* * *
“Ok Amber let me go in first to make sure they are gone. Then we can get some food and sneak it back to our quarters.” Lilliana said with an encouraging smile. Arlana couldn’t help but smile back. Although it had been a short time that she had known Lilliana there was something about her that put Arlana at ease. It was as though she reminded her of someone but Arlana couldn’t remember who.
Lilliana went inside. Arlana turned to look at the garden. It was truly beautiful. There were many types of vegetables in the garden but the edge was surrounded by lavender colored roses and another plant with big white flowers. She leaned in and smelled the white flowers. It was an amazing smell that made her gasp in surprise. “Those are Gardenia’s” She jumped as she heard a masculine voice behind her. She was afraid of whom she would see when she turned around but she took a breath and turned. Salvatore smiled down at her. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I am sorry. You are safe to go inside. The brothers are in the parlor and Senor Antonio will think it too low of him to enter the kitchen a second time today. I am sorry he treated you so poorly.” Arlana’s heart skipped a beat as he smiled at her. His face was so close that she could see gold flecks in his brown eyes. He was a handsome man and she suddenly felt shy. As she stared into his eyes there was something familiar about this man. An image of brown eyes that had a hint of green in them came to mind. She couldn’t make out the face of the owner of these eyes but the image of them made her feel safe.
“Do you know me?” She asked quietly.
Salvatore smiled puzzled and asked “What did you say?”
Arlana blinked and realized how close she was to this strange and handsome man. She blushed and let go of the breath she had been holding. “Um, ha-ha, um sorry you just seemed familiar and well …” she said meekly.
“I apologize; it was such a weird thing to say that you surprised me.”
“Um yes I suppose I should have asked if we had met before. You seem familiar to me.” She responded with as simple a lie as she could muster.
“Ah now I understand. I definitely would remember such a pretty girl with such mesmerizing eyes. Alas no we have not met before.”
“Why do you sound remorseful? We are meeting now after all. I am Amber. Lilliana and I just started working here today…Yes, um; I suppose you would already know that since you work here too.”Arlana said with a laugh and blushed.
“If we had met before I would have done everything in my power to win your heart but I am woeful that I have never had the honor to do so. I am Salvatore. Should you need anything please let me know. For now the kitchen is safe and I am assuming you are hungry. Please enjoy your supper.” Salvatore said with a smile. He then turned and walked towards the servants’ quarters. Arlana watched him walk away and felt surprisingly better. Whoever this man was she knew that as long as he was around she would be safe. Then the image of the brown/green eyes came again to her and she wondered what it meant.
“Amber! Come there is food for us to eat! Those creeps are gone so let’s feast!” Lilliana said with a smile.
Arlana looked at her new friend and laughed. At that moment she knew her life was just starting to get interesting and she couldn’t wait to see what happened next.