Titus chuckled, giving her hand an encouraging pat. “Have no fear, small one. He is not in line for this one at any rate.”
Abigail gazed down into Benjamin’s face. He watched the world roll by with large eyes, and his curiosity made her smile. “For my son’s sake, I am glad the Visibullises have such a place. Benjamin deserves to have every opportunity open to him. I know not if he will choose to live here or if he will remain in Israel, but the choice will be his, just as it was his father’s, and his father’s before him.”
“What do you think of Rome thus far, Abigail? Jason said you would not take to it.”
She sent her eyes around her once more, then smiled. “I did not think I would. And I still do not know that I would want to live here, so far away from all I call home. But I concede that I was premature in my judgements. Rome is a lovely place. At the very least, I am glad I came, that I have seen it.” She met Titus’s gaze. “And you? Do you still detest Israel as you once did?”
A single corner of Titus’s mouth tugged up. “I find it impossible to loathe the place that saw me make such changes in myself. But I am afraid it is less the land itself I appreciate as the culture it was imbued with. Which is, I grant, what I disliked most in the beginning. I have come full circle.”
“Indeed. Well, you will always be welcome in our home, wherever it may be. Know that, my friend. Be it this estate we approach now or our home in Jerusalem, you will always be greeted as a friend. I promise you that.”
“The same to you, Abigail. If ever you need anything, for yourself or Benjamin or Samuel, I will gladly help you. If either of them wishes to come to Rome, I will happily take them into my counsel and do all I can for them.”
“That is good to know.” She meant it, though she could not yet contemplate a day when the tiny bundle in her arms would be striking out on his own, without her.
“There it is.” Titus motioned toward an impressive structure as they drove within view. It stood magnificently etched against the horizon, proud and strong and promising to last twice as long as it had already been.
The final minute of the journey was made in silence as she took it all in; there were vast fields in the background, where Abigail could see grapevines and grains, animals grazing far away to the right. There were many smaller buildings all around, which Abigail could only assume to be the dwellings of those who worked the estate, perhaps stables or storage areas as well. As the wheels turned over the unevenly paved ground leading up to the villa itself, several people appeared to greet them, smiles on all three of their faces.
“My lord Asinius.” The central man bent with deference at the waist. “It is good to see you once more.”
“Arminius,” Titus greeted as the vehicle rocked to a halt, “I am glad to be here again as well. I would only that the circumstances were different.”
“Indeed.” The steward’s face fell. “I was deeply struck by the terrible news of my masters’ deaths.” His eyes moved to Abigail and the bundle in her arms. “It followed so soon after the joyous news of Jason’s marriage and approaching child. Mistress, allow me to help you down.”
Abigail smiled her gratitude and handed Benjamin momentarily to Titus so that she could descend more easily, then took the baby back.
“You are as lovely as my young master claimed,” the elder man said with a soft smile. His gaze fell fondly onto the babe, who offered a happy grin at the new face. Arminius chuckled. “What a charming babe your son is. I can see Jason in him.”
“As can I. My husband spoke well of you, Arminius. I am glad to meet you.”
The old man actually blushed at the compliment. “And I you, Mistress. Come, let me show you the villa.”
Titus had climbed down by then as well, and he fell in beside her and Arminius. The steward studied her as she studied the structure.
“It is lovely. It is no wonder Jason longed to return here.” She smiled, knowing he would revel in the words of his late masters. “Many an evening he would regale me with stories of his time in Rome, of this place. But my imaginings fell far short of the mark.”
Arminius looked around as if he had never seen the place before. “It is a most gracious estate, to be sure. It has been my pleasure to serve here so long. But it has been too long without a master present. I had hoped Jason would return before long.”
Abigail cast her eyes down. She had not the heart to tell him that Jason would not have returned, and that it was because of her. “Titus tells me I will have to offer proof that Benjamin is Jason’s son.”
Arminius nodded. “Legally, yes. But the word of an Asinius will go far, and Titus wrote that he was at your wedding and can vouch for you.”