Alannah shrugged. "Of course I have, it just seems that I am stuck and nothing I say seems to convince them what sort of man he is."
Anya gave her a worried smile of assurance and squeezed her hand. Not knowing what else to do, they sat in the quiet until the children that were napping finally
woke.
When Dominic returned from Port Lira, Maria told him that Alannah had gone with Pierre for the day. Although this new had upset him, he chose to go and pick her up instead of sending Patrick as originally planned. He took his horse to the shed and hitched him to the surrey. When he saw Patrick come in to hitch the horses to the wagon, he told his old friend that he would make the trip to go pick up Alannah.
It was evening when the others returned from Port Lira. Dominic arrived shortly after in his horse drawn Brougham Cab to pick her up and take her back to the Chateau. She had expected Patrick to come for her and was surprised when she heard Dominic's voice asking for her.
"It's been a good day, Alannah, don't give up hope." Anya said, giving her a quick embrace and a peck on the cheek. "We will have to do this again sometime soon."
"I'm glad that I came," Alannah said, happy to have found a new friend. "And thank you for having me. The children were wonderful, tiring, but wonderful!"
"I thought the two of you might get along," Dominic said from the doorway of the house.
Alannah turned in surprise, "Dominic, what are you doing here? I thought Patrick was coming to get me?" she said and she couldn't help but run into his warm embrace. Anya smiled seeing them together.
"Well that was the original plan, but I wanted to spend time with you tonight." He said as he gave her a warm and lingering hug. "Thank you for taking such good care of her today Anya," as the two of them walked out the door his arem protectively wrapped around her waist, he gently lifted her and set her standing in his Brougham Cab . He stepped up as she was sitting down, noticing that she was shivering, he reached under the seat of the buggy and wrapped it gently around her shoulders. As his face neared her head he took in a deep breath, as if he was enjoying the smell of her. "Better?" he asked, signalling the driver that they were ready. Then, he lighted one of his cheroots and sat down on the seat next to her. "I was hoping that our Anya would take to you. She hasn't any friends here that are her age. And .." he chuckled and said wryly, "she doesn't take all that well to Rosemary."