Page 14 of The Beastly Earl

“I am the Dowager Countess of Argaty. And you are?” The woman arched one eyebrow as she eyed Louisa with dislike.

The sudden image of a young boy filled Louisa’s head. She was certain it was the same boy she’d seen in her dreams, but the forlorn expression on his face made her heart ache. The child was in desperate need of love. It was an emotion this woman withheld from all those around her, including the child.

Without thinking twice, Louisa gave the woman her married name, deliberately omitting her title. She had no idea why she’d done so, she’d simply followed her instincts. Almost as if she could tell Louisa wasn’t being completely truthful, the dowager countess narrowed her eyes at her. Not even her childhood harridan of a governess, Miss Crimwald, had ever looked so sternly at her.

“Well, Mrs. Morehouse. You’ve managed to turn this household upside down since your arrival.” The woman pinned a look of disapproving appraisal on her, which puzzled Louisa. It wasn’t as if she’d planned on coming to Argaty.

“I am sorry, my lady. I can assure you it was not my intent. I was on my way to Callendar Abbey—”

“That’s several miles north, why would you have left Doune Road to come here to Argaty?” The cold question immediately set Louisa’s teeth on edge.

“Our wagon broke an axle, and my driver was hurt. I decided to ride for help, but lightning made my horse bolt, and he threw me in the process.”

“And yet you somehow managed to ride in the direction of Argaty.”

“If by that you mean I failed to control a frightened animal and as a result was knocked unconscious when I landed on the ground then you would be correct,” Louisa said through clenched teeth.

It was all too apparent as to why her aunt didn’t care for the dowager countess. Struggling to contain the anger bubbling up inside her at the woman’s unpleasant manner, Louisa managed to keep her response polite—barely. She knew Sebastian would commend her restraint, especially when what she really wanted to do was to give the woman a scathing response to her blatant accusation. The implication that she’d purposefully chosen to ride Tulipan in the direction of Argaty was absurd, particularly when she’d had no idea where the Keep was.

“You are either very brave or very foolish, Mrs. Morehouse, if you really are a widow.” The woman’s contemptuous words made Louisa stare at the woman with indignant astonishment before she slowly stood up to face her.

“I lost my husband in a fire almost three years ago, my lady. That you suggest otherwise is not only rude, but cruel.” Louisa met the woman’s gaze coldly as she tilted her chin upward in defiance. If she’d expected even a small measure of respect for not being intimidated, Louisa was wrong. The woman’s gaze swept over her in open contempt. Without apologizing for her insult, the dowager countess turned to the woman standing beside Louisa.

“I shall leave Mrs…Morehouse in your capable hands, Mrs. Selkirk.” The woman’s pause was another deliberate insult, and Louisa drew in a sharp breath of anger.

The only reason she failed to reply with a scornful retort was because she was too amazed at the woman’s blatant dislike and disdain. If Sebastian were here, even he would have trouble being polite to this woman. Deep inside Louisa wished her eldest brother was here. Although she was quite capable of standing up for herself, Sebastian had the ability to condemn and silence someone with just a look.

Louisa had absolute faith in the Earl of Melton’s ability to make the dowager countess wilt beneath his withering gaze. Regrettably, her brother’s talent was one she’d never mastered. With the bitter taste of outrage in her mouth, Louisa watched the dowager countess turn and walk toward the door. The woman had gone only a few steps when she looked over her shoulder at Mrs. Selkirk.

“And see to it she has some nightwear as it appears she’ll be with us for at least one more night. I understand from my sister that the woman wore no clothes while my son cared for her.”

As the woman walked out of the room, Louisa was unable to offer any form of irate retort as she stared at the door in horror. Dear God, the Earl of Argaty had been her nursemaid, and she’d been naked while he cared for her. A tremor shot through her, and the moment she swayed on her feet, Mrs. Selkirk quickly wrapped an arm around her waist. The plump woman gently encouraged Louisa to sink down onto the bed.

“There now, lass. Don’t ye be minding the countess and her cruel words. She only has ice where her heart is supposed to be, that one does,” Mrs. Selkirk muttered with disgust. “Come now, why don’t ye get back into bed. Maggie brought a nightgown for ye.”

“No,” Louisa said firmly. “I need to know that my driver is all right. Someone needs to go to Doune Road and see to his care. He’s been out there all night.”

“All night, lass?” Mrs. Selkirk eyes widened. “But his lordship brought ye tae Argaty two nights ago. The burns were too high to cross, and we couldn’t fetch the doctor from Dunblane. The earl learned how tae treat fevers while he was in the East fighting the savages. The mon barely slept trying to make ye well.”

“Two days?” Louisa gasped as she stared up at the woman in horror. “Oh dear God. If no one found the wagon or Fergus…he could be dead.”

“I doubt that, dearie. A little rain never hurt a Scotsman. I’m sure the mon will be all right.” Mrs. Selkirk patted her hand in a comforting gesture. “Here now, eat your porridge, and I’ll go find McCallum to send someone out tae look for your driver.”

With one last pat of Louisa’s hand, the woman hurried from the room. Louisa watched the door close behind the woman then turned toward the breakfast tray. The thought of food made her nausea return, and she slowly stood up to unsteadily make her way toward a nearby chair.

As she sank down into the cushions, she sighed with relief. She probably should have crawled back under the covers, but she was already dressed. Tucked under the covers would only make her restless, even if she were still feeling ill. She had always been a terrible patient. A point all her siblings, and even Devin, had stressed on the rare occasions she’d been unwell.

Eyes closed, she knew how frantic her family must be at the moment. They would be reacting the same way all of them had when Percy had gone missing just a few months after the fire. When she hadn’t arrived at Callendar Abbey, she knew either Alfred or Mrs. Campbell would have found a way to begin a search. The family retainers would have sent a telegram to London the moment she couldn’t be found.

The entire family would be in a state of panic at her disappearance. The fire had made everyone deeply aware of how short life was. She needed to send a note to the abbey telling everyone where she was and that she was safe. A soft sound made her jerk her head toward a darkened corner of the room.

“Who’s there? Show yourself this minute,” she snapped more out of frustration than fear.

Louisa was certain there were plenty of dead souls roaming the earl’s home, but she was more than a match for any ghost at the moment given her level of anger at her situation and the dowager’s antipathy. At her command, a young boy stepped into the dim light provided by the fire. Louisa drew in a sharp breath. The child from her dreams.

For a moment they simply stared at each other in silence, and she wondered if the boy was a spirit before she saw his chest move as he drew in a breath. He appeared to be the same age as Charlie, but he had a serious air about him that was unnatural for one so young. A shock of dark red hair with brownish undertones highlighted his pale features.

Tall and slenderly built, she could see his blue eyes were bright and steady as he met her gaze. But it was his solemn manner that troubled her the most. She was so accustomed to her sons’ cheerful smiles and the happy sounds of children playing whenever she was at Melton House. This boy appeared to possess none of those qualities.