Page 55 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage

Briony had just walked into Everton Inn when her ears caught a voice speaking in Portuguese.

She ducked behind the door even though she recognized the voice as Lucia’s. She wouldn’t have hidden from her except that there was something urgent in the other woman’s tone.

She almost sounds desperate. Whatever she’s talking about, ’tis na something I’m meant to hear. I wonder what it could be about—

When a second voice whispered something back, Briony blushed.Santiago.

She could hear the siblings strolling down the hallway, getting nearer to the front door. “Para a Briony?”

She couldn’t stifle a soft gasp.They’re talking about me!

The conversation instantly ceased. There were no footsteps for several seconds.

They must have heard me!Briony swept her eyes around, wondering how she could get out of this situation without making it obvious she’d been listening in. Her gaze homed in on Adaira’s broom, and she sprang toward it.

It was only just in time too, for as soon as she did, Lucia and Santiago stepped into view.

“Briony!” Lucia beamed, though her cheerfulness seemed forced.

Briony glanced up from sweeping as if she’d only just noticed them too. “Oh, hello! I was trying to clean up a wee bit since Adaira is so busy…” She looked between them, noting how Santiago avoided her eyes.

“How thoughtful of you! Truly, Adaira is lucky to have a friend such as you. I only wish I had the chance to know you as well as she does. Unfortunately, I was just talking to my brother about how we’ll be leaving soon.”

Something sharp pierced Briony’s chest at those words. Phantom pain snaked its way through her, making her drop the broom.

Why am I so surprised? I knew this was going to happen. I’ve known it from the first day I walked with Santiago.

“How soon?” She looked directly at Santiago as she asked.

The man’s eyes shot to hers. They were full of unspoken questions and longing, combined with a healthy dose of shame.But maybe I’m only imagining the longing.

“Well, we didn’t want to miss the party tonight, and the ship’s crew has to restock a few more things, but the repairs are all finished, and my brother is fit to travel again. We should be leaving within the week,” Lucia replied. She didn’t comment on the abandoned broom, though her eyebrows rose questioningly. “As long as nothingunexpectedhappens.”

Briony’s eyes returned to Lucia, but the blond woman was staring pointedly at her brother.

“There you are, Briony! Thank goodness! I did na know how I was going to get everything ready in time!” exclaimed Adaira as she appeared behind Lucia and Santiago.

Everyone jumped at the interruption and turned to Adaira, who stood there with twitching hands.

“Is something wrong?” Briony asked.

“Aye, there’s simply too much to do! Every year, people want more and more o’ my food. I fear my popularity as a cook shall be my undoing,” Adaira said dramatically, but Briony could tell there was genuine worry behind her smile.

“Perhaps we can help, then,” suggested Santiago.

Briony sent him a grateful smile, and when he returned it, she had to look away to keep herself from getting lost in his gaze.

“Please, what can we do?” Lucia asked.

Hope sparked in Adaira’s eyes at the sight of new volunteers, and she eagerly began assigning tasks. All of them got to work preparing ingredients, stirring mixtures, and doing everything else Adaira could think of to make sure the celebration was perfect.

Adaira must have recruited Niall as well because he soon appeared with some baskets in his hands. He winked when he spotted Briony, but he didn’t have a chance to speak to her before Adaira was pushing him down the hallway.

Briony noted that Niall and Santiago never stayed in the same place very long, and when they did have to work together on something, they did so with hardly a word spoken between them. Briony wasn’t sure if this was progress or not, but at least they weren’t practically getting into a fistfight this time.

“Briony,” Santiago said, catching hold of her arm as she walked by with some linens. Adaira had tasked her with putting fresh towels in all the guest rooms.

“Aye?” Briony asked, still smiling from a joke Adaira had made a minute before in the sitting room.