by Monica Burns
Sebastian arched his brow at her as he eyed her with a skeptical expression. Under any other circumstances he would most likely have teased her about the money she spent on clothes. Instead, he grimaced slightly.
“Can we expect you for Christmas?” Sebastian’s question didn’t surprise her, and with an apologetic sigh, she shook head.
“Ross told me he’s never seen a Christmas tree before, and I thought I’d make the day special for him.” The moment disappointment crossed her brother’s face Louisa touched his arm in a placating gesture. “I’m doing the right thing Sebastian. Please trust me.”
“Patience and Constance did warn me you might not be with us for the holiday,” Sebastian said wryly as his mouth twisted into a half-smile, half-grimace. “It will not be the same without you and the boys at the—house.”
“Would you like me to ask Mrs. Selkirk to make some tea before you go? While it’s not my home, I know she won’t mind.”
“No. I told Helen I would meet her and the children at the train station. The three of them can be a handful when traveling, and I—”
“Traveling from where?”
The curiosity in Wallis MacCullaich’s soft voice drifted into the main hall as the woman emerged from the hallway leading to the back of the keep. Startled, Louisa quickly turned to face the woman. Dear heavens, what had Wallis overheard? Her brain frantically reviewed the brief exchange between her and Sebastian. Had they said anything the woman might find suspicious?
“Not so much where, ma’am, but how,” Sebastian said with a conciliatory smile. Wallis narrowed her gaze at him then looked at Louisa in the silent expectation of an introduction.
“If I may Miss MacCullaich, this is my oldest brother, Sebastian Rockwood.”
“Welcome, Mr. Rockwood. I hope your travels aren’t too much of a tribulation.” There was an inquisitive gleam in the woman’s eye as she studied Sebastian’s face.
“My wife and I have three children, Miss MacCullaich.” Amusement relaxed her brother’s features as his lips quirked upward in a slight smile. “Traveling is always an adventure with our offspring, yet I still find traveling immensely pleasurable where my family is concerned.”
“Where are you travelling to, Mr. Rockwood?”
The woman’s persistent line of questioning seemed innocent, but Wallis’s intense curiosity caused Louisa’s muscles to tighten with tension. Despite Wallis’s good-hearted nature, Louisa knew the dowager countess would expect a full report from her sister. The two women had an odd relationship despite being sisters.
Ewan’s mother treated her sister as coldly as she did everyone else, perhaps even more so. For whatever reason, Wallis never protested, and Louisa wondered if the woman was paying penance for some past transgression. Now as she stared at Wallis in surprise, Sebastian shook his head, his cordial expression not changing even for a split instant.
“My aunt lives close to Edinburgh, and we’re to spend the holiday with her. I came north early to bring the boys to Louisa.”
The disingenuous reply forced Louisa to bite down on the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling at her brother’s artful response. It was at least a two-hour trip from Callendar Abbey to Edinburgh.
Oh, that sounds lovely.” Warmth and something that could only be described as relief crossed Wallis’s face as she smiled at them. Her gaze swung back to Louisa. “Will you and your children be joining your brother’s family?”
“I thought the boys and I would spend the holiday here instead. As I was just telling Sebastian, Ross told me he’s never seen a Christmas tree, and I—”
“Oh dear, we don’t celebrate Christmas. Elspeth has never liked the holiday ever since—” Wallis stopped abruptly and paled before continuing. “I’m surprised Ewan hasn’t mentioned this to his mother or me.”
“Actually, I’ve not discussed the matter with Lord Argaty yet.”
“What hasn’t been discussed with me?”
The brusque question made Louisa turn sharply toward the man walking through the front door. The earl was a towering figure beneath the front hall’s high ceiling, and Louisa’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. All the other times she’d been in his company, it had been in the shadows of his study.
He’d been an imposing figure then, but today he exemplified the image of a man born to lead, even in spite of his injuries. She was certain anyone crossing him would regret doing so. A dark brown jacket emphasized the muscular breadth of his shoulders, while below the dark blue and green tartan of his kilt were sleek, well-toned, calves.
In the shadows of his study, his hair had looked like raven’s feathers, but in the light of day, she realized it was actually a dark sable color. It fell casually around his face and softened his rugged, battle-scarred features. The black leather gloves he wore hid the mechanical fingers that replaced his missing hand, while his eye patch seemed to make his blue-gray gaze all the more piercing.
He was magnificent.
The thought made her draw in a sharp breath of dismay as she met the earl’s gaze. Dear lord, what on earth had made such a description pop up in her head. Almost as if he could read her mind, the earl narrowed his gaze on her, and she could feel her cheeks growing hot. Something close to mocking amusement darkened his eye color, and this time her cheeks burned even hotter. Eager to divert his attention away from her, she turned toward Sebastian.
“Sebastian, this is Ewan Colquhoun, the Earl of Argaty. My lord, my brother, Sebastian Rockwood.” A somber expression on his face, her brother glanced downward at the insignia on Ewan’s belt as he stepped forward with his hand outstretched.
“I’m honored to shake the hand of a member of the Black Watch. It’s a fine and noble regiment.”
Louisa stiffened slightly at her brother’s quiet words. McCallum had told her the earl had served in the middle east for almost ten years, but had never mentioned the Black Watch. The regiment was legendary for its bravery and fighting skills in every battle they’d fought for more than a century. The respect and sincerity on her brother’s face was in direct contrast to Ewan’s expression. His features had hardened into an unreadable mask as he stared at Sebastian’s outstretched hand, and it took him several seconds to grip her brother’s hand in a firm handshake.
“Mr. Rockwood.” Ewan bobbed his head in a brusque greeting. His expression still unreadable, he turned toward her. “There’s a matter you wish to discuss with—”
“She wants to celebrate Christmas, Ewan,” his aunt exclaimed with dismay.
Louisa glanced at the woman for a brief moment then turned toward her employer. The irritation darkening the earl’s face sent a small chill of misgiving streaking down her spine. She should have spoken to him about the holiday the other day when she’d had his attention. He didn’t look pleased about this new development at all.
“My sister, like most of my siblings, has a habit of asking forgiveness rather than permission, my lord.” The laughter in his voice made Louisa frown at Sebastian with irritation, but he wasn’t fazed in the least by her glare. “Now, if you’ll forgive me, I must be off.”
Startled, Louisa stared at her brother in silent horror. He was actually going to leave her here alone to face the earl’s displeasure. With an unremorseful smile, Sebastian’s dark brown eyes held more than a twinkle of amusement. It was obvious her brother believed that she was about to regret not asking permission first.
Sebastian gave her a quick hug and kissed her cheek before saying his goodbyes to the boys. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, her brother had disappeared through the front door. A small tremor rippled through her as she faced the earl’s disapproval alone, and the frown on his face was a clear indicator the man was unhappy with her. Unwilling to argue with him in front of his aunt, Louisa quickly turned toward the boys in preparation to retreat. At that precise moment, Wills charged forward to stand in front of the earl.
“Are you a pirate?” the boy asked with matter-of-fact curiosity.
; Both Louisa and Wallis gasped in horror at the boy’s question. Mortified, Louisa took a quick step forward to admonish her son. With a wave of his mechanical hand, Ewan silently ordered her not to move as he focused his gaze on Wills. Although his expression revealed no emotion, she saw Ewan’s mouth twitch slightly. Was the man actual attempting to refrain from smiling?
“No, but I suppose I could be,” he said in a voice that held a distinct sound of laughter.
Astonished by the possibility her son’s question had amused him, Louisa stared at the earl in bewilderment. Not once had she seen him display such pleasantry and tolerance to his son. The realization sent anger spiraling through her.
What sort of man could be so kind to her son, yet have such a callous disregard for his own child? Ross and Charlie had stepped forward to watch the exchange between the two, and Louisa glanced down at the earl's son. The pain of rejection on the boy’s face only increased her anger.
“Mama wrote to Aunt Patience that you have a mechanical hand.” At her son’s audacious comment, an unreadable look crossed Ewan’s face. He cast a quick look in Louisa’s direction before returning his gaze back at the boy in front of him.
“I do have a mechanical hand. I wear a glove to hide it as it frightens people.”
“May I see it? I’m not afraid.”
“That’s quite enough, William Wallace Morehouse,” Louisa choked out in mortification as she took a step forward. “Apologize to his lordship.”
“For what, Mama? I just asked him a question.”
“There is no apology needed when it comes to curiosity,” Ewan said quietly as his gaze settled on Louisa. “I’ll let you see to settling your boys in their rooms. When you’ve finished, come to my study.”
It was a command that indicated he would come find her if she failed to obey. The man had no worries on that count. She intended to rake him over the coals when it came to the vast difference in his treatment of his own son and Wills. Beneath her glare, an eyebrow quirked upward in a questioning manner before a cynical gleam of humor darkened his gaze. With a sharp bob of her head, Louisa confirmed her understanding of the command then turned to usher the boys upstairs.
§ § §
Several hours later, Louisa knocked on the door to the earl’s study. She’d delayed as long as she could in order to allow her anger to cool to a reasonable level. Ross’s cheerful expression as he helped Wills and Charlie put away their belongings had made it difficult, but she’d succeeded. As she’d watched the children and their friendly banter, her anger had slowly abated.
In its place was the determination not to jeopardize her position. She’d already been subjected to Ewan’s anger once before when it came to the boy. If she challenged him too fiercely she might be dismissed. That was something she couldn’t allow to happen if she was to help Ross. The best course of action was to tread lightly.
At the earl’s abrupt command to enter, Louisa stiffened her back and entered the room. The afternoon sun had set, and the study was softly lit by two oil lamps and a blazing fire. Asadi was arranging place settings on a table, while the earl stood in front of a tall reading table.
The top of the furniture had a small flat shelf that one of the lamps sat on. The remaining surface was angled downward to serve as a resting place for the open book he was reading. Other than it was structured like a table, it reminded her of a parson’s pulpit. The boy looked up and grinned at her as she came to a halt a short distance from the door.
“You should be finished by now, Asadi.” Ewan didn’t even looked in the boy’s direction as he issued his gruff admonishment. Asadi looked in the earl’s direction, his features reflecting hero worship.
“Yes, Argaty sahib.”
With a bow of respect to his employer first and then Louisa, the boy made one last adjustment to the table before he was gone, and the study door quietly closed behind him.
Silence filled the room, and when the earl didn’t speak, Louisa glanced around her surroundings. It was a male domain not unlike Sebastian’s, but where her brother’s study was uncluttered, the earl’s had stacks of books everywhere. The man clearly loved to read. Louisa’s gaze swept back to where he sat on a tall stool, his head bent as though deeply engrossed in the book.
Instinctively she knew he wasn’t really reading. He was deliberately using silence as a means of intimidating her. Throughout her childhood, all her brothers had tried to use silence as a form of disapproval where she was concerned. They’d eventually learned it was a tactic that garnered them nothing where she was concerned. One Scottish earl was no match for her stubborn refusal to be intimidated or bullied. Just like her brothers had learned, this man would eventually be forced to confront her directly if he had something to say.
The soft rustle of a page turning drifted through the air as she watched the man continue to peruse the book in front of him. He’d removed his jacket from earlier, and she could see his back muscles harden beneath the vest that covered his shoulders and the white shirt underneath. She bit back a smile of complacent satisfaction. Clearly the Earl of Argaty was surprised at her ability to wait patiently while he ignored her. Another page rustled softly in the air as Louisa watched him turn another page.
“You weren’t this quiet the first time you entered my study, Louisa Morehouse.”
The lilting burr in his voice was a caress against her senses, and she drew in a quick, soft breath at how her body reacted to the sound of her name rolling off his lips. She swallowed hard and chastised herself for feeling anything but irritation where he was concerned.
“Since you were the one who summoned me to your study, I presumed you would eventually say what you needed to say.”
Louisa bit down on her lower lip to keep from smiling as she saw him jerk slightly. With controlled, deliberate movements he closed the book he’d been reading and turned to face her. Without warning, a thousand butterflies filled her stomach as she unexpectedly experienced the urge to flee the room.
In the fire light, he did look like the pirate Wills had suggested he was. There was an air about him that triggered an immediate, tangible reaction inside her as she met his piercing gaze. If the man suddenly chose to appear in London society, she was certain almost every woman in the Set would seek out his company simply to learn if he was as dangerous as he looked. The thought reminded her of her observation this afternoon.
He was the type of man who expected his orders to be obeyed. Although his appearance might repel some women, it was the sheer magnetism and raw power he exuded that would make him stand out among other men in the Set. Even his burr would create a stir in most women. Mocking laughter filled the back of her head. Most women? She’d already discovered she wasn’t immune to the sound of his voice.
Despite the unsettling sensation flooding through her body, she didn’t move. Almost as if he knew her senses were in a state of complete disarray, his sensual mouth tipped slightly upward at the corners. It was barely a smile but Louisa was certain he believed she was unsettled by the silence between them and found it amusing. She was most definitely feeling uneasy at the moment, but not by his silence. She ignored the significance of the thought.
“I believe there was a matter you wished to discuss with me.” Arrogance and a whisper of mockery filled his voice. Irritated by her reaction to him and his amusement, she glared at him.
“I would like to put up a Christmas tree in the main hall.”
“You want to do what?” His bewildered look of surprise made it obvious his aunt hadn’t spoken to him about her plans.
“I would like to have a Christmas tree placed in the parlor for the holiday. You do know what they are, don’t you?” A part of her couldn’t resist mocking him as he’d done to her seconds ago.
“Of course I know what a Christmas tree is,” he muttered in a clipped tone. “We’ve just never had one at Argaty Keep.”
“I know Christmas celebrations in Scotland are quiet affairs, if celebrated at all, but I’m accustomed
to celebrating and having a tree. Ross said he’d never seen one, and I thought he would enjoy it.” Louisa watched an odd expression flash across his face. For a brief moment he looked lost before his sharp, angular features became stoic again. She tipped her head to one side.
“Do you have any objection?”
“No,” he said in an abrupt manner. “I’ll have Finn find a fresh pine and bring it into the house.”
“Actually, I thought I would let the boys choose a tree together. But I’ll gladly accept Finn’s assistance in chopping it down.”
“Then I’ll see to it that he’s at your disposal.”
“Thank you.” Louisa bit down on her lip debating whether or not to express the thought that had just popped into her head. She jumped slightly when he made a quiet sound of exasperation.
“Out with it, Louisa.” The fact that he used her first name so easily registered somewhere in the back of her mind.
“I thought perhaps you might join us.”
The moment her words flew past her lips, his entire body grew stiff with tension. In a split second, he seemed to grow in stature and presence that made the intimidation she’d experienced earlier nothing compared to now. The cold anger radiating off him now was similar to his reaction the night she’d confronted him here in his study. It didn’t make any sense.
“Why the devil would I do that?”
“It would be a sign to Ross that you care about him.”
“Are you questioning the way I tend to the boy’s welfare?” he growled.
“Yes.” She glared at him. “Ross needs—”
“Does the boy have a roof over his head? Is he fed well? Does he lack suitable clothing? Does he lack the means of an education now or in the future at a suitable school? Exactly what is it you think the boy lacks?”
“He needs his father. He needs you to take some interest in him,” she said fiercely as she leaned forward and poked him in the chest.
