Page 51 of Enticing the Devil

Still, as the hours passed without even a distant glimpse of Mr. Thomas’s tall, broad form, Anne began to worry. She didn’t think he would be so cowardly as to actually try to avoid her, which meant something must be keeping him occupied. She only hoped it wasn’t something unfortunate.

An explanation finally came from Miss Claybourne.

Anne was strolling along the path beyond the garden when she encountered the girl returning from a walk with her collie.

After a pleasant greeting, Anne decided to simply ask the girl if she happened to know where Mr. Thomas might be found. To her surprise, Miss Claybourne’s expression turned downright mutinous.

“As a matter of fact,” the young lady replied, “I do. No thanks to my overprotective brothers, who still dinnae see fit to give me fair knowledge and equal say in Max’s affairs even though they ken bluidy well how I feel about being left out.”

Taken aback by the vehement response, Anne replied cautiously, “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

Miss Claybourne gave a quick shake of her head. “I’m sorry, Lady Anne. I reckon Beynon didnae tell you of our brother Max Owen.”

“He did not.”

“It’s ridiculous, really, to think such a thing can remain a secret.”

Worried their conversation might be betraying a confidence, Anne suggested, “If it’s a secret, perhaps you shouldn’t say any more, Miss Claybourne.”

The girl’s chin came up sharply. “It’s my secret, too. I can share with whomever I wish.” Clever hazel eyes narrowed. “The truth is, Beynon left late last night, along with Colin.”

Anne’s heart gave a strange stutter. “He left?”

Left the estate? Without even a word to her?

Not that he owed Anne a detailed report of his activities, but surely...she was due some consideration. A moment of thought. They were partners, after all, if nothing else.

“Aye, in the middle of the night while I was asleep and couldnae insist on going along.”

“But why? Where did they go?”

“All Worthy would tell me this morning was that they had to go to London on an urgent matter. She said I had no need to ken anything more than that. But I’m not a bairn. Something so urgent it couldnae even wait till morn must be related to Max, which means it’s also related to me.”

The girl was getting fired up again, swinging her hands about in dramatic gestures as she spoke. “He’d better not’ve been taken by the magistrate again,” she muttered under her breath.

“The magistrate?” Anne asked, eyes wide and blinking. The girl’s explanation was getting more confusing by the minute.

“Aye.” Miss Claybourne tilted her head. “Beynon really told you nothing about him?” When Anne shook her head, the girl heaved a great sigh. “You’re aware that Beynon, Roderick, Colin, and I are all half siblings? Colin being our sire’s only legitimate offspring, of course,” she added with a dismissive wave of her hand. At Anne’s nod, she continued, “Well, there’s another brother born between Beynon and me. Max Owen. We only just managed to track him down a couple months ago and it turns out...” Dramatic pause. “He’s the feared leader of a criminal gang based in St. Giles, London.”

Anne gasped as the girl obviously intended judging by the theatrical drop in her tone as she confessed the last.

“Although Owen was thrilled at the idea of being yet another of the Earl of Wright’s bastards, he has no intention of leaving his gang. If Beynon and Colin had to run off to London in the middle of the night, I’ve no doubt it has something to do with Max, which means I should’ve been informed of it,” Miss Claybourne finished with a huff of exasperation.

Anne was shocked, and although she did her best not to show it, the girl gave her a knowing little smile. “It’s all right, Lady Anne. It is a wild tale, but true nonetheless. I just hope Max hasnae gotten into serious trouble. Again.”

“I’m certain Lord Wright and Mr. Thomas will be able to handle anything that might have occurred.”

“They’ll try, I ken. But it still upsets me when they leave me out of such things. And now that I think on it, it’s a wee bit odd Roderick didnae go along as well.”

There was a pause as the girl seemed to be thinking through something, but then her expression shifted into one of bright excitement.

“Are you looking forward to the ball tomorrow evening, Lady Anne?”

Anne blinked at the change in subject. She’d totally forgotten there was to be a ball in celebration of the end of the competition. “Yes, I suppose so,” she answered.

“Worthy and Colin are allowing me to come down and observe for a little while.”

Though the girl rolled her eyes dramatically at the word observe, it was clear she was excited by the opportunity not typically afforded a child her age.

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