Titus chuckled. “So I have learned. Please,” he then said, indicating the furniture. “Sit, be comfortable. I will go inform Abigail of your arrival. I trust Ester is near?”
Andrew nodded. “She was tired from the journey, so Drusus and Simon and Dinah took her to an inn and sent me to ascertain whether or not Abigail was still here. I am glad we did not miss her yet again.”
Titus smiled and nodded. “Thankfully, Drusus’s prompt missive arrived a week or so before she was planning to sail home. I will be right back.”
*
Titus felt determination possess his face. He was truly glad Ester had arrived; it would please Abigail. But at the same time, it brought to the fore a few topics that must be settled immediately. Titus had planned on waiting until he got back from his short trip two days from now to broach the subject, but he would have to revise that plan. He headed toward Abigail’s chamber with a purposeful stride.
He stopped in the hall, however, and made a quick detour to his own room before returning to knock, then enter hers. He smiled to see Abigail reading from the Scriptures to Samuel and the others, translating it into Greek as she went. She paused when he came in and smiled up at him.
“I thought you were going to the Forum.”
Titus smiled. “I met with a detour. I must speak with you, Abigail.”
Curious, Abigail set the holy writings aside and stood up. Could she see his nerves? Hopefully not. She smiled and stepped close enough to rest her hand on his forearm. “What is it?”
Titus darted a glance at the others–Phillip, Panther, Miriam, Antonia, and the children were all here. He would have preferred having this conversation in private, but he did not want to take the time to debate with them on the wisdom of sending them away. It would seem that his servants had all become rather emboldened under Abigail’s influence. He focused his gaze on her. It was not too hard to do. She seemed to him now more beautiful than she had ever been, and he no longer knew if it was an actual improvement in her physical traits or the reflection of his love for her.
He linked their fingers together. “The villa will be ready for you when I return.”
Abigail nodded. “You have already told me as much.”
“Yes, I know,” he said with a grin. “That is not what I want to discuss, exactly. But my love, your mother will be with you again soon. I must know what you plan to do when she arrives.”
Abigail sighed. “I know not, my friend. I certainly recognize that you have put forth much energy and money to people the villa, and I know much of it has come from your own funds, even though I asked you to use ours. I would hate to have made you do all that only to leave soon. Not to mention that I would miss you terribly. But at the same time, I must recognize that my presence in Rome will only make it harder for you to go on with your life.”
Titus lifted her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles. “You are my life.” His soft, fervent words elicited a frown from Abigail’s brows. “Abigail, I know you will argue about the wisdom of my desires, but it will not change them. I want to marry you.”
“You cannot.” She looked frustrated when he moved their fingers to still her lips.
“I can. I know I have done nothing but deny the very possibility since you came here, but I was wrong. I do not care about a political career, I never really have, and my reacquaintance with that arena has strengthened that. I want to run my businesses, and I can do that quite well with you as my wife.”
“But your father–”
“Will disapprove, but he will deal with it. I already spoke to him. He will not disinherit me, though he says he will not recognize you as my wife.” He leaned down to kiss her softly. “I do not care for his opinion, my love. All that matters is that I will still have the means to provide you a good life, and it is the only life that will make either of us happy. My mother has granted her consent. Marry me, dear one.”
He raised his other hand, in which he held the amethyst necklace he had given her what seemed like so long ago. He had all but forgotten that it was in his room, but now he slipped it back over her head.
Abigail’s lips trembled, her eyes wide in stupefaction. Samuel bounced up and down, Antonia hushed him. Her gaze stayed locked on his. “Titus. This is a monumental decision. We need to talk about it, to pray about it, to think it through fully.”
He gave her a bright smile. “I have been praying about it without ceasing, and I have received my answer in many different ways.”
“But . . .” She changed her words into Latin and made them quiet enough for only his ears to hear. “Titus, what if I was damaged by the miscarriage? What if I can have no more children? You need heirs.”
In the same tongue, he replied, “And I will have them. I plan to adopt Samuel. Even if the Lord chooses not to bless us with more babes, my line will continue.”