"Let go of me at once! Your brother would—" Maxine was not able to finish her sentence for Maxwell made a sudden turn, dragging her along with him, and climbed up the stairs. "I said, let go of me!" she hissed but he was not listening.

They reached the second landing. He turned to the left, his steps thudding along the corridor.

Maxine pulled at her hand when she realized where he was taking her. He was taking her to his chamber.

She let him drag her until they entered the room and mayhap he thought she had finally given in for he let her go the moment they walked through the doorway. But she surprised him by whirling around, running toward the door.

"If you wish to leave, you must leave now for if you do not allow me to help you then I will be inclined to tell Samuel where you are."

Maxine stopped cold at his words.

"You can no longer hide whatever disguise you take for I know where you intend to go."

She gritted her teeth and stormed toward the door. And then she slammed it close before she spun on her heels to face him. Shooting him a darting look of fury, she said, "You are a heartless bastard."

For the first time since she had met him, Maxine saw a flicker of guilt flash before his green eyes. "I have told you. I was planning to use you upon your consent."

Her eyes narrowed into slits, narrowed like a hunter about to shoot his prey. "And that is why you are a heartless bastard, my lord," she growled. Her hands balled into fists at her sides. "Consent or not, you were planning to use me."

"Acquire your help then," he hastily rephrased. "In return to the help I am offering."

"One I willingly, ungratefully and strongly decline!"

The anger she saw on his face was sudden. His face turned scarlet as he stalked toward her, gritting through his teeth, "And you believe that I shall let you go to Willowfair alone? Have you no mind of what might happen to you!"

"I do not care!" she shot back. She looked him up and down and scoffed in disbelief. "And now you pretend to be the gentleman and worry about my safety? Why? Because now you are aware that I am gentry? That I am the secret daughter of a family friend?" She pushed him away when he took another step forward. "Your manners are outright misplaced, my lord, for I am not fooled. Nor shall I allow you to do it again!"

"Samuel will know of your whereabouts should you leave without me."

Maxine nearly groaned. Of course, why did she forget about that threat? She turned and faced the door. Closing her eyes, Maxine counted until her breathing returned to almost normal. "Very well, I leave in five days. Should you be there or not, I shall take my chances."

"You must wait—"

"You no longer dictate when or how I execute my plans, my lord. Go and get my brother if you must," she said over her shoulder. "But I will not be stopped. You join me or you do go and tell my brother and prove that you are naught but a conniving brute."

Maxine noted how his entire form stiffened at her last words. But he did not reflect whatever reaction he felt into action and instead let out a frustrated sigh. "What time?"

"The afternoon," she said, reaching for the door and pulling it open.

"Dare not play a trick on me, Maxine."

Maxine felt a sudden gush of fury at the mention of her name. "I would dare not, my lord," she lied, walking out of the room. "Do prepare your carriage for I'd love to ride one over a hackney."

Maxine walked along the corridor, her steps hurried and stiff.

She would be gone sooner than five days. And Maxwell Everard would not be coming along.

*****

Maxine was surprised to see Albin in their room, stripping his clothes off. She averted her eyes and walked over to the bed.

"No welcome words for me, eh?" the footman asked. He looked tired, but his eyes glimmered. The vacation surely did do him good.

"Welcome," she murmured. "I was not expecting you to return this soon. How is your family?"

"Good, good," he said with excitement. "Now, what happened while I was gone?"

Molly tried to debauch me, Maxine wryly said inside her head. "Nothin' you will enjoy," she said with a faint smile.

"Molly and Oscar are talkin' to each other now?"

"With sarcasm, yes."

Albin chuckled as he pulled a fresh shirt over his head.

The door burst open and a scowling Nicholas walked in, surprising both Maxine and Albin.

"My lord!" they both exclaimed, jumping to their feet.

He saw Albin and he nodded, "Good you are back, Albin."

"Yes, milord," the footman muttered, wearily shooting Maxine a nervous look. For their master to seek them out himself was rather strange indeed.

Still assuming his a scowl on his face, Nicholas turned to Maxine and demanded, "What the bloody hell did Maxwell want?"

Maxine swallowed. "Nothin', milord," she murmured.

"That was not nothin', Max. What did the bastard tell you?"

She cleared her throat, fully aware of Albin's curious gaze. "He merely wanted to have a word, milord."

"About what?"

"I—about the accident in your study," she said, adding, "with the tray and teacups."

Her master gave her an incredulous look. "There is something else I do not know about. What happened?"

Your bloody brother knows everything. Why don't you ask him? "I—I refused to wait on him this morning, milord," she lied. "And I did forget quite a lot of the things he wanted to be done."

Nicholas scoffed. "That bastard!" he said, turning round to leave. "You did well, Max! Fret not, I shall have a talk with the man!" His voice trailed down the corridor as he said, "He acts as if he is the master of this bloody household, taking control over my own servants!"

"It seems to me that things definitely happened while I was gone," said Albin, shaking his head. "Come on, lad, best we take supper early."

*****

"Max!" Maxine groaned at the sound of Molly's voice. "Please do forgive me if I have caused you distress," said the chambermaid, standing from her chair.

"Mind not, Molly," Maxine said, sitting at the opposite end.

Oscar eyed her and turned to Albin. "You look as though you have not gone on vacation," said the butler.

Lottie frowned. "He does look quite refreshed, actually."

Molly nodded. "I agree." She picked up a piece of bread and leaned over the table to place it on Maxine's plate. "Eat well, Max." She winked at her before settling back in her chair.

Albin turned to Molly and frowned. "You are flirting with Max."

Molly blinked in confusion. "I am not aware it is prohibited."

Albin blinked and shook his head.

Maxine cleared her throat and reached for a glass. Molly jumped to her feet and grabbed it from her with a smile. "I will get you water, Max. Do sit back down. You must have had a long day."

Oscar's jaw tightened as he pretended to enjoy his meal. Fanny and Lottie continued their talk, pretending to be ignorant of the awkward situation. Albin, on the other hand, had a growing frown on his face. "Stop it, Molly. Max can get his own bloody water."

"Oh, pardon me, Albin, you must also want one," Molly snapped at him.

"It is fine, Molly, I can get it myself," Maxine said, standing on her feet.

"No, Max, let her do it," Albin said, glaring at Molly. "Let her act like a bloody fool."

Molly's eyes widened. "I am no bloody fool!"

Albin dropped his fork, sending it to clutter over his plate. "When I left you weren't, but now you bloody are!" Albin growled back, forcing Lottie and Fanny to cease their pretense. Oscar closed his eyes in an attempt to keep calm.

Molly, on the other hand, had suddenly gone berserk. "I am merely trying to serve Max! Because I like him! Do not be a hypocrite and tell me that men do not woo women by doing their bidding! The one difference is that I am a woman! What is wrong with that?"

The footman gaped and turned to Maxine. "Something happened while I was away, did it not?"

Maxine vehemently shook her head.

"Well, of course, nothing happened because he threw me out of the room!" Molly cried out, her eyes filling with tears.

Maxine nearly groaned. There was simply too much of a drama for a day that she could not seem to fathom how she could ever survive the next.

"You bloody did what!" Albin shouted, jumping to his feet. "You crept into our room like a wench!"

"Stop!" Oscar shouted, silencing Albin. He had a scowl on his face as he glared at the footman. "You do not call her a wench."

Albin's eyes widened. "Well, to me that is what she is at the moment!"

Lottie and Fanny gasped in horror. Molly's eyes began to stream with tears as she stood in the middle of the kitchen, her face pale.

Oscar reached out across the table to grab Albin by the collar. "No woman deserves such insult."

Albin's face had an incredulous look on his face. "Says the man who once insulted a scullery maid for not reading!"

"A matter I personally handled well in private with Lottie," Oscar gritted out, pulling at Albin's collar.

"Yes, he did. He did express his regrets," Lottie said, nodding her head.

"Well, I do not care!" Albin shouted, brushing away Oscar's hand with ease. He jumped to his feet and turned to Molly. "You disappoint me, Molly." He walked out of the kitchen and disappeared into the service corridor.

Molly tried to speak but no words came out of her mouth.

Maxine swallowed and said, "I will talk to him," she said to Molly. "Surely he is merely tired."

"Do that," Oscar ordered, his voice calm and collected, "before I decide to report him to his lordship."

Fanny had stood up to comfort Molly. Lottie was wiping her own tears.

Maxine nodded and walked out to find Albin.

*****

Alan Osegod, the Lord of Ransford, was not merely handsome, but he was utterly charming if he wanted to, a matter that Maxwell and his brothers easily took notice the moment the man spoke his first words to their mother while dinner was being served.

"I am sorry that Lady Ransford cannot join us tonight," he said as their dinner started. He turned his dark head toward Lady Alice and then at Benedict, adding, "She has been feeling quite ill of late."

"I am sorry to hear that, my lord," said their mother, giving the man a consoling smile. "I did hope to make her acquaintance."

Maxwell shared a look with Margaret sitting across from him beside her husband. He quickly veered his eyes to Nicholas, giving his brother a slight scowl.

"By the by, Lord Ransford," Ysabella said, feigning a charming mien, "did you also enjoy the Macy ball?"

The head of the Town Leaders turned to look down the length of the table at Ysabella. "Yes, Lady Wakefield, I did."

Ysabella grinned. "Good!" She looked past her husband to share a secret, awkward smile with Emma. Maxwell knew that his sisters would rather have a kitten for a guest than Osegod. Even their youngest siblings knew that this was a bloody disaster.

"Felicitations on your daughter, Benedict," Osegod said with a smile.

"Thank you," Benedict replied, face unsmiling, which was not odd at all. "My wife sends her regret for not joining us tonight." If someone could deliver a statement that sounded so impassionate without causing suspicion, it was Benedict.

"I am hoping that this pleasant dinner will lead to more fruits for you and your family." He turned to Levi and said, "And I believe your daughter is also growing up lovelier by the day, Lord Standbury?"

Levi looked harassed after having traveled from Standbury on horseback after receiving the urgent note from his brothers two days past. "Yes," he replied.

Osegod grinned and turned to Margaret next. "Your daughters are to start school soon, I believe, Lady Ashmore? They will rule their own season before you know it!"

"He is not attempting to be our father, is he?" Ralph whispered to Maxwell.

Margaret must have heard Ralph and she loudly cleared her throat with a forced smile. "Yes, my lord, they are to attend school soon. Although I regret that my husband is not as enthusiastic about your last statement."

Cole bent over his plate to give Osegod a look. "That is quite true."

Osegod let out a chuckle. "Then perhaps your son will grow up like each of your brothers," a statement that drew a slight groan from Cole. Osegod turned to Lady Alice and said, "You do have a good family, my lady. I am quite envious. I ought to have asked my wife for more children!" He turned to give Nicholas a jesting look. "And when do you plan to marry, Nicholas?"

Maxwell did not wish to wait for his turn, really, for he did not desire for his name be mentioned by this bastard. Osegod had been calling them by their given names as though they had been living their entire lives together at Grey's.

"I am yet to enjoy the rest of my life, my lord," was Nicholas' reply, followed by a chuckle. "You ought to ask Maxwell. He is older."

"By a year," Maxwell said, turning to Osegod, "I might attempt to woo a woman, but that would not be anyone's concern."

"But of course it is!" Lady Alice uttered in disbelief. "Do you have a lady in mind, son?"

"I might," he said with a shrug, "if Ralph finds one first."

Ralph choked on his food. "I am yet to live the fullest of my best years," their youngest brother said after a gulp of wine.

Osegod was great at feigning amusement. He chuckled at the right moment and laughed at the perfect ones. "I do not regret that I traveled to Wickhurst for this dinner," he said after three courses. "I finally get to experience what the rarest of the few did and they are quite correct."

The twins were awfully quiet tonight, Maxwell noted. It would have been a great distraction if they chattered like they would normally do. But it was rather obvious that their guest was making everyone uncomfortable.

"Whatever do you mean, my lord?" Lady Alice asked.

"That the Everards are the best companies they've ever had." He looked around the table and said, "I merely hope to have a family as big as yours, ladies and gentlemen, for if I do have one as amazing as yours, I am certain that I would not want for anyone to take them away."

Maxwell saw Margaret stiffen before she quickly covered it with a warm smile.

"You did raise your children well, my lady," Osegod praised.

Their mother placed her hand over her chest in gratitude. "I did my best."

Osegod swept his eyes over everyone once more before reaching for his wine, his eyes gauging each of them with a glimmer of what seemed to Maxwell as anything but joy. "Cheers to friendship and family."

They awkwardly picked up their own glass. Maxwell did the same but did not raise it for a cheer. Instead, he gulped the rest of his wine and waited for the blasted dinner to be over.

*****

"Well, I surely would not wish for another dinner such as that," their mother said hours later as they all stood outside their estate to watch Osegod's carriage drive away.

"The most awkward one I had to suffer," said Ysabella. "Worse than when we invited Lady Ashmore last year!"

"My mother seems more amiable in my eyes now more than ever," Cole admitted.

"I need a bottle of brandy," Benedict said, turning around to walk back into the manor.

"As do I," said Cole, followed by Levi who said, "I traveled for two bloody days just to hear that man laugh?"

Wakefield laughed as he joined his brothers-in-law. Ralph turned to Maxwell and Nicholas. "You know something."

Maxwell did not spare his brother a look as he said, "I know you are becoming a good Guard to have noticed such fact."

"Go back inside, children," Lady Alice said to them. "Did I mention that I purposely told the cook not to serve the cake tonight? They are being served in the parlor."

Ysabella and Emma snickered and joined their mother up the doorway.

"Cakes!" Ralph said, slapping Nicholas' arm before whirling around to join the twins and their mother, leaving Nicholas and Margaret to slowly follow behind.

When they reached the entrance to the parlor, Maxwell stopped Margaret while Nicholas entered the noisy room. He stared at his sister and asked, "Does he know what you did?"

Margaret's jaw tightened. "I am sure that his statement earlier did not mean anything for I am confident that he does not know," her gaze wavered and she added in a whisper, "or hopes he does not."

"You must talk with the rest and I mean everyone, Maggie," he said.

Margaret nodded. "I will. Soon, I will. I have to think first. Give me time, Max. I do not wish for everyone to suddenly feel more cautious around him. He is a wise man and he will definitely sense we know something."

"But we do not know as much as you do, Maggie," Maxwell said. "We simply do not want to have anything to do with him."

His sister nodded. "I know." She lightly gave his arm a reassuring touch. "I promise to talk to them soon."

*****

Maxine hid in the shadows. Her feet were sore and her muscles about to give up. She had walked all the way here from Nicholas' estate with naught but her coat and bag.

It was the only way to escape Maxwell Everard. It was the only time to escape him, in fact. A dinner with his entire family was the perfect opportunity.

A sound of a carriage approaching startled her and she leaned back against the wall and into the shadows.

The horses whined and the sounds of their hooves echoed in the air as the driver pulled at the reigns. The carriage halted. Maxine heard the door open. She heard laughing voices and footsteps. The horses started to move once more and the carriage drove nearly out of sight.

It was then that Maxine decided to step out of the shadows.

The man and woman were walking up the stairway when she emerged.

Ysabella's startled cry was followed by her husband's shout of, "Bloody tarnation!"

But the moment Ysabella recognized her, the woman gaped. "Oh, Sweet Mr. Jones, you scared me!"

William Wakefield pulled his wife away in alarm and stepped forward. "Who are you?" he demanded.

"Very gallant, darling, but she is a friend," Ysabella said with a chuckle.

Wakefield frowned. "She?"

Maxine smiled. "I regret to think, Ysa," she said to Ysabella, "that your husband seems to have forgotten about me."

Ysabella snorted. "He did now, did he not? Fret not," her friend said, stepping forward, "I shall remind him later." Her face turned serious as she stared at Maxine. "For now, do tell us what happened."

The momentary smile on Maxine's lips disappeared. "I need your help," she said, looking at Ysabella and then warily at Wakefield. "I need a place to hide."