Titus’s satisfied smile turned to a sigh when the door opened. Not so much because they were being interrupted, but because Abigail jumped away from him in guilt at the first noise. He scowled as she tugged nervously on her tunic, though he had smoothed it over her curves just moments ago.
It was Phillip who pushed open the door, pulling a weeping Miriam behind him. Abigail rushed forward. “What is wrong?”
Miriam collapsed against her, unable to speak. Phillip shook his head. “He locked my door. It locks only from the outside. I heard her scream, but by the time I broke through the door, it was too late. The damage had already been done. I pulled him off her and knocked him unconscious.” He sneered. “Seeing the condition he was in, I doubt he will even remember the episode.”
“Who?” Titus demanded.
“Your father.”
Abigail smoothed down Miriam’s hair. “What a night.”
Titus sent her a sharp glare, but Phillip apparently read nothing into the statement. “The last guests are just leaving. Caius only came moments ago. I brought her up here immediately.”
“And she will stay up here.” Abigail looked up at Titus; her eyes snapped with the same anger that pounded through him. “Your father can do what he wishes with his own women and I cannot stop him, but he will never touch any member of my household! Miriam and Phillip will move in with me.”
Titus sighed. “Abigail, there are already three of you in a room the size of a closet. It is not possible to add more. They will move into the room next door, and we will not let my father know. We will let him think they are in here, and I will bribe or threaten whatever servants I must in order to convince him of it.”
“How altruistic of you.”
Her sarcasm bit him, but he could hardly blame her for it. “I am sorry. I admit this is my fault; I saw the way my father looked at her, and I did nothing.”
Abigail sighed. Though he saw the war raging in her eyes, her expression ended up softening. “It is not your fault. I saw your father’s reaction to her as well. It is why I insisted Phillip stay downstairs last night.”
“And it is I that failed.” Phillip rolled back his shoulders as if preparing them for punishment.
Abigail shook her head. “You cannot be expected to read his mind, Phillip. You did all you could, and I thank you for that.” She stroked Miriam’s hair. Thankfully the girl seemed to be calming down. “The only one to blame for this is Caius. No one else should be held responsible for the lecherous acts of a drunkard. Miriam, I am sorry. I promised you a life better than this, and then this happens in the first day.”
Miriam wiped at her eyes, looking embarrassed at her own reactions. “As you yourself just said, you are not to blame, Mistress.” She attempted a small smile. It was watery, but it got her point across. “It was not as bad as it could have been. If I had not been asleep when he entered, I could have stopped him myself, he was so drunk.”
Abigail wiped away one of the tears Miriam had missed. “It will not happen again. Phillip, go see that Caius is delivered to his own rooms; wake his servants to carry him if you must. Get Titus’s man to help you bring your and Miriam’s belongings upstairs and put them in the next room.” She moved to the eunuch and put a small hand on his large arm. “You have not failed me, Phillip. And worrying that you have in the past will only distract you in the future.”
It was obviously the right thing to say to convince Phillip to dismiss his thoughts. With a nod, he exited the room again.
“Go wash up,” Abigail bade Miriam gently.
Titus waited until they were alone again before speaking. “I truly am sorry, Abigail. This should not have happened to her.”
“No, it should not have.” She pressed her fingers to her eyes. “You should not have objected to moving them into my chamber.”
Titus watched her for half a moment in silence. “Must we argue about this right now?”
“Why not? Why not discuss the actions of the son while we are on the topic of the father?”
Titus felt the old storms gather behind his eyes. He approached her so quickly that she stepped back in fear, but he stopped her retreat with iron hands on her shoulders. “You will not compare me to him. I did not sneak into your chamber while you slept and rape you, Abigail. Every woman who has ever come to my bed has come willingly, and whether or not you regret your decision, it was still your decision.”