Page 86 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage

“I saw the gun, and it would kill Senhor Mendes, but the water pushed him down. I thought we would all die. But graças a Deus[24]we saw Everton, and we got here. We lived.” Adriano smiled, proud that he had managed to tell the whole story.

Briony frowned. “But Adriano, who was it?”

Adriano cocked his head to the side. “What?”

“Whotried to kill Santiago?”

Adriano took one final glance around, and when satisfied that it was still safe to speak, he mumbled, “Capitão Costa.”

“What…” Briony trailed off.

Is that why Santiago insisted I avoid the ship? He always behaves so strangely around the captain… And Adriano’s suspicious words at the Johnsmas gathering… Talking about an “accident.” If Costa tried to kill Santiago before, then he’s certainly capable o’ being behind this whole conspiracy.

I wonder what he and Santiago were arguing about before they hit that storm.

“Adriano, could you help me—”

“Nay, senhorita!” Adriano shook his head. “This is as much as I can do fer Senhor Mendes. I… I know I’m a coward, but I just can’t. You have to go on without me.”

Briony bristled at the man’s lack of loyalty, but then she thought of something in her mother’s letter.My voice holds sway over the likes o’ men, so would I be able to get him to do my wishes?

She opened her mouth to find out, but then she paused, ashamed at herself.He’s barely more than a boy. How can I force him to be further involved in something that could get him killed? Nay, ’tis best to keep him from as much o’ this as I can.

She nodded and said, “You’ve already helped me when you did na have to. Fer that, I’m very grateful.”

Adriano released the breath he’d been holding and took a step back. “I wish you well, senhorita.”

Briony nodded and held back a small sigh as the man walked off in the direction of the tavern.How am I going to get Santiago out o’ this? This feels much too big to do by myself…

Ah, Lucia! Surely she knows her brother is innocent. And once she learns o’ the captain’s treachery, maybe she’ll have an idea o’ how to prove he’s the one behind this.

Lucia and Costa had gone with Cardoso when he arrested Santiago, but Briony hadn’t seen them at the commodore’s ship or run into them in town.Maybe they went back to their own ship.

The last time she’d been on theSão Nicolauhad been an unpleasant experience, to say the least. After the latest incident with the commodore and Alves, Briony was fed up with men viewing her as an object to control.’Tisna just the Portuguese men either; Niall has been doing the same thing by trying to force me to be with him.

If I manage to get Santiago out o’ all this, will he eventually be the same way? Even my own father used my mother fer his wishes and did na care fer her own. What makes Santiago any different?

The green-eyed merchant’s face ran through her mind, along with all the moments they’d spent together. She thought back to his confession, trying not to get caught up in the emotions tied to it and instead focusing on what had happened directly after.

When I stepped away from him because I could na believe his words, there was something he did—When he said my name, he sounded so heartbroken, but there was also something else in his voice. What was it?

But the answer soon became apparent.’Twas fear. Santiago thought he was going to lose me.

Because he would have let me go. He was na going to force me into something I did na want.Briony held back a tear at the revelation, surer than ever that she was going to rescue Santiago, no matter what.

TheSão Nicolauseemed deserted as she crept aboard.Maybe Lucia went back to the inn while I was talking to Cardoso.She was just about to deem the trip a waste of time when she heard low voices coming from the captain’s quarters.

Briony snuck up, quiet as a mouse, and leaned her ear against the door.

She jerked back in surprise. It wasn’t fully shut!

She peeked around the door, careful not to put any weight on it again in case it made noise this time. Inside, Lucia and the captain stood at arm’s length from each other. They were engaged in a heated debate over something.Yet again, this would be so much easier if I understood Portuguese! If only I’d convinced Adriano to give me a wee bit more help!

Still, she tried to listen for anything that sounded familiar. She heard Santiago’s name a few times as Lucia wrung her hands. She also caught the wordmortaagain and shivered.

Is Lucia trying to get Costa to help her free Santiago? She’s going to be sorely disappointed if that’s the case.

Briony lost her visual of Lucia when Costa leaned in close to whisper something—