A Stray Drop of Blood (49 page)

Caius let his eyes sweep over their joined hands to make it known he did not like seeing such warmth, then leveled a hard gaze on Abigail that had just enough raw desire in it to terrify her, he figured. “I would like to talk to my son alone.”

“
In the face of such a gentle request, I know not what you can do, Abigail, but graciously acquiesce.” He turned his gaze on her, and it softened. “I will let you know when he has said his fill and it is safe for you to return.”

Abigail dared to smile, even squeezed his fingers before getting up and moving quietly into the procoeton.

“
What is it?” Titus asked with a sigh, not bothering to stand.

Caius pointed at where Abigail had gone. “That whore is going to destroy you as she did Jason if you are not careful. I have seen the way you looked at her this evening, and I will not have it, Titus. If you wish to take her to your bed, fine, but you will
not
take her into your heart, and she will not step foot in the house again once she leaves for Israel. Have I made myself clear?”

Titus did not reply for a long moment, his gaze riveted on Caius’s face. “Abigail is my friend’s widow, and you will treat her with respect. And for the record, Jason was not destroyed by her; he was happier as her husband than I have ever seen him. Though I hardly expect to be graced by the same favor, I would count myself blessed if I ended up with a morsel of his happiness in my own life, be it from the hand of Abigail or anyone else. But as for returning, I can promise you I will not argue on that count. Because I
do
care for her, and I will not subject her to this disrespect any more than necessary. She is my friend, Father; we have shared a common grief and found from it a common joy. And if that distresses you, then it is your problem to deal with and not mine.”

Caius opened his mouth to rebut, but got nothing out before his son continued.

“
And Father?” The smile Caius was more familiar with returned to his countenance, the one that combined menace with power. “I saw the way
you
looked at her this evening, too, and I will not stand for
that
. It drives you to madness to see someone so beautiful, conversing intelligently, looking at you with disdain. You want her, but you will not have her. If a whore, she is
my
whore. Have I made myself clear?”

Most of the rage abated, but the concession tasted no more pleasing. “I have no need to steal a woman from my son’s bed.” He made a point of looking at the bed, neat and still made up from that morning. “It is all women are good for, we both know that, and there are plenty to choose from. What I find curious, Titus, is that you have been so deferential to her emotions in the days that she has been here. I am not so convinced you are satisfying her body.” He gave a wicked little smile and turned to the door. “And I cannot have unsatisfied women in my house.”

~*~

Titus’s hand had clenched into a fist that he carefully uncoiled as his father left the room. He must get a rein on his anger, dismiss that part which came from the dent in his pride. Focus on the offense he took on Abigail’s behalf, even at the opinion on women in general. Just not on the insinuation that he could not please a woman. It would do no good to get upset about something when it would lead his mind down dangerous paths.

He did not hear Abigail reenter, only noticed her when she took her seat again and covered his tensed fingers with a small hand. “I did not intend to eavesdrop, Titus, but hearing myself called a whore made me freeze where I was.” There was a smile in her voice, and it lured his gaze from the door to her face. “My friend, I appreciate your defense, and I even thank you for claiming me as your own. I will do my part and seem as satisfied as is humanly possible.”

That won a grin from Titus, though he tried to hold it down. “I do not wish to shame you like this, Abigail. You are a woman of virtue, and I hate to besmirch your name, even in my own house. Especially in my own house.”

Abigail tilted her head. “When in Egypt, Abram told Pharaoh that Sarai was his sister instead of his wife, in order to save his life and her virtue. I do not see why you claiming your friend as your lover to do the same is any different. I am not shamed, Titus. I am protected, and I thank you. I think the important thing here is
you
. I do not wish to make your father your enemy.”

Titus sighed, running his thumb over her knuckles. “I fear that was done long before you entered my life, dear one. We have never gotten along, and I know not how it could change.”

“
We will add it to our prayers.” She reached for his other hand too, putting them in the same position they had been in before the interruption. “You were praising the Father for giving us peace, and for sending us his Spirit to comfort us.”

Smiling, Titus nodded and bowed his head again, letting the words seep through his consciousness before coming out his lips. By the time he spoke, a soft voice into the quiet room, he had aligned himself once more with the Spirit that hovered still in the back of his being.

~*~

Samuel tugged on Abigail’s hand, his eyes wide with excitement. “Mother! Mother,
look
!” He pointed at a huge beast that was standing a good distance off.

Abigail looked, and her eyes widened too. She turned to Antonia. “What is it?”

Antonia followed their gazes and smiled. “An elephant. No doubt brought over after one of the African campaigns. There are a few who think the novelty will make them money, but I assure you, they are more pleasant from here than they are close up. Their stench is as big as they are.”

Abigail chuckled, and Samuel bounced up and down a bit in excitement. He did not ask for a closer look, but he strained to see over the people who kept passing in their way. Abigail picked him up, since Antonia held the baby, to give him an extra few inches.

“
Look at his ears!” He giggled in delight as the beast twitched the giant flaps of flesh. “See, Mother, I
told
you the markets were more exciting than at home.”

“
I think for everyday, I prefer the relative quiet of Jerusalem.” She slid Samuel back to the ground but held his hand once more as they began to move. “Although this is certainly a pleasant diversion. Are we shopping for anything in particular, Antonia?”

“
Only your pleasure, Mistress. The young master instructed me to get you out of that library for a day and to see some of the sights. Bithia suggested maybe you would want to see some of the games that will be on next week, but I said I doubted it. Bloodbaths, that is all they are, and not fitting for a lady’s sight.”

Abigail had certainly heard enough about the gladiator fights in the Coliseum to know that the nurse was right. Violence could hardly be a game to one whose life had been turned upside down by it. “I will likely only be here for another week, anyway.” Her eyes moved from stall to stall and vendor to vendor. “Arminius informs us that all is going smoothly, and the false testimonies have been dismissed. Titus is beginning to keep an ear open for news of ships sailing to Israel.”

“
And slaves to take you there,” Antonia added with a knowing nod. “You will need at least one strong eunuch to see to your protection.”

Abigail would have loved to deny that particular necessity, but having been in the streets of Rome for half an hour, she could not. It was unnerving, how many men stared openly at her. Her only reassurance was the huge African that followed them a few steps behind, his head above everyone else’s and his arms, bigger than most men’s legs, crossed forbiddingly over his chest. Any troublemakers would surely steer clear of the man they called Panther.

“
Oh, look at these.” Antonia urged Abigail to a table that had necklaces strewn over its top, the colors and stones so many that she couldn’t begin to name them all, yet most were apparently not too precious, if all laid out so carelessly.

“
Pretty.” She touched a purple rock with a finger.

“
Amethyst,” the vendor replied with a grin missing a few teeth. “One of the rarest gems, and a favorite of ladies. It is said to protect against intoxication from wine and keep a man faithful.”

Antonia snorted. “With Titus, you may need that, Mistress. Especially if you expect him to pine for you when you leave, although certainly I have never seen him look at a woman with so much caring.”

Abigail’s smile felt tight and forced, and she drew her hand away from the table altogether. “I do not need an amulet, thank you.”

Antonia arched a white brow. “Come child, I have heard stories, and even Hebrews have jewels of significance.”

“
Hebrews.” The vendor recoiled as if the word warned of leprosy rather than a nation. “I was cheated by Hebrew merchants more often than I can count.”

“
If it happened more than once, it is your own fault, and I feel no pity.” She looked back to Antonia. “And I did not mean to say I judged the jewel itself, only that I do not think any object capable of achieving what a man does not wish to be so. Our traditions do not give jewels powers, only worth.”

The man narrowed a single eye to give him a rather strange appearance. “You are Hebrew? You speak Greek like a Roman.”

She gave him a smile. “Because I was raised in a Roman house that happened to people itself from Israel.”

The vendor’s features returned to normal, the toothless grin back in place. “A prettier Hebrewess I have never seen. I will cut the price of the amethyst in half for such a face as yours.”

Abigail rolled her eyes. “Keep your charm of wine and women, friend, the jewels my husband gave me are better cut, and I wear them little enough as it is.”

Not that any vendor would let it go at that. “But the lady’s husband will not pine, says the servant, and so she will get no more jewels if she does not ensure his faithfulness. Or perhaps more, if she is one to accept them as apology?”

“
I tire of this.” Abigail sighed and motioned for Antonia and Panther to move on with her.

“
Is Titus your husband now, Mother?” Samuel asked with curiosity.

Abigail smiled down at the boy. “No, Samuel, Titus is only my friend.”

“
Oh.” He sounded mildly disappointed, and Abigail squeezed his hand.

“
You will miss him, I know,” she said softly to him, “and so will I. But Titus belongs here in Rome, and we in Israel.”

He nodded, though it seemed her words had only made him sadder. Abigail let it go, figuring the markets were not the place to have a serious talk with a six-year-old boy.

They spent the next couple hours browsing, and by the time they returned to the Asinius house, Samuel had cheered, and Abigail had forgotten about the episode. Until, of course, Titus returned home from his day at the Forum and Samuel practically pounced on him.

“
Titus.” He sounded serious as the man scooped him up in his arms in greeting.

Titus smiled into the frown that knit together the fair brows.“Yes, Samuel?”

“
Why will you not pine for Mother when we leave?”

Abigail had been changing Benjamin and now stepped into the room afraid she was either going to laugh or choke. “Samuel! That is not a question to be asking him.”

Titus just chuckled and didn’t take his eyes off Samuel’s serious face. “And who said I would not pine for your mother when she left?”

“
Antonia.” The boy paid no attention to the flame she felt in her cheeks. “She said Mother should get an amethyst, even though you love her.”

She nearly coughed with the humor and humiliation that lodged in her chest. “That is not quite what Antonia said.”

Titus grinned at her. “I imagine it is close enough, given how well Antonia has known me in the past.”

“
But Antonia is under false impressions that Samuel does not understand, so Antonia says things that little ears should probably not overhear.”

“
What does the size of my ears have to do with it?” Samuel asked in confusion.

Titus looked to be struggling to contain his laughter as much as she.

“
What your mother means, Samuel, is that Antonia may have said some things that are not a reflection of the truth. Because I will miss you and your mother terribly when you leave, and she will not need an amethyst to make it so. But Antonia cannot know how much I love you both, because she has not been through all that we have together. Understand?”

Samuel looked relieved as he nodded, sending curls bouncing. He wrapped his little arms around the man’s neck. “But Titus, if you
do
decide to be Mother’s husband, you will be my father, too, right?”

Titus laughed, probably at the shade of red Abigail’s face must be. “Yes, Samuel, I imagine that is the way it would work.”

“
And Benjamin?”

“
I would also love him as a son,” Titus said with a hint more seriousness, “though he would retain the name of his father. I would never try to end Jason’s legacy.”

Samuel, looking fully satisfied, wriggled to be put back on his feet. He scurried out the door in search of the boys of the house.