A Stray Drop of Blood (69 page)

Andrew nodded and smiled, but his gaze had not yet made it to the baby. It was lingering with appreciation over Miriam, who was blushing, smiling, and turning her attention deliberately on the babe. Abigail almost started laughing. Restraining herself, she settled for sharing a knowing glance with Titus instead, who grinned and draped his arm over her shoulder.

“
Let us hope Ester agrees to staying with us,” he whispered into her ear, “so that a suitable arrangement can be made for those two.”

Abigail bit back her grin and spoke loudly enough to draw Andrew’s attention. “And the giant behind her is Panther, another dear friend. He is Titus’s mother’s bodyguard, but she has been so kind as to lend me his services frequently.”

Panther nodded, as did Andrew, but his eyes wandered away again rather quickly. This time, he looked at Abigail and Titus. “Mistress will be eager to see you. Our inn is on the outskirts of the city, though, and the hour grows late. What do you wish to do?”

Abigail looked to Titus for advice, and he was quick to provide it. “I suggest you plan on going tomorrow. As a matter of fact, I would recommend you take tonight and however long necessary in the morning to get everything here together, and make this your last night in this house. If time permits, you could all simply move to the villa tomorrow, or stay one night in the inn and go the next morn.”

She lifted her brows. “Is everything ready there?”

Titus nodded. “With the addition of Ester’s household, all should be well until I can finish the arrangements upon my return. And knowing you would have familiar company, I would feel far better leaving you with them than here.”

“
That sounds good to me.”

Andrew nodded and put Samuel back on his feet. “I will go now before darkness falls and tell her that her grandson is beautiful and her daughter well. We will call for you in the morning.”

They all said their farewells, Andrew’s gaze lingering a bit longer than necessary on Miriam, and he was soon on his way. The rest of them headed for their rooms.

Abigail drew close to Miriam and took Benjamin. She could not resist a tease. “What do you think? He is handsome, is he not?”

Miriam blushed again but made no attempt to hide her smile. “It is an apt description. And I know from all you have told me that he is a good man.”

“
Good enough not to blame you for the violence of Caius, Miriam.”

Miriam met her gaze steadily. “Is this your will, Mistress?”

Abigail smiled and took Miriam’s hand. “My will is for you to be happy. Perhaps Andrew would accomplish that, perhaps not. But if our houses join together, you will have plenty of time to discover for yourselves if your hearts are suited to one another. I will approve either way. And in the meantime, we have much to do before the morrow.”

A predictable chaos ensued as they attempted to get everything packed and ready to move, and it was not until nearly an hour later that Titus managed to pull her aside. “Would you like me to postpone my trip, my love? I could see you settled at the villa first, and then leave in a few days.”

Abigail smiled her dismissal of that, though she rewarded his thoughtfulness with a kiss. “I would rather be selfish and have you go quickly so that you can get back and we can sooner be wed. Besides, I will enjoy the time with Ester, and by the time you return, we will have gotten caught up, and I will hopefully have convinced her to stay here with us.”

“
Here? Are you certain?”

Abigail nodded, certain her smile reflected her peace. “Hearing Andrew speak of the work being done in Judea made me realize that we are needed more here than there, my love. Right now, who in Rome but us and those we have convinced believe in Christ? Israel has his disciples, and while I would like to hear them myself, I feel as though God’s plan is for us to be a beacon for him here.”

“
I feel the same.” His eyes smiled into hers. “Is it any wonder I love you so much? Not many people would be willing to sacrifice their home for their faith.”

“
Perhaps, perhaps not.” She tapped a fingertip to his nose and grinned. “But who said anything about a sacrifice? I will be with you, and you
are
my home.”

He gathered her into his arms and held her close until Benjamin convinced them with a wail that it was time to take a break from their work and find their respective nourishments.

Chapter Forty-Four

Caius watched from the shadows as his son bade Abigail goodbye with a warm kiss, a bright smile. He felt his knuckles tighten around the door, whiten in rage. Did Titus honestly expect him to just sit around and do nothing, say nothing, while he threw away all their family had ever worked for over that slave girl? If so, then he was more of an idiot that he had ever supposed.

He watched his son leave, watched the Germanic eunuch follow behind her as Abigail headed back inside to finish packing. He knew very well that she was as happy to be getting out of his house as he was to be getting rid of her. The only difference was that she would not be so happy in a few hours, and he would be ecstatic. Smiling, he looked over to where Caelia stood a few feet away and nodded. She nodded in reply without saying a word, then ran to the house’s side entrance. It was Timothy’s cue to follow Abigail back the hall.

Ten men followed Caelia back into the room, and he surveyed them critically. The one with the authority stepped forward immediately and bent a knee to him, but Caius did not acknowledge him right away. Eight of the others were his primary interest. They varyied in heights, but all were densely packed with muscle, and Caius figured they would suffice. At last, he nodded to the kneeling man, who rose.

“
She should be here momentarily. See that you make it quick and quiet. The fewer of my slaves to know about this, the better.”

“
There is no need to worry, Lord,” the man replied with a mirthless smile. “We are quite accustomed to handling more troublesome slaves than any woman could ever be.”

“
Good.” Caius settled comfortably on a chaise to wait.

~*~

Abigail had no sooner gained her room than a knock sounded on the door, and she opened it again. The sight of Timothy did not make her smile. The doorkeeper was probably her least favorite of the slaves in this house. “Yes?”

Timothy made no attempt to look happy about being here. “That slave of the Visibullis house who came yesterday has returned. He is asking for you.”

“
Andrew? I did not expect him so early.”

Timothy shrugged, obviously not concerned.

Abigail sighed and looked around her; most of the packing was done, with the exception of the last minute things, so she certainly would not mind getting an earlier start than planned. The sooner she got out of here, the better. “I shall go speak with him. Hopefully, he is here to say they are all ready, and he can help us get everything outside. Miriam, Samuel should be back from saying farewell to his friends soon, but if not, we will send Panther to fetch him once Phillip and I return. Just try to get everything else thrown together here.”

“
Yes, Mistress.” Miriam picked up Benjamin and smiled.

Abigail pressed a kiss to her son’s round cheek and headed back into the hall, Phillip behind her. “I thought this day would never come. It seems I have been here forever.”

Phillip hummed. “It has been quite a while. And not an entirely pleasant while.”

Abigail breathed a laugh in agreement. She suspected there was a bounce in her step as she moved down the hall. And why not? The shadow was finally lifting; she could never forget all those she had lost in that brief stretch of time, but life was moving on. She would get to embrace Ester today, to introduce her to her grandson. They would take that son to the villa as the new master, legally and blessedly. In a few days, she would marry the man who captured her heart. She did not even attempt to keep the smile from her lips.

They neared the cubiculum where Andrew had been waiting the day before. Abigail’s pace increased with excitement, and Phillip made his match hers. No one was in sight as she neared, but he could easily be at a window or seated. She moved into the room with confidence, Phillip a step behind her.

She halted abruptly when she felt the many presences within, a second before she saw Caius lounging carelessly, a smug smile on his lips. Time seemed to freeze. She heard the shouts of the men as they seized Phillip. From the sound of it there were many of them, but she did not turn around to look. She could not have. At that same moment two men grabbed her by the arms, though she made no protest to warrant their tight grips.

Her gaze leveled on Caius. “What have you done?”

He did not so much as stand to dignify her. “What should have been done long ago. You are a slave, Abigail, and I am selling you as my son would do if he had any sense.”

Phillip roared behind her, and she had a feeling he was barely being restrained by those many men. “Peace, Phillip,” she said over her shoulder. “Fighting will only please him. It will give him an excuse to have you killed. Be calm, and you will best serve me.”

She saw Phillip still abruptly, though the men holding him down still looked wary.

Abigail turned her full attention on Caius again, trying to ignore the pain that shot through her arms. “I am not a slave.”

He sneered. “You are and always will be. No dresses, no jewels can change that.” He waved disdainfully at her attire, then turned his eyes on the men holding her. His words were in Latin. “Take her away, and see that no time is wasted in giving her to the men. My son will not fight to win back what is the gladiators’ fodder.”

Abigail felt her heart freeze, her throat constrict. Not the arenas. Surely he would not send her there. But he would. She saw it in his eyes. So in the same tongue she said hotly, “Titus will never forgive you for this, Caius, and he
will
fight. To him, I am not a slave. I am a woman worthy of love, and I will be his wife. But you–never again will he see you as his father.” In spite of the shock on his face, the men began to pull her away. She shifted her words back to Greek. “You have lost him! It is your fault, not mine, and sending me to arenas will not change that.”

Her eyes met Phillip’s as they dragged her by, and she prayed that he would understand the message she sent. He inclined his head as if he had read her thoughts entirely, otherwise not moving. She looked for the first time into the face of one of her captors. It was hard, battered, and had the distinct look of one who sharpened his edges to keep them as rough as possible. She would receive no mercy from him.

“
Father Jehovah,” she breathed in Hebrew, letting her eyes slide closed as the men pulled her where they willed, “give them wisdom and strength in their reactions. Do not let this be the ending to the progress we have made.” Trembling overtook her, and from the depths of her being she cried out, “Protect your daughter, Jehovah!”

“
Quiet!” One of the men punctuated his order with a hard shake. He pulled back his hand as if to strike her, but the other broke in quickly.

“
No, leave her unmarked. Volusius will be pleased with this one’s beauty.”

The second man leered. “As well he should be. Perhaps he will keep this one for himself. She is too good for the likes of the gladiators.”

The first shook his head, saying as though Abigail could not hear him, “Asinius ordered her to be given to the fighters, so she shall be. Volusius would not dare to anger him.”

The second laughed roughly. “If it is defilement of her he seeks, perhaps we should get started now.”

Abigail felt the Spirit descend upon her, and she came to a halt in her path, surprising them enough that they stopped, too, rather than simply yank her forcibly along. She looked one in the eye, then the other. Calmly, she said, “Touch me, and forsake your lives. Are we understood?”

They tried to laugh off her threat, but she saw the shiver of fear run through them, saw something within them balk, scream, and shrink further inside.

She mentally said a word of gratitude to her God.

~*~

Phillip had not managed to escape from Roman soldiers once without having learned quite a bit about the art. It took no thought to remember the skill. When Abigail looked at him with that darting glance, he had known exactly what she expected of him; keep himself from being killed so that he could see to the protection of her children first of all, and then figure out a way to free her from Caius’s schemes. The very thought of his mistress in the arenas . . . it did not bear thinking about.

He had remained still for long enough that the grips on him had begun to relax. He waited until he heard the door from the atrium open, knowing that meant they would be taking Abigail outside. That was his cue to break free–if he waited for the sound of the door closing again, it would be too late, since that would be when they decided what to do with him. So at that perfect moment, he lunged, so quickly and powerfully that no one saw it coming. He heard shouts behind him, but he did not pause to look over his shoulder. Instead, he ran out into the corridor and headed for the masters’ rooms, ducking into another room first so that they would assume he had gone out or at least toward the side door. He went out a second entrance of that room, then through the servants’ hall until he reached Abigail’s rooms. He entered quietly and addressed his words to Panther.