CHAPTER FOUR HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SIX – A NEW ROUTINE

As the morning wore on, Raquel's attitude seemed to soften slightly. She still barked orders and muttered under her breath when Jasmine made mistakes, but there were moments when she almost seemed impressed. "You're not completely useless," Raquel grudgingly admitted as Jasmine finished a particularly tricky alteration. Jasmine felt a small surge of pride. "Thank you. My mother always said I had a talent for-" "Yes, yes," Raquel interrupted. "Less talking, more sewing." They worked through the morning and into the afternoon, breaking only for a quick lunch of bread and cheese. As they ate, Raquel seemed to study Jasmine with a new intensity. "You're different than I expected," she said abruptly. Jasmine looked up, surprised. "What do you mean?" Raquel shrugged. "I thought you'd be some spoiled princessita, whining about broken nails and demanding special treatment. But you work hard. You don't complain." "I told you, I'm used to working," Jasmine replied. "My life wasn't always