Page 38 of Lion and the Lamb: Easter

“I’m sorry,” he said with a sigh, running his hands over his face. He got up and gave her a quick kiss. “It’s just that I finally found proof that someone – most likely smugglers have been changing the numbers in my ledgers. They’ve been stealing from me. I just don’t know how they always know where I hide the shipments or when more shipments are arriving. Plus, I don’t know how they are moving the goods from right under my nose and I am too blind to even see it.”

He paced back and forth, angry with his father for letting this problem get this far. Then he became angry with himself for not pursuing the investigation more thoroughly long before now. But with his wedding, the trouble with his daughter, and then the new baby, he’d had more than his share of distractions lately.

“Lionel, if there is anything I can do to help, just please tell me.”

“You can watch over the children and my mother and sister. I’m taking Raff and going down to the docks to try to find out more.” He headed to the door.

“While you’re there, you might want to look for your daughter,” she called out, stopping him in his tracks.

“What?” He turned around to face her. “What are you talking about?”

“Winifred,” she said. “She’s decided she wants a baby and to be married.”

“That girl can’t make up her mind.” He chuckled. “I’ll have a talk with her later.” He turned to go but stopped once more when he heard what she had to say.

“I can’t believe you gave her permission to go to the docks.”

“What kind of nonsense is that? I’d never agree to such an absurd thing.”

“I heard you, Husband. I was standing right outside the door when she told you she wanted to spend the day with Gilly – the dockworker she’s fallen in love with.”

“I did not!” he spat, his face turning red. “I don’t know anything about this – this dockworker named Gilly. She told me she wanted to spend the day with Lily and the baby, and I said it was a good idea. You know I’d never agree for her to see a bloody dockworker and certainly not to go to the docks alone!”

“Lionel, you have been so distracted lately, that you wouldn’t know if smugglers were right here in your own castle, stealing from you.”

“What did you say?” He froze, looking one way and then the other.

“I said you’ve been distracted and don’t even pay attention to what is going on right around you.”

“God’s eyes, it’s Winifred.”

“What are you bellowing about?” she asked, walking up to him. “You are making no sense at all.”

“She’s giving the information about my shipments to Gilly. He’s part of the smuggling operation, I just know he is.”

“That’s crazy. Your own daughter would never do something like that.”

“Not intentionally. But how else would the smugglers have known I hid one of the last shipments in the alehouse? I did that at night with just a few helping me.”

“Well, she might have overheard you telling me, I suppose,” said Rachael. “But don’t blame her, because I’m sure she isn’t trying to ruin you.”

“She was very angry with me over the betrothal. I wouldn’t put it past her.”

“Oh, no!” said Rachael, remembering something. “Come to think of it, I did hear Gilly ask her where you were keeping the shipment of wine, and she told him in the alehouse. The boy knew your father used to keep it in the dockhouse.”

“What are you saying? When did you hear this?”

“The day Gilly delivered the ledgers to you. Right before Winifred snuck into the mews with him and I followed.”

“God’s teeth! My daughter has been sneaking around with this boy under my nose and you couldn’t bother to tell me?”

“I just wanted her to be happy. I know how hard it is to have to marry someone that you don’t love.”

“Are you talking about us, Rachael? Because that is another conversation for a different time.”

“Nay, I didn’t mean us, Lionel. All I’m saying is that you’re right. Gilly has been using Winifred, but she thinks the boy really likes her. Right now, she’s headed straight to the docks to meet him, thinking she has your approval.”

“God’s teeth, I need to stop her,” he said, turning on his heels and running out the door.