Page 23 of A Governess' Forbidden Flame
“The former.” She smiled back. “Too much sleep is a waste of time anyway.”
“Is it now?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow at her in amusement.
The air seemed to thicken with unspoken desires. For a moment, she wondered if he was really able to read her mind, aware of the naughty thoughts she’d had of him mere seconds ago. Once again, a fervent rush of blush covered her cheeks, and she looked down at her book in an effort to distract her mind from it…fromhim.
“You know, most geniuses create during the night, when ideas flow freely under the cloak of darkness,” he said, not taking his eyes off of her even for a moment. “The night has a certain magic to it.”
Amelia, intrigued by his perspective, especially saying that in a place such as this one, nodded in agreement. “I couldn’t agree more. The night holds a unique allure. It is like a canvas the imagination paints with its most vivid strokes, without the burdens of daylight.”
Sebastian’s eyes flickered with a hint of mischief. “Indeed. All sorts of things hide in the dark, both good and bad. It is a realmwhere secrets thrive and mysteries unfold. It is a time when the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary.”
Amelia couldn’t help but smile at the poetic way he spoke of the night. Even more, she couldn’t help being drawn into his gaze, getting lost in the darkness she found there. “A realm of possibilities, then. Where dreams take flight, flying high all the way to the sky and the stars.”
His eyebrows suddenly lifted at the mention. “Do you like the stars, Miss Wycliffe?”
“Why yes.” She nodded, her eyes sparkling with genuine interest as the conversation seemed to take a turn toward the celestial realm. “Astronomy has always fascinated me. The way the stars and the planets align, revealing the secrets of the cosmos, it’s like unraveling the fabric of the Universe itself.”
He seemed somehow incredulous to hear her speak like this, and she enjoyed the fact that she could surprise him so.
“What is it that fascinates you so about the stars, Miss Wycliffe?” She considered the question for a moment before responding. She never thought they would ever discuss such things as astronomy, but despite his initial impression and reputation of a broody earl, he was easy to talk to.
“There is a certain tranquility in observing the vastness of the Universe, a quiet revelation that transcends the boundariesof our earthly existence. It is as if the stars, in their distant brilliance, hold the answers to questions we’ve yet to comprehend.”
Sebastian’s gaze lingered on her, a silent understanding passing between them. “In the vastness of space, our concerns seem fleeting and insignificant. It is a humbling experience, don’t you think?”
Amelia nodded, a smile playing on her lips. “Indeed…it is a reminder of the wonder that exists beyond the confines of our earthly existence.”
He suddenly approached her, grabbed her by the hand, and pulled her toward his desk, leaving her unable to figure out what was happening.
“Come,” his voice was urgent, but warm and inviting. “I have something to show you.”
Chapter 13
Sebastian had no idea where all of this was coming from, this zeal, this enthusiasm to show her everything. But he decided not to fight it. Reluctantly, he released her hand from his as he opened the drawer to his desk and extracted the object of all this commotion.
He carefully unrolled a set of detailed plans across the library desk, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of passion and anticipation. Now, he understood how Anna felt hours ago, when she so eagerly played the tune she had learned on her new instrument. The desire to impress was the same. The desire to be accepted and understood was the same. But there was so much more to it.
He felt overwhelmed by this sudden desire to show her everything he liked, everything he enjoyed, so she could understand him better, so she could see that he was not the man they had painted him out to be.
As the parchment revealed intricate sketches of a telescope and an observatory room, he looked up at Amelia, eager to share his thoughts.
“I…” he started, needing a moment to gather his thoughts. He couldn’t remember the last time he was so excited about something. “I have been contemplating the creation of a smallobservatory here at Ravenscroft Manor. A place where one could study the stars and planets in greater detail, or just…enjoy their light.”
Amelia’s gaze fixated on the plans, and her eyes widened in awe. “This is truly remarkable…”
Her fingers glided across the paper, and his skin immediately erupted in an onslaught of gooseflesh, wondering what it would feel like to have his fingers glide over her body in such slow, delicate motions. His body erupted in an explosion of heat, which emanated from his very depths. The desire to have her was overwhelming, and he had to focus all his conscious thought on not turning to her and kissing her.
“The attention to detail,” she continued. “The precision in your design…it is a testament to your dedication to the pursuit of knowledge.”
Sebastian, pleased by her response, traced a finger over the blueprint. “I believe the nights here are perfect for stargazing, and with a proper observatory, one could unlock the mysteries hidden in the vastness above.”
Amelia nodded in agreement. “It is a noble endeavor. The pursuit of knowledge about the world that surrounds us, and beyond, has the power to illuminate our understanding and maybe even answer the question of who we truly are.”
Sebastian’s gaze lingered on her. “Do you know who you are, Miss Wycliffe?” he asked, unable to control the need to peer right into her very soul.
She seemed to hesitate with her response. Her eyes shimmered starlight in the room as she gazed at him. Her closeness stirred him in ways he could barely control. His eyes traveled from her eyes down to her small, turned-up nose, to her chin and delicate, swan-like neck. He liked what he saw. Her skin shone in the soft light of the candles, porcelain smooth. He wanted to see more of it, to inhale the fragrance that was all her.
“I believe we are all a small part of something much grander,” she replied thoughtfully. “Like the stars above, each with its own place and purpose in the vast expanse of the Universe.”
