Page 6 of Lion and the Lamb: Easter

Chapter 3

Rachael tried everything, but the guard driving the cart had only stopped once on the way to Porth Enys to let her relieve herself behind a bush. He told her he was under strict orders from her uncle to get to their destination as quickly as possible.

“What time do you think it is?” Rachael asked the driver, sitting up in front with him. Her son was sleeping in the back of the cart with his head on Agnes’ lap.

“I’d say close to midnight,” answered the man, looking up at the sky.

“Good,” she answered, hoping they wouldn’t arrive until after the tolling of the bells. But to her dismay, they drove over the drawbridge minutes later and into the courtyard to meet up with a huge crowd of people. That told her that they were still there waiting for the wedding. It meant it wasn’t midnight yet.

“Here we are, my lady,” said the driver, stopping the horse.

Two other guards ran over to offer their hands to help her dismount the wagon.

“I think I’d like to sit here for a while,” she said, but they wouldn’t let her. Almost dragging her along with them, they escorted her over to a man with long blond hair standing in the courtyard next to a lit torch.

“My lord, she is here,” said one of the guards with a nod as they released her.

“Are you Lady Rachael Bainard?” asked the man.

“I am,” she answered. “Who are you?”

“I am your betrothed, Lord Lionel Hatchet.”

“Oh,” she said, looking over her shoulder, hoping Agnes would help her. However, the woman had yet to get out of the wagon with Rachael’s son.

“Father,” called out the man, waving a priest over. Everyone stood silently watching.

“Oh, nay,” she grumbled, holding out a halting hand. This would be the second time she was fooled today. “What is he doing here?” she asked, even though she knew darned well what her betrothed was up to.

“Father Anthony is here to marry us,” said Lionel. The night wind lifted his long hair around his shoulders and his blue eyes glittered in the light of the torch.

“We need to be married in a church,” she told him. “I’ve never heard of a priest agreeing to this before.”

“Father Anthony is new to our parish and open to more modern ideas,” Lionel explained. “Besides, there is no time to go to the church. It is nearly midnight now.” Lionel looked over to the priest and nodded. “Go ahead, Father.”

“Wait! I have to use the garderobe,” she told him. “It has been a long journey to get here. You understand.”

“Nay, I don’t,” Lionel responded. “We’ll do this quickly, and then you may go.” Lionel answered without even blinking. He seemed to have no compassion at all. “Father, just the vows please,” he instructed. “And make it quick.”

“Aye, my lord,” answered the priest, opening up his prayer book.

“Agnes,” Rachael called over her shoulder. “Agnes, where are you?”

“Do you, Lord Lionel Hatchet take Lady Rachael Bainard to be your wife?” the priest asked Lionel, being direct and keeping it simple. Rachael never knew a priest to agree to something this absurd. Marriage was a sacrament not to be taken lightly. It should have been treated with utmost respect, not in a rushed manner.

“I do,” Lionel answered quickly.

“You’re not even dressed for a wedding,” spat Rachael. “By the Rood, you are wearing black.”

“I attended my father’s gravesite today. He died two days ago, and I am still in mourning,” said Lionel.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Shall we continue?” Lionel asked the priest. “It is almost midnight, so please hurry.”

“Wait!” Rachael stopped him once again. “If your father made this alliance, and he’s no longer alive, then I don’t think the alliance holds true.”

“I speak in my father’s place,” said Lionel. “Besides, my mother still wants the wedding, and she is quite alive, I assure you.”