Page 56 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage

“Can we talk?Alone?”

Briony’s face fell. “That may be difficult right now.”

Santiago rubbed the back of his neck and turned his eyes to the floor before shifting them back to her. “Then later tonight? Once the celebration ends?”

“Aye, that would be fine.” He was so somber that she couldn’t help but feel uneasy. This wasn’t going to be a light conversation, no matter the topic.

Santiago smiled slightly before leaning in and whispering, “Thank you.”

Briony bit her lip anxiously, drawing Santiago’s gaze to her mouth. Her heart rate sped up, as much from the man’s proximity as from his request.

But suddenly, Santiago stepped back and strolled into the kitchen, leaving Briony standing there trying to calm herself down.

“Dearie, what are you doing? Does yer chest hurt?” Adaira asked as she came around the corner.

Briony looked down at where Adaira was staring and discovered her own hand pressed against her heart. She flushed in embarrassment and dropped her hand. “N-Nay! Everything is perfect!”

“Well, good. I’m glad I found you alone. There’s something I must tell you. I just heard from Matthew Levins that Mr. McGuff said that—”

“Please, Adaira, just get to the point.”

Adaira rolled her eyes. “Fine. So basically, everyone is saying that yer being indecent with na just one man, but two. Mr. Moreland has made it no secret to Daniel Calhoun that he fancies you, and Laird Oliver received a pretty penny from Mr. Mendes the other day to make up fer some slight that yousupposedlygave him.”

Briony was silent as she processed this information. She’d told Santiago she would handle Oliver, but she’d completely forgotten about the incident until now.

He should na have given that oaf any money. ’Tis my issue to deal with, na his. And why would he anyway? What am I to him?

The kiss replayed in her mind, followed by his request to talk to her alone.

What could he want to say? Is it just to say goodbye? Or is Lucia wrong? It seems idiotic to hope he could wish to…stay here with me. But could he?

And what about Niall? He does fancy me after all. That must be what he was trying to say at dinner. What can I tell him?

“I’m sorry people are spreading rumors about you! I’ll do what I can to stop them. I already told Matthew Levins that he could forget about getting any pie fer a long time if I heard him talking like that again.”

Briony nodded, still so focused on Santiago that she barely heard Adaira’s words.

“Anyway, fer now, let’s just get back to work. We’ll deal with that when we can, so try na to think about it, aye?”

“O’ course, love,” Briony said.She’s right. I have more important things to do than think about the town’s constant disapproval o’ me.

By the time midday arrived, Briony was all too ready to stop for lunch.This is the most I’ve worked since…probably two years ago when Adaira last recruited me.

She sighed, glancing over at her friend as she zipped from room to room. Adaira always got so stressed about the celebration, worried she wouldn’t have enough food or that something would be overcooked or undercooked.Basically, she worries that something will be less than perfect.

This year, though, Adaira seemed even more frantic than usual. She was ordering everyone about with the domineering attitude of a military general, to the point that Briony wondered if she should tell her friend to back off some.

’Tis almost as if she’s trying to impress someone…Then realization dawned on her, and Briony smacked her head for not thinking of it sooner.That’s what this is! The whole town has been talking o’ the grand food Adaira makes on Johnsmas, so ’tis no wonder she’s so eager to make sure everything is just right in front o’ Mr. Burgess.

Briony frowned and looked around.But where is he?

She hadn’t seen the man all morning; neither he nor his son had been in their room when she replaced the linens.

They must have left shortly after breakfast. I wonder if their hostess sent them on an errand.

Briony entered the kitchen and found the woman in question muttering to herself about all the tasks she still needed to do. Briony stifled a chuckle before clearing her throat several feet behind the innkeeper’s daughter.

Adaira jerked and nearly spilled the bowl of batter in her hands. “Briony! Don’ do that!”