“Abigail will return to Israel soon. I have a feeling my mother is wise enough to wait until her departure before insisting I wed.”
“You have no respect for the property of your friends.” At least his proclamation was quiet enough not to draw the attention of any of the other groups nearby. “You take whatever you want, never considering to whom it actually belongs.”
Titus felt his brows draw together. “You are mistaken in that, Lucius. When she was Jason’s, I honored that bond. If I take her now, it is because that claim no longer exists. Jason is gone. I miss him, but he is gone. Abigail’s mourning has passed.”
“And how convenient that you are the one nearest her when it has. Titus Asinius, the tempter of the temptresses.”
“I have not missed your moods, Lucius,” Titus returned dryly. “Jealousy always makes you foul. Just accept that you will never so much as touch her and move on to another conquest.”
Lucius brightened again, an impish smile on his lips. “Probably, that is not such a great loss. I suspect she is not nearly as talented behind closed doors as imagination would suppose.”
Titus raised his cup to his lips and looked straight ahead. “Never in my life have I lowered myself to answering your prying questions. Do not expect me to start now.”
Lucius laughed again, his humor restored, and was content to change the subject.
*
Abigail took her seat beside Titus again after returning. She felt more at ease simply because the pain of needing to nurse had been relieved, but now she was beginning to feel tired. Her eyes sought Miriam and found her making the rounds with the other maids, a pitcher of wine in hand. The girl met her eye and lifted a brow in question, but Abigail gave a small shake of her head.
Titus and Lucius were deep into talk of politics, with the occasional reference to someone she had never met, so Abigail’s mind wandered around the room. She kept looking over at her maid simply to make sure all was well with her. Twenty minutes after her reentry into the room, Miriam ended up by Caius.
Abigail’s breath caught as the man raised his cup and slid a hand up Miriam’s leg. He was not the first to touch the girl, but the others had made it look casual–a hand to the back, on the arm. Miriam had not seemed disturbed by those, but now her face froze in an expression Abigail knew well: panic.
She stepped away at the first possible moment, glanced toward Abigail. Their gazes clashed, and Abigail saw the panic mount. Miriam headed her way, eyes spewing apology.
Titus looked up at her approach too. “Ah, good. More wine, please.”
Miriam lifted a trembling arm. Abigail stood, put herself between Miriam and Titus, and halted her with a hand on her arm. “It is not your fault,” she said in Hebrew, softly. “You are not to blame for Caius’s actions. If you do not calm yourself, you will spill the wine.”
Miriam flushed, but some of the panic eased from her eyes. “I am sorry, Mistress.”
Abigail smiled. “I am not rebuking you, my friend.” In Greek she added, “Would you go check on my son for me? See if he has settled?”
“Of course.”
Abigail pried the wine gently from her fingers. “Go.” She watched for a moment as her shaken maid turned and left unobtrusively, then she turned back around to Titus.
He smiled when he saw her with the pitcher. “It has been a long time since you have poured for me, sweet one.”
Abigail narrowed her eyes at him. “I think you have had more than enough to drink, Titus Asinius.” To prove it, she handed the pitcher to a passing maid and then waved her away.
Titus scowled, but it was not long lasting. He put his empty cup aside, then put his hands on Abigail’s hips to urge her back down beside him, pulling her as close as he had before. “It does not matter.” He nipped at her ear, making her jump. “You are sweeter than any wine, anyway.”
Abigail sighed, even if a smile tugged at her mouth. “You have most assuredly had enough to drink, my love.” She elbowed him in the ribs to drive the point home.
Titus chuckled. “You may be right. Ah. My mother is taking the women away. I suppose that means you must leave me.”
Abigail lifted a hand to rub at her neck. “I suppose so. I will only stay a moment with them, I think. I am tired.”
“Do not retire before I get to say good night.”
Abigail smiled at him and stood, said her farewells to Lucius, and left the room with Miriam, Phillip falling in behind.
*
Caius’s voice grabbed Titus’s attention. “What do you think of our Hebrewesses, Cornelius?” he was asking his friend, who was every bit as inebriated as he. “Pretty, are they not? The new maid is a fine creature, Titus picked her out.”
Titus considered correcting his father on that one, but Cornelius replied before he could.
“The maid?” He laughed. “Why waste your time on the maid when you can have the mistress?” He raised his cup to Titus. “My compliments, my friend. An enviable trophy.”