It works as it always has for me, 10.9.2, 3.5.1
If the order is ascending then the new version appears to the right of the version I have selected, if set to descending it appears to the left. (the normal default)
Where any image falls in the browser depends on the settings of the sort order for the browser. There has been no change in Mavericks or Aperture.
Perhaps I'm not understanding your situation.
Also your use of the term master here is confusing and unless you have pressed the M key wrong. You never see the original image you are always seeing a version of the original. As soon as Aperture imports a file it creates a version for display, version 0 if you will