'Who is that?' Camilla asked with a beautifully dimpled smile when she spotted Kara.

Roman, his eyes still locked on Kara's, his expression unreadable, replied, 'Her name is Señorita Kara Savalas. Kara, I would like you to meet Señorita Camilla Estevan.'

Kara rose, awkwardly, uncertain what to do. Feeling a wretched fool, and that she was crimson to the tips of her ears, she said quickly, 'Excuse me, I- I have to go inside and wash up.'

'Nonsense,' Roman told her firmly. 'Stay and enjoy yourself. You look as though you belong here as you are. Now please, sit.'

'Goodness, Roman, why have you made poor old Guiseppe till that ridiculous vegetable garden?' Camilla said admonishingly. 'Is not the Señora's flower garden enough for you?'

'The vegetable garden is young Kara's project,' he replied, a humorous glimmer in his eyes. 'She has a surprisingly strong back for a small girl.'

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

Roman chuckled at this. 'Once she set her mind to it, there was no stopping her. She works in the garden because she enjoys it, Camilla.'

Kara's gaze fell before the hard-edged patrician scrutiny of the beautiful Camilla.

'I daresay you're of peasant stock,' she told Kara tartly.

At that, Kara got to her feet, her ears burning, though no longer with humiliation. 'I'll have you know,' she bit off in a low voice, 'that I come of a well-off, well-respected family in Athens. Regardless, I prefer making myself useful to lolling about like a- a useless, ornamental bauble!'

To her surprise, Camilla broke into laughter. 'I believe I am going to like you, Kara Savalas. 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 seriously. She does have a very pretty blush, doesn't she, Roman?'

Roman said nothing, but regarded Kara with amusement- and something else.

'Now tell me, little peasant girl,' Camilla teased, 'what have you planted? I'm not at all good with things that spring from the soil, but my papa has an enormous vegetable patch, and I'm sure we can find supply a few odds and ends that you're lacking.'

Deciding a truce was in order, Kara offered, 'Do you have any kale?'

'We have lots of kale.'

'Spinach?'

Camilla made a face. 'I'm afraid so.'

'Brussels sprouts?'

'Ugh! But yes, we do.'




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