Page 43 of Lion and the Lamb: Easter

“Winnie, you don’t understand. I am going by myself. This is your home and you need to stay here. Your father thinks I had something to do with the smuggling, but I swear I didn’t. Don’t you see why I cannot stay?”

“I believe you, Gilly. Please don’t leave. I will try to convince Father that you are innocent.”

“He’ll never believe that, and I can’t live in constant fear looking over my shoulder. I’ve felt guilty about sneaking around with you from the start, because it just isn’t right. I’ve felt so guilty that I’ve been asking my uncle for months for forgiveness, every time I go to confession. He says I am doing nothing wrong.”

“Your uncle? Oh, you mean the priest from St. Mary’s?”

“Aye, Father Anthony. He’s my uncle and also the same priest that your father paid heavily to stay here and marry him to your stepmother before Lent started.”

Rachael gasped, realizing now how the information was leaking out.

“What was that? I heard something,” said Gilly, stepping over to see Rachael.

“Lady Rachael!” cried Winifred. “You are spying on me again.”

“I have to go, Winnie,” said Gilly, giving her a quick kiss and running from the stable and out the main gate. Rachael could see his horse tied up in the distance.

“I suppose you’re going to tell Father about this.” Winifred scowled at Rachael.

“Oh, yes, I am,” she said with a grin.

“Why are you smiling? I don’t think it’s funny. You know Father will kill Gilly.”

“Nay, I don’t believe so,” she told the girl. “On the contrary, I think I will be able to convince him now that Gilly is not part of the smuggling ring after all.”