Page 87 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage
Briony gasped. She’d been wrong; Costa wasn’t whispering to Lucia. He was kissing her!
But Briony’s gasp had been too loud. Lucia and the captain broke apart at the sound and looked toward the door!
Briony drew back, her heart galloping like horses. She didn’t think they’d seen her, but they’d definitely heard her. Her eyes darted about for a place to hide—
But there was nothing on deck that was large enough, and soon she heard footsteps! If she didn’t think of something fast, Lucia and Costa would find her.I don’ even want to think about what would happen then.
With no time to run back to town or down to the sailors’ quarters, there was only one thing she could do. Briony raced over to the edge of the deck and dove into the sea.
Playing with Fire
Briony zoomed through the water like a bullet, trying to stay out of sight for as long as possible before returning to the surface. She went past fish and dolphins, even some sharks, all of which scattered in different directions upon noticing her. Only once her lungs began burning with need did she return to the surface and only then by peeking her eyes and nose above the water.
She sank back slowly, grateful that no one seemed to be following her.But then, how could they? They’re na selkies, so the only chance they’d have o’ keeping up with me would be to bring the entire ship. I’m sure I’m faster than any rowboat, no matter the strength o’ its oarsmen.
With these thoughts in mind, Briony felt the claws of panic lose their hold over her heart. She lifted her entire head into the air and did a more thorough scan of her surroundings.
The shore was a good distance away, but she could easily reach it within a few minutes if she tried. She was glad to be far enough from the Portuguese ships that no one would have been able to identify her as human; at best, someone might think she was a seal poking its head from the water.
She chuckled at how ironically accurate that assumption would be, but her laughter quickly turned bitter.I have na even had the chance to wear my sealskin yet with all the madness since the commodore’s arrival.Her soul longed for the wholeness that had begun calling to her from the moment she had laid her hands on the pelt.
But now she had another issue to deal with: determining what she’d just witnessed on theSão Nicolau.
Does Lucia have feelings fer the captain? He did na look like he was forcing himself on her. Did Costa tell her he would help save Santiago? Is she just pretending to like him to get his help?
Or is it something worse? Could she have been a part o’ the attempt on Santiago’s life?
Nay, she loves her brother! I’ve seen how she is with him. Surely ’tis na just a lie, right?
Briony shook her head to clear her dark thoughts.Until I know the truth, I can’ depend on Lucia fer help.
She smacked the water with her hand.My life never used to be this complicated. Would it have been like this if I’d grown up with my da’ instead o’ my mum? I certainly would have lived a freer life, but then I would na have known Mum.
Maybe ’twould be better just to go back in time to when she was still alive, back to when everything made sense.
Except everything did na make sense even then, did it? There were so many things I did na know, things about my parents and myself.
And back then Adaira was the only friend I had…well, Fergus too, I suppose. Now I can also say that about Santiago, Mr. McLaren, Dr. Sherwin, and even Mr. Burgess to an extent.
But I will lose one o’ them soon unless I figure out how to help him.
Briony deliberated the situation with Santiago for a long time, meandering toward the shore as she did so. So engaged was she in her thoughts that she didn’t notice a solitary figure watching her from the beach.
The breeze was cold against her back as she plodded through the wet sand. It whistled through the nearby trees like the gentle voice of a lover. The sea, too, whispered sweet promises in Briony’s ear, begging her to return to its embrace. But Briony was too distracted to hear either of them.
Only once she had placed her feet on the dry ground did Briony sense something strange. And by that point, it was too late. She looked up from her feet, gasping when she realized she wasn’t alone.
“Hello, my dear. I’ve been waiting fer you.” Niall stood before her with an ominous countenance. Trails of saltwater dripped from his hair onto his smooth chest. Briony tried to look anywhere but at the muscular physique before her, her eyes settling instead on a particularly interesting blade of grass. She was very thankful he had at least taken the time to cover his lower half with his sealskin.
I guess he’s na bothering with human propriety any longer.
“I-I did na see you there,” Briony sputtered, trying to sound casual even though her heart was pounding within her.
He’s here to take me away. What do I do? I’ve been so caught up in what’s happening with Santiago that I never thought o’ a plan fer when Niall returned!
“That’s because yer watching the ground when I’m right in front o’ you.”
Briony’s lips twitched.Is he trying to make a joke?
