“Say thank you, Titus,” Caius instructed with a sloppy grin.
Titus smiled; only his father could treat him like a child while congratulating him on a seduction. And in that particular moment, it was more entertaining than annoying. “Thank you, Cornelius.” His obedient echo inspired laughter from both Cornelius and Lucius.
“The ladies are gone!” Caius raised his cup high. “Girls, make some old men happy!”
His friends cheered and laughed, and the servants that had been dedicated solely to pouring wine or offering food entered the room in a far different character.
“Who do you want, Titus? Take your pick, it is your first symposium since your return.”
Titus shook his head. “I have heard no philosophy to make this a symposium, Father. And I will defer the first pick to our friend Cornelius.”
“A deserving fellow! A wise son! I am a blessed man!”
“Amazing.” Titus turned to Lucius as Cornelius beckoned a girl over to him. “My father loves me as much when he is drunk as he despises me when he is sober. Why has this never struck me before?”
Lucius laughed. “Probably because you are usually just as drunk, and not nearly so congenial. Your Jewess kept waving away the wine, Titus, you have not had enough!”
“No, I am quite satisfied.” He looked around at the situation that could very easily get out of hand. “As a matter of fact, I think I may just slip away. I have enjoyed catching up with you Lucius; stop by again soon.”
“I will. And give Abigail a kiss for me. Here.” He pointed to his thigh with a wicked grin.
Titus breathed a laugh and shoved his friend lightly in the shoulder. Trying to avoid notice, he slipped out of the room and hoped that his father would be too diverted to notice his absence. That accomplished, he headed to his room.
He was not really very drunk at all.
*
Abigail kissed the sleeping faces lightly, smiling. “Thank you for watching them for me, Antonia.”
The older woman smiled. “It is always my pleasure, Mistress. Both of the boys are well behaved.”
“Go ahead to bed.” Abigail put a hand on Antonia’s shoulder in farewell. She then turned to Miriam and Phillip. “The two of you can go ahead as well. I would like some solitude, I think. Phillip, I want you to be near Miriam tonight. There are a few too many drunken men around for me to send her to her room alone. I will have Titus to ensure my safety up here, but I would rest easier knowing you were within call for Miriam.”
Phillip folded his muscled arms over his chest. “We will wait for Titus’s return before we leave you, Mistress. Let Miriam take down your hair, and I will watch for him.”
Abigail sighed, knowing he would not budge on the matter. “Very well.” She moved into her chamber, Miriam behind her. Getting her hair down was quick work, and Abigail found herself soothed as the brush was run through it. The evening had been a long one, and her nerves felt frazzled. She felt she had conducted herself well, and she had not been as self-conscious as she had feared she would be, but still it had been trying. The entire environment was foreign to her; she had never been a part of such a large gathering before, even at the general’s house, and one so blatantly Bacchical was entirely unfamiliar. She had hoped she would have some relief when she went with the women, but a few minutes with them had told her it was not to be, that the ladies of Rome were just as capable of being coarse and vulgar as their male counterparts. She had left almost as soon as they all settled in. She had a feeling she would not be especially missed.
Phillip came to attention moments after Miriam put down the brush. “Titus is here. Are you ready, Miriam?”
“Do you need anything else, Mistress?” Miriam asked.
Abigail shook her head and gave her maid a smile. “Thank you for your help, Miriam. And I am sorry if Caius upset you tonight.”
Miriam returned the smile. “You cannot be held accountable for his actions, Lady. My only distress was anticipation of yours.”
“Sleep well,” Abigail bade, then turned her smile on Phillip. “And thank you for watching over her tonight.”
Phillip nodded, then led Miriam from the chambers just as Titus entered. He headed straight for his bed and sank onto it, looking exhausted and tense. With a smile, Abigail went over and sat beside him, reaching up to try to massage away some of the tension in his neck. Titus sighed at her touch.
“You seemed to enjoy yourself tonight.” Abigail’s gaze followed her hands over his neck. How had she never noticed that it was so corded with muscle?
“Mostly. It has been a long time since I have seen Lucius.”
Abigail smiled. “I can only imagine the trouble the two of you got into in prior days.”
Titus breathed a laugh. “You should probably not even attempt that much, beloved.”
“I did not expect you to leave the party so soon.”