Page 81 of Seducing the Knave

Chapter Twenty-three

Rather than walking up to the front door of the Mayfair mansion, Max approached via the mews, striding through the extensive gardens to a rear entrance. Though it was midday, he already knew from one of the men he had posted across the street that the elegant house’s residents were home. After entering the house, he strode boldly along the corridors to the entry hall, where the butler gave him a sharp look of disapproval.

“Mr. Owen,” he intoned.

“Shaw.” Max tugged at his forelock and flashed a grin of obvious irreverence. “Is the minx about?”

It looked like the senior servant wished to deny it, but he gave a nod. “Miss Claybourne is in the music room, I believe. If you’ll wait in the parlor, I’ll—”

“No need,” Max interrupted as he started up the wide, sweeping staircase two at a time. “I know me way.”

The butler gave a soft scoff of annoyance, but he didn’t bother trying to stop him. Not when Caillie had made it quite clear that Max was welcome any time. But the man would undoubtedly go straight to the earl to inform him of Max’s arrival so he’d probably only have a few minutes alone with the girl.

The music room was one of his sister’s favorites in the house and Max had visited her there often. He heard the distracted run of notes coming from a pianoforte long before he saw Caillie seated on the bench in the corner of the room. As soon as he appeared in the doorway, she leapt to her feet and flew across the room to launch herself into a quick hug.

It had taken Max a long while to grow accustomed to the chit’s boisterous displays of affection. And Caillie knew it well...not that his discomfort made a jot of difference. She was a determined sort and not one to back down from something she wanted. And for some reason, she’d decided she wanted to treat Max as a true brother despite the years they hadn’t even known the other existed and especially despite their very different places in the world.

“Max!” Caillie exclaimed as she stepped back with a wide smile. “What a wonderful surprise!”

“Ain’t it, though,” Max replied, smiling despite himself. “I thought ye’d be in the country a while longer.”

“We would’ve done, but it just wasnae as much fun after you left,” she explained with an accusing glance, “so I begged Colin and Worthy to return to town.”

“D’ye always get yer way, minx?”

“Almost never,” she declared before her wide smile belied the reply.

His sister was looking bright and fresh this morning...despite her little act of rebellion the day before. He forced a scowl. “Ye’ve been misbehaving again.”

Caillie rolled her eyes then held up her fingers in a pinching gesture. “Mayhap just a wee bit.”

“I’ve told ye not to come round me place without me permission.”

“Aye”—she nodded before turning away to pick up a mandolin from a nearby stand—“I reckon you did say something like that.” She plucked at a couple of strings and glanced at Max from the corner of her eye. “But if I dinnae, I wouldnae be able to visit nearly as often as I do.”

“That’s the point,” he noted.

She made a brief pouty face before she lifted her brows and flashed a quick smile. “I also likely wouldnae’ve met your bonny new friend.”

Max narrowed his gaze though he should’ve known his sister would get right to the point. “Ye weren’t s’posed to meet her.”

Caillie set the mandolin aside and placed her hands on her hips. “Why not? She seems like a verra lovely lady.” She tilted her head. “Though a bit put out, to be honest. I suspect she was a wee bit suspicious of my visit. Nay, not suspicious,” she corrected as her lips curved slyly. “Jealous, more like.”

Max gave a rough snort as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Ain’t yer business.”

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