“She seemed very gentle, kind.” She sighed. “Hers was the only polite reception I have encountered within these walls.”
Titus squeezed the hand he held in encouragement. “The worst is over, my friend. Now all you have to do is work on smiling instead of scowling when I look at you.”
She smiled now, but with teasing in her eyes. “As long as you keep looking at me as you have been instead of as you once did, that will not be a problem.”
Titus propelling them both toward the triclinium and food. “Then perhaps we should find you some less becoming clothes.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Inside?” Abigail looked dubiously at the tiny room Titus indicated. Her nose wrinkled. “Is that sanitary?”
Titus sternly held down his laugh. The corners of his mouth nevertheless tugged up. “Yes, Abigail. It is far cleaner than an outdoor facility. And far more convenient as well.”
Abigail nevertheless shook her head. “Rome is such a strange place.” She peered into the room but did not step in. “Relieving yourself indoors. And you call the rest of the world barbaric?”
He lost the battle to the laugh and put a hand on Abigail’s shoulder to urge her forward.
She absorbed the sound with a smile. If the stares the servants sent their way whenever he laughed were any indication, it was not something he had habitually done in this house. Hopefully they would grow accustomed to and fond of this new Titus. “It sounds as though your father has much planned for you these next few days.”
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “My father has much planned for me for the next few years. Running the shipping companies, the slave trades.” At the wince she could not hold back, he sighed again. “Sorry. But these wars we have fought have secured many lands for Rome that still burst with miscreants. The numbers that are caught and sold are vast. But beside all that, he also expects me to be active in politics. Go to the Senate hearings, run for offices. . . he will not be happy until I, like he, have a consulate on my list of accomplishments.”
“And is that what you want?”
Titus led them into the back garden behind the house. The sun was bright and warm, the plants a riot of color and scent, all blending together in a scene that made Abigail smile. She said nothing, however, just waited for Titus to respond. At length, he did. “I know not what I want. I did not like the military life, but I have been rebelling so long against my father that I have already decided I will not like this, either. I suppose I should give it a chance to win me.”
Abigail chuckled, then closed her eyes to breathe in the sweet scent of myriad blooms. “You have lovely gardens. I think I could very easily get lost out here and be content never to be found.”
“This was Jason’s favorite spot as well.” He led her down a stone path, pointing toward a granite sculpture. “Our garden nymph. She bears a striking resemblance to you, Abigail.”
Abigail stopped before the artwork and tilted her head to the side critically. The figure was nude, but for sculpted flower petals arranged over her that did little to hide her shape. The eyes were closed, head falling back as if to better receive the touch of wind, perfume of blossoms. Her lips were curved up only slightly, her body young and firm, her face at peace. Abigail shook her head. “I do not see it.”
Titus chuckled. “These next few days will be hectic, indeed. But tomorrow I will dispatch a missive to Arminius to let him know you and your babe have arrived; I expect he will be in touch as to what you need to do. We will have to make time to go out there soon, I know.”
Abigail nodded soberly. “I must thank you, my friend, for all you have done to help us. If it were not for you, Benjamin and I could both have died, or been left abandoned at the least. And coming to Rome would have been all but impossible on our own.”
“I am only glad I was there to help.”
Abigail pressed her hand lightly against the arm it was resting on in acknowledgment of her gratitude, but then looked toward the house. “Benjamin will be waking soon, and he will be hungry. I should go in.”
With a nod from her friend, she moved back inside.
*
Titus sighed and sank down on the chaise positioned near him. He would be able to protect her from his father with their current arrangement, it was true. But he had a feeling it may take more than a little bit of prayer to give him the strength to protect her from himself. It was true he was far more temperate now than he had been a few months ago, but he was no less a man. Seeing her in that lovely garment today had only made more obvious what he had never attempted to deny: Abigail was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Getting to know her, liking her, feeling responsible for her did not change that. If anything, it would only complicate the situation more.