Page 14 of Lion and the Lamb: Easter

Chapter 6

His wife had him so upset that Lionel could barely think straight. She’d basically blackmailed him, telling him he couldn’t touch her dowry. It was bad enough that he couldn’t touch her, and now this. How was he going to survive the next six weeks without going mad?

“Take this to Lord Guildersleeve in North Wessex,” said Lionel, handing his messenger a missive.

“Which one, my lord?” asked the man. “If I’m not mistaken, there are six of them.”

“Seven, actually,” said Lionel. “Take it to Lord John, the father of the other six men.”

“Aye, my lord,” said the boy, taking the missive with two hands and bowing before hurrying away.

“Do you think Lord Guildersleeve will betroth one of his sons to your daughter?” asked Willard from next to him.

“God’s eyes, I hope so. His youngest isn’t that much older than Winifred. I think he’d make a good match for my daughter.”

“I agree, my lord.”

“Besides, I am having trouble locating part of Guildersleeve’s shipment and hope this will smooth things out and also buy me some time. If Lord John is interested, he’ll send a missive back and, hopefully, agree to the betrothal right away.”

“How do you think Winifred will react?” asked his steward.

“She’ll hate the idea,” answered Lionel, knowing for sure this would be the case. “Then again, she also hates me so what difference does it make? At least if she’s married, she’ll have a man to watch over her and I’ll stop having to track her down on the docks and in the taverns. I swear, I’ve only been back here a few months, but it feels as if it’s been a lifetime with all the problems lately. Something tells me I should have asked King Edward if I could stay in France a little longer.”

“I agree, my lord, you have had your share of troubles. I thought when you returned, your daughter would change. But she seems to have only gotten more troublesome for some reason.”

Lionel looked up to see Rachael enter the great hall, dressed in a royal purple gown with long tippets that reached to the ground. She wore a jeweled girdle low around her waist. And unlike a married woman, her long blond tresses were loose and hanging freely, cascading over her shoulders.

“Speaking of troublesome,” he muttered under his breath.

“Your new wife is breathtaking, my lord, if I may speak so freely.” Willard’s eyes fastened to Rachael and a smile spread across his face.

Lionel noticed that not only his steward, but also every man in the great hall had his eyes on Rachael. He didn’t like it at all.

“Nay, you may not speak freely,” he growled.

“Please forgive me, my lord. I meant no disrespect.” Willard lowered his head in a slight bow.

“Find my squire and tell him to saddle our horses. I’m going down to the docks to check on things.”

“Aye, my lord,” his steward answered, bowing once again and heading away.

“I’m here,” said Rachael, walking up to him with Agnes right behind her, straightening her long gown.

“What’s this?” He reached out and picked up a lock of her hair, already wishing he hadn’t. It felt so soft, like spun silk, and all he wanted to do was to run his fingers through it. “Why is your hair loose?” he asked her.

“Pardon me?” She looked up at him and batted those damned long lashes, looking so innocent again that it irked him. She had to know what he meant.

“You are a married woman now, and should have your hair tied up and be wearing a headpiece of some kind. Loose hair is only for strumpets. Handmaid, why did you let her leave the room looking like this?”

“I’m sorry, my lord,” apologized Agnes, getting very flustered.

“Don’t reprimand my handmaid,” Rachael retorted. “It was not by her doing but my own insistence that I wore my hair long,” said Rachael, boldly speaking to him as if she had the right to contradict his wishes. Everyone was watching. It made matters even worse that she spoke to him in this manner after they’d just been married. “I haven’t been married in quite some time, and I am used to wearing it loose.”

“Well, my dear, you will wear your hair up now. I’ll remind you again that you are a married woman.”

“Am I?” she asked snidely, smirking at him and raising one brow.

Lionel didn’t like it. He reached out and pulled her to the side, turning around to talk to her so no one would hear.