He put the bowl on the table and turned to look at her with his large blue eyes.
Her heart melted. He thought she was more than she was. And for a moment, she would let him believe it.
“Aren’t you eating?” Kit wondered.
“I already did.” She couldn’t help bending and pressing a kiss to his curls. “I have to make my rounds. Alice will be here soon. She’ll watch you while I make my rounds.”
“I don’t need to be watched,” Kit pouted.
Mercy was glad Walter’s wife could help her. She didn’t want to leave Kit alone, even if he thought he didn’t need Alice.
“Luke went home?”
Mercy nodded, taking a bag of instruments and setting it on the table.
“Are you going to see that magic man?”
“Magic man?” Mercy asked with a scowl of confusion.
“Magi…” Kit mirrored her frown as he concentrated on the word.
And then Mercy understood. He had either overheard her or someone else talking. “Magistrate.”
“Yes!”
“No.” She began to sort through the instruments in the bag, mentally going over what she needed. “One of the baker’s wife’s teeth hurts. And the blacksmith hit his thumb on the forge.”
“That would hurt!”
“That’s why I’m going to see him.” She pulled the string tight on the bag to close it and knelt before him. “Kit, I want you to stay out of the barn for a while.”
He looked at her with those innocent blue eyes and blinked. “Why?”
For a moment, Mercy thought of concocting a story to keep him out of the barn, but she didn’t want to lie to him. She let out her breath in a slow whoosh. “There is a man recovering from the fight in the barn. I’m not certain if he would harm you or not.”
“What about you?”
“Me?”
“Will he harm you?”
She smiled gently. “He had no weapons. Only armor.”
Kit gasped. “Is he a knight?”
“He is. But it’s important you don’t go into the barn. Not until I get to know him.”
“Who will protect you?”
She warmed at his concern over her. They were all each had. She patted her waist where she always kept a sheathed dagger. “I always have protection.”
Kit huffed in disapproval, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I have a very important job for you.” Kit looked at her dubiously and she continued, “His horse is tied behind the barn. Can you feed it and give it water?”
His eyes lit. “Is it a warhorse?”
“No. Palfrey. But it needs someone to take care of it. Can you help me with that duty?”
