Page 26 of Lion and the Lamb: Easter

“Thank you,” she said, sounding relieved. That is, until she heard the next part.

“But only if you spend the next two weeks in the ladies solar with me, sewing and weaving and doing things a lady is supposed to be doing, instead of sneaking to the docks or kissing a boy.”

“That’s not fair!” she spat.

“Plus, I want you to be nice to your stepbrother, Drew.”

“That, too?”

“I don’t think it’s much to ask, since it’s not very ladylike of you to be carrying on with a boy in the mews,” Rachael told her.

“Well, this is where you and my father coupled, right here in the straw like animals rutting on the ground,” she said with a tense jaw.

“Nay! That’s not true. We never did anything like that,” she said, defending herself and Lionel.

“Yes, you did, and everyone knows it. You made love with my father right here after you were wed.”

“We didn’t,” she spat. “It never happened.”

“You didn’t?” Winifred looked up to her in shock. “So, you never consummated the marriage with my father then?”

Bid the devil, Rachael never meant to tell the girl that! Now, she was going to have to do something to keep her quiet. She couldn’t take back what she said, because she knew Winifred would never believe it.

“Listen, not that it’s any of your business, but nay, your father and I have never coupled.”

“Really.” A smile lit up her face. “Then you’re not really my mother yet . . . are you?”

“Yes, I am your mother. We took our vows.”

“I’m not a child, Lady Rachael. I know that unless a marriage is consummated, it’s not legal. And you two can’t do it now until Lent has finished.” She chuckled knowing the secret, and Rachael didn’t like this.

Reaching out, she grabbed the girl by the arm, staring her down, speaking through clenched teeth. “If you so much as breathe a word of this to anyone, I’ll not only tell your father about Gilly, but I’ll help him string up the boy on the gallows myself. Do you hear me?”

Winifred looked up at her with frightened eyes. Rachael was usually soft-spoken and gentle, but she wasn’t going to let anyone divulge her secret until she wanted it told. This girl played a dangerous game, and Rachael wasn’t a wilting violet to let her walk all over her. She was the girl’s mother now, like it or not. If being her friend didn’t work, then she would be her blackmailer if she had to. Troubled times called for extreme measures.

“Rachael? Winifred? Are you out here?” Lionel made his way toward the mews.

“I’m waiting,” said Rachael, still staring the girl down, gripping on to her arm.

“You’re hurting me. Let go,” whined Winifred.

“Here he comes,” said Rachael. “It’s your choice – and the boy’s fate.”

“Ah, there you two are,” said Lionel, ducking and stepping into the mews, blinking, trying to see in the darkened room. “What are you doing out here?”

Rachael released Winifred’s arm.

“Winifred, why don’t you tell your father?” she said sweetly, purposely using the girl’s full name since she knew she didn’t like it.

“Father. I – I –” Winifred looked over to Rachael and bit her lip. Rachael continued to stare, waiting to see what the girl would say. “I don’t like fish and the smell bothered me. I just needed a breath of fresh air. I came out to the mews and Rachael . . . she . . .”

“I followed her to make sure she was all right,” said Rachael, smiling at Winifred. “Do you feel better now, dear?”

“Aye,” said the girl. “I’m ready to go back to the great hall now.”

“I understand,” said Lionel with a nod. “I don’t like fish either, and I’m so hungry I could eat one of these birds right now.” He looked around the mews and as if the birds knew what he said, they squawked and flapped their wings in excitement.

“Let’s go, Husband,” said Rachael, taking his arm and leading him to the door. “I think we’ll leave everything in the mews just the way we’ve found it.”