Page 24 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage

“What do you mean by that? What do you know about my mum?” Briony hadn’t meant to raise her voice, but by the time she’d finished speaking, she was almost shouting.

The middle-aged fisherman recoiled from her intensity. Santiago also seemed surprised, for she could feel his eyes piercing into her, but she kept her focus on Vincent McLaren.I want a straight answer this time.

The older man looked this way and that before he said, “Why do you think yer mother never let you near the water? If you can figure that out, you may find the answers you seek.”

“What’s he talking about, Briony?” Santiago asked.

Briony turned to her companion and replied, “’Tis a very long story. You would na want all the details.”

Santiago shook his head vehemently. “Nay, I want to hear. Please, you can trust me.”

Briony, however, wanted to get more information from Mr. McLaren first, so she turned her attention back to—

An empty space. The fisherman was nowhere in sight. She couldn’t even smell his distinctive odor.

“Wait, where did he go? Mr. McLaren!” she called. She twirled completely around, tugging the merchant along with her, but there was no sign of him.

“I can’t see him, Briony,” Santiago said.

“That man is slipperier than a seal! I don’ know how he does it. I’ll probably find him later when I’m na expecting it. That’s how it usually goes.”

“In that case, could you tell me why he said those things?”

Briony sighed. “Maybe another time. I need to get you back to the inn.”

Santiago’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t say anything else about it as they strolled out of the market.

Thank you fer na asking again. I’m sorry, but I’m na ready to tell you. Na yet. Maybe na ever.

After Briony left the man in his room with a short farewell, she wandered into the sitting room and took a seat.

Is there some other reason Mum never let me near the water beyond just a fear o’ drowning? Could it have something to do with this connection I feel to the ocean?

If only Mum were still here so I could press her fer answers!

Then an unexpected thought crept into her mind.I wonder what her opinion would have been on Santiago… Surely she’d like him as much as—

“You have an awfully big smile on yer face there, my friend,” Adaira commented as she walked up, feather duster in hand.

Briony touched her mouth to confirm Adaira’s words. “Am I smiling? I did na even notice.”

“Has Mr. Mendes been charming you with his curious accent and green eyes?”

“Adaira!” She shook her head. “Nay, he has na been charming me. Besides, I’m na someone he should be charming, remember?”

Adaira gave her a knowing glance before turning to dust the mantel. “Aye, I remember what you said, but I’ve also been remembering something else that makes me think yerexactlythe person he should be charming.”

“And what is it you remember?” Briony asked, folding her arms.

“Back when we were kids and wanted to figure out who our future husbands would be, we buried those coals in the ground. Do you recall? The next day when we came back and dug them up, yers had two hairs in it. They were blond, just like a certain someone’s hair!”

“Nay, that’s na how it happened. Only one o’ the hairs was blond. The other was black.”

Adaira paused in her dusting. “Oh… Perhaps the black hair came from yer head and was na fer divining a husband.”

“Or perhaps ’tis childish to believe a coal can tell you what color hair yer future husband will have,” Briony snapped. “I need to go see Dr. Sherwin, so please excuse me.”

Adaira spun around with a hurt look. “Briony, you know I only want you to be happy.”