Page 33 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage
“What’s going on here?” Briony asked.
Niall’s terrifying stare wheeled over to the young midwife. “Briony, how could you befriend her?! After she tried to—”
Briony held up a hand. “Niall, calm down.”
Adaira, looking like she’d just seen a ghost, cried, “Briony, what’s he talking about? I don’ know what I did to upset him so! He’s talking like a madman!”
Niall roared, “Don’ tell me you’ve forgotten! Or was itnormalfer you to abuse strangers as a child?”
Confusion riddled the younger woman’s face.
Briony stepped between Adaira and Niall. “Adaira, this is Niall. He’s the boy from the beach that day. The boy—”
“The boy you threw rocks at and laughed at till he cried!” Niall finished.
Adaira gasped as recognition filled her eyes. “That was you?!”
“Aye, that was me, you evil witch! I’m na such a wee bairn anymore though!”
“I-I’m so sorry fer what we did to you! ’Twas so wrong—”
“Are youtrulysorry? Do you have any idea how traumatizing that was?” He stepped forward, moving merely a few inches, but it felt like miles. His stance was bloodthirsty, wolfish, as he closed in. Briony wondered what she’d seen in the man; right then he seemed like more of a beast.
“Truly, ’twas a horrible mistake! I’ve regretted it ever since,” Adaira whimpered. She trembled, guilt and terror fighting for dominance within her.
“Yet you did na even recognize me at first,” Niall spat, full of disgust.
“Well…’twas…” Tears began to fall onto her cheeks.
Niall took another step. Briony stood straighter to block the man’s view of her friend.
Then someone cleared his throat from behind Niall. The three people in the kitchen turned to look. There stood John Burgess, raising an eyebrow. His son peeked around from behind him at Niall.
“Pardon me, but has dinner already been served? My son and I were taking a walk and lost track o’ the time. I hope we’re na too late,” Mr. Burgess said.
Briony let out a sigh.Mr. Burgess, I liked you before, but yer one o’ my favorite people now. If you did na do that on purpose, you must have the best timing in the world. I don’ think I’ve ever seen Adaira look more relieved.
Adaira wiped at her eyes and smiled. “Nay, yer just in time. Please have a seat. I’ll bring it out shortly.”
Mr. Burgess nodded, but he didn’t sit down. Instead, he looked pointedly at Niall.
“I don’ believe I’ve had the…pleasure…o’ meeting you yet. My name is John Burgess.” He held out his hand, scowling as he did so.
Niall took it, shaking it twice as he sized the man up. “Niall Moreland. I’ve just arrived in town.”
“Ah, yer here fer dinner, then?”
“Aye, Briony was—”
“He was just on his way out, and I was about to see him off. Go ahead and start without me, Adaira.” Briony grabbed Niall’s arm, squeezing it painfully, and dragged him to the foyer.
“What are you doing?” Niall asked once they were alone.
“How dare you talk to Adaira like that! She’s na the same person who hurt you all those years ago! Yer staying in her family’s inn, yet you had the gall to call her a witch. What is wrong with you?!”
Niall crossed his arms, his voice as firm as granite as he said, “From what I’ve seen, people never truly change. You were a hero back then, so I’m certain yer still that same good person. She was cruel back then, so that cruelty must still reside within her. She may veil it well, but ’tis there. Be glad that now you know the truth.”
Briony clenched her fists to keep from slapping the man. “You knownothingabout who she is now, so don’ pretend that you do.”
