Page 46 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage
Briony stepped forward and bent down to remove her wet shoes, but then a noise startled her. Her hands lurched back, and she spun around.
Niall Moreland stood a few feet away, both hands behind his back, positively beaming at her. He looked just as dangerously handsome as last time, his hair slightly windswept and his cheeks ruddy. “Briony! What an enchanting sight you are!”
Conflicting emotions skittered through her, the main one being nervousness, thanks to their last encounter. Strangely, though, she also felt something akin to excitement at seeing him again.
She lifted a hand to her messy hair. “I’m completely drenched, and my lower half is covered in sand. I’m na sure what’s so ‘enchanting’ about that.”
“You’ll just have to trust me.” He took a step closer. “I’m so glad I ran into you! I would have come to see you sooner, except I just got a job helping Mr. Calhoun burn kelp down at the beach. I hope you don’ think I forgot about you. Or yer apology.”
Briony shook her head. “I spoke rashly before. I heard from Adaira that you already made up fer what you did, and she was the only one you needed to apologize to.”
“Nay, you were right. You were introducing yer friend to me and I behaved like a rogue. Allow me to show you how sorry I am.” He removed one hand from behind his back and revealed a string of sea trout.
“This was my first day off, so I thought I’d catch some fish and try to convince you to give me another chance. But now I’ve gone and found you without even trying, so perhaps ’tis a sign.” His smile turned charming and a little shy at the same time.
Briony pursed her lips as she considered the offer. “Sea trout is my favorite, you know. How did you catch so many?”
“’Tis in my blood… Fishing, that is. So what do you say? Would you have dinner with me tonight?” He winked as if he already knew her answer.
She tried to suppress it, but a real smile edged its way onto her face. “That sounds like a great idea.”
“Splendid! Then I’ll see you at the inn at six o’clock.” Niall turned and sauntered away with a spring in his step. As he turned from her, Briony glimpsed what looked like some sort of gray material in his other hand, but she couldn’t get a good look before it was out of sight again.’Tis almost as if he was trying to hide it from me.
Wait a moment. How did Niall catch all those fish without a fishing rod?
*
A few hours later, Briony strolled into Everton Inn, surprised to hear shouts coming from the dining room. She wandered back and found the Mendes siblings, Adaira, the Burgesses, and Adaira’s father seated at the table.
“And I say a man should be able to drink as much as he wants, whenever he wants, regardless o’ what day o’ the week ’tis!” Terrence Stubbins bellowed. His ire was directed at John Burgess, and Adaira was gripping her father’s hand.
“Da’, don’ get so upset! Mr. Burgess was only—”
“I know what he was saying! Don’ try to cover fer him just because he’s been making eyes at you since dinner started!”
Lucia choked on her water as Adaira’s mouth dropped open like a fish’s. Mr. Burgess didn’t say anything, but his face was quickly turning as red as his hair.
It appears I’ve arrived just when things are getting interesting. How sad that I’m previously engaged.
Briony cleared her throat. “I’m so sorry to interrupt—”
She stepped completely into the room, feeling awkward now that all eyes were on her, especially a certain pair of green ones. “Has anyone seen Niall? I’m supposed to be meeting him here.”
Adaira, looking incredibly grateful for the distraction, practically leaped to her feet. “Ah, o’ course! Briony! Mr. Moreland said you’d be coming. He’s waiting fer you out in the back. He said he has somethingspecialin mind.”
Briony didn’t miss her friend’s suggestive tone, nor could she bring herself to look in Santiago’s direction.
Adaira grabbed her friend’s arm. “Here, let me take you.”
Once they were out of the room, Briony whispered, “Adaira, that was so embarrassing. Why did you have to say it like that?”
“Oh, no reason! You just should have seensomeone’sface when I said it.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
Briony pushed her away playfully. “Adaira! Yer the worst!”
“What can I say? ’Twas too good o’ an opportunity to let it pass by. After all, ’tis na every day that my dearest friend has two men after her. Enjoy it, love!”
“Will you just—Never mind. ’Tis no use trying to get you to stop.”
