"Lottie," Maxine gasped, stepping forward.

But Lottie jumped away from her, her face white as paper. The scullery maid's dark brows furrowed into a frown of confusion and morphed into what Maxine feared the most—anger and horror. "Y—you..." Color returned on the woman's face as the anger grew. "You're a woman!"

Maxine looked over her shoulder at the closed door. In panic, she jumped toward Lottie and grabbed the woman's hand to lead her away from the study.

Lottie pulled away from her hold the very moment they entered the service corridor through the narrow door situated between two large paintings.

"You lied to us," Lottie said, eyes brimming with angry tears. "Y—yer a woman! A woman!" She let out a breath of fury as Maxine stayed silent, utterly speechless. What was she supposed to say? A tear fell from Lottie's eyes. She wiped it away harshly. "And—and you're his lover! Lord Max's lover!"

Maxine went cold. Lottie heard everything.

Bloody tarnation indeed!

"Lottie, please, hear me first before you—"

The maid slapped her hand away when she tried to reach out. "Do not touch me!" Lottie shouted. She pushed Maxine away by the shoulder, causing her stumble back. "You stay away from me, you lying—you lying wench!"

"Lottie?" A voice called out from the far end of the corridor, the one that led to the kitchen.

Molly.

Bloody brilliant!

Maxine's eyes widened when Lottie turned away. "Lottie, please, do not tell—"

"Let go of me!" Lottie screamed at her before she ran toward Molly.

"Lottie!" Maxine cried out after her, stalking Lottie down the corridor.

Bloody tarnation! Everything was crumbling to ruins now and she must stop it.

This is what you get for all your lies, a part of her said.

"Lottie!" she called out in panic once more, but the scullery maid was tall and her strides were long. And she finally reached Molly who was looking at them both with confusion.

"Max!" another voice called out from behind her. It was Albin. "Max! His lordship is here! Come quick!"

"You stay away from me!" Lottie hissed when Maxine chose to ignore Albin.

"Max!" Albin called out once again.

Molly reached for Lottie when the maid ran to hide behind her. "What is the meaning of this?" Molly asked. "Max? Lottie? What is the meaning of this?"

"Stay away from me or I am going to scream!" Lottie hissed once again over Molly's shoulder.

Molly stared at Maxine with suspicion. "What is the meaning of this, Max? What happened?" She stared at Maxine and over her shoulder at Lottie. Then her eyes widened in horror. "Oh, God, do not tell me that you—that you fancy Lottie! Is that why you—oh, dear Lord, but you cannot—"

"No, that is not it, Molly," Maxine uttered in frustration.

"Bloody hell, Max, be quick!" Albin said behind Maxine, surprising her. He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from both maids.

"Lottie, please," Maxine said as she let herself be dragged by Albin.

The maid looked utterly furious to be reconciled and perhaps she could spare the woman some time to think.

And pray that she would not let her secret out.

*****

"Ah, so you came back," Nicholas said when Maxine and Albin appeared in his chamber. He was loosening his cravat as he stared at Maxine. "And Albin has imparted to me that you disappeared because your mother disappeared. Is that correct?"

"Yes, milord," Maxine murmured, itching to have this talk over with. She needed to find Lottie.

"And you wish to retain your post?"

"Of course, milord," she lied. No, she was no longer certain she wanted to remain here.

Nicholas snorted. "Good. I was beginning to lose respect on you, young man," he said. "I thought you left because of my brother."

She stiffened. "No, of course not, milord."

Nicholas chuckled and his face lit up. "Ah, this bloody day is quite a rewarding by every turn, I tell you. First, Rock'oles, second, my sisters were seemingly nice to me at the park, and third this! Now, what have I done to have such a good day?"

If she did not know that Nicholas was ignorant of her secrets, she would have thought that he was mocking her for her day was merely leading her from one nightmare to another.

"Milord," she said, clearing her throat, "if I may be excused?"

Albin snapped his head at her, giving her a look of warning. Of course, he would. She had just arrived and returned to her post and now she wanted to be excused?

"I—I need to settle my articles, ones I brought back from home, milord."

"Of course!" Nicholas said, nodding at Albin. "Albin can wait for me while you are indisposed."

Maxine jumped to her feet to rush to the door.

"Max," said Nicholas behind her. She stopped and turned to face him once again. "Did you find your mother?"

Again, if Maxine did not know that he was unaware of her dilemma, she would have thought he was mocking. "Yes, milord," she lied.

"Good," Nicholas said, nodding his head. "And Max," he added.

"Yes, milord?"

"Bloody cut that hair. You look like a girl!"

She gulped and nodded without another word.

It was time to find Lottie!

*****

Indeed, Maxine found her.

And she was not alone.

She was in the kitchen with Molly and Fanny, crying at the foot of the table while the two women consoled her.

The three of them looked up the moment Maxine rushed through the doorway.

Lottie stood up, her face streaked with tears. "I told them. You can no longer force me to hide your lies!"

It was Maxine's turn to blanch. She panicked and her feet involuntarily took a step toward the doorway. There was still time to run and grab her bags. She could be out of the house before everyone else found out—before the entire Wickhurst found out!

One word from these women, one encounter with another maid outside this estate, and her whereabouts shall be known. Her brother would find her. Her family would find her. And she might never get the chance to search for her mother again.

"I—" she started but stopped. She blinked and took a long breath before she squared her shoulders and stepped forward.

Fanny was looking at her warily, Molly with disbelief and Lottie with anger.

"Yes, it is true. I am a woman." The only weapon was the truth. Molly and Fanny gasped, their hands coming up to cover their mouths. "But I am not here to cause anyone—"

"She is here because she is Lord Max's lover!" Lottie lashed out, pointing at her with one finger. "She fooled us all! She must have laughed behind our backs for having done that!"

"No!" Maxine desperately cried out. "I did not mean to cause anyone harm, please, believe me," she said, looking at Fanny, begging for the housemaid to believe her. "I am here for a reason."

"You lied to us," said Fanny, her eyes filled with disappointment.

"You—you're a woman?" Molly asked in horror and disbelief. "You—you—"

"I ran away from home to find my mother," she said, searching each woman's face. "I had nowhere else to go as I have nobody else apart from the people back home."

"You have told us many lies!" Lottie screamed. "You said you disappeared because your mother disappeared and you have found her." More tears ran down Lottie's face. "And you are Lord Max's lover. Do not deny it! I heard clearly!"

"The matter between Lord Maxwell and I has nothing to do with why I am here," she said. "I can explain everything if you let me. And when I do, I hope that you can all understand—"

"What is the meaning of this?" Albin's voice asked behind them.

Maxine whirled around and found the footman standing behind her. And with him was Oscar.

By the look on the faces of both men, Maxine knew that they heard everything.

Bloody hell. She might as well call Nicholas and the rest of Wickhurst and let them hear everything!

"What is the meaning of this?" Oscar asked, voice dangerously cold.

Maxine's eyes watered in frustration and fear. A tear fell from her eyes.

She turned around to look at Fanny. The woman was giving her a blank look. She had seen it many times on Rachel when she would get very angry at Maxine or any of her brothers. "Please, allow me to speak."

"I want her out of this estate," Lottie said, sniffing with anger. "She has lied to us all. She is no man! She is a woman! And she—oh, God, I told you I fancy him! How you must have laughed at me!"

"Not worse than what I had done," Molly said, glaring at Maxine. "You lied to us, Max—or are you even Max? We do not know you at all! And we have been kind to you! We welcomed you with naught but kindness!"

"And I have been living in guilt ever since!" she cried out, tears streaming down her face once again. "But I had no other choice for I did not have anywhere else to go. I was desperate."

"She must go, Oscar," Lottie said to Oscar. "We let her leave or I am going straight to Lord Nick myself and tell'em! We could all be in trouble because of her! He might believe we have been harboring her secrets from the start! She managed to seduce Lord Max! She might do worse and—"

"Sit," Oscar ordered behind her, silencing Lottie.

She turned and found the butler looking at her, his face blank and unreadable. Albin walked over to stand beside Fanny, looking incredulous and vexed.

Maxine drew a breath and sat on the chair.

She heard protests from Lottie and Molly behind her, but Oscar ignored them. The butler stood in front of her and ordered, "Speak."

She opened her mouth. How much should she say?

The truth. Just tell them the truth!

"Begin with your name."

Maxine could feel everyone's eyes on her and she bowed her head in defeat. This was the end of her lies. It was bound to eventually come out and she must at least be thankful it did not happen is a more tragic way. It could have been worse, really. They could have called the Town Guards and caused a big scene. This was better and she ought to be thankful for it.

She sniffed and mumbled her name.

"Clearly," Oscar ordered.

"Maxine Theobald," she clearly uttered using her regular voice.

The kitchen was filled with a lingering gap of intense silence followed by a collective gasp from the three women behind her. She dared not look up to see Oscar's face.

A drop of tear fell on her clenched hands.

"My name is Maxine Theobald." Another tear rolled over the top of her hand.

"You're gentry," said Oscar.

She shook her head. "I refuse to consider myself as one." She sniffed and wiped her tears with her hands. "I am a bastard."

Another collective gasp from the three women, and this time a, "bloody hell!" from Albin followed Maxine's statement.

She braved to look up and stare at Oscar's face. To her amazement, the butler's face did not change. He continued to look at her without judgment in his eyes.

She gulped. "I had been living and hiding myself in Theobald until months ago when I decided to find my real mother." She blinked away the tears and sniffled. "I had never been to anywhere farther than Marsden and when the opportunity to come and work for Lord Nick came, I did so without hesitation. I chose to lie to you all to keep my identity a secret as I know that my brother is in Wickhurst and should he know of my presence here, he shall take me back to Theobald." She turned on the chair and faced the three women. Lottie and Molly were gawking at her. Fanny's face was still unreadable. "They are not bad people, my family," she explained. "They simply believe I ought not to look for the woman who did not want to have me."

Albin was the first to ask the question. "Yet Lottie claims you are Lord Max's lover. How does that fit your story?"

Maxine closed her eyes. "Lord Maxwell found out I am a woman and has been helping me search for my mother." She looked away as she added, "We went together to Willowfair where I found my mother's family." She turned to face Oscar once more. "I did not intend to go back here when I came to Willowfair, but I was informed that my mother was banished after she gave birth. We had to go back to Wickhurst and that is why I am here."

"You could have told us the truth," Fanny spoke for the first time.

Maxine whirled to face her. "I know, but I have to be honest and say that I could not trust anyone when I first came here. I had no one but myself to rely on." She turned to Molly and then at Lottie. Both women would not meet her eyes. She sighed in defeat and turned to face Oscar yet again. "I do not wish to inconvenience anyone, but I ask that you all keep my secret for a few days as I figure a way to find my mother." Meeting Oscar's eyes, she continued, "I promise to leave the very moment I formulate a plan. Bear my presence for a few days and I promise to disappear. I will tell Lord Nick the truth in time and none of you shall be held responsible."

"Why don't you ask your lover then? He does not want you working for his brother anymore," Lottie snapped. "I heard everything."

Maxine nodded, but kept her eyes on Oscar as she answered Lottie. "Lord Maxwell's relationship with me is a complicated one and one that should not have even started. It would merely cause the Everards more trouble should I attach myself to them. As I have said, I found my family in Willowfair and I discovered that they are not the likes that the Everards should be entangled with. For Lord Maxwell or Lord Nick or any of the Everards helping me might very well cause more problems."

With her eyes, she pleaded with Oscar. "Please, sir, I ask that you keep this secret from Lord Nick. If he finds out, he might tell my brother."

"Your brother is Samuel Theobald."

"Yes." She stepped forward, her knees weak. "Please, Oscar, I cannot go home not knowing where my mother is. There are answers that I seek and—"

"You can stay."

"She can?" Albin asked in surprise.

Oscar nodded. "Five day," he said. "I care not if you are gentry or not. I care not if you are a Theobald or not. If you are still here in five days, I shall personally knock on his lordship's door and announce your presence in his household. The only reason why I have decided not to do so now is because I would wish to settle this matter as quietly as I possibly can without causing his lordship alarm or draw attention to his name and cause a scandal."

Maxine nodded. "Yes. Yes, I shall not need that long."

Oscar gave her one last look before he nodded and turned. He left the kitchen in silence.

"You are sleeping with Oscar tonight, Albin," Fanny ordered.

Molly and Lottie walked out of the kitchen without a single glance at Maxine. Albin followed them, giving Maxine a look of disbelief and awe. He was shaking his head before he disappeared with the women into the service corridor.

Maxine dropped back into the chair, fresh tears in her eyes. She had played many roles in many Theobald parties before to be invisible, but never had she felt it in its truest form until now.

"You cannot blame us if we feel betrayed, dear," Fanny's gentle voice said behind her.

Maxine continued to sob as she nodded. "I understand."

"I cannot judge you for I do not wholly know your predicament," the woman said as she walked past Maxine, "but do forgive me if I cannot offer you comfort at the moment."

Maxine had never felt alone as she was now. And it was horrible.