"Fair enough, what is it that you want to say to me, Alannah? We are alone, other than the driver, but he can't hear you, and no reason to become embarrassed." He said in a low tone.
Alannah tensed a little, and in her normal fahion bit her lower lip, a sudden inexplicable fear taking her voice away. Were they anywhere but in the woods, she would have jumped out of the buggy and ran back to the Chateau. He reached over and put his warm hands over hers, and she gasped and jumped at his touch.
"Why are you so jumpy? Are you afraid of me, Alannah?"
"In a way yes, I am afraid of you, Señor."
"Why is that, Alannah?"
"I'm afraid of losing my heart to you, of being hurt again. Being around you makes me feel funny inside, like I can't breathe. I look at your soft brown eyes and how intense they are, and then I can't think. So then I end up saying stupid, and embarrassing things." She said turning her head away from him and looking out the window.
He gave her hands a little squeeze and released them. She was about to relax, when he put his arm around her.
"If I am giving off mixed signals Alannah, make no mistake I mean you no harm. There is nothing between Rosemary and I Alannah. I made that perfectly clear to her just yesterday, I told her that I had no interest in her games. Why don't you just lean against me and rest your head on my shoulder .."
"Dominic…I"
"Shh now Alannah, you are tired from the long day, just rest. It will be alright."
"Oh," she responded in a barely in audible tone, unable to tell whether she was relieved or disappointed.
"Are you warm enough?"
She nodded into his shoulder and within moments she appeared to be fast asleep. Yet she still heard everything Dominic was saying to her.
"I am falling in love you, Alannah and I do not know what to do about this."