“You think I do not know that?” Titus spread his palms flat against the table. “You think I do not realize my father thought of Jason as the perfect son? I need no reminders of his charms. Just as I do not need you to tell me what he would expect of me. I have gone to the authorities to make sure the house would not be taken away from them. That is what he asked me to see to.”
Menelaus pointed a finger.“No, he asked you to be sure they were taken care of, and that includes more than the roof over their heads. Ester could be dying. Will you live with the guilt if she dies, and you have done nothing to be sure she was getting the proper care?”
Titus cursed again, but this time it rang with defeat. He stood. “Let us go.” He pushed past Menelaus and stomped from the room. The others smartly moved out of his way, and Menelaus followed in his wake.
Outside, they discovered quickly that the streets leading from the northern gate were not sympathetic to their plan. They were clogged with people, townspeople who usually moved far out of their way to avoid the Roman soldiers. Today, they ignored their existence.
“Are those palm branches?” Menelaus looked in disbelief at the street over a woman’s shoulder. “What, is there some prince visiting today that we have not heard of?”
“It is Messiah!” a woman proclaimed as if in answer to his question, pointing in the distance at a point he could not make out. “Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Lord! Hosanna!”
She was not the only one calling out, shouting with joy at the approach of whomever it was they called Messiah.
“Jesus!” another cried nearby.
Menelaus rolled his eyes. “Not him again. Come, let us take the alley.”
Titus made no argument. They bypassed the congestion and made their way silently to the house. From the outside, it looked as it always had. But he approached it with the knowledge that within it had become a tomb.
Their knock was answered by the old manservant, who let them in without erasing the concern from his face. “My mistress is unwell and unable to receive visitors. But if you care to sit down, I will fetch Abigail.”
Menelaus took the lead with a nod. “Please. How is Ester? The governor mentioned his concerns for her.”
He hesitated. “She grows worse, then improves, only to grow worse again. From one hour to the next, we do not know how she will be. But Mistress Julia has been a most faithful friend, coming every afternoon to sit with her and give Abigail a chance to rest.”
“The general is fortunate to have such a wife,” Menelaus said absently. He had had few causes to interact with Julia.
They were shown into the room where ten months before they had come to dine with Jason. He looked around at where the five of them had sat, where Abigail had served them, dressed in the beautiful garments Jason had bought. Tempting them all, astonishing them all with her conversation. He should have realized then that it was more than a simple affair for Jason. His looks had mixed lust with pride with respect; and that last ingredient guaranteed involvement.
Agitated, he and Titus sat down. Hopefully Abigail would arrive soon so that they could say what needed to be said and leave. Menelaus folded one leg over his knee, then drummed his fingers on it. Titus glared at him and sat completely still, arms crossed over his chest in a way that clearly labeled his reticence.
His attention was snagged when a blur of movement entered the room from the far door, skidding to a halt a few feet within to reveal a boy with eyes wide in shock at their presence.
Menelaus leaned forward with a crooked smile. “Hello, boy. Who are you?”
“Samuel.” His voice was not meek, but he advanced no further into the room.
Menelaus’s smile grew a bit. “And where did you come from?”
“The tribe of Judah,” the boy answered.
Menelaus glanced over at his companion. Titus was looking at the child with a complete lack of humor. It was obvious he had no desire to participate in the inquisition. Menelaus turned back to the child. “Are you a servant here?”
Samuel nodded, sending curls scattering momentarily, then coming to rest in the exact places they had been. “I serve my mistress, Abigail. She is having a baby. My master Jason bought me, but then he went away. It made me sad because he was kind and brought me here, and now my mistress does not smile.” His golden brows drew together. “That is very sad. She smiles very nicely.”
“Samuel.” Abigail’s voice came from the other entrance. She was smiling now, or at least hinting at it. She held out a hand, and Samuel rushed to close the distance between them. He attached himself to her side.
Abigail turned her attention to Menelaus and Titus only when Samuel was with her. “I am sorry Ester is not able to receive you. She is finally sleeping peacefully, and I could not disturb her, though she would certainly be glad to know you have come.”