A Forbidden Embrace

Chapter Three: Silent Desire

Chapter Three: Silent Desire

Celia

As the evening stretched on, I kept busy, moving through the rooms with trays, refilling glasses, listening to conversations without drawing much attention. Each time I entered the large dining hall, I kept my eyes lowered, avoiding the curious glances from guests, especially from Lady Hastings and Evelyn. But every now and then, when I thought no one would notice, I let myself glance across the room toward Edwin, who sat with Evelyn close by—a constant shadow in my life.

I felt the weight of his gaze, even when I didn’t dare look directly at him.

Edwin was a master at hiding his feelings; years of practice in public had taught him well. But I knew him better than most. Beneath his polite smiles and casual conversation was a tension, a longing that matched my own. It was there in how he held himself, the slight stiffness in his shoulders, the way his eyes sometimes strayed toward where I stood.

“Celia.” Lady Hastings’ voice pulled me from my thoughts. She stood a few steps away, her expression unyielding.

“Yes, my lady?” I replied, trying to sound calm.

“Bring more wine for the guests. And be quick—time is precious to those who know its value,” she said with a dismissive wave.

“Yes, milady,” I said, the words bitter on my tongue. Lady Hastings seized any chance to remind me of my place, as if I were a burden she had to tolerate. I turned quickly and headed to the kitchen, trying to keep my breathing steady. My composure was my armor, and I would not let it c***k.

As I poured the wine into a crystal decanter, a soft voice called from the shadows behind me.

“Celia.”

I turned quickly, almost spilling the wine. There, just inside the doorway, stood Nora, the housemaid who had become something of a friend. Her warm smile was a balm to my spirit, a reminder that not everyone here was against me.

“Are you all right?” she asked, her gaze kind.

I nodded, forcing a smile. “As well as one can be,” I whispered.

With a quick nod, she stepped back, letting me finish pouring the wine. I took a deep breath, bracing myself, and returned to the dining room, carefully balancing the decanter in my hands.

As I entered, I caught Edwin’s glance again, following my every movement. His gaze was piercing, carrying an emotion that was both dangerous to acknowledge and impossible to ignore.

Edwin…..

The afternoon dragged on with endless small talk and forced laughter. Every instinct urged me to break away, to find a moment alone with Celia, to reassure her that the bond we shared hadn’t been erased by time or circumstance. But Evelyn’s grip on my arm was unyielding, her presence a reminder of the life I’d been pushed into.

“Are you having a good time?” Evelyn asked sweetly, though her tone hinted at a challenge.

“Of course,” I replied with a polite smile. “The company is lovely.”

She seemed pleased, though I could tell she wasn’t entirely convinced. Evelyn was perceptive, and her competitive nature didn’t handle divided attention well. I could feel her trying to draw me in, making sure I was as committed to this arrangement as she was. But as I looked at her, I knew my heart was somewhere else, tangled in memories of quiet moments and whispered promises that could never be spoken aloud.

Feigning the need for air, I made my way toward the garden. It was a brief escape from the crowded rooms, a place where I could breathe, if only for a moment. I wandered to the edge of the garden, to a secluded spot that Celia and I had once claimed as ours.

Memories washed over me—the sound of her laughter, the feel of her hand slipping into mine, the stolen kisses under the trees.

Footsteps approaching pulled me from my thoughts, and I turned to see her—Celia, standing a few feet away, looking uncertain. She held a tray, likely on her way to serve another guest, but here we were, crossing paths as though fate had arranged this one brief moment.

“Edwin,” she whispered softly.

“Celia,” I replied, taking a step closer. My heart raced, torn between reaching out and the risk we both knew too well.

For a moment, we were silent. The world seemed to melt away, leaving just the two of us in this quiet corner, bound by emotions we couldn’t speak.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” she said, a hint of sadness in her voice.

“I couldn’t stay inside,” I replied, glancing back at the manor. “It felt… stifling.”

She forced a faint smile, though her eyes betrayed the pain beneath. “I understand,” she said softly. “More than you know.”

We stood there in silence, the weight of everything unspoken hanging between us. I wanted to reach out, to pull her close, to remind her that what we shared was real, despite the barriers between us. But before I could act, the sound of approaching voices shattered the moment.

Reluctantly, I stepped back, watching as Celia’s expression shifted, her gaze lowering to the ground. She turned quickly and walked away, her practiced grace belying the turmoil within. I watched her go, feeling the ache of unspoken words settle in my chest.

As I returned toward the manor, Evelyn’s voice greeted me, irritated in her expression. “Where did you wander off to?” she asked, linking her arm through mine again.

“Just needed some air,” I replied, forcing a smile.

But even as I rejoined the gathering, my thoughts remained with Celia—the unbreakable connection between us a constant reminder of the life I’d left behind and the one I could never fully claim.