Page 12 of Lion and the Lamb: Easter

Chapter 5

“Rachael, wake up.”

Rachael felt a hand on her shoulder, and heard the deep timbre of a man’s voice. She had been so comfortable that she’d slept like a rock.

“Wake up, sweetheart. We’re expected down in the great hall in less than an hour and you need to get up and get dressed.”

“What?” Her eyes fluttered open to see the sun streaming in the open shutters. Lionel, fully clothed, sat on a chair next to the bed donning his boots. His long, blond hair was loose and fell around his shoulders glowing in the light of the morning sun. “Oh, I’m married!” Bolting to an upright position, Rachael had almost forgotten where she was or what had happened last night. She wasn’t an early riser and, back home, she often stayed up late and slept well into midmorning.

“Aye, you’re my wife now and need to accompany me down to the great hall before I go to the docks to check on the trade.”

“Trade?” she asked.

“Aye, it was my father’s business, but now it is mine. I am in charge of shipments that come in from all over, and others that go out.”

“I see. Do you like this line of work?”

“I haven’t been doing it long enough yet to know. I was previously overseas in France. I just came home recently.”

“Oh, then you know my father and brothers?”

“Nay. I’m afraid not.” He stood up and adjusted his tunic. “Please, we need to go.”

“All right,” she said, blinking several times, still trying to focus. “Let’s go.”

“Not like that,” he said, clearing his throat. “Unless you want to give all my men an eyeful.”

“Eyeful?” She tried to understand what he meant. Then she saw his eyes drop to her chest. When she looked down, she realized her night rail had gotten wound around her as she slept and nearly one full breast was exposed.

“Don’t look,” she squealed, pulling the covers up to her chin.

“My dear, we are married now,” he reminded her, heading over to his weapon belt hanging on the wall. “By right, none of . . . that . . . should be a mystery to me anymore.”

“Oh. You’re talking about the fact we didn’t consummate the marriage.” Pulling the blanket along with her, Rachael slid off the bed, still holding it clutched to her chest. “Does that bother you?” she wanted to know.

“What do you think?” He strapped on his belt, his eyes still fastened to her. “You do realize that you can’t let anyone know we didn’t . . . didn’t do it.”

“I really don’t see what it matters.” She walked over and glanced out the open window.

“It’s just a precaution, and for your own protection,” he told her. “If other men knew we never consummated the marriage then, by law, we’re not really married.”

“Really,” she said, liking that idea. Now, it would be easier to get an annulment after Lent. Then she’d be able to marry her brother’s friend, Sir Clifford DuPont, after all when they returned from France.

“Aye,” he said, checking his sword and dagger. “If other men know you are not bound to me in . . . that way . . . then there is a good risk they will try to have their way with you. After all, six weeks with no coupling is an absurd thing to ask of any man.”

“B – but those are the rules of the church,” she told him. “Surely, no knight would go against them.”

“Mayhap not a noble knight, but there are men who are mere serfs and servants and villagers that might not be so committed to the Lenten traditions.”

“Oh, I see,” she answered, deciding he was probably right. She didn’t want to risk something like that happening. “I suppose it would be best if no one knew the truth for now.”

“That’s a good girl,” he told her in a condescending tone. “I’ll send your handmaid up so you can dress. My steward is already on his way here with your trunks. What kind of dowry did you bring?”

“Is that all that matters to you? What kind of dowry I brought? Well, let me tell you that none of that dowry is yours until we consummate the marriage.”

“What are you saying?” He scowled at her, looking like he’d tasted something sour.

“You heard me. Until we are truly husband and wife in every way, you are not to touch a penny of that dowry that my uncle sent with me.”