All my Love forever,
Alannah
Why did the Beringers not wish to help her? Were they afraid? She could see her father demanding that they help him, being so demanding that even to the Beringers he would be a tyrant. Maybe he even offered a reward greater than what he was already offering. She couldn't imagine Dominic or his mother fearing anyone, so the reward seemed most likely their reasoning behind not wanting to interferre. Could it be that Señora was bound by outdated and yet harmful social codes of an arranged marriage? She couldn't see that either as the Beringers made and lived by their own rules. They were certainly of higher moral character than that of her father! And why would Dominic and his mother want to meet her father? Was is that they doubted what she told them? Or was it that they felt compelled to answer to her father for why they took her in?
A guest, Señora Beringer had called her. She felt more like a prisoner now on death row awaiting execution!
She finished her letter and put it in the drawer of her small desk. She went to the wardrobe and pulled out something other than her typical pesant dress, something more akin to what she would have worn on a daily basis at home and went downstairs to discover the house empty. She walked in the direction of the glass room, but then was stopped in her tracks when she heard voices coming from outside. Walking to the back door ahe peeked through a window and saw that the Dominic and his mother were sitting in the back garden with Rosemary and her parents. Having no appetite for food or conversation, she used the front entrance and wandered aimlessly toward her favorite grassy knoll in the lakeside meadow. The day was overcast and windy, but she needed to get the sight of Dominic and Rosemary out of her mind, if for only but a moment. Even remembering what Dominic had told her the night before wasn't helping her mood. She picked a spot secluded by the trees and lay down on the grass to avoid the brunt of the chill air.
"Hello, Alannah."
Alannah looked up in surprise to see Rosemary walking towards her. Rosemary's eyes had a faraway look, and she seated herself beside Alannah, unusually thoughtful and silent.
"Dominic has told me about your predicament. I never knew he had a cowardly streak in him."
A little worm of fear seemed to stir in Alannah heart at the mention of that word. "What on earth do you mean Rosemary? I don't think Dominic a coward."