Page 25 of The Beastly Earl

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?”