny arms about his neck.