Footsteps on the stairs announced Briony’s arrival. She burst in, a vision in a pale yellow dress, hair flowing free like a shining, golden river down her back. God knows where she got the dress, probably stole it, but it made her look young, unspoiled, and utterly beautiful. Lowri followed on her heels.
Briony stopped dead when she saw Donald Drummond. Cullen thought he saw a shadow of dismay cross her face, but it soon vanished. Her mouth opened in a little ‘oh’ and, with a shy smile, she said, ‘Sir, are you Donald Drummond?’
‘I most certainly am,’ sputtered Drummond, drinking in the sight of the young lass as though he couldn’t believe his luck.
Briony held out her hand for him to kiss, and he took it, bending over to plant a lingering kiss as she gushed, ‘Oh, Sir. I am so glad you have come to my rescue. I have suffered the most terrible ordeal.’
Drummond held onto her hand and placed his other hand on top. ‘I heard all about it and rushed here as soon as I could.’ He quickly dispensed with pitying her ordeal and proceeded to gushing flattery. ‘Oh, my dear, your charms were not exaggerated. What a beauty you are. I am blessed, truly blessed to have such a bride.’
‘And such a fortune,’ mouthed Cullen to Lowri. She put a finger to her lips to shush him, but the other two were oblivious to them. They only had eyes for each other. Drummond droned on with one compliment after another.
‘I am sure you exaggerate my virtues most terribly,’ gasped Briony.
Lowri rolled her eyes and mouthed, ‘What virtues?’ back at Cullen.
Briony must have been disappointed at her groom’s plainness and age, but she hid it well and turned the full force of her charm on him. ‘You should not compliment me so. It will go to my head.’ She placed her palm upon her heart. ‘And I am so happy to be betrothed to such an honourable and handsome man.’
Drummond practically purred at that, the fool.
‘Sir, I beseech you. People have shown me great kindness here.’ Briony nodded at Cullen and Lowri. ‘But I yearn to get away from this place. It holds such dreadful memories, such horrors.’ Her voice was thick, at the edge of a sob. ‘Can we not sail away as soon as may be?’
‘Of course. I am as keen to be away as you. Already, we are of one mind, my dear.’ Donald stroked her hand in his, bent, and kissed her cheek. He left a wet mark that shone in the light from the windows. Briony stiffened, and Cullen felt a stab of pity for the lass.
A clatter and thump on the stairs announced the arrival of Murphy. ‘I brought your things from the ship, Master,’ he huffed, hauling in a sizeable wooden trunk. The man’s fleshy features were sheened with sweat.
‘Well, you can just take it back again. I have my bride, and we are leaving.’
Murphy looked about the room in confusion. ‘And where is the lady?’
‘Here, in front of you, dullard,’ said Drummond, waving a hand at Briony.
Murphy gawped, his mouth falling open, ‘But this....’
‘Can we get on, Murphy?’ interrupted his master. ‘Don’t just stand there leering. Take the trunk back to the ship at once.’
Murphy turned red in the face. He could not stop staring at Briony. He picked up the trunk. Drummond turned to Cullen and Lowri. ‘I thank you for coming to Briony’s aid. Now, we must take our leave.’
Murphy dropped the trunk with a loud bang, making them all jump. He pointed a finger at Briony. ‘This is wrong. This is not her,’ he cried.
‘How dare you!’ cried Briony in a choked voice.
‘Murphy, what the devil are you blathering about?’ said Drummond.
The servant jabbed a finger at Briony. ‘This is not Briony Falstaff. I met her to negotiate the marriage contract, and this is not her. She is blonde, but that is as far as it goes.’
Cullen stepped forward. ‘Perhaps, you are mistaken.’
‘No,’ snapped Murphy. ‘The real Briony was plain as milk, a sour-faced spinster with sallow skin and crooked teeth.’
‘But you reported to me that she was comely,’ cried Drummond.
‘I flattered the lady. That is all. This is an imposter.’
‘If she is not Briony Fallstaff, who is she?’ gasped Drummond.
‘This woman is her servant. She set the fires, emptied the chamber pots and such.’
The stunned silence that followed stretched on unbearably as they all stared at Briony.
