It was quite a surprise, really, when the arrogant butler stepped aside to allow them entry with a smile on his face. His hospitality was not missed, but the forced curve on his lips was certainly unwanted. It was also a big surprise when Amelia Trilby sauntered into the parlor with a radiant smile on her lips, her velvet gown swirling about her as she walked.

She went directly to Maxwell who gave her a short bow before lightly kissing the hand she offered, or rather pushed into his face.

She turned to Maxine and said, "Please do forgive me for my ungracious exit yesterday," she said to them, motioning at the chaise while she walked to her winged chair. "I had a terrible headache and your news was quite too much for me to handle."

As Maxine prepared herself to say something, the door to the parlor opened once more and a very beautiful young woman, one Maxine was yet to find a beauty comparable to, entered the room with a frown on her face. For the many years she had been lurking behind lavish gowns and suits of hundreds of gentries in the many Theobald parties, Maxine could definitely wager that this woman was the most striking of all, even more so than Belinda Carrington-Haverston whom she had once thought to be the fairest. This woman could be a sculpture brought to life! Everything on her face seemed to have been carefully carved into perfection, her skin fair and glowing.

Her striking straight black hair was down, a few escaping to tease the sides of her face as she walked into the room, dark grey eyes on Amelia Trilby. Maxine was certain that if anyone else wore the grey gown she was wearing now, it would not appear silver as it did on the woman.

"Auntie, I must discuss something of import-" but she stopped short when she saw Maxine and Maxwell. She blinked, surprised, before she uttered, "Oh, do forgive me. I was not aware that you are with company."

Amelia forced out a chuckle. "Vega, dear, I would like you to meet my callers." She stood up and so did Maxine and Maxwell. "This is Maxwell Everard, Lord of Kenward." Maxine saw the young woman's brow arch at the mention of the Everard name before a stiff smile appeared on her lips. "Good morning, my lord," she murmured under her breath as she curtsied. Maxwell bowed.

"And this, my dear, is Lady Maxine Theobald," said Amelia, motioning at Maxine.

Vega turned to Maxine, eyeing her with scrutiny. Whatever she saw on her was not pleasant at all, Maxine thought, for the woman barely smiled as she muttered, "Aunt Amelia told me about you," she said with a small curtsy.

"This is my beautiful niece, Lady Vega Trilby, the heiress of Wyndam," Amelia Trilby said with pride in her voice.

"Unless my father tries to create a son, of course," said Vega with a knowing smile.

A woman to inherit her father's title was very uncommon, but not unheard of, Maxine thought. Yet with the Trilbys she was certain they had their own secrets. However did Vega Trilby became an heiress, Maxine might never know.

"Now, Vega, if you could wait for a while?" Amelia Trilby asked, giving her niece a meaningful smile, the meaning only known to them.

Vega graciously nodded at both Maxwell and Maxine before she turned and flowed out of the room. That was how Maxine would define the exit-the lady seemed as though she was gently floating as she walked.

When they were seated once more, Amelia turned to Maxine and said, "Again, my dear, I do apologize for how I treated you yesterday." She turned to Maxwell and her smile widened. "I was merely surprised."

"Perhaps," Maxwell spoke for Maxine as she suddenly lost the ability to do so after Vega's short appearance, "you could provide us with answers now?"

Maxine watched Amelia's eyes waver for a moment before they crinkled at her smile. "Of course. I shall try my best." It was apparent that she was trying to please them both, or if Maxine was correct, she was trying to please Maxwell.

Maxwell leaned against the chaise and crossed his leg over the other, assuming an easy mien. "Then perhaps you can tell us about your sister?"

The smile on Amelia's face froze. She blinked and scoffed at the same time. "I am sorry, Lord Kenward, but you are mistaken! I do not have a sister. I do have a brother, one we have talked about yesterday, Noah." She turned to Maxine and then back at Maxwell. "There had merely been the two of us."

"Hmm," Maxwell said, throwing Maxine a look before focusing his eyes back on Amelia. "Is that so?" He uncrossed his legs and angled his head to the right. "The Town Registry says otherwise. Unless Noah Trilby is your twin brother?"

Amelia Trilby blanched before she closed her eyes. Her lips pursed and her hands balled into fists.

"This is perhaps a suitable time for you to give in, Lady Amelia," Maxwell continued in his flat, cold tone. "Please, we do not wish to hear lies. Do not take us for fools for we do have friends who could provide us with more information, ones we could easily visit again. And you do not wish for more of the townspeople to grow an interest on your rather delicate secret, do you?"

The woman's lips thinned and her breath shook as she let out a heavy sigh of defeat. When she opened her eyes, the dark grey globes were nearly dark with controlled fury. Maxine saw something else-perhaps fear or desperation-but she could not name it for certain.

Amelia's eyes left Maxwell and traveled to meet Maxine's gaze. The lady gave her a long stare, one that was strong enough to send a shiver up Maxine's spine. "My sister was banished after she gave birth."

Although Maxwell and McKenzie had hinted the possibility, Maxine still felt as though her blood had drained down her face. She was not able to control the sudden explosion of cold from within her. Dread, shock and disbelief consumed her.

"Where?" she faintly heard Maxwell's question.

Amelia Trilby shook her head. "I do not know. And I no longer care." She veered her eyes toward Maxwell. "The last I heard she was taken in by bandits from the west. Highly unlikely as most of the Trilbys would say, but should one consider that woman's lack of pride and taste, I would not be surprised if she lives the rest of her life as one of them," Amelia added with disdain.

Silence lingered in the room as Maxwell allowed Maxine to regain her composure. She took a long breath and let it out.

Amelia Trilby was not her mother.

"Maxine," Maxine uttered in a shaking voice. "She was named Maxine."

Amelia Trilby scoffed as she shook her head. "And she thought it a wonderful idea to name Theobald's bastard after her." She gave Maxine a look of pity. "I do pity your stepmother, dear. She does not deserve such burden." Before Maxine could react, Amelia let out a big smile and added, "Perhaps you would wish to meet the rest of the family? I am, after all, your aunt. Mama and Papa are gone, bless their souls, and the family would surely welcome you." She said it as though the topic had changed to a more pleasant one.

Maxine frowned. Maxwell remained unmoving and silent beside her. What was Amelia trying to do now?"

"Your mother's sins do not reflect on you, my dear. We do understand that. You can be certain that you shall be treated with utter respect with the Trilbys. Again, your mother's mistakes are not yours and you shall not be judged."

This sudden change was exciting, but it was more alarming.

She did not wish to judge the Trilbys, but there was something in her aunt that did not fall correctly. She turned to Maxwell and the look in his eyes told her what he was thinking.

He did not like this at all. But then he was thinking as an Everard. And what about her? Should she think as a Theobald? Should she think as a Trilby? For surely she could not think as Maxine for Maxine was definitely, immensely in great confusion.

"Why?" she found herself asking the very question she came here for. "Why did she not keep me?"

Amelia's face disappeared. "I do not know, dear. I was not privy to everything that happened that year. I chose to stay away from it all, see? Mama and Papa made certain that your mother was kept away from the rest of the ton. They never took notice of her absence as her presence had always been ignored. She was the shy and awkward twin, you see. But I must admit now that a part of me was a bit awed that she had the audacity to engage in an affair with your father."

Maxine jumped to her feet in all of a sudden. She did not wish to hear more about the woman that was not here. She did not wish to know more about her mother from someone who obviously despised her. "I wish to go now," she said to Maxwell who was already on his feet.

Amelia stood and said. "You must be in utter shock, my dear." She turned to Maxwell and smiled. "I do hope to make your acquaintance again soon, my lord, now that we both have shared secrets." She gave Maxine a forced, gentle smile. "I would love to give you an embrace, Maxine, dear, but I fear it will merely scare you away."

When Maxine started for the door, Amelia asked, "Is your father aware of this visit, dear?"

Her jaw tightened. "No. We are estranged. He does not want me back after I decided to leave Theobald."

Amelia nodded. "Do think of my offer. Know that you also have a family with us."

Maxine did not provide a reply. She rushed to the door, as eager to depart as she was to be here before she discovered the truth.

She needed to find her. She needed to find her mother.

*****

"What do you intend to do next?"

Maxwell's question was the hardest by far.

"You are going to search for her," he said without question.

"I sent my father and stepmother a missive from the tavern," she replied, looking around the carriage as though the answer was there. "To ease their minds, of course." They were nearing Wickhurst and they had not had the chance for a proper talk.

After their visit to Amelia Trilby, Maxwell allowed her to be alone in her chamber in the townhouse. And when she appeared before him to announce that she wished to return to Wickhurst that very same day, he did not say a word and simply ordered for their things to be ready and the carriage be drawn out. By the time they stopped at Marsden for rest and on the entire journey toward the village, he offered her what she needed most: silence.

And although she did appreciate that, she found that she had not had enough time to think of her next course of action.

"You writing them a missive means you are not returning to Theobald very soon," he concluded.

She sighed. Did she have to leave Willowfair? Did she have to return to Wickhurst?

"Do you truly believe that she took refuge with the western bandits?"

He was looking at her from across the carriage. She turned her head to meet his gaze. "I do not know, but if that is the only clue I have of finding her, then I must follow it." Her mother could be somewhere out there waiting for her! The woman may not have wanted her, but mayhap she did not want her for a better reason. Mayhap that reason was to give her the safer chance-the better chance.

Many questions were running inside her head. Was her father aware of her mother's banishment? Eustace Theobald would have to wait to answer that question.

When she kept her silence, he sighed. "Why did you lie to Amelia? Why did you tell her you are estranged from your father and that he does not wish to have you back?"

"Because they are the Trilbys," she retorted. "If they can do such horrible things to their own, how can I be certain they cannot do the same to the Theobalds?" She shook her head as she added, "You ought not to have come with me. I ought not to have introduced you. They could use me against your family."

She saw the surprise in his face. He did not say anything for there was none. He may have planned to use her against Osegod through the Trilbys, but Maxwell Everard was not entirely heartless as to talk about it now.

So instead he uttered, "It is dangerous to venture into the world of the bandits. We were lucky enough to have been attacked by scared ones. We may have met my sisters' friends, but they were naught but three of hundreds-even thousands-of men and women who would wish to cause us more harm than good."

"You are saying I ought to go home, then?"

He looked out the window. They could see the light streaming through the giant holes of Wickhurst now. When his gaze returned to hers, Maxine realized what he intended to say. She had always felt it coming. He had been keeping it aside, but now it seemed that he could no longer do so.

"I am saying we must talk about what happened between us in the townhouse. It is about time we do as we are nearing Wickhurst. I do not intend to arrive without discussing what we must discuss." Maxine tore her eyes away from his. "Or have you forgotten what happened?"

When she did not answer he added, "Inside the room." When she remained silent, he continued, "In the bed." When she snapped her head and glared at him, he muttered, "Under the covers," eyes intense, voice filled with meaning.

Her eyes flickered. "Will you stop it! It does not matter." She waved her hand in dismissal. "I was weak and you took advantage of me."

He shrugged. "That, I did. But not entirely, of course. I did ask you."

She scoffed. "Of course, you would never deny it."

"And I intend to do right by you."

Maxine lurched forward to hiss, "Cease your honorable acts, my lord! Spare me!"

"Then tell me what you intend to do now!" he said with frustration, raking his long hair with his fingers.

She gaped at him in disbelief. "I beg your pardon, my lord. By chance, did I steal your innocence?" she asked with sarcasm. She leaned back against her seat. "Oh, this shall be a big scandal if the ton finds out! Mayhap you could give me more time to figure out how to save your reputation?"

He narrowed his eyes at her. "We will discuss this, Maxine."

"When we reach Wickhurst then," she said merely to make him stop.

He frowned at her. "You are wearing your shirt and breeches. Dare not tell me that you intend to go back-"

"Yes, of course," she uttered. "I do intend to take my remaining articles from Dosett and Vinge. And I am yet to say a proper goodbye to the staff," she lied. She did intend to go back to Nicholas' estate for she cannot bother Ysabella and Lord Wakefield any longer. The woman was feeling guilty enough toward Samuel as it was.

"You are not-"

"Fret not, my lord, I shall be gone the moment I am done with what I intend to do. And your brother still owes me two weeks of pay."

He was fuming, but he nodded his head. "Very well."

She cocked her brow. "Very well?" Will he not ask where she was going?

"I could not keep you as my valet, can I?" he retorted. "My brother would kill me thinking I stole his bloody valet. And you cannot definitely continue working as one. And since your family is a friend of ours, you cannot disappear again. You are going back to Ysabella's estate."

Maxine bit her lower lip. He would be utterly furious the moment he found out.

*****

"Max!" Molly exclaimed when Maxine entered through the side door. "Where have you been! We have been sick with worry!"

Fanny rushed toward her and asked, "Oh, child, what happened? You do not look so well."

She smiled faintly. "I did not mean to disappear without notice," she said, "but my mother disappeared from home and I had to help my 'Pa find her." Not entirely a lie, but a lie all the same.

Molly let out a dramatic sigh as she cupped Maxine's face with both hands. "I am sorry to what happened to your 'Ma, but I am glad you came back, Max."

Maxine stepped away from Molly's touch. The chambermaid could not keep her glowing eyes away from Maxine's face.

Fanny asked, "And did you find her?"

"Yes," Maxine lied.

The housekeeper sighed with relief. "Did you have your luncheon yet?"

"Yes," she lied again. "Where is Oscar?"

"I will get 'em for ye," said Molly, jumping in her feet.

When they were finally alone, Fanny whispered to her, "Go and put your things in your quarter, dear. You will have many things to settle."

Maxine nodded and left to find her room to change into her uniform.

*****

Oscar was indeed angry, but the moment he learned of her reason for leaving, he merely gave a curt nod, saying, "This will serve as my warning, young man," he said, standing to his feet. "Next time you up and disappear, dare not consider coming back."

Albin was more understanding, but it was apparent that the man was acting quite awkward, the reason for which Maxine later found out as they stood outside the parlor waiting for Nicholas to arrive from his afternoon walk with his sisters.

"I believed you ran away because of Molly and I," Albin whispered to her. "Ye know I fancy her and after what I discovered the horrible things she did and my sudden outburst, I thought I scared you away. Molly nearly made me believe the same."

Maxine chuckled. "No, my friend," she said. "But know that I do not fancy Molly in return and-"

Albin gave her back a heavy pat. "I know, Max. Which is why I consider you a good friend-"

"Valet!" Maxwell's familiar voice called from the top of the stairs. Maxine's eyes widened upon seeing him. When did he arrive?

"Merely an hour after you appeared, I believe," Albin whispered beside her. She did not realize she had spoken her question aloud. "See what he wants and return in haste. Lord Nick would want to see you when he arrives."

Maxwell was scowling from the top of the stairs. Maxine gritted her teeth and came to him but he started to climb down. "Study," he ordered as he walked past her.

She turned and followed him back down the stairs, aware of Albin's curious gaze.

Maxwell pushed the study door open and waited until she rushed inside before he closed it behind her. She heard the distinct sound of the lock and she sighed.

"We are now in Wickhurst. And you are wearing the bloody uniform," he hissed. "What happened to saying your proper goodbye and getting your pay?"

She blinked and swallowed. "You said you are going home to your estate," she said in disbelief. "You lying monster." Her eyes flickered toward him. "And I did not say when I plan to leave, my lord."

"And I did not say you can go back to work as my brother's bloody valet!"

"Do lower your voice!" she hissed back.

"You are to strip yourself of that awful uniform, get into a dress and you will come with me."

"You cannot order me around-"

"You are my lover now."

Her jaw dropped, mouth falling open. "What did you say?"

"Bloody hell, woman, we spent one bloody night making love or have you forgotten?"

She tried to speak, truly, she did, but no word came out.

Maxwell did not look calm at all as he usually was. In fact, he looked like a man who was about to strangle a woman dressed as a man. Any moment. Mayhap now.

When he moved his hands to plant them over his hips, Maxine could not help but flinch. He glowered at her as he said the next words that would render her speechless for quite some time. "For some odd reason, I do fancy you." A sudden overwhelming of something bizarre and unknown came over Maxine. She simply stared at him, wide-eyed. "Well?" he asked with irritation. "What do you say about that?"

She was aware of her mouth moving, but she could not hear a word she was saying.

"Well?" he impatiently pressed.

Maxine blinked. "You are asking for my opinion?" she asked, dumbfounded.

"Well, of course for I do not honestly know how to deal with it as much as I cannot figure how to deal with you!"

Again, Maxine blinked. "Y-you stay here for a w-while," she stammered, already turning to the door.

He stared at her incredulously. "What?"

"I-I have somewhere to go," she lied. She felt lost, confused and very much... well, overwhelmed!

"You are not running away from me, woman!"

"Truly, Maxwell, I need to think!" she shouted over her shoulder.

Her outburst was apparently effective for he did close his mouth and stayed where he was. She pulled the door open and slipped out into the corridor. She closed it behind her and leaned against it, breathing heavily as though she ran for miles.

When she looked up, she found Lottie standing in front of her. The scullery maid's eyes were wide and her face white with horror.