Reluctantly, he turned. He saw her running toward him, still gathering her clothes about her, tears coursing down her cheeks. “Your father–he forced himself upon me–”
She had reached him and latched onto his arm. He pulled away from her. “I do not have time for your antics, Caelia. Abigail is lying upstairs, the life of our child bleeding out of her, because of my father’s violence. At this moment, I am not too concerned about whether or not he has found his pleasure with you.”
Her tears dried rather quickly. “Child!” Her lips snarled, malice gleaming in her eye. “I hope she dies with it! She only wants to manipulate you–”
Titus grabbed the wrist she was reaching out toward him and pressed in a place that brought her to her knees in pain. “You will never say such things about her. And if you value your own life, you will make every attempt possible to keep your face out of my sight from now on.”
He spun around and strode away, ignoring the curses she spewed at him in a language he did not understand. He had made it to the courtyard before he was hailed again, this time by his mother. He paused with a sigh as she approached.
Curiosity covered her face. “What is going on?”
He motioned her to join him as he continued toward Abigail’s room and informed her briefly of what had happened. A glance at her face showed him that she had paled with the news. She stopped outside the door through which groans could be heard.
She seemed to struggle a moment with what she wanted to say. At last, she threw back her shoulders. “Go, see to her. I will make sure a wet nurse is found for Benjamin, and I will have the children and Antonia moved into my chambers. Caius would not look for them there. I doubt he would harm Benjamin, but Samuel is another story. Titus,” she said when he reached for the door. Her eyes were serious. “Send me word when the physician arrives. I will light a candle to Juno for her.”
Titus shook his head. “For all else I thank you, but do not utter a word of Abigail to Juno. If you wish to pray, pray to her God, not yours.”
Aquilia seemed shocked by that suggestion. “I do not know her God!”
“He knows you.” Her offered her a fleeting smile, then entered the room. He found Miriam and Abigail right where he had left them. He took his place and her hand again. “The supplies will be here in a moment.”
A servant arrived with rags and fresh water a minute later, and soon after that Phillip returned with the physician. A scholarly looking man, the doctor stopped beside the bed and looked down at the woman curled up in pain. He glanced at Titus. “Before I determine how best to help, perhaps you should inform me of what happened to this girl?”
Titus knew the man thought he had done the damage, though a mere physician would not dare to voice any disapproval. “My father happened. He would have beat her to death if I had not come in. She is with child.”
The doctor looked at the blood-soaked rags and sighed.“Judging by the look of her, she was not very far along. Miscarriages are common in early pregnancy, keep that in mind, Lord.”
Titus suddenly realized the man was fearful, and for good reason. He had friends who had ruined physicians who could not save their family. He made his voice soft and moved to give him access to Abigail. “I know there is only so much in your power, my friend. Please, just do what you can for her. I realize. . .” he choked on his own words. “I realize you may not be able to save my child. Please, just try to save Abigail.”
The doctor took the place Titus had vacated and examined her for a few moments. Amid her groans and whimpers, he shook his head. “The pain is great for her, and will probably not abate for many hours. She will be weak for a while and should not be touched.” His pointed look at Titus told them what kind of touch he was speaking of. Titus did not bother to inform him that such things would not be happening in any case. He moved his gaze to Miriam. “Keep her clean, bathe her regularly, and see that she remains comfortable. Unless infection sets in, she should be up and about in a week or two.”