“You have a quick wit, brother-in-law,” she called back to me. “I'm glad to see it. Merry had me near convinced you were a simpleton.”
In my peripheral, Kit bristled but said nothing as Violette disappeared into the other room.
In her absence, Merrick's glower persisted. Kit and Istood across from him now, and I wore a toothy grin at the thought of him rubbing some kind of greasy balm on the bruise I’d given him.
Beside me, Kit eased into a smile of his own, not as smug as mine, but I knew him well enough to recognize his amusement. “You have a lovely home,” he said. “Thank you for the invitation.”
My half-brother’s narrow eyes flicked from Kit to me, then back. “I'll have you know this get-together was not my idea, and I'll be glad once the whole ordeal is behind us.”
“You and me both,” I snapped.
I had half a mind to lunge at him and see if he flinched. I wondered if he would cower like I used to after he hit me. It was a heady feeling to know I was bigger than him now, able to stand my ground and fight back after a lifetime of reluctant submission. It was hard to imagine backing down from him again, even though Kit insisted we had to.
Merrick shot me a withering look. “Penwell, I swear by the gods if you've only come here to antagonize and make a mockery of me in front of my wife, I will see to it that you are punished harshly for this.” He stabbed a finger toward the swollen spot on his face.
I barked a laugh but gave no reply before he tagged on.
“I know where you come from, boy, and I would love nothing more than to send you back there.” His gritty tone ripped at the fraying edges of my composure. “Give me a reason,” he sneered.
“Why should I?” I asked through gritted teeth. “You seem perfectly capable of coming up with all kinds of excuses on your own.”
I’d almost forgotten Kit was there, standing slightly back with his fists balled. The sight delighted me. If Kit punched Merrick, too, I would sweep him off his feet in mypretentious half-brother’s living room. Consequences be damned.
Instead, Kit turned his attention on me. He looked more worried than angry. “Penny,” he began but didn’t finish before Merrick spoke over him.
“What is it our esteemed Right Hand keeps telling you, Mister Koesters?” He glared at Kit while stabbing his finger at me. “Control your godsdamned recruit.”
“Boys!” Violette’s voice carried from the kitchen. “Everything is ready! Come eat before it gets cold.”
19
Penny
Iwas almost too eager to tail Merrick into the dining room. His turned back was as good as an invitation for me to throw myself at him and tackle him to the ground, to pin him down, and pummel him until he had so many bruises he had to get more of his stupid salve.
My lip curled and I swung my arm out in a swiping grab, but Kit caught my wrist and spun me around. His brows were drawn, and his dark eyes were rife with concern.
Before he spoke, I rolled my eyes and let out a huff. “I know. No more kisses for me tonight.”
“Penny,” Kit began in the same tone as moments before. He worked his jaw and glanced after where Merrick had disappeared through the doorway into the next room. “Penny, you can’t… You’re scaring me.”
I swayed back, utterly baffled. How could Kit, with his strapping build and strong shoulders that put mine to shame, be afraid ofme?
“I’m worried for you,” he continued. “Truly. Deeply. Youindulging Merrick’s temper won’t end well for either of us, and I don’t… recognize you like this.”
The words stung, and his pained expression hurt far worse. But what he was asking, to sit back and let Merrick spit on us, was intolerable.
Still, my voice wavered as I asked, “Do you like me better a coward, Kit? Because I don’t like that at all. I don’t want to be weak, or small, or sedate. You told me I deserved better than the way Merrick treated me, and I’ll demand it if I have to. For both of us.”
Kit shook his head and released my arm. “Not for me. Leave me out of it. Merrick can treat me however he likes as long as it keeps his nose out of my business and he’s left to eventually lose interest and move on.”
In my experience, in all my life, Merrick never lost interest. He only got worse with time and fouler the better I knew him. But Kit didn’t linger to hear my rebuttal. He was already on his way to the dining room, leaving me to slink along after him like a kicked dog.
At the table, we settled into the two empty chairs opposite Merrick while Violette brought a freshly carved roast duck to the table. She swatted Merrick’s hand away when he reached for the serving fork, then she offered it to me instead.
I stared at the thing, half expecting her to turn it on me and plunge it into my chest. But when she insisted by thrusting it toward me again, I reluctantly accepted.
“Guests first, Merry,” she chided, returning to the counter for a bowl of glazed carrots and a tray of rolls. “Kit, Penny, would either of you like some wine?”
