Page 22 of A Governess' Forbidden Flame
“You really liked it?” Anna gushed as she took her seat by Amelia’s side.
“I loved it,” Sebastian assured her.
As they settled in for the meal, the table displayed an array of dishes. A succulent roast, golden and aromatic, took center stage. Beside it, bowls of steamed vegetables glistened with a hint of butter. Fragrant herbs and spices teased the senses, promising a delightful culinary experience.
Sebastian had stopped enjoying food a long time ago. In fact, he had stopped enjoying many things, but now, strangely enough, he was starting to rediscover all those things that used to bring him pleasure a long time ago, when he was still filled with hopes and dreams of a happy life.
“So, it would seem that you two had quite an adventure-filled day,” he noted, much to Anna’s delight, who animatedly engaged both her uncle and Amelia in conversation, weaving tales of the day’s adventures.
She eagerly recounted the exploration of the manor’s hidden corners and the exciting discovery of the old harp tucked away in the attic. Sebastian found himself drawn into the lively exchange. The entire dining room echoed with laughter and shared stories, creating a warm and lively atmosphere that seemed to bring them closer together. Sebastian knew that it was all because of Amelia.
“Our castle is truly enchanted!” Anna gushed in conclusion.
Sebastian and Amelia exchanged a meaningful glance, each bursting into a chuckle.
“Yes, legends, mysteries, and hidden harps. It seems that our home holds more surprises than we all realized.” Sebastian decided to go along with Anna’s imagination for the first time ever. It actually felt good.
“Who knows?” Amelia said mischievously. “Maybe there are more treasures to be unearthed in this place.”
“Yes, treasures!” Anna’s eyes widened in surprise and delight. “We must go on a treasure hunt, all three of us! Can we?”
“Well, I…” Amelia started, looking in Sebastian’s direction.
He smiled, nodding. “You wouldn’t be the first one to try and find hidden treasure here. If it exists, I’m sure you would be the one to find it.”
Anna squealed with delight upon these words, overjoyed at adventures yet to come. But for now, they focused on their dinner, still sharing laughter and stories, the air thick with a warmth that filled Sebastian’s heart with hope not just for Anna but for himself as well.
He couldn’t help but steal glances at Amelia throughout the dinner. The warm glow of the candles highlighted the contours of her beautiful face, accentuating the sparkle in her eyes. With each stolen glance, an undeniable attraction tugged at the corners of his consciousness.
She looked so prim and proper, yet she was no stranger to breaking the rules of how something was supposed to be done. After all, she bravely walked through the woods. She remained in a home that was said to be haunted by ghosts of previous dwellers. Then, there were stories about her last employment, which he still hadn’t clarified with her.
Truth be told, thetongossiped about anything and anyone, and the truth was always somewhere in between. With her, he found himself wondering, captivated by the enigmatic woman seated across from him. There was a magnetic pull, an inexplicable desire to unravel the layers of who she was and what she wanted out of life.
But that was not all, he had to admit. Yes, he wanted to know her, but at the same time, he wanted to know what it would feel like to caress her cheeks with the tips of his fingers, to trail an invisible line down her luscious lips and feel the warmth of her breath mingling with his. It had been ages since he even thought of a woman in such a manner, but with her, it appeared that this was all he could think of in the solitude of his chamber at night.
If he were less of a gentleman, he would knock on her door with an excuse, any excuse. But he knew that her presence here depended on everything being as it should be. It was bad enough that his home was haunted by the specters of the past as well as the wicked tongues of theton.
He didn’t need to add his ravenous thoughts to the equation, which he was certain would do nothing other than push her away, and that was the last thing he wanted to do.
***
Later that evening, Amelia found the library empty, much to her displeasure. A part of her wanted him to be there, to have it be a serendipitous arrangement that would prolong the wonderful, tingling sensations she felt when in his company. However, that evening, the library held an air of quiet serenity, and Amelia could easily relish that as well.
She brought that special book with her, settling into a comfortable armchair. Still, her mind was not solely occupied with the words on the pages before her. Thoughts of Sebastian threaded their way through her consciousness like an enchanting melody, almost as enchanting as the one Anna played for them during dinner. The flickering candle flames cast dancing shadows on the walls, only mirroring the dance of emotions within her.
As the clock ticked away the late hours, Amelia found herself lost in the labyrinth of her contemplations. The manor, steeped in history and guarded by stone walls that held tales untold, seemed to conspire with the night to stir the depths of her introspection. The silence enveloped her like a velvet cloak, and she couldn’t help but wonder about the man who inhabited this ancient realm.
Sebastian’s enigmatic aura and the magnetic pull between them had become an intricate part of her thoughts, weaving into the tapestry of the stories she had come to explore as well as the ones she had come here to escape from.
With each turn of the page, she allowed herself to drift further into the realms of both literature and imagination. The words blurred, and her mind wandered through the corridors of possibility, where reality and the allure of the unknown converged. Her heart held its breath at the prospect of finding him here, approaching him, staring him in the eye as her breath hitched. The silent rhythm of their hearts would be the same as he would lift his hand to her cheek.
His touch would be unlike anything she had ever felt before. It would be soft and tender, but at the same time, it would promise so much more. She would hold her breath in anticipation as his gaze deepened, searching for something in her eyes that she had been trying to keep a secret from everyone here.
He would come closer, then even closer…so close that she would be able to feel his hot breath on her lips, spilling over and then—
The door suddenly opened, interrupting her flow of thoughts. Her gaze lifted only to lock with Sebastian’s, who was now standing in the doorway, a look on his face as if he had interrupted her in something private and very intimate. She could feel her cheeks ablaze, scared for a moment that her thoughts might somehow be revealed for all the world to see.
“Miss Wycliffe.” He smiled at her, slowly entering the library and closing the door behind him. “I am happy to see you have takenmy offer to enjoy the library in your spare time. Or is it perhaps that a lack of sleep troubles you?”
