Page 7 of Lion and the Lamb: Easter

He nodded to a woman dressed all in black. She was with a younger woman who looked to be quite pregnant. Rachael figured they were Lionel’s mother and sister, even though he hadn’t taken the time to introduce her. Her mind raced and her body tensed. She had to stall for time. Oh, why didn’t those bells ring already, announcing it was midnight? Time was moving much too slowly for her.

“I’d love to meet your mother. Who is that with her?” she asked, taking a step toward them, trying to walk away.

Lionel’s hand shot out and he gripped her around the wrist. “There will be time for that later,” he told her. “Right now, you need to say your vows. Go ahead, Father.”

“Do you, Lady Rachael Bainard, take Lord Lionel Hatchet to be your husband?” the priest asked her, looking inside his prayer book, as if he really needed it to guide him when he was only saying those few words.

“I . . . well, I . . .” She looked back again for Agnes who was still in the blasted cart. “Excuse me a moment.” She tried to step away.

“Say it,” Lionel ground out, squeezing her wrist to keep her from leaving.

“You’re hurting me,” she moaned.

“Say it,” he commanded once again, and she realized there was no getting out of the marriage now. She closed her eyes, released a breath, and said the words she really didn’t want to say.

“I do.”

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” announced the priest. “You may kiss the bride.” His words were followed by everyone clapping.

“Forget the kissing. How much time until midnight?” asked Lionel.

“Just a few minutes, my lord,” shouted one of his men.

“Come with me. Quickly.” Lionel dragged Rachael along with him, heading at a mere run toward the castle.

“Where are we going?” she asked, trying to pull away from him.

“We need to consummate the marriage before midnight and we’re running out of time.”

Rachael knew exactly what he meant. If they didn’t couple before midnight, they would have to wait for six weeks until after Easter, since no coupling was allowed during Lent. And, of course, they were married, but it wasn’t really legal until they lay together.

She squirmed out of his hold and picked up her skirts, running in the opposite direction. Rushing across the cobbled stones, she made her way in the dark toward the mews.

“God’s eyes, where are you going, Wife?” her new husband called after her. It sounded odd to hear him say wife, and it only frightened her more.

She dove into the mews, stopping right inside the door since it was dark in there and she couldn’t see a thing. A few of the birds squawked and fluttered their wings from atop their perches.

Lionel barreled in behind her, not seeing her in the dark. He knocked into her and they both ended up prone on the ground in the straw that covered the floor.

“Ooomph,” she said, under his weight. “Get off of me!”

“We have to consummate the marriage. Now,” he told her.

“I will not make love on the floor in the dirty rushes.”

“Hush. It’s almost midnight. We need to move fast.”

Before she knew it, his mouth covered hers and he was claiming her with a forceful kiss. Then she felt him pushing up her gown as he settled himself between her legs. She almost screamed out loud. Pushed up against him, she could feel that he was hard and ready to couple, but she was far from wanting to do the act.

Her body tensed. Suddenly, the horrible vision filled her head of the first time she was married at the age of sixteen. She hadn’t known what to expect. Her husband was quite a bit older than her, and he’d taken her hard and fast on their wedding night, hurting her. She’d been so mentally scarred by it that she never wanted to lay with him again. That union ended up with her getting pregnant, and all she’d ever known from that moment on in her marriage was fear and pain.

“Don’t hurt me!” she cried and then started weeping, not able to hold back her emotions or her tears.

Lionel stoppedwhen he heard the girl crying. Then he felt her body shaking under his. Suddenly, he realized he was acting no better than an animal, rutting on the ground in the dirty rushes. Her weeping brought him to his senses, and he let out a deep sigh. What the hell was he doing? He didn’t want to hurt her, and he certainly didn’t want his wedding night to be like this!

All he’d wanted was to consummate the marriage by the beginning of Lent. Why had he agreed to get married now, when he knew he wouldn’t be able to make love to his new wife for another six weeks anyway, even if they did the act once?

Instead of entering her, he pulled back. Gently, he lowered her gown back over her knees. Then he stood up and pulled up his trews, which wasn’t easy since he had an erection.