He swallowed against the tightness in his throat. That would be one way to kill Mackenzie’s pursuit of Aurelia. Except he remembered her devastated expression when he tossed her scroll into the fire, and he knew that, for her, this would be far worse. She’d feel utterly betrayed if he revealed her secret. He couldn’t do it. Bloody hell. When had he started caring so much about her feelings?
Max didn’t agree with the risk that she was taking, but somewhere amid their arguing he finally understood. It was more than a hobby to her. It was a part of her and a calling, and as long as the world didn’t know she was behind the drawings she was utterly free to express herself with no fear of censure.
Except from me.
He had censured her, and suddenly he regretted that. He felt a little ill with the knowledge that he had destroyed something that was important to her.
He couldn’t reveal her secret to Mackenzie even if it meant saving her from the man.
“I’m just saying you don’t know each other very well.” He shrugged, attempting to defuse the implication that Aurelia had something to hide.
“I confess I’ve not made up my mind yet, but she is a tempting parcel. There is fire to her . . . as you undoubtedly know.” That eyebrow winged high again. “On that topic, how well do you know her, Camden?”
Max strode across the room and reached across the desk, grabbing Mackenzie by the edges of his jacket and yanking him halfway across the surface. “Have care how you speak of her. She is more than an tempting parcel. If you go near—”
The Scot laughed, seemingly unperturbed at being manhandled in his own home. Was there nothing that affected the bastard? He was cold, to be certain. “This is your brotherly concern, is it?” His eyes fastened on Max, hard as polished malachite. “She is but a lass. A tasty one, but I’ve not settled on her yet. As I’ve pointed out, I want position. If could buy a title, believe me, I would. It appears the closest I can get is marrying into a good family. The Earl of Merlton for a brother-in-law would be a nice prize.”
“You’ll not have Aurelia simply to lift your rank.” He flung Mackenzie back in his chair. “She’s worth more than that.”
She deserved more than that.
The idea came to him suddenly. Before he could fathom it or wonder at the origin of such a sentiment.
Mackenzie resettled his weight in his chair, smoothing a hand over the front of his jacket, and then corrected his mussed cravat. He did not reply for some time. He simply stared at Max as he traced the rim of the glass sitting on his desk with idle fingers. “I didna think you have any control over the matter. I’ve spoken with Aurelia and she would fit nicely into my plans. She has plans of her own, you see.”
“What do you know of her plans?” Max demanded, unaccountably angry with her for sharing anything of herself, including her thoughts, with this arrogant ass.
“She has no wish to rusticate in Scotland with her mother and doddering aunt. I know that much. I know she is amenable to the idea of marriage and not opposed to my courtship.”
She had shared all of that with him? His stomach cramped, imagining her in Mackenzie’s bed. Imaging this man’s hands on her, his mouth exploring her as he himself had only ever dreamed.
Hell no.
“It appears we are at a crossroads,” Mackenzie said. “I require a wife. Aurelia is amenable.” He lifted his glass. “May the best man win.”
“You don’t have her yet,” Max snarled.
Mackenzie shrugged. “You don’t want me to have her?” He rubbed his bottom lip before lifting his hand in a mild waving, gesture at Max. “Interesting. What shall we do about this situation?”