Gasping softly, she turned to him. She watched as his eyes rested briefly on their locked hands, before traveling slowly up her arm until they were standing face to face. "What worries you enough to deprive you of sleep?" It was a mere whisper but she heard him clearly.

"I..." She squeaked, barely able to speak. Perhaps it was the intensity of his gaze?

"Forgive me, Miss Riverside," he shook his head, his hold loosening around her wrist and leaving that part of her skin warm. He coughed a little, shifting from one foot to the other. "I simply assumed you to be worried." He said, turning from her to the gray clouds above.

She watched him, his fingers trembling slightly by his side. Perhaps he was nervous —she thought. Perhaps he was as nervous as she was? Perhaps the strange feelings that were suddenly taking a huge chunk of her heart captive whenever he was near her, plagued him as well?

Straightening and finding the strength to speak, she said, "I am."

"You are?" He whispered, turning sharply to her. Once again, she thought she saw the same fire that burned in her heart, burn brightly in his eyes.

"Yes, Lord Williams." She sighed, stepping forward until she was standing before him. "Perhaps my fears are unfounded but I cannot simply ignore them." She clasped her hands before her.

"And what might they be?" He held her gaze.

Glancing down, she suddenly lost the courage to speak. It felt like her emotions were choking her, making it nearly impossible to form the words on her lips... Or perhaps it was her fears that choked her? She was afraid of how she felt when he was around her. She was afraid of the new desires that bombarded her mind, making it impossible to think correctly. But most of all, she was afraid of her desire for love. She knew she didn't deserve it, but it didn't stop her from longing for it, or longing for a home and a family. She longed for happiness.

Still, she knew those were nothing but wishful thinking, and was most likely never to come true.

"Fears are most times built on experience, Miss Riverside. We experience something bad, and we fear we might experience worse. They are hardly unfounded."

Gretchen turned to find him staring at her.

"Is it appropriate to assume that you might be afraid of something?" She worked up the courage to ask.

Ethan laughed nervously. "Perhaps, Miss Riverside,"

For a while, she stood waiting for him to elaborate on his point, but when he didn't, she knew she had to get back to being around Ellie. "I must say goodnight, Lord Williams."

He nodded to her words and with a nod of her own, she turned to go inside.

"Miss Riverside," He called, forcing her to pause in her tracks and turn back around. He watched her. "You might be Elizabeth's nanny but you have as much freedom around here as I do. I would hate for you to feel trapped. When you find it impossible to fall asleep, feel free to leave the nursery."