Page 37 of A Governess' Forbidden Flame
“What on earth will I do all day alone in bed?” Anna seemed even more displeased now, looking longingly at the open window. Birds seemed to beckon them all to go outside, but that was impossible.
Amelia and Sebastian exchanged a meaningful glance, then she locked eyes with Anna once again. “Who said you would be all alone?” Amelia asked her, smiling mysteriously.
Anna’s eyes widened in surprise. “You mean you will be with me all day long?”
“I will,” Amelia confirmed with a simple nod.
Anna’s eyes flew to Sebastian’s side. “And you, Uncle? Will you join us as well? Oh, please say you will! We will have ever so much fun together, the three of us!”
Amelia was amused at how Sebastian pretended to consider this, patting himself on the chin with his index finger. “Well…I don’t know…I do have lots of work, you know…and I also have other nieces I need to go and see…”
“You do not!” Anna chuckled. “You only have me, silly Uncle.”
“Oh, yes, silly me.” Sebastian slapped himself on the forehead playfully, which caused another burst of laughter from both Anna as well as Amelia. Finally, he acquiesced in the end. “I suppose I have no other choice but to agree. There are, after all, two of you against just one of me.”
Anna’s melodious laughter filled the room. “How wonderful!”
That was how the morning unfolded, with a series of games chosen to entertain the spirited Anna, but only after breakfast was had. The room echoed with the lively cadence of cards being shuffled as Sebastian and Amelia drew two chairs close to the bed, and the tray was used instead of a table.
“Let me show you ladies how this is done.” Sebastian took the cards and started to shuffle them expertly, their edges catching the soft morning light that found its way through the curtains, which were now pushed to the sides of the windows.
“Uncle, how do you do that?” Anna was in awe at how skillfully Sebastian’s fingers made the cards dance, and Amelia had to admit that she was equally amazed. It seemed that there was so much she did not know about this man, so much that she wanted to learn.
“Just as it is with everything in life, my dear,” Sebastian teased, handing the deck to Amelia. “Practice, practice, practice.”
His words made both Amelia and Anna chuckle. Amelia, with her graceful hands, delicately accepted the deck from Sebastian. The game began with the rhythmic sound of cards being dealt. It was a precise and practiced motion that spoke of countless gatherings and shared moments.
“I see that our governess is well versed in the game of cards,” Sebastian teased, much to the delight of the two ladies in presence.
“My best friend Rosalind and my sister Penelope love playing cards. We’ve spent many a carefree afternoon, just playing cards and having tea in the garden, sharing blissful moments together.”
For some reason, that seemed to make Anna sorrowful. A moment later, she revealed the cause of her sorrow. “Do you miss them?” Anna’s gaze was bashful as she looked at her own fingers nervously.
Amelia could immediately understand. With only the two of them left of their entire family, Anna was afraid that her governess and newfound friend would leave her soon as well, just like everyone else did. This realization made Amelia’s heartswell with tenderness for this sweet girl who yearned for a loving family. After all, every child deserved that.
“I do.” Amelia was aware of the delicate nature of the situation she found herself in. Not telling the truth would only make Anna distrustful of her, and it might make things worse. “And because I do, I write to them very often, telling them how wonderful it is here.”
Anna’s eyes filled with joy once again upon hearing that. “It is?”
“It most certainly is,” Amelia assured her, placing her hand tenderly on Anna’s. “This is exactly the sort of place I was hoping to find, but it exceeded my expectations because this place has you, my dear.”
Anna’s eyes filled with tears as she reached for Amelia and wrapped her arms around her. Slightly taken aback, Amelia quickly regained her composure and embraced Anna as well. She closed her eyes, resting her head against Anna’s, and moments later, they released each other. Anna was now smiling.
“Shall we commence with a hand of bridge?” Anna suggested. “A fair warning though, Miss Wycliffe. I am very good at cards.”
Sebastian chuckled. “She is, I’m afraid, and it is my own fault. We’d better watch out.”
“Oh, we shall see about that yet, my dear.” Amelia played along as she started to deal the cards, which themselves bore intricate patterns, each suit meticulously adorned with regal motifs.
As the game unfolded, hands of bridge were played with a mixture of strategy and good-natured banter. Their faces, framed by the soft glow of the morning light, revealed the concentration that accompanied each hand. The room echoed with the subtle rustle of cards being drawn and the polite but playful exchanges that accompanied the game.
***
Sebastian could not remember the last time he had seen Anna so joyful. His heart was filled with happiness, almost tearing at the seams. With what had happened the previous day, he was painfully reminded of what truly mattered in life. It wasn’t his title. It wasn’t the made-up treasure that everyone had been trying to find. It was Anna…this little life which still had so much to experience, and he had to be there to hold her by the hand, to guide her, to protect her, to love her.
He relished seeing how Anna watched Amelia with such tenderness and love, and he had to admit that he himself could not take his eyes off of their new governess as well, who seemed to have brought the sunshine back into this old, dilapidated house.
Every once in a while, a subtle exchange of glances unfolded between them. Their eyes, each a reflection of this newfound connection, met and held, sharing a silent language that spoke volumes beyond the confines of the card game. He had tried to keep away from her, but that was impossible. There was constantly something pulling him back to her, as if he were tied to her with invisible threads, being pulled little by little.
