Page 33 of The Beastly Earl

“Wills, you and Charlie may set the table. Asadi and McCallum will be here in a moment with supper.” Louisa set a tray of cutlery and mugs down on the table and glanced over her shoulder. “Careful with the milk, please, Ross.”

Ewan turned his head slightly to see the boy carefully walking toward the table with a large pitcher in hand. As Ross set the pitcher on the table, Ewan recovered his wits and scowled at Louisa as she turned to face him.

“What the devil do you think you’re doing,” he snarled.

“As I recall, you agreed to have supper with me and the children if you lost our wager this afternoon, which you did. Since you refused to come to the nursery for supper, I’ve decided to collect my winnings here instead.”

“I said it was a tie,” Ewan muttered with displeasure.

“And I disagreed,” she said with a smile that made his chest tighten as the air in his lungs disappeared.

Before he could drag more air into his lungs and order her out of the room, Asadi and McCallum arrived with two trays filled with food. Turning away from him, she directed the Scotsman and Ewan’s self-proclaimed servant where to set the food on the table. On their way out the door, Asadi beamed a wide grin in his direction, but it was the amusement on McCallum’s face that made Ewan’s lip curl slightly in a silent snarl of irritation. As the door closed between two men, Louisa directed the boys where to sit, and began preparing plates for them.

“Come have supper, Ewan. You don’t want it to grow cold.” She looked over her shoulder at him, an irreverent smile on her sweet mouth. “It’s mutton pie. Mrs. Selkirk said it’s one of your favorites.”

Ewan grunted as he considered whether to ignore her dictates and go back to his desk. At this point, surrender seemed the better part of reason. If he tried to return to his accounts, the woman would hound him until he joined her and the boys. As he sat down at the table, the satisfaction that flitted across her face made him glare at her profile.

She added a helping of neeps and tatties next to his pie then carried the plate to where he sat at the head of the table. The moment she set the plate down in front of him, he caught her by the wrist and forced her to bend downward until their faces were mere inches apart. Electricity shot up his arm as he touched her.

He’d expected the shock, but not the strength of it. The scent of roses filled his nostrils as she turned her head to meet his gaze. Laughter danced in her hazel eyes, and her smile twisted his insides into knots. As they stared at each other, another emotion flickered to life in her eyes, and her mouth became a soft, sultry invitation.

It ignited a fire inside him that could easily spiral out of control if he allowed it to. God help him. He wanted her in his bed looking at him just as she did now. Almost as if she could read his mind, a flush of pink color swept across her cheeks, but it was the darkening of her eyes that entranced him. Was this what she would look like as he thrust his body into hers? The thought made his mouth tighten as he struggled to curb the desire hardening every one of his muscles.

“You have a habit of storming into my private sanctuary much in the way a mistress of the house might, Louisa,” he murmured as he heard his voice thicken with desire. Deliberately, he rubbed the inside of her wrist with his thumb. “If you persist, I’ll assume there is another room you intend to invade as well.”

A small tremor shook her body and vibrated against the palm of his hand. It sent another jolt of electricity crashing through him, and Ewan immediately released his hold on her. Although she was free of his restraint, the tension in the air held her frozen at his side. Heat filled the space between them, and the awareness he saw flashing in her eyes was a familiar one. It was a sensation he’d already come to accept as natural whenever he was near her.

In the next instant, her gaze narrowed on his, and her mouth thinned with irritation. Straightening upright with a small jerk, she glared down at him before walking away to grab a mug off a dinner tray. She walked back to his side, and with a restrained, yet vicious, gesture set it down hard in front of him.

Beer sloshed out onto the table, and her lips curved upwards in a disdainful smile before she stalked away from him. Unable to help himself, Ewan released a loud laugh, which earned him a blistering glare from her as she moved toward her seat. Louisa Morehouse was apparently accustomed to having her own way, and he’d turned the tables on her. Louisa seated herself opposite him and continued to glare at him.

“Are you all right, Mama?” Wills asked with a frown. “You look angry.”

“I am angry, my darling, but not with you.” Louisa reached out to squeeze her son’s hand and offered him a reassuring smile. The moment her gaze fell back on Ewan, her glare returned.

Although he’d not been happy to see Louisa show up unannounced with the children in tow, truth was he was beginning to enjoy himself. Louisa’s demeanor was enough to thwart conversation, and everyone ate their dinner in quiet. They were halfway through the meal when Louisa’s anger began to abate as she broke the silence.

“Are the three of you enjoying your riding lessons?”

At her question, the solemn expressions on the faces of the boys relaxed into cheerful smiles and excited chattering. To his surprise, he actually liked the noise. His gaze fell on Ross, and the broad grin on the boy’s face startled him. Louisa had only been here for a short while, but in that time she’d managed a transformation in Ross that amazed him as much as it shamed him. He should have recognized sooner the child’s need for affection and companionship with other children. He grimaced as he realized he’d inflicted his own painful childhood on the boy.

“Charlie and Wills are both excellent riders, Mrs. Morehouse.” Although Ross’s voice wasn’t as loud as the other two boys, it had a happy note to it that sent another blast of shame through Ewan.

“You have the makings of an exceptional horseman as well, Ross,” he said gruffly as he skewered the last bite of Scotch pie on his plate. As he popped the meat pastry into his mouth, he saw the wide-eyed disbelief and pleasure lighting up Ross’s face. The child looked as if he’d just been given a present.

“Thank you, Father,” the child said with a happy smile. Ewan winced slightly and reached for his beer.

“I think it’s time McCallum finds a more suitable mount for you. A plow horse is not the best choice for refining one’s riding skills,” he paused slightly as he looked over the rim of his cup at Louisa. “Charlie and Wills will have one too.”

The table erupted with excitement, as the boys cried out a chorus of thanks before discussing the possible choices of animal the family retainer would select for them. Opposite him, Louisa's expression of surprise gave way to a warm smile of approval that gave him a rush of pleasure. The moment the sensation spread through him, Ewan frowned.

Louisa Morehouse was a formidable woman when it came to getting her way. Her brother had been right. Louisa never asked permission, only forgiveness, and he was beginning to realize how well that strategy worked for her—especially where he was concerned. Ewan shoved his plate away from him in a rough gesture and rose to his feet.

“I have work to do. Work that requires quiet.” He deliberately focused his eye on Louisa. She frowned at his abruptness, but nodded a silent agreement.

Satisfied his request would be honored, Ewan walked back to his desk. As he sank down into his chair, he opened the ledger he’d been working on before his unexpected guests had arrived. A quiet sound at the edge of large desk made him look up to see Ross standing in front of him.

“What is it, Ross?” he asked quietly as he studied the boy.