“I’m sorry,” I said, suddenly bumbling. “It’s just you seem so happy together…”
“I plan to marry him,” Reimond replied. “After I complete my Oaths.”
“Reimond!” Thoma’s eyes went wide. “When did you plan to tellmethat?”
Reimond took another bite of ham and spoke with his mouth full. “Ruined the surprise, haven’t I?”
Thoma huffed, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. “I should think so!”
Reimond reached for the bread knife and cut off a hunk. “Try to forget it, then. I’m shit at secrets, and that one’s been gnawing at me for weeks. Plus, Father would tan my hide if he knew I’d spoiled it. They all wanted to be there when I asked you.”
I couldn’t help but beam as I glanced back and forth between them. Kit was right in that we did get along but, more than that, Reimond and Thoma had restored a dying hope. If they could have what I wanted, perhaps I could too.
Thoma scooted his chair back enough to make room tocross his arms over his chest. “Well, when you actuallyaskme, they can be there.”
Reimond set the bread on his plate and dusted his hands. He peeked shyly at Thoma. “And you’ll pretend to be surprised?”
Thoma chuckled. “Stunned.” Reimond breathed audible relief before Thoma added, “I might even cry.”
A horrified expression twisted Reimond’s features. “Gods, don’t do that!”
Thoma burst into laughter. “Happy tears, Rei.” He unfolded his arms and wrapped one around Reimond to pull him in for a kiss.
I realized then that my own eyes were watering. I wiped my arm across my face and blinked to clear the resulting blur.
Under the table, Kit rolled his hand over, laced his fingers with mine, and gave a reassuring squeeze. I didn’t want to look at him while I was fighting back tears and feeling the nagging itch in my throat that wouldn’t relent no matter how many times I swallowed or how much water I drank.
“Kit,” Reimond said, clearly eager to direct attention away from himself. “Have you been married before? I would imagine that a man of your”—he squinted across the table at Kit—“yearswould have found at least one wife before now. Or husband.”
“Reimond,” Thoma hissed, “could youtryto have a bit of tact? He’s not an old man!”
I glanced at Kit then, realizing our guests had stumbled onto a question I never thought to ask. How had I not? I’d been fawning over Kit for months; it felt like important information to have.
“And he told us this was new to him,” Thoma added. “Don’t you remember?”
“What’s new?” I asked.
Reimond waved his fork dismissively. “That doesn’t mean anything. I know plenty of unhappily married folk. He could’ve simply meant he hasn’t liked anyone as well as Penny.”
My inquisitive look turned into an expectant one as Kit took far longer than necessary to chew his last bite of ham.
“Reimond.” This time when Thoma said the name, it carried an edge of scolding. “I think you should finish your meal and leave our host alone. He may not want his business aired.”
“It’s no trouble,” Kit told Thoma, then continued to Reimond. “No, I haven’t been married.”
“Why not?” I cut in.
Kit’s gaze shifted to me, a bit bewildered. I could have inferred his answer from conversations we’d had before, but I craved clarity. After weeks spent believing all my pining was foolish and one-sided, I was hungry for his affirmations.
“I suppose Reimond said it well enough,” Kit mused. “I haven’t liked anyone as well as you.”
I was grateful to have not eaten yet because that statement might have been more than my uneasy stomach could take. I gulped, aggravating the tickle in my throat and sparking a bout of dry coughs.
When I’d settled, I found all eyes on me yet again. After squirming under the weight of their stares, I rose from my seat and declared, “Coffee’s ready.”
Moving to the stove, I found the potatoes nearly boiled dry, forgotten in the commotion. I rescued them from theburner and cursed under my breath while conversation resumed at the table a few feet away.
“You didn’t tell them howyougot here, Reimond,” Thoma encouraged.
