Abigail looked over at Dinah, who chuckled when the three men tromped through the kitchen and left it again after warm greetings all around.“What is humorous?”
Dinah shook her head, her brown eyes alight with knowledge. “You, my humble little Abigail. You, who have never sought anything but your own place, you who have protested when Mistress raised you above it, you who feared so much being married away from this house–do you not realize that you have become the axis around which it turns?”
Abigail widened her eyes. “What do you mean, Dinah? I am nothing more than I ever was.”
“Exactly.” Dinah’s nod looked satisfied. “But now, everyone realizes what that is. My daughter, the two young men desire you. The two elder think of you as their own child, as do both the mistress and I. Sweet one, you are the love of us all.” She offered a smile as honeyed as her famous cakes and lifted a hand to rest on Abigail’s cheek. “You are the only one who does not know it.”
Touched, Abigail blinked away a few tears and covered Dinah’s hand with her own. “My mother, if I am loved even a fraction as much as I love you all, then I am blessed indeed. But even so, I am no more than a slave girl. I have no more influence than a slave girl.”
Dinah laughed and turned back to her work with a shake of her head. “Go attend your master. He will want to freshen up before the meal. I can handle the rest of the preparations here.”
With a nod, Abigail took some of the heated water and headed for the room that was swiftly becoming more familiar to her than her own. When she entered, Jason turned to her with a smile.
“Summer is upon us, I believe,” he said in greeting, wiping the perspiration from his forehead. Once she had mixed the warm water with the tepid already in the room, he caught her around the waist and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Of course, beloved, the sun dims in comparison to your beauty. You are the loveliest thing I have seen all the day long.” He kissed her again, then pulled away with a smile. “And how was your day?”
“Uneventful.” She gave him a muted grin. “And yours?”
He shrugged. “Typical.”
They fell into their own usual routine. They spoke casually as she bathed his feet, he teased her softly before he kissed her again, then sent her back to her other duties with a gentle swat.
Abigail paused outside his door, sucked in a breath. She knew not when it had happened, but habit had taken over. She did not dread his company as she used to, even looked forward to those moments together. Unintentional as it had been, they had formed a relationship.
Chapter Fifteen
Ester had retired early, leaving Abigail with a blessed hour of solitude before she would be expected to join Jason. She went to her chamber with heavy lids, wondering if she would wake up if she took a brief nap before going to her master. She doubted it. After giving Andrew a weary smile when she passed him, she slipped into her room and closed the door behind her.
She set her lamp on the chest and surveyed the room that felt nearly unfamiliar to her now. The small room was washed in the gentle golden glow from the flame, the soft light soothing her.
She settled onto her pallet in a sitting position, afraid to lie down lest she fall asleep. Figuring she should get some studying done, she picked up a packet of letters Cleopas had asked her to review for him, and tried to convince her mind to keep working for an hour more.
It could not have been more than five minutes, however, before a knock sounded on her door. She let out a fatigued breath. “Enter.” She was more than a little surprised when it was Jason who slipped into her room, closing the door behind him.
“Jason! I thought you were out.”
“I just returned.” Jason smiled and looked around him. “Do you know I have never been in here? It is rather close, is it not?”
She had to assume her cynicism was a result of exhaustion. “Would you expect anything different for a slave? I have been blessed to have the space to myself.”
Jason settled down beside her, his gaze steady on her face. “Are you tired, fair one?”
She contemplated her answer for a long enough moment to prove she was. “A bit.”
“Well, then.” Jason took the papers from her hand and put them aside. He pulled her into his arms and slid them both down on the pallet. “You should rest. Go to sleep.” He kissed her forehead.
Abigail looked into his face in confusion. “Lord?”
He chuckled. “I can go one night without the pleasures of your body, beloved. You are clearly exhausted. Sleep, in your own bed. If you do not mind, I shall just hold you.”