Claudia, Wife of Pontius Pilate: A Novel (18 page)

Dinner was long. She was introduced to a senator, Trajanius Valentius, and another man, Cadmus Vitus. Both men were in Jerusalem on business and brought greetings from the prefect in Rome. They had been discussing matters of government when she arrived. Their eyes showed admiration when she was introduced, though it was obvious that she was in the later stages of carrying a child. Lucius watched them from under heavy brows and did not smile. She moved slowly, lowering herself on the seat next to his couch, and after a servant removed her sandals and brought a basin and linen cloth to wash her hands, the other servants began to serve the meal.

Cucumbers, beets, and lettuce had been chopped together with a dressing, and there were squash and peas in a sauce along with
platters of roast duck and grouse. Claudia ate carefully lest her stomach rebel again.

Cadmus spoke. “Have you spoken with the high priest, Caiaphas, yet, Excellency?”

Lucius put his piece of bread down momentarily. “Yes, we have become acquainted. I believe he and I can work together peacefully. He does not wish any problems with Rome or the emperor.”

“Ah,” ventured Trajanius, “these Jews are a troublesome lot. Word got back to Rome about the incident over the banners. It was agreed that you handled that very well.”

Lucius waved a hand. “I wish someone had told me about the graven images in regard to the Jews, but it was settled and our relations are peaceful, at least for the present.” Her husband appeared casual, but Claudia saw the familiar tension in his shoulders. He was not relaxed. “I sent a detailed report to the emperor.”

Claudia watched and listened. Were these men sent by Tiberius or Sejanus to bring a report back to Rome? She smiled and strove for her husband’s sake to present herself well to their guests.

Trajanius turned to her. “Do you find Jerusalem an interesting city, my lady?”

“I believe that ‘interesting’ is a good word to describe a place of such diversity. The Jews are a strange people.”

He nodded. “Will you then remain here for the child?”

Lucius interrupted before she could speak. “I have not decided. The journey here was difficult.”

The men made sounds of approval. “In any case, Excellency, congratulations are in order. May the gods grant you a son.”

Every man wants a son
, Claudia thought to herself.
May the gods favor us.
She smiled charmingly at their guests. “What news do you bring from Rome?”

The two men glanced at each other and Cadmus cleared his throat. “Sejanus rules the city well in the emperor’s stead. His orders come from Capri, as you know.”

Lucius nodded. “Yes, we were told of the emperor’s move to his palace on the island. Evidently he trusts Sejanus implicitly.”

The two guests exchanged looks again and Claudia wondered if they were watching their words. Lucius caught her eye and she felt he was wondering the same thing.

“Excellency, you were appointed by the prefect, were you not?” Trajanius inquired.

Lucius responded cautiously. “Yes, with the approval of the emperor.”

“You are fortunate,” Cadmus answered, his face bland. “Those not in the good graces of our prefect do not fare well.”

“I have heard of incidents in Rome. Loyalty is necessary if one is to rule an empire.” Lucius reached for a slice of grouse.

Claudia sensed the men wished to talk with Lucius about other matters but were reluctant to speak of them in her presence.

The ache in the small of her back increased. “Would you excuse me, honored sirs? It has been a long day.”

She rose slowly, holding on to the back of the chair, and Lucius got up and steadied her with his arm. She nodded to their guests and moved toward the entrance of the dining hall. Lucius quickly joined her.

“Do you feel all right?”

“Yes, Lucius. I am just very tired these days.”

“I will see you later this evening.” His finger brushed her cheek briefly and then he turned back to his guests.

Claudia dozed fitfully and awakened later as Lucius slipped in beside her. Seeing she was awake, he slipped an arm behind her and she laid her head on his shoulder.

“Your guests seemed nervous, beloved. Is there something wrong?”

He was silent a moment in the darkness and she felt he was deciding how much to tell her. Finally, he sighed. “All is not well in Rome. Sejanus is on a purge of anyone who does not side with him in loyalty.
Good men are being arrested and executed without a trial. Families live in fear that they will be somehow accused of sedition or treason by Sejanus or one of his spies. The man seeks the power of regency and will stop at nothing to persuade the emperor that he should be allotted this.”

She raised her head in the darkness. “Oh Lucius, is there danger for you in this?”

“I don’t think so. I was appointed by Sejanus for this governorship, so surely he doesn’t see me as an enemy.”

“But your communications have been with Tiberius. Surely the emperor is aware of what the prefect is doing.”

“He may not be aware, for evidently he believes the reports from Sejanus. My two guests were not spies for Sejanus, they were sent by a friend to warn me, on the pretext of doing business in Jerusalem.”

“A friend? Who is that?”

“It is best I not name him.”

He yawned and she knew he would rise early the next morning to make sure all was well in the city. After the seven days of Passover, and most of the pilgrims had gone, he assured her they would return to Caesarea.

She settled back on her pillow and in only moments heard her husband’s soft snores.

 27 

A
sharp knock sounded on the door of her chamber, and since Hotep was away arranging for their lunch, Claudia opened the door. A woman with gray and white hair swept back from her face and clear gray eyes stood in the doorway. Claudia estimated her to be in her fifties. “I am Joanna, wife of Chuza. My husband has asked me to introduce myself.”

Claudia spread one hand, inviting the woman to enter, delighted to have company.

“My husband said that you were inquiring about our people? If I can be of service to you, my lady, I would be happy to tell you what I can.”

Claudia indicated a chair and they sat down. The woman was not dressed in Roman fashion but wore simple homespun in both her tunic and shawl. Then Claudia realized the woman had said “our people.” Joanna was Jewish.

“How long have you lived in the palace, Joanna?”

“Almost five years, my lady. We have a house where our son and his wife live, but with my husband’s duties here, he felt it was better to be in the palace rather than be summoned from our home so many times. We are comfortable, but I hope to return to my own home one day when my husband retires from King Herod’s service.”

Claudia nodded in sympathy. “I too long for my own villa instead of living in the palace, but like you, it is not possible at this time.”

The two women smiled at each other in understanding, and Claudia had the feeling that she and Joanna could be friends.

“Joanna, what do you do to occupy yourself? You don’t work in the palace on the staff.”

“Oh, I have much to keep me busy. I am a midwife among our people, and there are always babies to bring into the world and women to care for. I am also skilled in the use of herbs and poultices.”

Claudia’s eyes widened. “Surely the gods have sent you. You can see that I am with child. I don’t know what to expect and have some concerns. Perhaps you could enlighten me?”

Joanna had frowned briefly at the mention of Claudia’s gods. “I will do my best, my lady. What concerns do you have?”

“The sickness in the morning seemed to pass several months ago, but came back again as I traveled here in the coach. Then, whenever I mount the stairs, sharp pains strike me in my belly and sometimes they bend me over, they are so strong.”

Joanna’s face changed to concern. “How long have you been having these pains? You are six, seven months along?”

“I think I am nearly eight months.”

“Your time is drawing near. I would suggest you do as little climbing of stairs or walking as possible and rest as much as you can.”

Fear pierced Claudia’s heart. “Is there something wrong? Something you aren’t telling me?”

“It could be something, or it could be just your own body reacting to the changes. The next time you have those pains, would you send for me?”

“Of course. And thank you. It is comforting to know someone nearby is skilled in these areas.”

“I am happy to be of service, my lady. Now, there is another matter you wanted to know about?”

Glad for the change of topic, Claudia smiled. “Yes. In Caesarea, there was a gardener in the palace who is Jewish who explained some
of the history of your people to me and also why you celebrate Passover. He told me about the lamb, the blood, and the death angel that passed over your homes. I would like to know more.”

“Since your husband must rule our province, it is good that you are interested in the people he governs.”

Hotep returned with their lunch, no doubt expecting to share it with her mistress. But with a stranger in the room, Hotep could not sit at the table with Claudia; instead she served her mistress and the steward’s wife at the table and chairs in the alcove. Then she waited silently in the background.

Considering how complicated the Jews were, Claudia searched her mind for what else she wanted to know about them. “Tell me about the women’s part in worshiping your particular god.”

Joanna nodded slightly, a smile playing about her lips. “While we women cannot recite the Torah or take part in the duties of the Temple, we also worship in the Court of Women. We say the prayers we have been taught from the time we were children. Like Roman matrons, we are keepers of the home. We train our daughters in the duties of running a home, and our boys go to school to learn the Torah. The women of each household pray on the Sabbath and upon rising in the morning.”

“Jeremiah told me your nation was taken captive because they sinned against their god. He told me about Moses bringing the law down from Mt. Sinai to the people.”

“The Ten Commandments are not the entire law, my lady, but the foundation of our law. In the Torah, the Most High God gave Moses the more detailed law which governs our lives.” She paused, considering. “Did Jeremiah explain the Sabbath?”

Claudia thought a moment. “I don’t remember that.”

“When the Most High created the world and all that is in it, he rested on the seventh day from his work. Therefore he has commanded his people, the Jews, to honor the Sabbath as a day of rest. No work can be done, not even lighting a fire to cook. Many prayers are said, and we go to the synagogue to pray.”

“Do the women go into your Temple?”

“Only the men go into the Temple, and only the priests go into the Holy Place. In another room, called the Holy of Holies, stands the ark of the covenant. The high priest is allowed to go into the Holy of Holies only once a year to take the blood of a lamb to atone for the sins of the people. He puts the blood of the sacrifice on the altar.”

Claudia frowned. “I am puzzled. Your people look upon us as pagan because we sacrifice to our gods, yet you speak of a blood sacrifice to your god. What is the difference?”

Joanna seemed to be trying to choose her words.

“You may speak freely, Joanna. I only wish to understand your people better.”

“Thank you, my lady. What I must say is that we feel we worship the one true God, who created the heavens and the earth and all that is within them. He ordained the sacrifices that our priests perform for the atonement of the sins of the people. We do not have an image we sacrifice to. You worship images of wood and stone and pray to them, images that cannot speak or hear your prayers. We are taught not to worship the works of men’s hands.”

Claudia sighed. “Jeremiah said as much to me, but I still wonder how you can worship a god you cannot see.”

“We do not need to see him to worship him, my lady. In days of old he has spoken to prophets and kings. They have known his voice. He spoke to Moses when he gave him the laws for our people. Gods of wood and stone are only that—wood and stone.”

Claudia considered her words and something quickened in her spirit. Would this god of the Hebrews speak to her, a Roman woman?

The women paused as the sound of a large number of pilgrims singing reached their ears.

Claudia rose and walked to the window to look out. “The melody is beautiful. Can you tell me what the words say?”

Joanna came to stand by her side. “It is one of our Songs of Ascents,
my lady. They are sung on our holy days as the people ascend up to Jerusalem. They come from the book of Psalms, which are poems and prayers written by King David and others.”

Joanna began to sing softly,

“I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there?

My help comes from the L
ORD
, Who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble;

The one who watches over Israel

Never slumbers or sleeps.

The L
ORD
himself watches over you!

The L
ORD
stands beside you as your protective shade.

The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The L
ORD
keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.

The L
ORD
keeps watch over you as you come and go,

Both now and forever.”

Claudia marveled. “What beautiful words. There is comfort in your psalms.”

“Yes. There are many psalms like that.”

Joanna rose slowly. “If you will forgive me, my lady, I must go. There is a young woman who is due to give birth in a few weeks and I promised to come and check on her.” She hesitated again and then said, “Do not fear asking questions. You are known among the people as an inquirer. I believe you are set apart for great things, but in a time only the Most Holy One chooses.”

Claudia had risen also, and was about to respond when a sharp pain in her back caused her to cry out and suddenly sit down again. Pain radiated through her body.

“My lady, are you ill? Are you in pain?”

Hotep came quickly and she and Joanna helped Claudia into her bed as she moaned.

Just before she lost consciousness, Claudia heard Hotep cry out, “There is blood on the floor!”

The pain was almost more than she could bear. It rolled through her body in waves and she heard a voice in the distance screaming and realized it was her own. Her body felt like it was being pulled apart. Someone lifted her head and murmured that she was to drink something as a cup was held to her lips.

“Domina, please drink this. It will help with the pain.”

She swallowed the bitter liquid and moaned again. Then she felt the baby slide from her body and she lay back in exhaustion. Hands pressed firmly on her abdomen.

When Claudia opened her eyes, her whole body ached. She was in bed and Hotep sat by her side, anxiously watching her face. “You are awake, Domina, we thought we had lost you.”

Her voice seemed thick and it was difficult to speak. “Lost me?”

“You have been very ill, Domina. The physician was here and did what he could, but you had a great fever. The physician has gone, but he will return later.”

Her eyes focused on Joanna, who was standing with her back to Claudia, doing something. When she heard their voices, she turned around, her face was composed but not joyful.

Claudia turned imploring eyes to her handmaid. “My baby?”

Joanna approached and placed a small bundle wrapped in linen in her arms. “You have a son, my lady. Born a little soon, but he lives.”

She caught a look between the two women. “What is wrong?” With fear in her heart, she slowly unwrapped the baby, who began to cry.

Joanna stepped closer. “My lady, you must keep the baby warm. He is a little early, but perhaps you misjudged the time he was expected.” Again, there was that sorrowful look.

As Claudia unwrapped the baby’s legs, she gasped. His right foot was not fully formed. Her son was a cripple.

She touched the deformed foot with her fingers. The baby began
to scream and Joanna reached down and helped her wrap him. Then she put the small mouth to Claudia’s breast.

“As he nurses, he will draw up your womb. It will be painful, but it is necessary. Just know that it will pass. The herbs I gave you will help with the pain.”

Hotep spoke up again. “The physician told the dominae he didn’t think he could save you. Much blood was lost. The lady Joanna boiled some special herbs in water and gave it to you to drink.”

Claudia looked up at Joanna. “What did you give me?”

“My lady, there are herbs known to those of our people who are healers and midwives that have been passed down through many years. We are fortunate that they worked for you. They cause the womb to pulse when the body is too weak to do this and helps the bleeding to stop.”