Page 80 of The Beastly Earl

"Ach, why are ye nae ready, lass?" Matilda Stewart bustled into the salon and circled her niece and nephew to study Louisa with dismay. "The wee bairns are all tucked snugly in the wagon and demanding to know when we're leaving."

"Actually, I thought I would stay home this evening and read The Black Corsair," Louisa murmured as she moved toward the end table where she'd set her copy of the book. "I thought it might be one the boys would enjoy, but I wanted to be sure it's suitable for them to read."

"You will absolutely not stay here," Constance said firmly. "I refuse to let you remain here wallowing in misery over the man."

"I am not wallowing," Louisa snapped as she glared at her older sister.

It was a lie, but she wasn't willing to admit it. For the past week she'd spent every night sobbing into her pillows. Her family knew she was unhappy, but she'd done her best to keep them from realizing just how miserable she was. Her heart had been ripped out of her the day she'd ridden away from Argaty Keep. She'd left it behind her, and knew she would never be whole again.

The first two or three days after she returned to the abbey, she had hoped Ewan would defeat his demons and come for her. But the hope she'd dared to harbor inside had shriveled up and died with each passing day. All she wanted to do now was block out the darkness that had settled on her shoulders for the second time in her life. But this was a weight that she knew she would never defeat.

Without Ewan, there was little joy in her life. If it weren't for the boys, she wasn't sure how she would have hidden the majority of her sorrow from her family. But for Wills, Charlie, and Ross, she had no other choice than to move forward no matter how difficult or painful it was to do so.

"Tilly. Stop this instant." Irritation threaded Helen's voice from out in the hall, and everyone turned toward the sound. "Lady Matilda Rockwood, don't you run away from me, young lady."

"But I must see Aunt Louisa, Mama."

Tilly's response echoed through the salon as the five-year-old dashed into the room and bolted straight for Louisa. As the little girl flung herself against Louisa's skirts, the room erupted into a soft buzz of exclamations as to the child's behavior. Louisa sank down until she was at eye-level with her niece.

"Whatever is the matter, sweetheart," Louisa gasped as she saw tears forming in Tilly's eyes.

"Uncle Caleb says you aren't going to the ceilidh with us, and I want you to. You promised you would let me dance that highlander dance with you."

The child's words elicited a quiet groan from Sebastian, and Louisa looked up to see her brother rubbing the back of his neck as resignation twisted his mouth into a small grimace. She knew her brother had been hoping the an dara sealladh would bypass his children, and his look of defeat made her shake her head at him. She returned her attention to Sebastian's youngest and gently wiped the tears from the girl's eyes.

"I do seem to recall telling you I would dance the Gay Gordon with you, and since it's usually the first dance of the evening, we should hurry." At Louisa's reply, her niece's tears vanished as she nodded vigorously. His expression still slightly dazed, Sebastian picked up his daughter and sighed.

"You are far too impulsive, Tilly."

"I know Papa, but Uncle Caleb insisted I remind Aunt Louisa to keep her promise."

"Did he now," Sebastian murmured as an odd look crossed his face before he turned toward Louisa. "It appears the entire family is determined to see you attend the celebration whether you want to or not."

"Oh, that much I've gathered." Louisa's mouth curved in a wry smile of surrender as she looked up at her brother.

"Then get that coat Constance mentioned. The one that came with that quite sizeable bill."

"That was paid for out of my own account," Louisa sniffed with affectionate exasperation.

"An account that at this rate will be non-existent in five years."

She rolled her eyes at Sebastian's chiding as Constance appeared in the doorway with the item being discussed. Louisa allowed her sister to help her put on the ankle-length garment and usher her out of the abbey and into the cold night air.

§ § §

"Enough. Three is my limit, dearest."

Louisa tugged her protesting niece off the makeshift dance floor that had been erected in the center of the village. When it was obvious her aunt wouldn't give into her demands, Tilly released a noise of exaggerated suffering. A moment later she pulled free of her aunt's grip and charged toward Ross who was being playfully shoved around by her oldest.

"Lord Westbrook, act like a gentleman, please." At her reprimand, Charlie grimaced and bowed slightly in her direction.

"Yes, my lady." As always when he was being scolded, there was a distinct note of rebellion in his voice. She opened her mouth to chastise his manner, when Percy appeared at her side and gently squeezed her forearm.

"Don't you dare," he said with a grin. "You were the same way when you were younger, and you haven't changed one bit."

"I was not." Louisa tilted her head toward him and glared at him in sisterly disgust. The minute he arched his eyebrows, she released a sigh of concession. "All right, maybe just a little. But I wasn't anywhere near the challenge for Sebastian that Tilly is."

She bobbed her head toward her niece, who was holding Ross's hand as he bent down to say something to her and pointed out toward the dance floor. It had taken only a day for the child to become attached to Ross. Whenever Tilly saw the boy, she followed him around just like a puppy. Ross didn't seem to mind, and like the rest of the Rockwoods he succumbed to her charms on a regular basis.