Page 37 of Lion and the Lamb: Easter

Chapter 12

“Iwant a baby of my own,” announced Winifred a week later, holding baby Lionel in her arms, rocking him gently. They were in the ladies solar with the rest of the women, sewing little clothes and knitting booties for the newborn baby boy. Lily had been so thankful to her brother for saving the child’s life that she decided to name the boy after him. Of course, Lionel’s chest swelled with pride when he found out.

“Fred, you need to be married first before you have a baby,” said Rachael, tying a knot in the thread and snipping it with some shears.

“Then I’ll get married,” said Winifred, still staring down at the baby. “I’ve decided I’m going to grow my hair long again. And don’t call me Fred anymore. My name is Winifred.”

“My, what’s brought on all this change?” asked Lady Aldith, coming over to take the baby from the girl.

“I’m nearly fifteen, and old enough to be married and have babies,” Winifred pointed out.

“I thought you never wanted to be married,” said Lily, holding out her arms. “Mother, let me hold him quickly before I give him to the wetnurse so he can eat.”

“Here you are, Daughter,” said Lady Aldith, giving Lily the baby.

“Well, I’ve changed my mind,” said Winifred, but neither of the women were listening to her any longer. Instead, they cooed over the baby and touched his little hands and feet, talking to the boy in ridiculous voices.

“I’m going to do something about it,” announced Winifred, but Rachael was the only one who heard her.

Winifred turned and ran for the door.

“Fred? I mean, Winifred, where are you going?” called out Rachael.

“I’m going to tell Father I’m in love with Gilly and that I want to marry him.” She left before Rachael could answer.

“This can’t be good,” Rachael said to herself, getting up and following the girl out of the room.

She made her way to the solar where Lionel had been locked away all day, going over the ledgers in deep thought. When she got there, the door was ajar and she heard Winifred talking to him. She stopped outside in the corridor and just listened, waiting for all hell to break loose.

“Father, I want a baby,” announced Winifred, walking up to his worktable. Lionel was leaned over the ledgers, flipping through pages, his mind on his work instead of what his daughter was saying.

“I can’t talk about Baby Lionel now, Winifred. I’m busy,” he told her, not even looking up.

“I’ve decided it’s time for me to marry.”

“Aye, you’ll get married someday, of course. We’ll talk about it later. Now, leave me, please.”

“I know who I want to marry, whether you agree or not. He’s a dockworker.”

“Damn, I see it now!” Lionel slammed his hand down on the table. “I knew they’ve been stealing from me, and now I have proof,” he mumbled. “I just don’t know how they’re moving the product without anyone seeing them.” He continued to flip through the parchments in front of him.

“I’m going to the docks, Father.”

“Yes, I’ll be going to docks in a minute,” he told her, not hearing a word she said.

“I want to spend the day with Gilly. Is that all right with you?”

“Aye, you do that. Now, please leave, Winifred. I have a lot on my mind.”

“Thank you, Father.” She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, finally causing him to look up. Then she turned and ran out the door.

Rachael stepped back in the shadows, not wanting Winifred to know she’d been spying on her. Then she entered the room, knowing she had to tell her husband just what he’d agreed to.

“Lionel,” said Rachael, coming up behind him.

“Now what?”complained Lionel, throwing down the ledger and raising his hands in the air. “Is not a man’s personal solar sacred? How many more people are going to disturb me when I am trying to work?”

“Husband, it’s my solar, too, if I must remind you,” said Rachael. “And since when is your business more important to you than family?”