Before she could reply, he crossed the room, crouched before the grate, and added another log. The flames brightened at once,filling the room with warmth and golden light. Amelia watched him in silence.
No duke should be this concerned about a governess.
The thought settled heavily in her chest.
When Gabriel returned to the seating area, she gathered her courage.
“Will you stay for a while? I wish to speak with you,” she said quietly.
He paused. “You wish to converse at this hour?”
Amelia nodded. “I do.”
After a moment, Gabriel settled onto the long bench near the fire and gestured for her to join him. She crossed the room and sat beside him, and immediately, she became aware of everything.
The warmth of his body. The faint scent of cedar and clean linen. The solid breadth of his shoulders was only inches away. Every sensible thought seemed to flee her mind at once. Amelia wrapped both hands around her teacup simply to give herself something else to focus on.
The fire crackled softly between them. For a moment, neither spoke.
Gabriel sipped his tea before glancing sideways at her. “Whatever is troubling you appears remarkably persistent.” His voice was gentle despite the teasing words.
Amelia looked down into her cup. “I was thinking about the end of my month.”
Gabriel’s expression became unreadable. “You have been worrying about that all evening? That is why you burned a hole in my floors?”
“Among other things.” His gaze lingered on her face. Amelia’s heart gave an embarrassing little flutter.
“I attempted not to think about it,” she admitted. “That strategy proved unsuccessful.”
Gabriel huffed what might almost have been a laugh. “A shocking outcome.”
She nudged his arm lightly with her elbow. “Must you mock me?”
“Constantly,” he smirked.
To her horror, she found the answer rather charming. The silence that followed felt different now, softer, closer.
Amelia stared into the fire and became acutely aware that Gabriel had not moved away. If anything, he seemed even nearer than before. Her pulse quickened. The room suddenly felt too warm despite the cool night beyond the windows. She wondered if he could hear how loudly her heart was beating.
“Amelia.” The sound of her name on his lips sent a shiver through her. She turned her head. Gabriel was already looking at her. For one dangerous moment, neither looked away. His eyes seemed darker in the firelight. Amelia forgot entirely what she had intended to say.
All she knew was that sitting beside him felt far too natural. Far too easy. Far too precious for something that was supposedly temporary. The realization frightened her almost as much as it thrilled her.
Amelia had intended to discuss practical matters. That was the problem. The moment Gabriel sat beside her on the bench before the hearth, practicality had abandoned her entirely. The fire crackled softly behind the grate, casting warm light across the room while the scent of tea mingled with the familiar scent that always seemed to cling to him, something distinctly masculine that made her thoughts wander in dangerous directions.
She desperately tried to remember what had seemed so important only minutes ago. Across from her, Gabriel studied her over the rim of his teacup before lowering it and setting it carefully on the table.
“You asked me to stay because you wished to discuss something,” he said, shifting slightly on the bench so that one arm rested along the back. His grey eyes settled on her face with quiet amusement. “Or have you forgotten?”
Amelia opened her mouth at once, determined to sound composed. “I have not forgotten,” she replied, only to realize that she absolutely had forgotten.
One dark eyebrow rose in immediate disbelief. “You have forgotten,” Gabriel said, his mouth twitching as though he were attempting not to smile.
Amelia straightened defensively and tucked an errant curl behind her ear. “I have misplaced it temporarily,” she corrected.
Gabriel let out a low hum and leaned back against the bench. “An important distinction, I am sure,” he replied gravely, though the amusement in his eyes betrayed him.
To her horror, Amelia found herself smiling.
