Page 21 of Lord of Misrule

Chapter 6

God’s eyes, he’d never meant to kiss her! Even though he’d wanted to. Tolin held out his arms as his squire buckled his armor in place. The joust had already started and Tolin was up next.

“Is something the matter, my lord?” asked Jarvis.

“Nay. Of course not.”

“You seem upset about something. Or distracted. What is it?” Jarvis pulled the last strap tight and secured it in place with the buckle. “Is it something about the joust?”

“Huh? Nay, I’m not worried about the joust. I could win a joust with my eyes closed.”

“Eyes closed?” His squire stood upright to get his helm. “Like the way that baker woman closed her eyes when you kissed her under the kissing bough?”

“I don’t feel guilty about that, no matter what you think.”

“I never said anything about feeling guilty, my lord. Why? Do you feel guilty for having kissed her?” Jarvis picked up the helm.

“Why should I? She’s just a servant.”

“A servant?” Jarvis shined the top of the metal helm with his sleeve. “I thought she was a widow who owned a bakery in town. Has she been demoted to a servant now?”

“Nay! I didn’t mean that. I just meant—why am I explaining anything to you? Now give me my helm and get out there and hand me my lance. I have a joust to win.”

“Aye, my lord.” Jarvis handed the helm over and ran out to the practice field.

Tolin looked down, able to see his reflection on the surface. Why had kissing Kit Baker shaken him up so much? Mayhap because she was different than most women he knew. She was spry and confident and not afraid to stand up to him. She could also bake better than anyone he knew. Damn, the woman was also attractive. He had wanted to kiss her badly, but was going to refrain from doing so. After all, she was there with her thief of a son and working off his sentence. Something warned him not to do it. But he’d wanted to so badly. And when his brothers walked up and more or less challenged him, he did what he always did. He took the challenge. But this was one challenge that didn’t make him feel like a winner. Part of him felt as if he’d used her somehow. That didn’t sit right with him. He’d never felt this way in his life and didn’t understand it.

“Ready to lose?” It was Daegel, suited up, ready for the joust.

“I won’t lose.” Tolin put his helm under one arm and tightened his weapon belt.

“You did today.”

“What do you mean?”

“You didn’t get the girl.”

“Brother, you are spouting nonsense, now stop it.”

“Am I? I saw the way you looked at Kit and the way she reacted to your kiss as well.”

Tolin’s head snapped up. “What do you mean?”

“She was disappointed that you stopped. I could see it on her face.”

“You don’t know that. And since when are you an expert on knowing what a woman is feeling?” Tolin figured Daegel was goading him again.

“I might not know for sure, but at least I am not as blind as you are when it comes to women. That one likes you, Tolin. You’d better watch out.”

“Watch out for what?” He headed to the door.

“If she gets her hooks in you, you’ll be no different than Rook and Raven.”

“There you go with spouting nonsense again. You make no sense, Daegel.”

“I make all the sense in the world, Tolin. You’re going to end up marrying a commoner. Just like Rook and Raven.”

“That is where you are wrong, brother. Because I am never going to marry at all. And if I do change my mind, I can promise you it’ll be with a noblewoman.”