Aquilia breathed a laugh. “Surely you did not expect it, Abigail. You were a slave. Jason married you only because of the babe. We cannot forget that as quickly as the Visibullises.”
She inclined her head. “I did not expect it. Having met Titus a year ago, having seen the cold man he was, I knew his family could not be much different. If your son warmed up to me, it was only because of the situation we found ourselves in. Mourning Jason, watching his murderer be released. He had promised my husband he would see I was taken care of, and he did that. He is still doing that. If Jason had not made him swear to it, I have no doubt Titus would have been content to forget that I existed.”
Aquilia lifted a brow. “Perhaps he would have. But he does not care for you now simply because of a promise to Jason. Indeed, I would say Jason has very little to do with the things he feels for you. The question now, Abigail, is what really happened to my son as he mourned for Jason, watched his murderer be released? He is not the same man who left here, who wrote us, who you yourself just mentioned. This new Titus is far from the cold man you said you met a year ago. What happened to him?”
Abigail drew in a long breath, obviously considering. “Much happened that day when Barabbas was released, Aquilia. We both watched an innocent man hang in that murderer’s place, a man who was nothing but a teacher who had offended the officials. We heard that same man, unjustly put to death, forgive those who did it to him. Can you imagine how small that makes you feel? Lusting for revenge, and hearing a dying man forgive his tormenters?” She shook her head at the memory. “The very earth shook at the crime. Most of the crowd fled, but I could not. My labor pains began. Titus saw me, came and helped me up. He took me home, but no one was there. They had moved Ester away, and I knew not where they had taken her. He stayed with me because he was afraid of failing Jason, afraid I would die if he did not get help. He stayed by my side the whole time, the following days, and we talked of all that had happened. The midwife had been a follower of this teacher who had been crucified, and she taught us his lessons. They made sense to us, so we decided together to live by them.”
She shrugged, as if anything could be so simple. “The changes your son has made he made because he chose to be different. He chose to put aside his bitterness. It really has very little to do with me.”
Aquilia measured her silently for only a moment. “Perhaps. Perhaps he will remain as he is now once you leave. Perhaps he will revert back to the man he used to be. Either way, I was not certain you realized how different he truly is now. He is smiling, laughing, seemingly taking joy from life. Before he lived only for pleasure, but it never brought him contentment. He has never treated anyone with the respect he shows you. Which brings me back to my initial concern. It is only a matter of time before Caius picks up on this. Be careful, Abigail, and advise Titus to do the same. If he keeps looking at you so warmly in his father’s presence, he will bring an explosion down on his own head.”
Abigail shook her head. “If Caelia does not beat him to it.”
“What?” Aquilia’s spine snapped into alignment. “What does that wench have to do with anything?”
Abigail briefly explained what had passed between Caelia and Phillip the day before. Aquilia’s brows drew together. “I had not realized he had refused her, or any of the others for that matter. Will you try to tell me you have nothing to do with this, either?”
Abigail sighed. “It is part of the teachings of that man I spoke to you about that one should refrain from sexual relations until one is wed. Titus has been honoring that of his own accord. Although I will admit that last night, when he entertained the notion of accepting Caelia in order to silence her, I did not take well to the idea.”
At that, Aquilia smiled. “I imagine not. It is hard to believe a man’s motives to be altruistic when the ‘sacrifice’ involves giving himself pleasure. Just as it becomes hard to believe his words of love to you when he is making love to someone else.”
Abigail flushed. “There is that. But also, I cannot tolerate the thought of letting her have her victory just because I fear your husband.”
“You fear him with just cause.” Aquilia drummed her fingers on the table. “But Caelia you have no reason to fear. I will take care of her myself, and with pleasure.”
“How?”
A cold smile twisted her lips. “Quite simple. I will tell her that if she ever mentions this again, either to you or Titus or Caius, she will find herself the play thing of the gladiators. I have sent troublesome maids to the arenas before, and I would not hesitate to do so again. I imagine all of Caius’s whores know that, which is why they all try not to displease me.” She stood. “I will go see to her. In the meantime, pass my advice along to Titus. And so you know . . . I have come to respect you, Abigail. You must be an amazing woman, if you have made my son’s heart thaw. I will understand his mourning when you leave.”
*