Page 72 of The Beastly Earl

"What is it?" he asked as he briefly glanced at the item in the boy's hand before picking up another book to determine if it was one he wanted to take with him.

"Morehouse sahibah left it for you."

Ewan froze then turned his head to stare down at the square package in the boy's hand. Slowly, he took the gift from his self-appointed manservant and sank down into his desk chair.

"Leave me," Ewan said harshly with a sharp wave of his hand while his gaze remained focused on the wrapped gift in his hand.

An image of Louisa formed in his head as he remembered her courage in the face of his half-brother's insanity. He couldn't recall how he'd retrieved his pistol from his nightstand. The only thing he could remember was his fear that Gilbert would kill her, and that he would give his life to keep that from happening. Suddenly aware that Asadi had not moved, Ewan raised his head to eye the young man with annoyance. The boy didn't flinch beneath Ewan's glare.

"Argaty sahib has not said when we leave." The stubborn look on Asadi's face made Ewan frown with growing irritation.

"I've already said you will not be going with me."

"I must go with Argaty sahib. You will need me."

"No, I do not need you. I explained all this yesterday. You are to remain here where the village schoolmaster will teach you how to do math and read English. McCallum will teach you how to manage the keep and its property."

"Where Argaty sahib goes, Asadi goes." The young man's posture was straight and rigid as he returned Ewan's glare with an expression of defiance he'd never displayed before.

"You will not," Ewan snarled. "You will do as I have instructed. I do not want anyone's company, do you understand?"

"No, I take care of Argaty sahib."

The boy's defiant tone took Ewan aback. It was the first time his manservant had ever refused to obey a command or request. He narrowed his gaze at the young man. Asadi's stubborn expression and posture ignited a sudden suspicion in his head. Louisa had put the lad up to this.

"Did Lady Westbrook instruct you not to let me leave without you, no matter what I ordered?" he bit out as his jaw clenched with tight anger. Asadi didn't answer the question, but his expression confirmed Ewan's suspicions. "I see. Tell me, Asadi. Who saved your life? Was it her ladyship?"

The boy paled beneath Ewan's glare. It was the first time he'd ever implied the boy owed him anything, and the knowledge sickened him. From the first moment he'd awoken to find the young man at the side of his hospital bed in the Khartoum, he'd constantly emphasized Asadi owed Ewan nothing.

"I apologize, Asadi. You were undeserving of that. You owe me nothing."

"You are wrong, Argaty sahib." The young Sudanese shook his head vigorously. "It is a debt impossible to repay."

How could he make the boy understand it was Ewan who owed him? The Sudanese boy had cheerfully and without question allowed himself to be Ewan's whipping boy from the first day he refused to leave Ewan's side. Ewan had no idea where he was going, but he knew his resources would be limited most of the time, sometimes not even enough for himself.

He refused to allow Asadi to suffer that fate, especially when the young man could have a good life here at Argaty. Since he no longer had any right to the title his father had held, he would allow McCallum to serve as the trustee of the estate. By leaving Asadi behind, it was his repayment for everything the boy had done for him. It would benefit not only Asadi, but McCallum as well.

Asadi was not the only one he was indebted to. McCallum, who'd been a father figure to him all his life, deserved to spend his remaining years free of any major responsibility when it came to managing the estate. He refused to let anyone challenge his decision as to Asadi's future when he knew it was the best thing for the boy.

He closed his eye and leaned back in his chair. He remained silent for a long moment before he pinned his gaze on the boy. Ewan narrowed his gaze at the young man, all too aware he needed to choose his words carefully.

"You say your debt is impossible to repay, and I understand that. It's one of the things we have in common. I too have a debt I can never repay, but with your help I must at least try. Do you understand that?"

"Yes, Argaty sahib," the Sudanese said with obvious reluctance and more than a hint of suspicion.

"I lost my father when I was very young, and McCallum took on the responsibility of being the father I was denied." Ewan paused for a brief moment as he met Asadi's gaze steadily. "Like me, McCallum would say I owe him nothing, but that's not true. It's now my responsibility to be the son McCallum never had."

"I understand, Argaty sahib. McCallum sahib is a good man."

"Then you will help me try to repay my debt to him?" When the boy nodded, Ewan relaxed back into his chair.

"Then you will remain here as I told you yester—"

"No, I—"

"Damnation, lad, don't you understand?" he snarled as he sprang to his feet and leaned across the desk to scowl at the boy. "McCallum is no longer young. You are the only one I trust to take care of him, Mrs. Selkirk, and everyone else in the keep. You are the only one who can do this for me. There is no one else."

"There is you, Argaty sahib," the boy replied quietly.