Page 9 of Lion and the Lamb: Easter

Chapter 4

Since it was already past midnight, and now the beginning of Lent, there was no feast or celebration for the wedding, and neither did Lionel really care. The Day of Ashes was a day of fasting from food entirely, as was Good Friday.

All Lionel wanted to do right now was to get a good night’s rest. With his father’s funeral and now his own rushed wedding, it only added to his stress of having found his fourteen-year-old daughter in a tavern, drinking and arm wrestling with men. Winifred hated him, and he realized her hate for him just intensified since he’d married Rachael. He honestly didn’t know what to do.

“Good night, everyone,” said Lionel, heading across the courtyard, going to his solar.

“My lord.” His steward, Willard, as well as his squire, Raff, ran after him. “I need to talk to you,” said Willard.

“Not now.” Lionel kept walking. “In the morning. All I want now is a good night’s rest.”

“That’s what I need to talk to you about,” explained Willard. “I will send your wife to your solar, but where will her handmaid and son sleep?”

“Crap,” mumbled Lionel under his breath, having forgotten about this. He stopped dead in his tracks and Raff ran into him from behind. He turned slowly and scowled at his squire. “Raff, how many times have I told you not to follow me so closely?”

“Sorry, my lord,” Raff answered. “Do you want me to set up a sleeping pallet next to mine in your chamber for the handmaid? And what about the boy? Where will he sleep?”

Lionel was about to tell them to put all the newcomers in a chamber somewhere, and that he didn’t care. But then he realized he was a married man now. It wouldn’t look right if he didn’t share a bed with his new wife. Not to mention, it was their wedding night, even if they couldn’t make love, thanks to the church’s ridiculous rules of no coupling during Lent. Mayhap he’d turn pagan before Lent was over.

“Nay, send the girl . . . my wife . . . to my solar. Put the handmaid and child in another chamber. Preferably nowhere close to mine.” He glanced across the courtyard to see Rachael holding her son close to her and stroking his hair. The handmaid looked on.

“Aye, my lord,” said his steward, walking back to the women.

“I could give my pallet at the foot of your bed to the boy for the night if you’d like, my lord,” offered Raff.

Raff usually stayed in Lionel’s chamber to see to his needs, but this wasn’t a good idea anymore. Lionel was a married man again, and feeling uncomfortable about it. He was sure Rachael didn’t feel at ease either. If she started talking about what almost happened in the mews, Raff might hear and realize they’d never consummated the marriage after all. Lionel didn’t want that piece of information getting out. It wouldn’t do him any good.

“Aye, give the boy your pallet, but take it to his chamber for him.”

“What?” asked Raff seeming confused. “Where will I sleep, my lord?”

“In the great hall with the servants,” said Lionel, turning and walking up the stairs.

“For how long?” asked Raff, running to catch up with him. “I mean, is this just for tonight or mayhap longer?”

Lionel stopped at the top of the steps and Raff went crashing in to him again. “Egads, Squire, I’m a married man now,” said Lionel, turning around. “I will need my privacy with my new wife. You’ll sleep in the great hall for as long as I say.”

“Aye,” said Raff sadly, stepping away from him and fixing his tunic.

Lionel started walking again, and Raff kept pace next to him. “What will you do about your unruly daughter?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I will decide that tomorrow.” Lionel looked up to see Winifred glaring at him from inside the great hall. She was sitting atop one of the trestle tables with her legs crossed. A group of male servants were standing around, talking with her. “Douse the torches, it’s time for sleeping,” he called out. “Winifred, you’ll go to your chamber anon.”

Winifred made a face and jumped off the table, running through the corridor, heading to her room.

“I don’t know what to do with her,” mumbled Lionel.

“Well, now that she has a mother again, mayhap that will help,” commented Raff.

“I doubt it,” Lionel answered, having the feeling that things were only going to get worse.

* * *

“I don’t wantto go in there,” Rachael whispered to Agnes, standing outside the door to the lord’s chamber. Her son was rubbing his eyes and yawning, standing at the older woman’s side.

“My lady, he is your husband now,” Agnes reminded him. “It’s only proper.”

“I’d rather stay with you and Drew.”