“My Lord and Father in heaven, we come before you humbly today, as your servants.” Titus’s voice echoed in the room, sounding full, bright. “You know our hearts, you see that though different in the eyes of the world, we three have come together to seek your name. In this land of sin, Lord, we need your touch on us all the day. Grant us your eyes, that we may see the right path. Grant us your ears, that we may hear you whisper your truths. Grant us your heart, that we might reach out with love and understanding to those around us. Grant us your Spirit . . .” His voice wavered, the emotion in it pulsating. The hand on her shoulder vibrated with something that matched a harmonic within her. “Grant us your Spirit!”
A sudden heat entered the room, as if the wind had been chased out by a gust of fire, yet a cool touch brushed her face. Gravity pulled on her as if she were at a great height, and she fell to her knees along with the others, close together, body bearing down as spirit lifted up. Abigail opened her eyes, her breathing fast and short, and saw tongues of fire above the heads of each of her companions and saw from the movement of their eyes that there was one above her as well.
“Jehovah!” She sobbed, bending over until her forehead touched the cool marble of the floor, the baby cradled in the space between her and the ground, not so much as squirming against her. “Blessed be the name of the Lord!”
She heard the men crying out praises to God, praises hushed by emotion but moving along the stone that their heads, too, were pressed against until it reached her ears. Arminius’s gnarled fingers still gripped hers tightly, she still felt the weight of Titus’s hand upon her shoulder blade. But most of all, she felt a presence within her, one so strong she could barely breathe, one so gentle she felt laughter bubble up. She never wanted to move, never wanted to lose the intensity of this moment, even as she thought that it would surely consume her totally if it remained over her much longer.
At length, the Spirit eased away, breathing became more regular, and Benjamin gurgled out a half-hearted protest at his position that brought them all up with smiles. Abigail sat back up onto her knees as Titus helped Arminius to his feet.
As she stood, she followed Arminius’s gaze to the entrance of the chamber, where a fourth person stood up, confusion on his face. Arminius cleared his throat. “My son, Helius.”
Helius stumbled forward, eyes large. “Father . . . I came in to fetch you, and there were flames dancing in the air! I tried to cry out a warning, but I was struck down to the floor. What was happening?”
“The baptism of fire and the Spirit.” Titus put an arm around Abigail and pulled her to his side. “Tabitha said that the Lord promised it would come. It has.”
She looked up into his gaze and smiled, then turned her face back to Helius. “You have witnessed a miraculous thing here today. I am sure your father will explain it to you.”
“Yes. Yes, I understand now, and I will tell my whole household so that they all might believe with me. Run to your mother, Helius, and tell her to gather your brother and sisters together this evening.” He inclined his head once more to Abigail and Titus as Helius sprinted out the door. “As your servant, I am already indebted to you. But for sharing this glorious promise with me, I find myself even further in your graces. Mistress, you are my master’s daughter, and your son is his son. There is no one on this earth I would rather serve than you. I will handle this matter of inheritance with as little bother to you as possible and send word when all is done.”
She gave him a soft smile. “I thank you for that. As your mistress, I am blessed to have such a faithful steward. As your sister in Christ, I rejoice in the salvation of your soul. As my father and husband did, I will keep in touch with you regularly, Arminius, not only about the estate, but about our lives. I am honored to call you my friend.”
Tears clouded the old man’s eyes once more, and he dropped to a knee to take and kiss her hand, then rose up to place a tender kiss on the baby’s head. “Safe travel back to Rome this afternoon, and to Israel when you have cause to go. Your mother’s health will be in my prayers to our God.”
“And you and your family will be in mine.”
Arminius clasped Titus’s wrist when he reached out his hand. “You will be blessed for taking care of her. You do honor to the memory of your friend.”
Titus’s head inclined to an angle too humble to be habitual to him. “As do you. How the Visibullises found a man so honest I will never know, but they were blessed indeed. We will be in touch.”
“Peace go with you.”
As they walked outside, Abigail wondered how it could not. The peace filled her so completely that there was surely no room left for anything else.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Aquilia looked up in surprise when her door burst open, the surprise turning to consternation when she saw it was her husband that stormed in. He had not so much as stepped foot in her chamber in a year, and when he did, it was certainly never with a pleasant intent. Usually to insist she change something that displeased him. Never, never for a good reason.
He strode over and wrenched the embroidery from her fingers.
“Caius! What are you doing?”