Excerpt from The Governess, Chapter 5:

(Continued)

Carly could not sleep.  Having slept for several hours prior to dinner, all she could do now was toss and turn.  Used to reading prior to sleeping, she decided to peruse the library she had noticed earlier and had been invited to use.  It was unlikely that anyone would be up at this late hour, but still she put on her lacy white robe and slippers, lit a candle and quietly made her way down the shadowy hall to the stairs. 

This house would take some getting used to, for it was enormous.  Finally finding the library, she discovered it was an exceptionally large room with shelves upon shelves of books.  This room would be a favorite!  Carly could see that generations of devoted readers had lived at Huntington Manor. 

A large fire was still burning in the fireplace, enough to warm the immense room.  She could smell the many books and something else.  Was it cinnamon?  As she walked quickly over to the fireplace she reached awkwardly to set her candle upon the tall mantelpiece.  Welcoming the instant heat, she warmed herself by the fire glad to have it since her robe had done nothing to warm her on the cool night. 

            “You may wish to step away from the fire since I can easily see your lovely figure through your…nightgown.”

            Carly’s hand covered her mouth to stifle a scream as she swiftly turned around to face the voice in the dark.

There was no one. Only darkness.

As Carly’s eyes quickly adjusted to the firelight’s glow, she spotted Lord Huntington.  She jolted from his nearness. “Oh!” she startled. 

He was sitting in a large chair only inches away, his dark countenance frightening. “I apologize for shocking you.” An unease crept over her as he continued his perusal of her figure. Yet she could not move. Each looked at the other, unsure how to proceed.

After an awkward moment, Lord Huntington said, “Please. Have a seat,” he pointed next to him at the other chair.

            How fortunate for her to be caught up in this situation! Clumsy girl, she thought to herself. “I…I…thought you would be asleep or I would never,” shaking her head caused the loose curls to caress her delicate shoulders, “…I would never have come down in my night…my night, um,” befuddled, she continued, “I am sorry if I have intruded upon your privacy.  I shall leave now.”

Lord Huntington halted her by lifting his hand for her to wait.  Carly felt as if her slippers were glued to the floor.  She could not move. What did he want from her? She thought that he began to say something, and when he did not, thought she had better quickly depart rather than make more a fool of herself than she already had. 

He slowly stood to his full stature before her.  She began to shake, all the while her eyes could not leave his own.  The air crackled with the energy between them. Was she insane to remain here before him?  Yet she could not move. 

Join me on Monday for more!

Thanks,
Ellise