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‘I’ve been wondering,’ he re?’

Surprised by the topic, Poppy lifted and dropped her bare shoulders ‘I like caring for people Being needed makes me feel useful’

‘Your family certainly needed you,’ Gaetano said drily

Thein silence for a fewother than nursing when the time comes’

‘Such as?’ Gaetano prompted impatiently

‘Gardening,’ she admitted in a defensive tone

‘Gardening?’ Gaetano repeated with incredulity

‘I always discounted enerations of gardeners But I suppose it’s in my blood,’ Poppy opined wryly ‘Of course if I’d everfor your family and I didn’t want that’

‘I’ve never understood why not We’re good employers’

‘Yes, but working on the estate means real old-fashioned service’

‘And what is bartending but service?’ Gaetano watched her turn to lift her water glass and his attention dropped to the fir curve of her breast revealed by her dress He shifted tensely in his seat

‘There’s not that same sense of inequality between employer and employee that there is on the estate I can’t explain it but I’ve never accepted that you are superior to e’

‘Have I ever made you feel that way?’

Poppy pushed away her plate and stood up ‘You can’t help it Your parents raised you like that’

‘Where are you going?’

‘For a walk—it’s a beautiful evening I’ll have space for dessert by the ti to remove their plates

‘I’ll coht