Page 7 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage

“I’m sorry, Briony. I know ’tis hard, but if you get into an argument with him, ’twill only make things worse.” Adaira removed her hand from Briony’s arm.

Briony looked away. “Aye, aye, I know. But still, how can he talk like that? ’Twas na my mother’s fault! She did everything she could!”

Adaira’s voice became pained. “I know that. And I believe he knows it too, but he’s just so bitter that he wants someone to blame.”

“If he had na been so caught up in superstition, maybe things would have been different.”

Then maybe my mother would have known Valerie Stubbins was pregnant soon enough to prevent at least one o’ the deaths.

Adaira ran a finger along the counter, a wistful expression on her face. “Or maybe they would have been just the same. We’ll never know now. All we can do is try our best to move forward.”

“I just wish he could do that too,” Briony said with a huff.

“So do I. I thought he’d get better over time, but the longer my mum and brother are gone, the worse he gets. I’m surprised Tam still puts up with him at the tavern if he’s as ill-tempered there as he is here.”

“You know Tam will put up with just about anything as long as he gets paid…” Briony’s voice trailed off, and she stared out the window, stewing on Terrence’s words.

Old wives’ tales claimed fairies might harm the mother or abduct the child if knowledge of a pregnancy was widespread. Because of this, Terrence had convinced Valerie to keep her condition hidden for as long as possible. No one but the family had known, not even Bethany Fairborn, who had taken care of all expectant mothers in Everton since she had become the town midwife.

No one could have predicted the tragedy that was to come. Valerie had gone into labor three months early while Dr. Sherwin was out of town, and by the time Bethany had reached Valerie’s side, it was too late. She had done everything she could, but it wasn’t enough to save them.

“Anyway, why have you come so early this morneen?” Adaira asked, drawing Briony from her thoughts.

“I needed something to distract me,” Briony said, not meeting her friend’s eyes.

“Another nightmare?”

Briony nodded.

“My father’s cruel words must have been even harder to hear, then. I’m sorry, dearie.”

“I’ll be all right. Did you know it has been almost a year since she died?”

“Aye, just a few weeks from now. I’m sure ’tis still very difficult to bear. Just remember that I’m here fer you.” Adaira’s face was full of compassion, so much so that the midwife’s eyes began to well up with tears.

Briony coughed and turned away. “I wanted to see how that man who came in yesterday with the broken leg is doing… Mr. Mendes?”

Adaira accepted the shift in topic with a sad, understanding smile. “His sister went out to their ship a wee bit ago to talk to that other fellow who came with them. She asked if I could take her brother a few muffins if I finished baking before she returned. How about you take them instead and see fer yerself?”

“All right, though I must warn you that na as many may get down there as I take,” Briony said, trying to lighten the somber mood. She grabbed four muffins and put them on a plate.

Adaira winked. “Just so long as you don’ let any o’ my guests go hungry.”

“Never!” Briony grinned and strode off toward the bedrooms. She knocked lightly at the foreigner’s before entering.

Mr. Mendes lay in the bed with his back to her. The brown shirt he wore clung closely to him, hinting at lean muscle beneath.

A large cast stuck out from under his blanket, reminding Briony of the strenuous process she and Dr. Sherwin had gone through the night before.The tibia is one o’ the strongest bones in the body. I really wish I knew how he broke it.

“I’m sorry to trouble you, Mr. Mendes, but I brought you some breakfast.”

The man shifted toward her, grunting as he turned. She felt bad for making him move since she could tell it was painful, but then she lost her train of thought when she met his striking eyes, pale green like the wings of the butterflies around her cottage.

“I didn’t hear you come in. Are you Dr. Sherwin’s wife? I apologize for not introducing myself when you were helping him—”

“You don’ need to apologize. You were in far too much pain last night fer introductions. And nay, I’m na married to Dr. Sherwin. I’m Briony Fairborn, the village midwife.” She put the plate down on the small table next to his bed.

“Senhorita Fairborn, I’m in your debt. Without you and Dr. Sherwin, I don’t know what I would have done.”