"Nonsense," Dominic said to her, with a warm smile. "Please stay and enjoy yourself. You belong here with the rest of us, so please, sit."

"Thank you no, I really must go inside."

"Nonsense, please stay. My goodness, Dominic, why have you made poor old Patrick till that ridiculous vegetable garden?" Rosemary said dotingly. "Is not the Señora's many flower gardens not good enough for you?"

"The vegetable garden is young Alannah project," he replied, a with a glimmer of humor in his eyes. "She has a surprisingly strong back for a delicate girl."

Rosemary looked scandalized. "You mean to tell me that you put this poor girl to work like a field hand?"

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Dominic chuckled at this. "Alannah wanted to do this, she said fresh herbs and vegetables make for the best meals, isn't that right? Once she set her mind to it, Rosemary there was no stopping dear Alannah. She works in the garden because she enjoys it." This time he said that with disdain in his voice, aimed at Rosemary.

Alannah's gaze fell before the hard-edged scrutiny of the beautiful Rosemary.

"I daresay you're of peasant stock" she said looking at Alannah like she was beneath her "aren't you dear child?"

"Actually NO, where I come from is none of your concern." At that, Alannah got to her feet, her eyes burning with tears, and her face red though no longer with humiliation. "but if you must know," she said a bit curt herself, "I come of a very respected family in Dalkey Ireland and talking to me like that would get you thrown in prison or killed. Regardless of what you think, Rosemary, I prefer getting my hands dirty, compared to lolly gagging about like a….a useless, ornamental bauble!"

To her surprise, Rosemary broke into laughter. "Why I believe I am going to like you, Alannah Ferguson. And here I assumed you to be a spiritless little waif! Please, sit down. When you know me better you'll know not to take my sharp tongue so seriously. She does have a very pretty blush, doesn't she, Dominic?"

Dominic said nothing, but regarded Alannah with amusement - and something else. This was the first time he had seen her stand up for herself, she had spunk. He was beginning to feel more than a crush.

"Now tell me, little peasant girl," Rosemary teased, "what pray tell have you planted? I'm not at all good with working with my hands, and things that grow out of the ground, but my papa has an enormous vegetable patch, and I'm sure we can supply a few odds and ends that you may be lacking."




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