King looked—well, Joshua didn’t think it was his imagination that King couldn’t seem to stop staring at Vi. He obviously thought she was pretty. Joshua watched and tried to see if Vi looked back at King at all. He thought he caught one or two looks. He definitely saw their fingers touch and linger. Georgie would be thrilled. He wanted King to fall in love with Vi and marry her so he would stay with them. He had to admit, he liked the idea too. But as he was the man of the family, he should probably have a word with King and see just what his intentions were toward Vi.
King gave Vi the last of her directions and turned to Joshua. “Ready?”
Joshua nodded and started to follow King, giving Vi a quick wave.
“Not so fast.” She grabbed his shoulder, turned him around, and gave him a hug.
Joshua pulled back. “Vi, I’m not a baby.”
“You’re never too old for hugs,” she said, cupping his face. “Be careful.”
“I will.” He shrugged her off, feeling mildly embarrassed as he jogged to catch up with King. “Sorry about that,” he said.
King moved into the shadows and crept along the side of the tavern, keeping out of sight. “She’s right. You’re never too old for hugs.”
“She treats me like a baby sometimes.”
King paused in the shadows near the front of the tavern and watched the men going in and out. “Wanting to keep you safe isn’t treating you like a baby. It’s a way to show she cares.” He glanced at Joshua. “Count yourself lucky. Not everyone grows up having someone to care about them.”
Joshua knew that was true. He knew dozens of orphans and whores who eked out meager livings on the street. Most of them had no one who cared if they lived or died. But Joshua hadn’t considered that King might not have someone who cared for him. “Didn’t your parents care about you?”
King sniffed, settling onto his haunches and watching the tavern. “My mother died when I was very young. Younger than you were when you lost your mother.” He squeezed Joshua’s shoulder. “And my father sent me away as soon as I was old enough. Even before I went away to school, he had no time or patience for me. He didn’t even allow me to come home from school on breaks.”
Joshua wished he knew what to say to that, how to make King feel better. So he said the first thing that came to mind. “Violet cares about you.”
King seemed to go still, then turned his head slowly to peer at Joshua. “What makes you say that?”
Joshua shrugged. “I don’t know. Just the way she acts.” He furrowed his brow, thinking hard. “She looks at you when you’re turned away, and her expression is kind of soft. Sometimes she looks at me that way and Georgie. The same kind of look, but different too.”
King made a sound that indicated he’d heard and looked back at the tavern.
“Do you—” Joshua cleared his throat. “Do you care about her too?”
King didn’t answer for a long moment, and Joshua wondered if maybe he hadn’t heard. Then he said, “I do care about her. I care about her more than I’ve ever cared for anyone.”
Joshua stared. “Do youloveher?”
King took a breath. “I don’t know. I might.” He looked back at the tavern entrance. “If I did, would that be acceptable to you?”
Joshua pretended to think this over. In reality, his heart was pounding—and not just because he was about to risk his life in Ferryman’s tavern, but because he wanted so badly for King and Violet to fall in love and for King to never leave. “It might be,” he answered, trying to keep his tone unconcerned. “I should probably ask your intentions.”
King laughed, surprising Joshua.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’ve never been asked that before.”
Joshua didn’t know what that should make the question funny.
“You’re a good brother, Joshua. As for my intentions, I don’t have an answer for you. I think it’s up to Violet, but I can promise you one thing.”
“Go on,” Joshua said. His chest felt tight when adults made promises. Very few of them ever kept them.
“I promise I won’t ever hurt her. Or you. Or Georgie.” King took a breath. “Good enough for now?”
“Yes.”
He stood. “Then let’s go.”
