She drew in a sharp breath. “Still,” she fumbled, once more in Greek, looking down at the jewel around her neck. “I need to think about this. I will answer you when you return.”
Titus laughed, drawing her gaze back up to his. “I cannot wait that long, beloved. I must have your answer now, this very minute.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “And why is that?”
“Because Andrew is downstairs.” He stated it calmly, his smile still in place.
Abigail’s eyes went wide again, and after a brief moment of absolute stillness, she made a lunge for the door.
Titus caught her by the hand to stop her, laughing again. “Not so fast, small one. I will not have you reuniting with your family until I am sure you will let me become a member of it. So very quickly, I will finish all I wanted to say. I have already made arrangements for us to live at the Visibullis villa, but off of the money I bring in, so that Benjamin’s estates will remain intact. I would like nothing better than for Ester to stay with us. My mother may wish to join us too, since Father would probably make her life miserable when it became clear she supported our union. But you would be the mistress of the estate, my love. Of that there will be no question.”
Abigail stared at him as if he were bereft of his sanity. “Are you quite serious about this? Have you truly thought out all the consequences of such a decision?”
“Fully.” His voice was soft, gentle, sure. He met her gaze. “I love you, Abigail. In my heart, you are my wife. How could I ever marry another? The Lord brought us together for a reason, and I want nothing more than to praise him with you every day for the rest of my life. I want to teach him to our children with you, to spread his word to the empire with you. Abigail, if you cannot live here, in Rome, then I will go back to Israel with you.” He cupped her face in his palm, and in careful Hebrew he promised, “‘Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.’”
Tears filled Abigail’s eyes. “That is what I am to say to you.” With a watery laugh, she covered his hands with hers and stretched up to kiss him. “I can think of no greater honor, Titus, than being your wife. The Lord has blessed me in giving me you. As soon as the arrangements can be made, I will marry you.”
Titus was quite certain his joy was radiating from him as he leaned down to kiss her deeply, even as a cheer went up from their audience. He pulled his lips away only when Samuel launched himself at them, jarring the embrace to a halt with his happy cries. Titus laughed and pulled him the rest of the way into his arms. To his betrothed he said, “Go, greet Andrew. He told me the others are at an inn nearby. Miriam and I will bring the children down in a few minutes.”
He nodded to Phillip to tell him to follow her as she dashed out the door. Phillip grinned back at him.
*
Abigail wasted no time. She flew through the house, suddenly feeling better than she had in months. Her family was here, and she was going to marry Titus. Heaven smiled on her today. Of course, it would probably take a long conversation to convince her family of the wisdom of marrying Titus, but she felt ready to face that challenge. She was even ready to face the uncertainty of Andrew’s emotions on the matter.
She guessed correctly which room he would be waiting in; she could see him standing and looking around without approval as she sped along. She smiled. “Andrew!”
Andrew turned with a huge smile. When she barrelled his way, he caught her up in his arms and spun her around. “Abigail!” He laughed, setting her back on her feet. He held her at arm’s length with hands on her shoulders. “Look at you. You are more beautiful than ever, which has no doubt been tormenting the poor men of Rome.”
Abigail laughed. “Perhaps.”
“And you have no doubt eclipsed all the Roman women when you put on their styles.” He grin as he glanced at her stola and intricate hair.
“Oh, absolutely.” She gave him another hug. “Oh, Andrew, I have missed you all so much. Tell me, how is she? Better? I trust you would not have made the journey otherwise.”
“Mistress is quite well. She still misses them, and she has been worried senseless about you, but she has been improving every day, eager to meet her grandchild.” His smile was bright, unreserved, which eased some of the concern in Abigail’s heart. “And from the impression I received from Titus, you will be happy to hear that after hearing a sermon of Simon Peter, the entire household has embraced the salvation offered by Jesus.”