Page 39 of A Governess' Forbidden Flame
She put the quill pen down, inhaling deeply. With her thoughts on paper, knowing that they would reach their intended audience, Amelia knew that she had done the right thing.
Then, she felt the need to approach the window and simply stare at the night sky. As she did so, the velvety curtain of night adorned with a myriad of stars unfolded before her. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves outside, carrying with it a sense of quiet introspection. The mention of the observatory, a place where celestial mysteries were unearthed, lingered in her thoughts like a distant melody. She wondered if Sebastian would ever build that place. The thought excited her.
The celestial bodies above seemed to be the guiding lights of her contemplation. The stars, distant and shimmering, held within them the stories of the cosmos. A sense of wonder embraced her, and she found herself gazing into the vastness, pondering not just the stars but the trajectory of her own existence.
Questions, like constellations, formed patterns in her mind. Was she truly where she needed to be? Was she on the path she wasmeant to tread? The pull of destiny, like a celestial force, echoed in the quiet room. Perhaps, in that contemplative moment, she found solace in the idea that, yes, she was meant to be by Anna’s side.
The bond between them, forged in the quiet corridors of Ravenscroft Manor, held a unique significance. It was a connection beyond the formalities of governess and pupil, a maternal influence that reached beyond the confines of duty. As she looked up at the stars, a sense of assurance settled within her—a belief that she, in her role, was helping shape the course of another’s journey.
As the night held its silent vigil, Amelia stood at the window, finding comfort in the cosmic ballet overhead. The stars, those ancient storytellers, whispered tales of guidance and purpose, assuring her that, beneath the vastness of the Universe, she was exactly where she needed to be, regardless of whether Sebastian did what she expected or wanted him to do.
***
Sebastian came downstairs to the dining room the following morning, finding only Anna there. He looked around. There was no trace of Amelia, although her plate was obviously there, having been used.
“Good morning, Anna,” he said with a smile, walking over to her and gently caressing her cheek. He tried not to show his disappointment. “How did you sleep?”
“Very well.” She nodded, her mouth still full of toast and jam. She quickly finished chewing, then continued, “She is in the classroom, preparing a surprise.”
“Oh, Miss Wycliffe?” he asked, pretending to be absent-minded.
“Yes,” Anna replied, her eyes adding thewho elsepart she did not say out of mere politeness.
“A surprise, you say?” he replied amusedly, not even managing to notice Anna’s flicker of recognition.
“Mmhmm.” Anna nodded importantly. “Today we have music and French. She says the two can be easily combined for a rather amusing lesson.”
Sebastian chuckled. He realized that he had been doing a lot of that since Amelia’s arrival. Perhaps she reminded him that there was still a great deal to laugh and chuckle about, something he had almost forgotten to do.
“It seems that your governess is a very resourceful, imaginative young lady,” he pointed out, much to Anna’s delight.
Her eyes shimmed with admiration as she spoke of Amelia. “She is so much more than that,” Anna responded, sounding serious.
“Is she, now?” Sebastian could read so much from these simple words, especially knowing that Anna usually took a while to warm up to someone in such a manner.
“She is smart and beautiful and imaginative and soft-spoken and kind and polite, and e…elo…eloquent,” Anna finally pronounced the word, which Sebastian assumed was a word she had learned recently.
“She is,” he agreed.
That was all he could do, for the child spoke the truth. Amelia was truly all those things. It was as simple as that. They had been extremely fortunate in having her come to them and deciding to stay.
“I wish she could stay with us forever,” Anna suddenly said, pushing her plate away from herself, signaling that she was done with her breakfast. He felt as if she had been able to read his mind.
“She will stay as long as you need her, Anna,” he assured her, himself hoping that he was telling her the truth.
“Forever?” Anna asked with an exuberance that only a child’s heart could muster.
Sebastian chuckled. “Well, always is a considerable commitment, my dear. You won’t always be a child, you know, and she is a governess. There will no longer be a child to look after, but rather a young lady, who will herself fly out of the nest at some point and forge her own path in life.” He paused for a moment, having no clue as to what had taken over him, but he heard himself say as if someone else had said those words. “I suppose the only way to keep her here forever would be for me to marry her.”
Anna’s eyes widened in surprise. Her grin did the same. “Yes! Yes! Marry her, Uncle Sebastian!” she exclaimed, the innocence in her tone belying the complexity of such matters. “Marry her so she can stay with us forever and ever!”
He was momentarily taken aback, both by his own words, which were half said in jest and half as a serious notion, as well as by Anna’s enthusiasm about the idea. However, he couldn’t help but laugh at the unexpected agreement.
“My sweet Anna,” he said in a tender voice, “marrying someone is not as simple as it sounds.”
She tilted her head, obviously confused by this. “What do you mean?” she asked with a tone of astonishment. “You are supposed to marry who you love, no?”
“Well…yes,” he could agree up to a certain point, not wanting to ruin her childhood dreams. It was possible to still marry for love, but that was a privilege not obtainable for many.
