Page 67 of The Beastly Earl

"No, he addressed me properly. My full name is Louisa Rockwood Morehouse, Viscountess Westwood."

Her quiet words made Mrs. Selkirk stare at her in astonishment as Louisa faced the woman. The surprise on Mrs. Selkirk's weathered features slowly changed to one of disappointment and disapproval. Louisa flinched as she met the woman's gaze before she turned and walked toward the open doorway. A harsh, indistinguishable whisper echoed from the bed, but Louisa didn't halt her progress.

"Lady Westbrook." At the housekeeper's call, Louisa looked over her shoulder. There was a hesitant expression on the woman's face, as she glanced down at Ewan then looked back at Louisa. "His lordship thanks you for saving his life and your willingness to take Ross with you when you leave today. Finn and McCallum will see that your belongings are brought down for your departure.

Louisa's heart shattered in her breast as she stared at the woman's suddenly sympathetic features. Nothing had changed between them. Not even the life and death situation they'd face together only moments ago had softened his heart or determination to rid himself of her. Unable to speak, she simply jerked her head in a nod. Tears threatening to reduce her to heart-rending sobs, Louisa turned away and hurried toward the door.

She was only a few feet from the room's threshold when Wallis MacCullaich ran into the room with McCallum close behind. The family retainer came to an abrupt halt in the doorway, effectively blocking Louisa's only exit. Wallis uttered a small cry of fear, and barely glanced at the dead man on the floor as she ran past Louisa to her nephew's bed. A look of shocked horror on his craggy features, the Scotsman stared at Mrs. Selkirk tending to Ewan.

"Sweet mither o' laird. Will he live?" the Scotsman ground out as his gaze focused on the bed."

"Aye, but he will be less than pleasant for a few days." The housekeeper's words made McCallum's expression a little less grim as he nodded. He cleared his throat.

"Does he know?" At the Scotsman's question, Wallis jerked her head up as Mrs. Selkirk glanced over her shoulder at McCallum and shook her head.

"I dinnae think so," the housekeeper replied as she looked across the bed at Ewan's aunt. Another muffled whisper floated through the air, and Wallis reached out to stroke Ewan's forehead.

"She's dead, Ewan. Mr. Brown tried to stop him, but Gilbert killed her, just as he tried to kill you." Wallis MacCullaich's voice was filled with sorrow. Another whisper floated from the bed, and Wallis shook her head. "Brown will live, although I think he might be worse off than you are.

Shock rippled through Louisa as she stared at Wallis MacCullaich bent over the bed. The dowager had been murdered. Louisa's gaze flitted toward the dead man lying on the floor near the foot of Ewan's bed. The newfound knowledge barely registered in her mind as the faces of the boys filled her head. Another wave of nausea swirled in her stomach, and she swayed on her feet.

"The boys," she whispered to herself. McCallum quickly stepped forward to steady her, and the Scotsman squeezed her arm in a reassuring manner.

"The laddies are quite safe, lass," he said gruffly. "I saw to them myself and left Finn to watch over them."

Despite the Scotsman's attempt to calm her fears she shook her head hard. The memory of the horrible screams echoing through the halls of the dowager's wing sent a tremor through her. The boys had to have heard the cries. She could only imagine how terrified they must still be. Caleb had said they would be safe, but she needed to hold them and reassure them the nightmare was over.

Louisa tugged free of the man's grip with a shake of her head. Quickly, she pushed past him and then Asadi who was stumbling to his feet in the hall. Running as fast as she could, she entered the dowager's wing a minute later. A stark silence had fallen on the hallway that was almost as terrifying as the screams she'd heard earlier.

The moment she entered the nursery, Wills cried out for her and raced across the room. Louisa sank to the floor with her arms outstretched, and the little boy threw himself into her embrace, his small arms wrapping tightly around her neck.

The older boys were only a few steps behind her youngest son, and she opened her arms wider to pull all three of them to her as close as she could. While Wills sobbed against her throat, Charlie and Ross simply hugged her back. Over the tops of their heads, Louisa met Finn's worried gaze.

"Thank you for staying with the boys, Finn. The danger has passed, and I'm sure McCallum will need you in Lord Argaty's rooms." Louisa's quiet words made the young man bob his head before he left her alone with the children.

Charlie was the first to pull away from her embrace and then Ross. A sudden look of horror crossed his face as he stared at her. Alarmed by his expression, Louisa stretched out her hand to him.

"What is it Charles?"

"You're bleeding, Mama," her son choked out in fear as he pointed toward her nightgown.

"What?"

Louisa stared at her son in confusion for a second then looked down at the front of her nightwear. It was smeared with Ewan's blood. Her stomach began to churn, and she closed her eyes against the sight. If she'd reached Ewan's room a few moments later he would be dead.

She'd been helpless to save Devin and Caleb, but she'd saved the life of another man she loved. The queasy sensation in her stomach intensified as she remembered the stab wounds on Ewan's chest and arm. Charlie's hand gripped her shoulder hard as she sank back down to sit on her heels.

"Wills, go find Finn. Ross, help me lay her down."

The strong, firm commands her oldest son issued made her eyes flutter open. The child sounded just like Sebastian when he was putting chaos into order. The thought tugged a small smile to her lips before she realized Wills was almost at the door. Alarm made her shake her head fiercely as she brushed off Charlie's hand. Once he'd secured help, Wills's intense curiosity might easily lead him to the dowager countess's room. He would only see death, and if Ewan's attack was similar to what had cost the dowager her life, she wasn't about to let her son see such a horrifying sight.

"No. Wills you are not to leave this room until I give you permission to do so, is that clear?"

Louisa directed a stern look over her shoulder at her son. Puzzlement and concern swept across his small face, and she was certain a look of disappointment flickered in his eyes. She'd been right to think her youngest wouldn't hesitate to investigate what was happening in the keep once he'd found help. She turned her head to see the startled looks on the older boys' faces.

"That goes for the two of you, as well." Louisa nodded toward the blood on her nightgown. "This isn't my blood. Lord Argaty had an…accident, and I helped him."

Relief then confusion and concern crossed Charlie's face. His bewilderment made Louisa wince as guilt swept through her. She'd brought the boys to the keep. She was supposed to protect her children, not put them in harm's way. The memory of Wallis MacCullaich calling Ewan's attacker by name made Louisa's heart skip a beat. The woman had known the murderer. When telling Ewan what had happened, she'd spoken as if Ewan also knew who Gilbert was. Why hadn't Ewan warned her? In the back of her head, a voice asked why she'd not told Ewan about the child she'd seen in her visions? She flinched as she met Charlie's gaze.