Titus had succeeded in avoiding his father almost entirely over the intervening two weeks, as he attempted to come to some conclusion as to the best resolution of the situation. He was simply not ready to deal with him, to face him, to speak his mind. Instead, Titus dedicated his efforts to strengthening his business connections and arranging for Abigail’s move to the villa. Everything was coming together beautifully, which was an answer to his continual prayers. That also meant, however, that the impending altercation with his father could be put off no longer.
He drew a deep breath in as he went in search of him, knowing well where to find him at this hour of the day. The evening meal would take place in an hour, so Caius would be sipping his wine, relaxing to the strains of music one of the slaves would produce. Titus found him exactly as he expected, but still, the mere sight of him caused him pause.
What right did Caius Asinius have to lounge on his chaise without a care, when Abigail was still trying to heal from the injuries he had inflicted? How could he smile at a slave girl like that when the woman Titus loved still fought tears every day over their lost child? His hand balled into a fist, but he murmured a prayer for calm and strength and only stepped into the room when he felt it descend upon him.
“Titus.” Surprise colored Caius’s tone. He gave a cold smile. “You have been avoiding me, which is too bad. I have been wanting to apologize.”
Titus straightened his spine, knowing there was no remorse inside his father’s heart. “Indeed?”
Caius nodded, that terrible smile still in place. “Oh, yes, indeed. I heard the pregnancy was terminated, of course, but still, I am sorry. I would have wished the whore to die as well. Then you would have been thanking me for freeing you from her spell.”
He felt his fingers curling into a fist again. “I will thank you anyway,” he said carefully, gaining Caius’s undivided attention with his words. “Your cruelty has opened my eyes, and I have finally decided on a course of action. I am going to marry Abigail.” He already had the certificate drawn up, though he knew convincing her would be a task. She would think only of his sacrifices at first. But he would prevail.
Caius stilled, his smile fading. “You will not.”
“I am offering no choice.” Titus stared down the man who absently swirled his chalice of wine. “There is nothing you can do to change my mind. If you decide to disown me and keep me from the family business, I cannot stop you, but it will not stop me. And you know Rome will talk, if you do that. There is no other heir. If you disinherit me, everything you worked for will revert to the state when you die.”
Caius made no overt move, but his fingers tightened around the cup, and his jaw clenched. “You would throw away your life for that wench?” Without warning, he dashed the cup to the ground. The slaves jumped, but Titus did not so much as budge. “You are an Asinius! You have responsibilities!”
“And I will not walk away from them unless you force me to. I will marry Abigail. You cannot stop me. I am a grown man, I do not need your permission, and I am certain I can make my own capital if you refuse me any of yours. There are several improvements that could be made to the Visibullis estate that would provide a steady income for us.”
Caius’s face mottled in rage, and he surged to his feet. “You would steal the wealth of your friend, as you steal his family?”
“Of course not.” Titus crossed his arms over his chest. “I would use my earnings from the military to make a few purchases that I would join to his estate, and I would live only from the profit it produced. I would not touch Benjamin’s inheritance for myself. And that only if you followed through on your threats. It is your decision, Father. I just want you to know your choices. You can deliver to me what is mine, or you can refuse. Either way, I will marry the woman I love. We will leave this house as soon as we can. I have already found many suitable servants for the villa, and it will not be many days more before all is in place there for her arrival. A few more days, Father. What happens between us from there is up to you.”
Caius sliced a hand through the air. “I did not raise you for such insolence!”
Titus smiled, amused. “Actually, you did.”
Caius calmed suddenly, his eyes burning with repressed emotion. His voice was even, hard, and unforgiving. “Have it your way, Titus. Go with your whore. Manage my business, too, I will not have Rome saying I turned my back on my son over something as insignificant as a Jewish slave girl. But I will never acknowledge her as your wife, and neither will Rome. You will crucify yourself with this decision.”
Titus’s lips twisted upward. “We shall see about that. If Abigail has any talent, it is inspiring love in those around her. I am glad to hear you will not destroy our businesses by forcing me from them. But I am sorry you will not be a part of my family.”
He turned and strode from the room.
*
Caius watched his retreating form with a bitter scowl. It had been two weeks since he had that wench whimpering at his mercy, and he had not so much as caught a glimpse of her or anyone in her circle since. He knew that his wife was with them almost incessantly, that most of the slaves were siding with them, too. “I should have killed her when I had the chance.”