Page 12 of A Governess' Forbidden Flame
Without her mother or her father, he knew that she felt alone and isolated, just like he did. He inhaled deeply, hoping that offering Amelia this position would benefit not only Anna, but all of them.
As Sebastian entered the dining room, the scene unfolded in a tableau of warmth and coziness. The morning light streamed through the tall windows, casting a gentle glow over the polished wooden table adorned with fine china and silverware. The air carried the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the tantalizing scent of a well-prepared breakfast.
Amelia and Anna sat at the table, their faces animated in conversation, the ambient light playing on their features. The room, with its ornate wallpaper and antique furnishings, exuded an old-world charm that blended seamlessly with the vibrant energy of the two occupants.
The clinking of cutlery and the soft murmur of conversation filled the air as Anna and Amelia enjoyed a breakfast spread that promised both indulgence and comfort. The crackling fire in the hearth added a touch of warmth, creating a cozy haven within the grandeur of Ravenscroft Manor. Sebastian, despite the weariness that still lingered in his eyes, found a sense of solace in the domestic scene.
The laughter and shared moments at the breakfast table painted a picture of a newfound camaraderie—a departure from the solitary existence he had grown accustomed to.
“Good morning, Uncle!” Anna’s sweet voice greeted him upon his arrival.
He smiled back. “I see you two have already started without me.”
“I have buttered your toast,” Anna said with a mischievous grin, pointing at his plate. He glanced in that direction and realized she was right. There were two pieces of buttered toast on his plate, with a bit of strawberry jam on both of them.
“I see,” he nodded. “That was very kind of you. Thank you.”
He took a seat at the breakfast table, enjoying the feeling of coziness and togetherness that this table had not seen in quite some time. His gray eyes, still carrying the traces of a restless night, turned toward Amelia.
“Miss Wycliffe, how did you sleep? I hope the accommodations were to your liking.”
Amelia, with a composed smile, replied, “Quite well, thank you, Lord Ravenscroft. The chamber is charming, and I am veryappreciative of the hospitality extended to me…especially the morning stroll through the manor house.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “The morning stroll through the manor house?”
“Oh, yes.” She smiled in a way that made this cozy scene even more heartwarming. Sebastian had never been one for allowing such sensations to wash over him, but being in the presence of these two ladies, who seemed to enjoy each other’s company to such an extent that this energy simply drew him into their world of whimsy.
“Anna here woke me up with a delightful proposition to take me through the manor, and I have to say that she is a wonderful guide,” Amelia explained as she stirred her tea with a dainty silver spoon.
“Anne.” Sebastian frowned, turning his attention to his niece. “That is not lady-like behavior, to wake up our guest.”
“I know.” Anna looked down at her lap again, feeling chastised.
“Oh, I was already up,” Amelia interfered. “She didn’t wake me up. I…probably would have lingered in bed for a while longer, bored and with nothing to do.”
Something assured Sebastian that she was on his niece’s side, regardless of the truth. Suddenly, he smiled.
“Bored?” he echoed. “Even with the book I lent you?”
“Oh, yes…” Amelia’s eyes widened in surprise, then her cheeks flushed a crimson red. She was smiling, but it was obvious to them both that the truth was simple and already revealed. There was no need to hide anything.
“I…I have already read it last night,” Amelia quickly replied. “I couldn’t fall asleep immediately, and I um…read most of it. I mean, all of it. Yes, all of it.”
The exchange, polite yet laden with the weight of more unspoken questions, unfolded amidst the cozy ambiance of the dining room. Sebastian couldn’t remember the last time he had so much fun catching someone off guard like that. And strangely enough, he didn’t want this exchange to end.
“So, you’ve roamed the manor house then, you two?” he asked, watching Amelia taking a slightly nervous sip of her tea. Her cheeks still had that soft, pink hue, as if she had been running up the flight of stairs.
“Yes,” Anna was quick to respond. “I showed her the library.”
“So, you’ve shown her the most beautiful place in our entire home. Nothing else could even compare.”
Anna chuckled at this comment, and much to his delight, so did Amelia. He had no idea why he had such a need to be so unusually talkative around this woman. He didn’t know her. He didn’t know her habits, her thoughts, her reactions. Yet, he wanted to know it all.
“I also told her about the ghost stories,” Anna added, unable to contain her enthusiasm.
Sebastian, with a faint furrow in his brow, didn’t like that. “Anna…we’ve discussed this before. Such tales are nothing but fanciful stories. There is no place for such silly notions in our discussions.”
The truth was far from that, but she was a child. She already had enough on her mind with fear of the dark and shadows transforming into child-eating monsters in her curious little head. She didn’t need to know that Sebastian himself wasn’t quite certain what to believe. She needed him to be her safe harbor, and that meant that he needed to have a reasonable explanation for every single occurrence that took place in their home. As such, there was no room for ghosts and apparitions, whatever their intentions might be.
