My advance was blocked by Kit’s arm barred low across my stomach as a subtle yet effective deterrent. It kept me back but did nothing to silence my protest. “I hadn’t accepted,” I told them. And I didn't intend to. The last thing I wanted to do was spend an evening across a table from Merrick and his magpie of a wife.
Kit continued anyway. “Then consider my yes for both of us. We’ll bring a dessert.” He glanced at me. “Penny, can you pick up something from the bakery on your way home? Rosie’s mother has the stall open today.”
Violette clapped her hands in delight. “Perfect. What say five o'clock? That should give you boys some time to rest up and wash the soot off.” She aimed a meaningful look at the black dust that speckled Kit’s skin.
“Perfect,” Kit repeated.
I scowled as Violette smashed her palms against the sides of Kit’s head and pulled him in for a kiss on the cheek. He didn’t even push her away.
She trotted off into the square, leaving Kit and me in the shadows and silence of the smithy. After a moment, I turned and carried the presumed sandwich to my leatherworking table. It dropped beside the saddle with a thump.
Kit pursued, I thought to discuss what had just occurred until he retrieved his apron from its hook anddropped it over his head. He moved next to the forge where the coals glowed dimly. Taking up his tongs, he plucked a horseshoe from the pile on the floor.
“Bellows,” he said, always careful to give me warning.
Before he could pump the pedal, I snapped, “I was going to decline.”
He paused with his back to me again and one arm raised so I could see the muscles tense all the way up his neck.
“Until you went and accepted for both of us,” I continued. “I don’twantto have dinner with my brother. And I especially don’t want to watch Violette paw all over you for hours.”
“Trust me,” Kit muttered, “I don’t want to deal with those things either.”
I threw up my hands. “Then why accept?!”
He turned, brushing the curls off his brow with the back of his forearm. Any other time, that gesture would have made me weak, but being so thoroughly dismissed from a conversation meant for me left me feeling chafed.
Kit’s expression remained stern. “Violette has managed to tie herself to both of the most powerful men here,” he explained. “That’s not an accident; it was by design. Refusing her attention, or invitation, is not a wise choice.”
I sank onto the stool, eyeing the saddle and the food, neither of which held any appeal at the moment.
Kit came up behind me and rested his hands on my shoulders. It was another gesture that normally would have placated me, tempting me to lean back into him, but I stayed bolt upright.
My features pinched, and I aimed my ire at the items on my workbench. “If you’re so worried about how dangerous Merrick is,” I began, “imagine how angry he’ll be whenyour pandering to his wife ends with you in her bed. Since refusing her is such a bad idea.”
Kit’s fingers tightened. “I would sooner slit my own throat than get into bed with that woman.”
I nodded before he finished speaking, then quipped, “Most invitations to bed begin with dinner.”
“Thedinneris an opportunity to smooth over the damage you caused!” Kit’s exclamation bordered on a shout, and I steeled myself against it. A faintly apologetic look crossed his face when I glanced at him over my shoulder, but I couldn’t tell if he was sorrier for raising his voice or the fact that passing townspeople might overhear.
He checked the front of the stall for customers or eavesdroppers. I looked, too, and took the opportunity to spin around on the stool and kick one leg over the other. I reposed against the worktable with my arms crossed and gazed up at him with narrow eyes.
“If you think about it, Kit, I too have managed to tie myself to the most powerful people in Ashpoint.”
Kit tossed back his head with a snort. “Tied to them, yes, though that rope may turn into a noose if you aren’t careful.”
I rolled my eyes.
He bent in and braced his hands on my knees so that his face was level with mine.
“I don’t think you grasp how delicate our place is here,” he said in a low voice. “Merrick has immense power. The only reason he hasn’t gotten rid of us is because I have rapport with Levitt, and I’m willing to pander to Violette to an extent to keep her on our side. Her invitation wasn’t a request; it was an order. I need you to understand that.”
Rather than back down or allow myself to be cowed, I leaned up until Kit and I were nearly nose to nose. “Youmay know Levitt and Violette,” I began, “but I know my brother. This dinner is nothing but an excuse for him to air his grievances, and I’d rather miss it.”
Kit straightened up and dusted his palms on his apron. His defeated look made my belly twinge with guilt.
“I need you to close up today,” he said despite the horseshoe and tongs set aside as work he had clearly intended to resume. “I’m going to have a talk with Levitt.”
