“Darling, I want to help you—”
Maggie spoke bravely, although all color had left her face. “Then tell me what you know. I have to clear the cobwebs that have subdued me and kept me prisoner these past years. Pray continue. I must hear all of it.” Her hands rested palms down, bracing for what he would tell her.
Max kept his hands on the top of hers. “There are two other important details that your father’s lockbox revealed.” His eyes held hers. “The first is that your uncle had a bastard child.”
“A child…out of wedlock? Uncle Silas? So, the rumor your mother spoke of could have some basis.” Her tone was incredulous.
He glanced over at Anna, who stared out the window at something that held her interest. Damn. He had almost forgotten she was there. “Anna, would you ask my mother to join us?”
“Yes, milord.” The maid left immediately. Shep stood, stretched, and followed Anna through the open door.
“I thought we needed a bit of privacy.” He lowered his voice. “What I am to tell you is sensitive. And I believe it is important.” He hesitated. “The child is Nash Slade.”
“What? Slade? That would make him my…cousin.” She gulped between words as she worked them out of her mouth. “That cannot be true.”
“The birth certificate we found today says otherwise.” He allowed that to settle. “My guess is that he wants that document, and he probably will not stop looking until he has it.”
“So Slade wants to kill me for a birth certificate?”
“We cannot say it is Slade for certain. Perhaps he is working with his father.” Max felt almost nauseous saying the words out loud. Silas was using his own son for his dirty deeds. That made the man lower than any excuse for a human being. It seemed crazy, but he felt a small bit of empathy for Slade. If they could prove he had sabotaged the carriage, Max would see him hanged. “Your uncle stands to inherit your home if he survives you, so that means you are in danger.”
She gasped. “But why? Dear God…do you think he really had my parents killed? I thought so but had only a hunch. He cast me out with no feeling. Father had mentioned he was no longer paying his brother’s debts and had ordered him to get help with gambling. I heard him and Mother arguing one night about it. Mother told Father to pay something because Uncle Silas frightened her. He said he would not and planned to meet with him the same week he died…” Her voice fell quiet as she said the last words.
“Meg, you must take this seriously. You yourself suspected your uncle. The deed provides a motive. If he had your parents murdered and knows that your death would free up the house for him to inherit, you are worth more to him dead than alive. He has already used you to pay a gambling debt. He no longer has a hold over you as a widow. He is doing his best to smear your reputation with suspicions of your involvement in your husband’s demise. Need I remind you we do not know who killed Tipton yet?”
“Did you say he offered a reward for information on my whereabouts?” Maggie inquired, almost breathless.
“Yes. According to Harlow, if you hang for the murder of your husband, it keeps his hands from getting dirtier.” Max nearly spit the words. “You are under my protection. Your uncle became a viscount only three years ago. Now we can show suspicion and motive around his gaining the title.” He took a breath. His mouth was a hard line. “According to Nizal, the authorities do not buy his story yet. They may want to talk to you, but they have taken no official action.” He said evenly. “Your death could line his pockets. We must get you away from here until we can resolve this. And by resolve, I mean trick him into confessing or showing his hand. I must think, but I cannot think if your life is hanging in the balance.”
“You…care for me?” She shook her head in disbelief.
“I do. I tried to get over you, to hate you, to forget you. But I never could.” He pulled her close. Tilting her face up to his, he brushed the tears away with his thumbs. Slowly, he traced the edges of her mouth. “I dream about this.” He leaned down and skimmed them lightly, then placed his lips firmly on hers, teasing them open with his tongue. He held her closer and met her tongue in a dance, each teasing and toying with the other, their breath mingling heatedly.
The door closed behind them, and Maggie barely broke from the kiss, her mouth hovering scarcely above Max’s.
“Who did that?” Maggie asked, her breath tickling his jaw.
“My mother, unless I miss my guess. She probably has Anna running errands and keeping the poor girl busy. Shep is probably in the kitchen being treated like royalty.” Max’s lips skimmed hers.
“Your mother wants us together?” Maggie persisted.
“More than anything. Her heart broke alongside mine when you left.” His finger touched her chin gently. “Now…where were we?”
“I believe, Lord Worsley, that you were kissing me,” Maggie answered lightly.
“Yes…I believe you are correct.” His lips lightly brushed hers, his tongue teasing hers. He leaned into the kiss, picking her up and moving to the settee. “How did you taste my kisses, feel the tattoo of my heart and the heat of my passion and not know my feelings?”
“I do not know. Perhaps I was protecting my heart.” She looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“How do you feel about giving us a chance?”
“I cannot believe this is happening. Yes!” A lone tear trailed down her face and she swiped at it.
Max’s lips met hers in a searing kiss. “I have missed you, Meg. I want you,” he
