Maxine simply stood frozen. It seemed as though she was transported back to that night many months ago when Ysabella and Wakefield followed her into a corridor. It was the same as when Ysabella surprised her by entering her bedchamber with a plate of food.
"Maxine! It is you!" Ysabella cried out, rushing toward her in disbelief. "What—what—what the bloody hell are you doing—"
Maxine knew the moment she covered Ysabella's mouth that there was no turning back. There was merely one person who knew her the most amongst the Everards and it was the woman standing before her with her emerald eyes wide open with wonder and surprise.
"Hush!" Maxine hissed in panic, eyes darting toward the open doorway. "Quiet, Ysabella," she whispered.
Ysabella nodded and Maxine uncovered her mouth and rushed toward the door to lock it. When she turned around, the woman was already walking toward her. "Why are you here? Why are you wearing—do not tell me—oh, bloody hell—you are the valet, are you not?"
"Hush!" Maxine desperately hissed. "Hush, Ysabella."
"But—but—you are a valet! How did it come about? You have been avoiding me and now I know why! Oh, this is famous! How did you—"
"Ysabella, calm down," Maxine said, taking grabbing the woman's shoulders. "Please, you ought to be quiet."
Ysabella closed her mouth but her eyes spoke hundreds of words.
There was no way to handle this situation but to be honest and straightforward. "I came here for a reason but you cannot let anyone know who I am."
Ysabella frowned, her face suddenly filled with worry. "Has something happened?"
Maxine shook her head. "No. Nothing bad has happened. My family is safe, although I believe they are very worried because of what I have done."
"What have you done?" Ysabella grabbed her hand. "Maxine, does Samuel know you are—"
"No! And you cannot tell my brother. Please, Ysabella, I need you to keep your silence."
Ysabella stared at her with a mixture of wonder and concern. "But surely you need not be—you need not be a valet! Why are you hiding? Tell me, I will help."
Maxine was already shaking her head even before Ysabella finished her statement. "Your silence is more help than anything else."
The woman sighed and looked over her shoulder. "Are you to tell me that no one knows you here? No one at all?"
Maxine swallowed. "Your brother, Nicholas, believes me to be a man. He met me during the Theobald weekend party when I was posing as a footman and invited me to apply for the valet position. When I decided to run away from home, I had nowhere else to go but Wickhurst."
"Nick does not see you as a woman? Truly?" Ysabella asked with disbelief.
"You did not notice the fact until you had a good look at my face. And you merely recognized me because you know me."
"No one has ever suspected? No one at all?"
Maxine hesitated but it seemed impossible to keep it a secret from Ysabella. "Well, your other brother, Maxwell, knows."
Ysabella seemed unperturbed. She simply blinked and waved her hand in the air. "Well, of course. Max always does notice the hidden things."
"He is suspicious of me. He believes I am a spy to the family."
Ysabella let out a snort. "Worry not. He and Emma share the same love for conspiracies."
"But you shall not tell him who I really am," she said in desperation. "Please, Ysabella, if you do this, I will have no other choice but to leave."
YOU ARE READING
His Lady in Breeches
Historical Fiction"They may see you as how you try to be, but what I see is what you try not to be." SHE IS A BASTARD... Maxine Theobald hid from the rest of society to protect her father's name. But as she grows tired of her role-playing games every year durin...
