Page 41 of Lord of Misrule

“Then why are you shivering?”

That was when she realized her body was shaking again. How could she tell him it wasn’t from the cold but from being in his presence?

“Mayhap it would be good to warm myself for a few minutes after all.” She gently reached out and laid her hand on his arm. He led her to the log and with his other hand on her back he helped her to get settled. Then he sat next to her and they both looked at the fire and didn’t say a word.

Her anxiety became worse. She decided keeping busy would stop her from being so nervous around this handsome man.

“I’d better get started with the food.” She tried to get up but his large hand clamped around her arm to keep her from going.

“Nay,” he said surprising her. She would have thought he’d be giving her one order after another of what he wanted her to do.

“Nay?” she asked, her eyes on his hand.

“I want you to stay here, Kit.”

“Y—you do?” Her gaze slid up his arm and to his face. His bright blue eyes captivated her as he stared at her so deeply that she couldn’t move right now if she tried.

“Yes,” he answered, and cleared his throat. “I thought this would be a good time for us to talk.”

“Talk?” She didn’t understand. “Is this about Parker’s punishment? I’m sorry he’s been ignoring his duties and spending so much time with King, but that dog has him infatuated. He’s always wanted a dog but we couldn’t afford one. King is more of a friend to Parker than any of the children back in town.”

“Shhhh,” he said, releasing her arm and raising his finger to her lips. The soft touch of his skin against her mouth had her thinking about their kiss under the mistletoe again. “I don’t want to talk about punishments or dogs or boys right now.”

“Then...what?” she asked, as he slowly lowered his hand.

“I want to know more about you, Kit.”

“Me?” That truly surprised her, because she didn’t really think he cared.

“Yes. Tell me about your life. You said you are a widow? Tell me about Parker’s late father.”

She wished he hadn’t asked that. She would rather talk about anything else. Still, she had to answer. “Crispin was Parker’s birth father,” she said. “We weren’t married.”

“Really?” That seemed to take him by surprise.

“We had plans to become married, but he met his untimely death before we could. He was assisting the woodward in the forest during a storm. Lightning struck and he was hit by a falling tree limb. He died instantly when it hit his head.”

“Oh, that is unfortunate. I’m sorry.” His face remained stone-like, but she saw caring in his eyes. “So when you say he was Parker’s birth father, that means you ended up marrying another man?”

“I did. Crispin’s brother Gerold was a widower with no children. He was the town baker. He took me in and married me, stepping into the role of Parker’s father after he lost his wife.”

“You don’t sound happy about that.”

“I wasn’t. But I knew I would never be able to raise Parker on my own, so I took him up on his offer.”

“Was he a good husband and father to your boy?”

Kit held back her tears, slowly shaking her head. “Nay, I can’t say that he was. He was too busy with work and drinking and bedding other women to pay much attention to me or Parker.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. His ill deeds were probably what took his life.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I was away with Parker at the time, visiting friends in another town. I guess he was drunk and tripped and hit his head. He passed out and bled to death. It was late at night. He died before anyone found him.”

“My, your life has been tragic.”