Page 29 of Lion and the Lamb: Easter

“Sit down, my dear,” said Lady Aldith, nodding to the chair. Rachael sat, and Drew came to her side and clung to her arm.

“Mother, is Winifred going to be sent away?” asked Drew. “Because I like her now. She’s nice to me.”

“I don’t know, Son,” she told him, patting him on the arm. Then she looked back at the other women. “Please, tell me more about this.”

“My son is having trouble running the business. Just like my late husband,” said Aldith with a sigh, pulling the thread through the material. “I’m afraid that neither of them are really good at the shipping industry and with handling international trade. Lionel’s real skill is fighting on the battlefield. However, he has to take over his father’s job.”

“So, you’re saying he is handling things too loosely?”

“There have been shipments missing,” said Lionel’s sister. “Or I should say, they just seem to disappear. The docksmen swear they were there, and then they are gone.”

“Someone is stealing and Lionel can’t catch them or figure out how they are pulling it off,” explained Aldith. “Now, some of his clients are even accusing him personally of stealing their goods.”

“Lionel wouldn’t do that,” said Rachael.

“We are in serious trouble, and it seems to only be getting worse,” said Aldith.

“My father’s shipment was missing, too, and that’s what started the feud,” said Rachael, understanding now why her uncle had made the alliance. “My marriage to Lionel was to end that feud.”

“That’s right, dear,” said Aldith. “Lionel’s father worked for years to get the alliance. It was only recently that your uncle finally agreed.”

“Excuse me for being so bold, but why didn’t the two of you get involved in helping keep track of things regarding the business?” asked Rachael.

“Oh, nay,” said Lily. “We’re women. We’re not allowed to.”

“Our duties might include keeping track of the castle’s supplies but we have nothing to do with the shipping business. That is left to the men,” agreed Lionel’s mother.

“I can see part of the problem,” she said, standing up, angry that this was happening at all. “Drew, you stay here and wait for me,” she told her son.

“Where are you going, Mother?”

“I think Winifred needs comforting right now, and it seems to me that I’m the only one who will do it.”

“Just leave her be,” said Lady Aldith. “Lionel won’t like you getting involved.”

“Aye,” agreed Lily. “Winifred will be betrothed and married off, just like the rest of us. It isn’t our place to go against the lord’s decision.”

“There is a very frightened girl who needs someone to guide her right now, and if neither of you will do it, then I will. And don’t even try to stop me.”

Rachael headed out of the room, going straight to Winifred’s chamber. When she got there, she found Lionel talking to a guard outside the girl’s door. “What’s this?” asked Rachael.

“I can’t take the chance of Winifred sneaking off again, before the betrothal is made tomorrow,” Lionel told her. “I am posting a guard at her door to make sure she doesn’t leave.”

“This is preposterous,” Rachael told her husband. “You are treating your own daughter like a prisoner. It’s not right.”

“Rachael,” said Lionel, pulling her to the side. “I don’t like this anymore than you do. However, I can’t go back on my word. I’ve made an alliance, and they are expecting a girl when they arrive. I can’t take the chance that she’ll run off and won’t be here.”

“I heard that part of Lord Guildersleeve’s shipment was missing recently, and this is your way of keeping him from attacking, isn’t it?”

“I am doing this only to protect you and Winifred, and my mother and sister. Don’t you understand?”

“I guess not.”

“I wanted Winifred to be betrothed to Lord Guildersleeve’s youngest son, but now he insists she marry his eldest son instead.”

“Object to it.”

“I can’t. It doesn’t work that way. I made an offer and he accepted. The plans are already in motion. Lord John Guildersleeve and his son, Humphrey, are arriving first thing in the morning. Once Humphrey meets Winifred, if he agrees to marry her, then we will draw up the deal.”