Page 47 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage

“It took you long enough to realize that!”

Briony rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Now what is this special thing he had in…?”

Upon the grass, there was the perfect setup for a romantic evening: food, drinks, and a bouquet of wildflowers set atop a large quilt in a spot that afforded a lovely view of the ocean. Niall sat with a large grin as he waited for Briony to join him.

Butterflies danced about her stomach as she took a seat across from him. Her mouth was suddenly as dry as dust, and she looked to Adaira for help, but the woman was already almost back inside.

“You came. I was na sure you would.” His voice flowed to Briony’s ears like warm honey, drawing her back to his dark, mysterious eyes. They were hopeful, that much was certain, and she wondered what he was thinking.

If that hope is fer more than friendship, then he’s going to be sorely disappointed. I’ve already set my heart on Santiago, stupid as ’tis. Surely Adaira was wrong that he’s interested in me, right?

“I-I wanted to come. Now I have the chance to get to know you a wee bit more.”

She mentally kicked herself.What’s wrong with me? This is Niall. Why am I acting like such a flirt?

Niall flashed a brilliant smile and quickly blessed the food. As soon as he did, though, he tore into his trout with strange abandon. It wasn’t at all like he’d behaved when they were at the tavern together. Briony was never much for ceremony, but it was almost obnoxious how he took new bites out of the fish before he’d finished swallowing the previous ones.

Briony frowned, unsure how to respond.

After a few moments, Niall noticed her discomfort and wiped his chin with a napkin. He had the decency to look sheepish and ducked his head away from hers as he tried to clean himself up.

“So what would you like to know about me?” Niall asked.

“How many questions can I ask?”

Niall laughed. “As many as you’d like, as long as you don’ overwhelm me with several at once.”

Briony pondered for a moment. “Why did you come backnow?”

Niall pressed his fingers together with a slight frown. “I meant to return much earlier to thank you fer what you did, but as a bairn, I was always forbidden from doing so. My mother could na forgive the other bairns’ treatment o’ me, and yer heroism was na enough to convince her. She…she and my sister passed away recently—”

“I’m so sorry, Niall. Yer mumandsister? What happened?”

Niall didn’t say anything for a moment, and Briony wondered if the memories were still too painful. “They both came down with an illness and died within a few weeks o’ each other.”

Briony grabbed his hand. “I lost my mum almost a year ago to influenza, so I completely understand.”

Niall brightened at her touch and rubbed his thumb along the back of her hand. Goose bumps erupted along her arms, startling her so much that she pulled her hand away with a gasp.

“I beg yer pardon. I did na mean to go too fast fer you.”

Briony cocked her head in confusion. “Too fast? What do you mean?”

Niall huffed as if frustrated. “Don’ play coy with me, Briony. You calledme, after all.”

“I don’ understand. How could I ‘call’ you? What does that even mean?” A tremor of dread shot through her.

He stared hard at Briony, his black eyes meeting her amber ones. They stayed like this for several seconds until Niall broke eye contact with an awkward laugh. “I suppose you truly don’ know. How disappointing. I guess I’ll have to work a wee bit harder, then. That’s all right though.”

He quickly changed the subject to the Johnsmas celebration, much to Briony’s relief. They conversed easily about the new topic before sliding smoothly into many other things. The rest of the meal passed so pleasantly that Briony nearly believed she’d imagined the tension before. Niall’s demeanor was full of charm and kindness, and the affectionate smiles he threw her way dispelled her previous anxiety about the evening.

Then Briony heard the clock inside strike nine and looked around with wide eyes.Is that truly the time? I’ve been enjoying myself so much that I did na realize how late ’twas. We must have been in such deep conversation that we did na even hear the seven and eight o’clock chimes.

“What’s that?” Niall asked.

“’Tis the clock inside, telling us time has run away from us.”

Niall cocked his head in confusion. “Clock? What’s that?”