Page 19 of A Governess' Forbidden Flame
“In the annals of Ravenscroft, whispers of a curse have lingered since the days of the Knights Templar,” he explained, the timbre of his voice carrying the weight of centuries.
“That must be what the coachman told me about that first night when I arrived here,” she clarified.
“Most certainly,” he nodded. “The curse is said to guard a hidden treasure, a relic of the Templars’ legacy.”
Amelia, her eyes filled with curiosity, met his gaze. He knew the history of his home and family well. But…did he believe in it?
“Do you believe in this curse?” she inquired, her voice gentle. She wanted him to be honest with her.
To her surprise, he didn’t respond immediately. He hesitated for a few moments, and that silence spoke volumes. When he finally did speak, his words carried a solemn resonance. “My family has suffered tragic losses within these walls. Both my parentsand my brother all passed away under circumstances that defy explanation. Some call it a curse, others merely a tragedy. I suppose everyone has their own explanation.”
“What is yours?” she wondered.
His eyes widened as he spoke. “I consider myself a man of reason and logic. I have no evidence to support these claims of a curse. Just because something is difficult to explain to our human minds, it doesn’t mean that it has a supernatural origin.”
She could understand that. What’s more, she appreciated his honesty regarding this, as it was a topic very personal and intimate, and despite everything, she was still just a stranger in their home.
“And the treasure?” she asked in an effort to lighten the mood.
“The treasure?” he chuckled, echoing her question. “What about it?”
“Have you found it yet?” she wondered with an amused smile.
His laughter echoed faintly. “No, the treasure is a legend at best, a lie at its worst. But to all, an enigma that has eluded generations. You see, my brother and I, in our youth, believed in the romantic allure of the story and spent countless hours searching the grounds for any proof of its existence.
Father allowed us to read these documents, but only if we were to be very careful and always under his watchful eye. Every time we reread these documents, it seemed that we missed a certain clue. One afternoon, we searched for it in the old wing, and another, we were certain that the far end of the garden held the key we were so desperate to find.”
He paused, inhaling deeply. She could tell that he was lost in time, in that frozen moment of carefree wanderings through the manor grounds, with his brother by his side, searching for that elusive treasure that was bound to make all their dreams come true. She wondered if there was still that little boy inside of him, the one who believed in legends and miracles. Was he still alive? Then, a moment later, she got the answer to that question.
“As the years passed, reality tampered our dreams.” He smiled wistfully. “Now, with my brother gone, my purpose has changed. The only treasure I seek is a safe and joyful life for Anna, free from the shadows that have haunted Ravenscroft Manor for too long.”
Amelia couldn’t help but be moved by Sebastian’s sincerity as he spoke of his devotion to Anna. The warmth in his eyes and the tenderness in his voice painted a different picture than the rumors that had trailed him. She felt a flicker of empathy for the man who had faced shadows from both his family’s past and the judgmental whispers of society. In that moment, Amelia began to see beyond the brooding exterior and mysterious reputation,glimpsing the caring soul beneath. And she had to admit that she was liking what she saw more and more.
Chapter 11
Sebastian felt himself unbearably close to this woman who knew how to peer into the very depths of his soul, without even realizing she was doing it. He grappled with conflicting emotions as he observed the genuine curiosity in Amelia’s eyes.
A part of him longed to share the burdens he carried, to let her into the depths of his past and the scars it left behind. However, a haunting caution echoed in his mind—a reminder of the pain concealed in family secrets.
As much as he felt an unexplainable closeness to Amelia, a barrier held him back. The scars of his own history warned against the vulnerability of revealing too much. The weight of his father’s hidden truths lingered, a silent cautionary tale that secrets could unravel even the strongest connections. So, with a heavy heart, Sebastian chose to remain guarded, shielding both himself and Amelia from the potential heartache that truths concealed in shadows could bring.
“Anna is very fortunate to have you,” she suddenly told him, bringing him back to the present moment.
“I think I am the fortunate one,” he admitted. “She is the one who gives me hope when I feel like there is no one else to turn to.”
“She brought back purpose into your life,” she nodded sympathetically.
“Yes.” He smiled, feeling vulnerable, but for some reason, he didn’t shy away from that feeling. He allowed it to linger a bit longer than necessary. “She does have a way of making me smile with her wild imagination.”
Amelia chuckled. “Like the ghost stories she’s shared with me?”
This made him laugh. “I keep telling her that there are no ghosts here. At least, I have never seen one, but I guess that isn’t enough for her.”
“Oh, she was so thrilled to tell me the ones she knew about,” Amelia was equally amused.
Sebastian, acutely aware of the rumors encircling both Ravenscroft Manor and his family’s past, felt a pang of apprehension. Doubt and suspicion, he feared, could serve as unwelcome barriers, potentially pushing Amelia away from this place, from both himself and Anna. The weight of unspoken burdens lay heavy on his shoulders as he maintained a composed exterior, concealing the turmoil within.
“I assure you that there are no ghosts here, Miss Wycliffe,” he revealed. “However, if you ever feel uneasy, please do nothesitate to inform me. Your comfort here, in Ravenscroft Manor, is of the utmost importance to both me and Anna. We…we value your presence here.”
