Page 9 of Lord of Misrule

Chapter 3

“Kit, you can’t really leave your bakery unattended. Please. I don’t want to birth my baby without you,” said Brenna the next morning, not wanting Kit to go.

“She doesn’t have a choice, sweetheart.” Oliver took Brenna’s hands in his as Kit dragged a loaded-down bag to the door of her shop.

“That’s right,” agreed Kit. “It was Lord Tolin’s decision, not mine. Still, it is better that Parker and I live at the castle for the holiday season rather than my child ending up in the dungeon. Parker, are you ready to go?” Kit called out to her son.

The bells jangled over the door and Kit’s sister-by-marriage walked in.

“Oh, good, you’re here, Vivian. I’m counting on you to fill the orders until I return.” Kit’s saving grace was this woman. Without her, there would be no one qualified to run her shop. By law, Kit needed to leave the business in the hands of someone who was a guild member. If she didn’t and the guild checked up on her, she’d be fined or mayhap would have her bakery taken away from her. There were rules to be followed. And although Vivian was in the cordwainer’s guild now and no longer in the baker’s guild, it would still be a great risk, but she had to try it. Vivian was her best chance at securing her future. Kit was counting on the fact the woman was in some kind of guild. Hopefully, it would keep Kit out of trouble until her return.

“I can’t do this. I’m sorry.” Vivian was a small woman with red hair. She never said much but tended to her job and kept to herself, not wanting to create waves. This objection now coming from her was surprising and unexpected.

Kit stood upright and blinked several times in succession, not able to believe what she was hearing. “What did you say, Vivian?”

“I can’t cover for you,” the girl repeated, letting her gaze drop to the floor. She obviously felt as uncomfortable about this situation as Kit did at the moment.

“I know it’s not much that I can pay you, but I promise to give you more later as I can.”

“It’s not the pay. I just can’t.”

“You can’t? Why not?” Kit put down her things and moved closer to the girl. It wasn’t hard to see Vivian’s whole body was shaking. “You’ve helped me out before,” Kit continued. “My husband was your brother. I need your help now. Please, don’t abandon me.”

“I’m sorry, Kit. Willis won’t let me do it,” Vivian blurted out, wringing her hands together.

“Willis,” said Kit with a nod, releasing a deep breath. Why had she even thought that the man wouldn’t try to cause her trouble?

“Why won’t he let you help us?” Oliver demanded to know. “You helped us out yesterday. What changed?”

“And we are so grateful you helped us, aren’t we darling?” Brenna grabbed Oliver’s arm and scowled at him. It was her silent warning to be kind to the poor girl.

“Willis never got along with Gerold,” said Kit, speaking aloud about her late husband who was also Vivian’s brother. “And he also always thought I was a harlot, since I got pregnant with Parker out of wedlock,” Kit spoke brashly, stating the truth. “Most people still think I am a strumpet, thanks to him and his untrue gossip.”

“Oh, Kit, please don’t say that.” Vivian wrung her hands together. “It’s not true. No one thinks of you in that manner.”

When Kit became pregnant by Gerold’s brother Crispin, they had planned to be married. But Crispin died quickly and unexpectedly. Gerold, being a widower and having no children of his own, took Kit in and made her his wife. Eyebrows raised in town when the story started to circulate. Especially when Parker was born a mere five months later. It had taken years for the townsfolk to accept Kit as Gerold’s wife, but Willis never could seem to befriend Gerold, even though he was married to the man’s sister.

“Let me make something clear. I don’t care what anyone thinks of me,” said Kit, walking back to where she was packing, pulling the strings of the full bag closed tightly. “Vivian, you know how to bake and how to run this business just as well as I do,” said Kit. “You have skills and a true talent. You also used to help Gerold before I married him. You once belonged to the baker’s guild, and it is not easy to be accepted by them. If I don’t have you here in my absence, I’m afraid I will truly lose the business. Forever. Why does Willis despise me so much that he’d order you to stay away and doom me to this fate?”

“It’s not that he despises you, Kit,” said the nervous woman. “Well, not really. Willis heard that Parker was caught stealing. I’m sorry, but he doesn’t want me to associate with thieves.”

“Are you talking about me?” Parker walked into the room with a bag of his things thrown over his shoulder. “I’m not a thief, no matter what you’ve heard. I wasn’t stealin’ nothin,’ I swear.”

“Anything,” Kit corrected him. “Vivian, my son won’t even be here at the shop, so why does it even matter?” Please. I need you. Can’t you try to change your husband’s mind?”

“I’m sorry, Kit, I wish I could help you, but he was adamant with his decision. And I swear I hold nothing against you or Parker. But it is our busy season, too, at the cordwainer’s shop. Willis needs my help with the shoes. I wish you the best. Honest, I do.” Without waiting for a reply, she turned abruptly and left the shop.

Kit felt her heart sink as the door closed behind her friend, separating them, putting distance between them. She was doomed now and there was nothing she could do about it. She would lose all her customers, not be able to pay the rent, and she and her son as well as her sister and brother by marriage would all be living on the streets by the time she returned from Blake Castle.

“We’ll handle the shop for you,” promised Oliver, meaning well but doing nothing to ease her worries. The man didn’t even know how to build a proper fire in the ovens let alone make a batch of tarts or knead bread.

“I can’t lay my burdens on the shoulders of the two of you,” Kit said softly. “I won’t be here if something should happen.”

“Nothing is going to happen,” said Oliver.

“That’s right. And mayhap I’ll be late birthing my baby.” Brenna rubbed her very pregnant belly and groaned. With Oliver’s help she slowly got seated atop a stool. Ever since their mother had told Brenna and Oliver to leave, Kit’s sister was feeling insecure and abandoned. The last thing Kit wanted was to make Brenna feel alone once again. Kit lived through the rejection of her parents when she became pregnant with Parker and had no ring on her finger. It was the hardest time of her life. She didn’t wish these kinds of hardships on even her worst enemy.

“Nay, it won’t work. I won’t leave the two of you here alone.” Kit continued to pack her things as she spoke. Then she stopped and pushed the bag away from her. “I just won’t do it, that’s all. I will refuse to go.”