Page 8 of Lion and the Lamb: Easter

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, not even sure the girl heard him, and not able to look at her now. Then, to his dismay, he heard the ringing of the church bells in the distance, announcing the hour of midnight was at hand.

“Dammit,” he growled under his breath, glancing out the door. There was still a crowd of people standing in the courtyard, waiting for him to emerge. What the hell was he going to tell them?

“Get up,” he commanded, reaching out and pulling the girl to her feet. She sniffled and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Why didn’t you . . . do it?” she asked in a shaky voice. “Y – you had the time.”

“Aye,” he answered, running a hand through his long hair, still staring out the door. Why the hell hadn’t he completed the act, he wondered. Mayhap it was because she started crying and seemed so scared. He hadn’t meant to frighten her, and he’d never forced himself on a woman in his life. Before now. This wasn’t his style, and he felt like he no longer knew who he was.

Lionel had been so possessed by his thoughts that he almost did something he would have regretted. In one way, he was glad he’d stopped. But on the other hand, he was upset that he’d failed. He hadn’t consummated his marriage in time. By law, they weren’t even really married, and couldn’t be now, until the end of Lent.

“I . . . need you to do something for me,” he told her in a low voice.

“What?” she asked, coming to his side and looking out the door as well.

He glanced back over his shoulder at her. In the moonlight, he saw a tear trailing down her cheek. Reaching out with his thumb, he gently wiped the tear away. Her eyes closed momentarily, and then fluttered back open.

“I – we can’t let anyone know we didn’t really consummate the marriage.”

“Why not?” she asked. “We didn’t.”

“But I could have,” he reminded her. “Please . . . just go along with what I say.”

Before she could answer, he took her hand and pulled her back out into the courtyard again, right to the middle of the crowd.

“We have consummated our marriage,” he announced loudly. “Lady Rachael is now my wife in every way.”

When he looked back at her, her mouth was hanging open and then she started to speak.

“Now wait a minute,” she told him. “We did –”

He had to stop her, so he pulled her into his arms and covered her open mouth with his. Then he kissed her with passion right there in front of everyone.

Rachael was aboutto object and tell everyone that they hadn’t coupled, but then Lionel’s lips were touching hers and he was kissing her again. This time, the kiss wasn’t forced or rushed. This time, he pulled her into his arms, and when his lips touched hers, she felt passion – and heat.

Everything was happening so fast that it made her head spin. She liked this new feeling, and got lost within it as her eyes closed and she held on to his shoulders as he continued to kiss her.

Then his tongue slipped in to fill her mouth, and the erotic action made her feel somewhat randy. She didn’t understand feeling this way at all. Her late husband had never done anything like this to her. She heard a small moan and her eyes popped open when she realized it was her making that noise, not him.

He pulled back, grinning at her. Then he winked, making her heart flutter.

“Congratulations, Son,” called out his mother.

Everyone started talking and clapping and congratulating them both. There were so many people coming up to her now, that she wasn’t able to tell them the truth. Rachael saw Agnes helping Drew out of the wagon, and she started toward them, only to stop dead in her tracks when someone stepped in front of her and stopped. She almost banged into the girl who looked to be in her early teens.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” said Rachael. “I didn’t see you there.”

“You let my father bang you in the mews,” the girl spat, making a disgusted face. “How could you? You are both revolting!”

“Y – your father?” asked Rachael, being taken by surprise. She hadn’t known that Lord Lionel had a teenage daughter. Her uncle had conveniently left out that part.

“Winifred, didn’t I tell you to stay in your chamber?” Lionel walked up behind Rachael and laid his hand on her shoulder. “But now that you’re here, you might as well meet your stepmother, Lady Rachael.”

“I don’t want a stepmother and I don’t want you for my father either,” said the girl with malice. She turned on her heel and ran back toward the keep.

“I’m sorry about that,” said Lionel. “My daughter will be punished for acting out of line.”

“I didn’t know you had a daughter,” said Rachael. “Do you have more children?” God, she hoped not. After seeing this one, she was once again wanting to leave.

“Nay, just the one,” he answered.

“Mother, what just happened?” called out Drew, running to her and taking her by the hand. Agnes was right behind him.

“I’m sorry, my lady, I tried to hold him back,” apologized Agnes.

“This boy is yours?” asked Lionel, seeming very surprised and a little disturbed.

“Aye, this is Andrew,” she told him.

“Drew,” said the boy. “I’m eight.”

“I didn’t know you had a child.” Lionel almost acted as if he didn’t like the idea, and this bothered her.

“Well, then, I suppose we have more in common than we thought,” she said.

“Aye.” Lionel looked down at Drew with no emotion at all on his face. Then he turned on his heel and headed away, leaving her standing there alone.