At the mention of his name, the butler's face changed. And then he nodded. "If you could wait a moment, please," he said before he closed the door.

"Wife?" Maxwell hissed at her.

Maxine shrugged. "A Trilby might be curious as to why an Everard is at her door." She straightened to face the door. "How does it feel to be used? Satisfying?"

If Maxwell were to think of the word wife associated with himself, it was like thinking of his mother marrying Osegod. It was dreadful, atrocious and simply unimaginable.

Yet at that moment, if he were to associate Maxine with the word wife and attach it with his title, the idea was surprisingly pleasant, which is why he hissed.

She ought not to have planted such ideas in his mind.

Ignoring her question, Maxwell concentrated on maintaining his apathetic mien.

The door opened and this time, the butler did so widely. He stepped aside, saying, "I will lead you to the parlor, my lord, my lady."

From the corner of his eye, he saw Maxine turn to look at him with a smile. Maxwell sighed and stepped through the doorway.

"Be a little gallant, my lord," Maxine said beside him, hooking her hand through his arm. "You must assist your wife."

Maxwell cleared his throat, about to give a sharp retort, but he knew the butler was listening. He shot Maxine a mocking smile and said, "Ah, forgive me, wife, it has passed my mind that I have one," adding under his breath, "since minutes ago."

Maxine did not comment and he knew why—he felt why. Her hand tightened in his arm and Maxwell knew that if she relaxed it, he would feel it shaking. And if he were to push her away, it would not be a surprise if she fell on the ground for her steps wobbled as though they were losing strength.

Yet at the back of his mind, he was irked. He wanted to berate her for announcing his presence. Amelia Trilby might use it to her advantage. After all, Osegod wanted to be close to the Everards for reasons unknown to them.

They could use Maxine and she might be naïve enough to allow them to. Her desire to be acknowledged by her mother might be too strong to prevent that.

As they entered the vast parlor of Amelia Trilby, one that was too lavish for Maxwell's eyes, he wished Maxine was wrong and the woman was not her mother.

*****

Maxine could have traded her collection of books or her garden in Theobald for a few moments of quiet and calm. The room was silent, of course, and so was Maxwell sitting beside her after the butler disappeared to find his mistress.

Tea arrived moments later and that too did not help. The biscuits tasted amazing yet were not enough remedy to how she felt.

Deep inside her was a storm. It was as though she was standing under a giant hole and a swirl of water, wind and thunder was coming down on her, taking her in an endless twirl of chaos. Her racing heart thundered through her ears, her hands shaking despite her great effort to clasp them together and she could not feel her legs. Had they disappeared? She was tempted to pull up her dress to make certain that they were still attached to her.

"You must be prepared for anything that might transpire," Maxwell's calm and collected voice said beside her.

She wanted to snap at him, to provoke a repartee and a battle of wits, for the thought of it was calming in a way.

"I should not have come here too soon," she said. "I have sent her a missive and I am not certain if she had read it. And if she did, I may have very well blown all my chances."

"I would agree, but seeing your distress I believe it is not the perfect time to do so." He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Do keep in mind, Maxine, that she may not be your mother."

The door to the parlor opened and Amelia Trilby walked in wearing a very bright red dress.

"But she is," Maxine whispered for Maxwell to hear as she gawked at the woman walking toward them with a frozen small smile on her face. Her hair was as dark as Maxine could remember it and her eyes were grey and dark. Not light as hers and the Theobalds, but Maxine wanted to believe they were the same as hers for apart from their eyes, Maxine could see herself in the woman. Her lips, her brows, the shape of her face—even her skin.

This woman was her mother.

She may be as old as Rachel, but she looked younger with every step that she took. Her eyes immediately landed on Maxine when she stood to her feet to give a short curtsy. Maxwell did the same with a bow.

Their eyes met and Maxine noted the recognition in Amelia Trilby's eyes.

And then the woman blinked and her eyes went to Maxwell, entirely forgetting Maxine.

Amelia's smile widened.

"Lord Kenward," she said, approaching Maxwell and as she did so, brushed her gown against Maxine's. She smelled of roses. Maxine watched as Amelia Trilby offered her hand for Maxwell to kiss, which he did.

"Good afternoon, Lady Trilby," Maxwell murmured. "We apologize if we have inconvenienced you without a calling card."

Amelia lightly chuckled while she shook her head. "Mind not, Lord Kenward." She then turned to her and Maxine's heart started to hammer against her chest once again.

Amelia Trilby's smile faltered before she said, "I have not heard that you have taken a wife, my lord. I am quite certain dear Lady Alice would not have let it be ignored by the Herald!"

Maxwell cleared his throat but Maxine spoke before he could. "I am not his wife."

Maxine was surprised that the woman did not look surprised. In fact, she motioned at the chaise, reminding both Maxine and Maxwell that they were still standing, and positioned herself in a winged chair across them.

She looked around the parlor covered with expensive wood panels before her eyes returned to Maxine. "You are the sender of that missive, are you not?" Amelia Trilby asked, her red lips curling into a different smile.

Maxine nodded. "Please, do not blame Lord Kenward for he does not know what I did, nor did he know of my plan for using his company as an excuse to gain yours."

Now that she had found her voice, Maxine could feel her legs and regained control over her faculties. Her mind was working once more, clearer than ever with her goal. Her breathing was back to normal. But her heart was still racing.

Amelia Trilby's eyes slightly wrinkled at the sides in an attempt of a smile, reminding Maxine that she was facing a woman that could be fifty or more. Her dark grey eyes met Maxine's. "And you are here to claim you are my child."

Maxine straightened her back and squared her shoulders. "Yes."

"Do you have proof?" the woman asked, lips and eyes mocking her.

"My father," Maxine lied.

"You must be jesting, my dear," she uttered, looking at both Maxwell and her. "I may be known to have many beau, but I have always been careful with each of them and I can tell you very frankly, dear, that all never caused me anything to fret about."

"Please, my lady, I am not here to force you into accepting me into your family," Maxine said, her voice already shaking. "Nor do I wish to ruin your name or take anything from you." Maxwell shifted beside her, leaning closer as if to give her comfort. And he did succeed for Maxine remembered she was not alone.

Her eyes found Amelia's once more. "I am here to ask one question, one I require an honest answer to."

Amelia acted as though she was confused, her eyes veering from Maxine to Maxwell and back on Maxine. "My dear, I do not understand what you are talking about." She shook her head and asked Maxwell, "Please, my lord, I know that one of my family has had a squabble with one of yours in the past, but please do not let me think that this is one of your foolish games for revenge. Noah's actions had been naught but his own and we all deject him for it. But if you believe that a rumor about me having a bastard is a good way to tarnish our family's name for Noah's horrid actions, then I believe I do not deserve this!"

Maxwell's voice sent warmth over Maxine as he spoke, "I am merely here to accompany a friend, my lady. Your brother's past actions do not have anything to do with this. We Everards do not make a sweeping statement and the sin of one is not the sin of all. Would you not agree?"

"Of course! What Noah did was horrible!"

"Then you must also realize that should we have wanted to ruin your family with a great scandal, we could have simply used Fiona's name."

Amelia's face hardened at the mention of the name. "That child is not one of us. Her mother was a whore who merely married into our family for money and status. She is not a Trilby. It was wrong of Noah to have taken the child from your sister's estate, but he was merely driven by anger as he still thought the child was his until recently when we discovered that his deceased wife had had an affair before she went crazy and nearly killed her own sister."

Maxine could not understand half of what Amelia and Maxwell were talking about, but she could sense Maxwell's anger brewing beside her. "I would rather we talk about you and your daughter, my lady," Maxwell wryly said.

Amelia scoffed before she turned her head to stare back at Maxine. "I am not your mother, child. I do not have a daughter and I never will have any child." She stood to her feet and haughtily looked down at Maxine. "I know what happens to anyone who bears a bastard and I am not one who had been foolish enough to do so. Do not think no one had attempted this horrible act before, dear. There have been quite a number of young boys and girls knocking on our doors, claiming to be our bastards. I am merely surprised now that you have managed to convince an Everard to help you."

Maxine stood up to level her eyes with the woman. "But you are—"

"Who did you say you are again?" Amelia Trilby asked, brow arched high.

Maxine's nostrils were flaring but she controlled herself. No, she could not let this woman go away without answering her question. "Maxine Theobald," she replied.

And the most amazing thing happened.

Amelia Trilby stumbled back on her feet and whatever she could have done to cover her surprise would have not sufficed for she had gone pale until Maxine feared she was losing blood. But before anyone could speak more, Amelia shook her head and she laughed. For a moment Maxine saw fear reflected in the woman's eyes before she quickly covered it with a short chuckle. "No, I am not your mother. You are mistaken." She vigorously shook her head once more. "A Theobald!" She scoffed and the chuckle that followed seemed rather to dry and forced.

"Please, my lady, if you could spare me—"

Amelia shook her head even more and she stiffly turned away, already heading to the door. "Enough!" she said when Maxine called out to her once again. "My butler shall see you to the door. Good day!"

Maxine started to go after the woman but Maxwell's hand stopped her. She turned to beg him with her eyes. "I have—I have not asked my question. She must listen to me. I must talk to her, please, I cannot go home—"

"We must go," Maxwell gently said, looking into her eyes. The butler walked in and cleared his throat but Maxwell ignored him. "We can find another time," he told her, his eyes and tone filled with promise.

Surprisingly, Maxine believed him.

"We will find our way to the door," Maxwell snapped at the arrogant butler while Maxine allowed him to lead her out of the parlor and Amelia Trilby's Fairview estate.