And mayhap more discussion could wait until morning…
He couldn’t guess how much time had passed, but there had been an ample stretch for the rest of the household to find their beds, and he was feeling quite proud of himself for escaping with the prize…until Bella’s voice called out.
“Flanders! Brigid! Where are ye?”
“Lie back,” he hissed.
Brigid resisted. “Why?”
“We’re hiding.”
She rolled her eyes and stifled a giggle when he pressed her down on the settle. Another two pieces of the same furniture hid them from view.
Someone tried the doors.“Brigid, are ye in there?”
Half-stretched beside her, Flanders kept her quiet with another kiss.
There was mumbling. A fumbling of metal on wood, and the doors unlatched. He stared into Brigid’s eyes, warning her not to make a sound.
“Someone’s lit a fire,”Bella said.“They must be in here. Brigid, show yerself!”
James chuckled.“Perhaps it was a decoy, and they’re getting away.”
“Nonsense. We’re all petrified of what we’ll find beyond the garden.”Footsteps came closer and Flanders’ heart jumped like a guilty laddie’s.“Enough of that! Sit up!”
Though Bella was obviously standing at the end of the settle, staring at Flanders’ back, they kept still, trying not to laugh.
James’ voice came from close by.“Perhaps they’ve fallen asleep. Let’s leave them be?—”
“Perhaps I’ve sprouted wings,”Bella scoffed. Then she plopped onto a smaller settle nearby and simply waited.
“I think we should sit up now,” Brigid whispered.
He made a face. “Maybe they’ll go away.”
Bella snorted.“We will not.”
Flanders laughed and sat up straight, then pulled Brigid back onto his lap. Found or not, he had no intention of letting her go.
“Bella.” He gave the woman a nod. “James.”
“Flanders.”
He gave James a wink. “I would say this is not what it seems, but alas, it is.”
Bella looked to the ceiling. “I do not know what you mean except that you are hiding from me.”
“Precisely.”
“Well, you can just hide later. I have something to say.”
The lights switched on. Phoebe stood inside the door, trying not to smile and failing miserably. “Don’t let me interrupt.”
Bella chewed her lips for a moment, then sighed rather loudly. “I want to apologize.”
“Ye do?” They were both surprised and reacted in unison.
“I do. It was cruel to tease ye like I did.”
