Page 70 of The Beastly Earl

"Mama says we're going to the Abbey and Ross is coming with us."

"Is he now," Sebastian said with a smile as he chucked his nephew lightly under his chin then set the boy down.

As he lifted his head, he met Constance's eyes and frowned as she tipped her head slightly in Ross Colquhoun's direction. His sister's expression told him there was more to his nephew's matter-of-fact declaration than had been said. Sebastian's gaze fell on the future Earl of Argaty who stood just inside the doorway with a stoic expression on his face as Charlie pulled the boy forward.

"Ross, you met my Uncle Sebastian when he brought us to the keep, and this is my Uncle Percy and my Aunt Constance, Countess of Lyndham."

"Good morning, my lords, my lady," the boy said as he bowed slightly.

His nephew had barely finished his introductions when Sebastian saw a movement out of the corner of his eye. The moment he saw Louisa, he clenched his jaw at her wan appearance. Her eyes were red and swollen, but her expression was serene and composed. She walked forward and hugged Sebastian then kissed his cheek.

"Thank you for coming for us, Sebastian."

"Did I not once swear by the sword and blood of Angus Stewart that I would always be here when you needed me?" he said softly.

Sebastian smiled down at her, hoping to hear a soft laugh at the vow the two of them had used since she was a little girl. It had always been a way for Louisa to extract his promise to do something. On more than one occasion, he'd sworn the oath to end her relentless nagging, simply for a moment's peace. In most instances, regret would follow later when his promise forced him to follow through on whatever she'd wanted him to do.

The gentle reminder of his brotherly and paternal love for her was met with only a small smile. Sorrow tightened his chest. The Louisa of old who'd charged into this same room only a few weeks ago with a bright smile and mischievous sparkle in her hazel eyes had disappeared once more. A bolt of anger crashed through him. The next time he saw the Earl of Argaty he would whittle the man down to size, preferably in public.

"Come. Everyone is waiting for you and the boys at the Abbey. It's Christmas Eve tomorrow, and you know how much Aunt Matilda loves the holiday," he said with a cheerfulness he didn't feel at the moment. "She's already planned several activities for the children, and heaven knows what mayhem I'll need to bring order to."

This time his words tugged a soft laugh from her. Louisa shook her head as she wrinkled her nose at him and smiled.

"You love every minute of it, and you know it," she teased.

For a brief moment, Sebastian saw the sister he remembered before the fire at Westbrook, but she vanished in the next breath. Her features became pensive, as she looked around him at where his nephews and the earl's son were chattering like magpies with Constance and Percy. Apparently satisfied everyone else was oblivious to their conversation, she looked up at him with a small frown then began to nibble at her bottom lip. It was a familiar expression that said she was about to tell him something he wouldn't like.

"I need to tell you about Ross," she said quietly. "Ew—Lord Argaty has given me permission to take him with me."

"Spending the holidays with us, away from all this tragedy will take the boy's mind off of the loss of his grandmother."

"No, you don't understand." Louisa shook her head and winced as she met his gaze then looked away. "Ross will be living with me for the foreseeable future."

"Foreseeable future?" Sebastian frowned slightly. He could understand Louisa bringing the boy with them until the new year, but somehow he didn't think that's what she meant.

"He'll be living with us as if he were my own son until he and Charlie go off to school together. Even then he will continue to be a part of my family—the Rockwood family."

"Until—what the devil are you thinking, Louisa?" he bit out softly between clenched teeth. "You cannot just kidnap the child. He's the earl's son."

"It's far too involved to delve into now, I just wanted you to know before we returned to the abbey."

"You mean give me time to stew over the matter until you begin to appease me and override my objections," he growled with irritation.

It was a strategy Louisa used often, knowing it would work with him and anyone else she wanted to persuade to a particular plan. Aware she'd aroused his anger, she squeezed his arm with a strength that made him wince slightly at the minor pain it caused. Her hazel eyes met his, and there was a look of desperation in her gaze that alarmed him.

"You have always given way to me in this or that scheme I've concocted over the years, Sebastian, but this is different. Ross needs me, and I need him." For a moment it appeared she might cry before the Rockwood obstinance and determination settled on her face. "If ever there were a time I needed you to believe in me, it's now. I promise never to ask anything of you again, if you'll simply accept my decision in this matter without objection."

"He's the future Earl of Argaty, Louisa. You can't simply—" Sebastian drew in a sharp breath as her fingers dug even more painfully into his muscles.

"The Lord Argaty has agreed to the arrangement, and I'll have your word that you'll not try to interfere or change my mind about any of this. I can barely—swear it." The ferocity and pain in his sister's voice alarmed him. What the hell had happened in this place since the last time he'd been here?

"Swear it, Sebastian. Now."

"I swear by the sword and blood of Angus Stewart that I'll offer up no objection to the arrangement."

The moment he vowed to follow her wishes, she uttered a small noise of emotion he couldn't decipher. A second later she pressed herself into his chest with a sob that would have been inaudible if it had not reverberated its way into him. It was at that moment he experienced for a second time in his life the rage that had taken hold of him more than ten years ago when Helen had been kidnapped by the Marquess of Templeton.

His muscles became painfully taut as he struggled not to charge up the stairs to finish the job the earl's brother had begun. The only thing that held him back was the knowledge that Louisa would never forgive him if he were to harm the man.