Page 32 of A Governess' Forbidden Flame
No, this has to stop, he thought to himself.Now.
At that moment, a knock on the door interrupted him.
“Come in,” he called out, and the door opened to reveal Nicholas’s cheerful face. “Ah, Nicholas, come in.”
“Only if I am not interrupting, my lord,” he spoke in a deep voice, which he tried to clear a bit, but with little success. Age had taken a toll on his body in more ways than just his voice, but the man was an invaluable part of the estate, and Sebastian would rather cut off his right arm than lose this man.
“I would welcome a distraction,” Sebastian assured him, gesturing at the chair opposite him with his hand. “Please, sit, old friend.”
Nicholas had always been a father figure to both Sebastian and his late brother. The three had spent many an exciting afternoon hunting in the nearby woods, talking about life and everything that went along with it. Nicholas’ advice, as well as his reassuring presence during the most difficult time of Sebastian’s life had made the man more a family than a hired hand.
Nicholas walked in slowly, holding his straw hat in his hands as he sat down.
“I was planning on coming out this afternoon to join you in the garden.” Sebastian smiled, for a precious moment forgetting about everything else other than the calming garden work he had been undertaking with Nicholas.
The old gardener smiled back. “I don’t think there is another lord anywhere in the world who works in his garden as much as you do.”
Sebastian accepted the compliment with joy. “It is one of the few things I have left in this life that soothes me, Nicholas. Such things are very rare.”
“I remember the days when you and your brother, God rest his soul, used to play hide and seek among those flower beds,” Nicholas continued, the wrinkles on his face softening with a fond recollection. “Your mother, bless her soul, used to say that this garden held the laughter of the Ravenscroft children in every blossom.”
Sebastian sighed sadly at the memory. “And now look at it. No laughter at all.”
“There is wee Anna,” Nicholas reminded him. “But it is not a good thing for a wee child to be alone.” He paused for a moment, then continued, “It is a good thing you brought the new governess here. She seems like a lovely lass, and wee Anna has taken quite a likin’ to her.”
“Have you noticed it?” Sebastian inquired perhaps a little too hastily.
“It is impossible not to see.” Nicholas nodded reassuringly, giving him a knowing look. “She is a breath of fresh air. The way she’s brought life to the manor, it’s like watchin’ a garden bloom after a long winter.”
Sebastian, though typically reserved, couldn’t help but acknowledge the truth in Nicholas’ words. A subtle warmth crept into his gaze as he considered the impact Amelia had on the once-stoic corridors of Ravenscroft Manor.
“I must admit, Nicholas, she has a way of brightening even the darkest corners,” Sebastian replied, his tone carrying a hint of appreciation. “Her presence brings a certain lightness to the house.”
Nicholas continued to share anecdotes about the positive changes he had observed since Amelia’s arrival—the laughter echoing through the halls, the way she spoke to all the maids and servants with dignity and respect, the newfound vitality in the garden, and the sense of renewal that seemed to accompany her every step.
Sebastian was aware of it all, yet he could constantly feel the cold talon of fear upon his shoulder, reminding him that danger was only a single heartbeat away. He had to stay away from Amelia. Perhaps she would be safe if she only did her job and nothing else. The curse, which he was not almost half-convinced of, seemed to target only members of his family. As long as she was not one of them, she was safe. But that didn’t mean that Anna was.
That was yet another troubling fact. Was she safe from the curse as a child? Were only adults in danger? A part of him did not believe in the curse even for a single moment. Then again, there were certain things he could not explain no matter how hard he tried.
And as Nicholas used to say, it was better to be safe than sorry, better to be prepared than regret not having done something, no matter how ridiculous it might seem. Once again, Sebastian decided to err on the side of caution, and try to keep both Anna and Amelia safe, at all costs.
“Now, as for the afternoon…” Sebastian steered the conversation into less important matters, feeling as if his head was about to explode.
“Yes.” Nicholas nodded. “The east terrace is almost done. The soil there is fertile, and it catches the mornin’ sun just right. A burst of color with some perennials and perhaps a focal point, like a small fountain or a sculpture would be appealing?”
Sebastian smiled. “You are reading my mind, old boy.”
Nicholas smiled back. “We will be breathing new life into the east terrace before ye know it. I was also thinking, perhaps we can weave in elements that honor the history of this grand old estate, a part of the garden that reflects the enduring spirit of Ravenscroft Manor, with some sculptures around the fountain, some additional seating arrangements.”
Sebastian nodded without reserve. He loved that idea. As Sebastian and Nicholas continued their exchange, the study echoed with the shared vision of a rejuvenated garden, a collaborative effort that aimed not only to beautify the landscapebut also to infuse the very essence of Ravenscroft with vitality and purpose.
Who knows? Sebastian thought to himself.Perhaps it is the past that has its claws around the throat of this house, not the curse. And once we are ride of it, we can welcome a brighter future…
***
Why am I doing this? Why? Why?she kept repeating inside her mind over and over again. Yet, despite all common sense, she was still heading toward the library.
Sebastian had been avoiding her all day. There was no denying it. She and Anna had spent the morning outside, and just when they were getting back in, they passed by him in the corridor. He was polite, but cold. She could recognize it immediately, as he excused himself with business he had to attend to in his study.
