Page 54 of A Governess' Forbidden Flame
It had already been late when they returned to Ravenscroft Manor, and Sebastian took Anna into his arms, taking her upstairs to her chamber. Amelia followed close by, silently, not to wake up anyone who might have already gone to sleep. However, they were not of such luck.
“Oh, you’re back! We were told that—”
“Shhh!” Sebastian shushed Frederick who had emerged from the dark corridor, only then realizing that Anna was asleep.
“Oh, sorry…” Frederick pressed his finger on his lips in a gesture of silence. “I shall wait.”
Sebastian nodded as he and Amelia continued walking toward Anna’s chamber, exchanging a meaningful glance. He was now aware that he would not escape Frederick’s questioning, but at least they spent most of the day outside, enjoying themselves. That was most certainly worth the inconvenience.
He slowly placed Anna in her bed. She stirred softly as Amelia proceeded to tuck her in, making sure that she was comfortable for the night. He watched her fingers work around Anna’s slumbering body with such love and tender care. They were both blessed to have Amelia here. No one could tell him otherwise.But would that blessing be enough to break the curse of his family’s name and legacy?
“Why don’t you sneak back to your chamber without speaking to him?” Amelia whispered playfully as he closed the door to Anna’s room.
He almost chuckled aloud, but he managed to suppress the need to do so. “If only it were that easy.”
She reached out to him and squeezed his shoulder tenderly. “Just remember…you don’t owe anyone anything. The only person that matters is Anna. No one else. And don’t feel bad about acting that way.”
“Thank you.” He smiled, feeling reassured that his emotions were valid. He was heard. It was a feeling he had not known in a long while. “Good night, Amelia.”
“Good night,” she whispered back as she walked down the corridor and entered her chamber.
Sebastian returned to the main hallway where, unsurprisingly, Frederick was still waiting. His eyes widened upon seeing Sebastian.
“Is everything all right?” he asked.
“Yes, perfectly,” Sebastian assured him. “Your carriage wheel should be fixed within two days, I hope.”
“Marvelous,” Frederick replied. “I really am sorry that this has turned out to be such an inconvenience, with our stay having become prolonged.”
“It is all right,” Sebastian shrugged. “Some things are out of our control.”
Frederick nodded. “Exactly. But I still want you to know that we, Vivienne and I, we really appreciate it. You know, we didn’t only come to see Anne, but also…” he paused for a moment as if he were in search of the right words to use, “we wanted to meet you. Our grandfathers were very close cousins. It seems a shame to lose contact with family.”
“Yes, quite,” Sebastian replied, but he was barely listening. He didn’t want to appear rude by retiring to bed, although he was on the verge of it.
“Well…in light of that, perhaps you wouldn’t mind joining me for a hunt tomorrow morning?” Frederick suddenly suggested. “Like you said, in all hopes that the carriage wheel shall be fixed within two days, and we shall leave. But before that, I would like us to spend some time together, as cousins. Who knows, perhaps we shall see that we have more in common than we thought, eh?”
Sebastian sincerely doubted that, but the hopeful look on his cousin’s face bade him to be kinder than usual.
“A hunt?” he repeated, rubbing his chin. It was true that he loved hunting, but he had so little time for his own endeavors. And, after all, Frederick would be leaving in two days. Perhaps a few hours in hunting pursuits would bring him some pleasure, regardless of the company.
“Why not?” he finally concluded, much to Frederick’s pleasure, after which the two men bid each other good night, each turning to leave in their own direction.
The following morning promised the expansive canvas of a clear, azure sky. Sebastian and Frederick found themselves on a hunting pursuit through the sprawling grounds surrounding Ravenscroft Manor. The crisp morning air carried the earthy scent of dew-kissed grass and the promise of adventure. Sebastian had to admit that the very notion of hunting brought back some of his lost joy.
They were both dressed in attire suitable for the occasion; their riding boots gleamed in the sunlight as the horse moved with confident strides. Sebastian donned a dark green shooting jacket that exuded an air of aristocratic elegance. Frederick did not know that when he complimented it, but the jacket had belonged to Sebastian’s late brother. This way, Sebastian could have him close.
“A wonderful morning for a hunt,” Frederick noted as the landscape unfolded before them like a vast tapestry, painted with the rich shades of greens and browns.
A pair of well-trained hunting dogs, their coats glistening in the sunlight, eagerly accompanied the gentlemen. The dogs, vigilant and eager, added an element of vivacity to the scene as they scouted ahead, noses to the ground, detecting the scent of game.
“It is.” Sebastian couldn’t help but agree. He also couldn’t help but think how much he missed his brother. Even the dogs seemed to have been surprised to see this new man, a stranger, by Sebastian’s side.
The rhythmic clip-clop of horses’ hooves echoed through the open expanse as the riders approached the hunting grounds. A dense thicket, veiled in the morning mist, hinted at the potential hiding places for elusive game. The occasional rustle of leaves and the distant calls of woodland creatures heightened the anticipation of the impending pursuit.
Sebastian and Frederick carried finely crafted shotguns, polished to a gleaming sheen. The weapons, both tools of the hunt and symbols of their aristocratic lineage, rested casually in the crooks of their arms. As they ventured deeper into the wooded terrain, the men’s keen eyes scanned the landscape, poised for the subtlest movement that might betray the presence of their quarry.
Their horses followed the hounds, but it seemed to have been a slow morning, which Sebastian didn’t mind. Now that he was out there, in nature, he did not really miss the thrill of the chase. He missed the peace and quietude of the woods, the inherent connection between man and nature.
