Page 77 of Lord of Misrule

“Live for the day,” he mumbled, walking blindly to the center of the room where the biggest kissing bough was fastened above their heads.

Raven took ahold of Kit’s arm and brought her out to the center of the room. If it wasn’t Kit’s idea, then it surely was his sister’s. Either way, he wouldn’t fight it. Tolin had been longing to kiss Kit again ever since the night they’d made love.

Being urged on by Rook, Tolin walked up and stopped under the kissing bough. Raven all but pushed Kit until she met him there, toe to toe.

“You heard the Lord of Misrule,” said Jarvis. “Kiss.”

When neither of them took the first move to do so, Jarvis got the whole crowd to start chanting. “Kiss, kiss, kiss!” came the shouts.

“You hear them,” Tolin told Kit.

“Yes. I don’t suppose we should disappoint them,” said Kit, not able to look him in the eye.

“After all, it is the command of the Lord of Misrule,” he said, taking a step closer to her, gently placing his hands on her shoulders.

Then, staring deeply into the eyes of the woman who could someday possibly be his wife, Tolin decided to live for the moment like his brother told him. He pulled Kit into his arms, kissing her passionately, not caring that everyone was watching. She returned the kiss, her hands going to his shoulders. It felt right. It was good. Damn, why didn’t she just accept his proposal, because this kiss sealed it for Tolin. This time, he was sure he had fallen in love with Kit.

Kit slowly opened her eyes, feeling like she was in heaven. Being in Tolin’s arms again, pressing her lips up against his was exactly what she’d needed. She had talked to her sister last night. Brenna told her not to worry about her and Oliver and baby Glenda. Brenna was healing quickly and decided that she and Oliver could run the bakery with the help of Vivian until they learned all they needed to know and were able to join the guild.

Willis had felt so bad about burning down their bakery that he was the one who had offered his wife’s help. Vivian was already a bakers’ guild member, so this should suffice the guild masters and all their rules. That meant the shop wouldn’t be taken away from Kit after all. It was tempting. Nay, it was more than that. It was the answer to all her prayers.

“Kit, you never gave me an answer,” said Tolin in a hushed voice, still holding her in his arms. “Will you marry me or not?”

“Is this what you really want?” she asked him, so only he could hear.

“It is,” he said, staring at her. She saw the sincerity in his eyes and heard it in his words. “Kit, I told you that I don’t know what it feels like to be in love, but I think I am starting to learn. I believe I am falling in love with you. I don’t want you to go back to town. I want you at my side, as my wife. Always.”

“And Parker? What about him?”

“Parker is your son. He’ll stay with us, of course. If you allow it, I would like him to be my son, too.”

Her heart swelled. Tolin really did care about them. She cared about him too. How could she live without him?

“I’d like that.”

“My offer still holds. Brenna and Oliver and their baby can stay too, if they want. We’ll find something for them to do at the castle that isn’t considered the job of a servant.”

“Nay.”

“Nay?” He sounded so disappointed.

“My sister wants to run the bakery with Oliver. They want to stay in town.”

“So, what does that mean, Kit?”

“It means, you built an extra room onto the bakery for nothing.” She smiled. “Yes, Tolin Blake, I accept your proposal. I think I am falling in love with you, too. I would like nothing more than to be your wife.”

Everyone in the room started clapping. That is when Kit realized they were all listening to their conversation after all.

“Oh, Kit, this makes me so happy.” Tolin kissed her again, and then picked her up and spun her around. He put her back down on her feet and they both laughed.

“Mayhap that extra room at the bakery won’t be wasted after all.” Brenna came forward with the baby in her arms. Oliver was next to her, and so was someone that Kit hadn’t seen in a very long time.

“Mother!” gasped Kit. “What are you doing here?”

“I got your missive,” said her mother, looking like she felt guilty. “Kit, I’ve already explained it to Brenna. I never wanted to shun either one of you. It was Hasten who didn’t want you girls with us. I should have stood up to him years ago, but I was afraid. You see...he often hit me.”

“Oh, Mother! I had no idea.” Kit ran to her mother and hugged her. “I don’t want you going back to that horrible man.”