by Carol Ashby
In the excitement of her escape, she’d been distracted. Now the suffocating sadness descended on her again.
One of the poetry collections Philip had handed her was one her father had loved. She opened it to his favorite poem and began to read. In her mind, she could hear his voice once more reading the poem to her and see him smiling at a particularly beautiful phrase or the choice of a special word.
She closed the codex and clutched it to her breast as she flopped sideways on the bed. Tears began to flow as she curled into a fetal position, and she suffered in silence until exhaustion overcame her and she finally fell asleep.
Penelope arrived at the dock mid-afternoon. Her father’s slaves followed her, bearing her three chests and the chest belonging to Junia. Dockslaves were still carrying cargo into the hold, but only a few small crates remained on the pier. As soon as Philip saw her, he left Hector’s side and trotted down the gangplank to greet her.
She walked up to Philip and gave him a big hug. He draped his arm across her shoulders and kissed her cheek in return.
“Running a bit late, sister dear. I guess I should expect that with you being a woman now.” His indulgent smile triggered her grin. He still called her “baby sister” sometimes, but she was now sixteen and looked every bit like the woman she had become.
“As long as I beat the tide, I’m right on time.” She poked his stomach. “Father and Mother send their farewells and prayers to you.”
He turned to the slaves, who awaited his commands.
“Leave all the chests on deck outside the cabin. I’ll see to the stowing later. You can take the extra carriage and horse back as well.”
He didn’t want any of the family slaves to see Claudia. None of them would reveal her presence with him voluntarily, but Roman law required the interrogation of any slave be conducted with torture. Even the most loyal slave might crack under such pressure.
He stood with Penelope on the pier until the last of his father’s slaves had returned to the carriages and driven away.
Penelope craned her neck as she scanned the ship’s deck. “Is she here, Philip? Tell me about her.”
“Too soon to know much, but she must be a brave girl. She didn’t faint at the first sight of me.” The corner of his mouth lifted.
Penelope slapped his arm. “Of course she didn’t. Where is she? What’s she like?”
“I put her in my room since it’s a little bigger than the passenger rooms. I moved in with my boxes, so Junia will be sharing with you. She seems nice. Intelligent, too. She was delighted when I showed her what I bought for my library. If she’s a scholar like her father, I expect some interesting conversations during the voyage. She loves poetry, so I’ll have someone to read with as well. I told her to stay out of sight until we leave the harbor. She’s even more beautiful than Father told me, and any man who sees her couldn’t help remembering she was on my ship if her brother comes looking for her in Portus.”
Penelope tried to keep her face straight, but her curiosity was raging. Philip was smiling as he described the mystery girl. Usually he was very reserved in his comments about eligible young women.
Mother and her older sister, Ariadne, kept telling him he’d find the right woman to marry if he’d just look. He was such a kind brother; he’d be exactly the sort of husband Penelope wanted herself. Since the fiasco with Phoebe, he was convinced no woman could ever desire an ugly man with so many scars. He didn’t want to marry someone who only wanted him because he was rich. But not all women were so shallow that they only looked at the surface of a man.
Philip led a house church, and he’d often told her he’d only marry a Christian woman. That narrowed the field of possibilities even further. Father had said their secret passenger wasn’t a Christian even though her father had just died for his faith, but only God knew what she might become.
Philip’s head tilted. Why that amused look and sly smile on his sister’s face as he was talking? Women―they were beyond comprehension for him. Growing up with two sisters hadn’t helped that at all.
Chapter 21: Setting Sail
It was Philip’s custom to serve only a light supper of bread and cheese on the day he left Portus. They would sail with the evening tide, and that didn’t leave time for a regular meal.
Penelope and Junia were eating under the canopy at the stern of the ship. He intended to join them after taking Claudia supper in her room. He filled a plate with cheese and some chunks of bread and carried it to her closed door.
A soft knock drew no answer. He knocked again. “Claudia Drusilla? I have your supper.”
Still no answer. She couldn’t have failed to hear him. He wrapped on the door even harder.
“Are you all right in there?” Silence. “I’m coming in.”
When she failed to answer again, he opened the door and stuck his head in. What he saw surprised him.
She was lying asleep on her bed with one of his poetry codices clutched to her heart. She was on her side, curled up like a kitten, with some reddish blonde tendrils trying to escape from the gold hair net.
The vision of beauty cuddling his codex drew his smile. She must have been exhausted to fall asleep that way. He didn’t want to disturb her, so he tiptoed into the room and placed the plate on the table. She could eat whenever she awoke.
Claudia had been sleeping deeply. It was the first undisturbed sleep she’d had since her father was killed. She began to awaken when she heard someone knocking. Philip’s deep voice slowly penetrated her consciousness, but she didn’t stir right away. When he closed the door, she finally roused enough to open her eyes. There on the table was a plate of bread and cheese. She sat up and stretched. She really wasn’t hungry, but she needed to eat, especially since Philip had been thoughtful enough to bring her supper.
She’d almost finished when she heard two quick knocks.
“Come in.”
The door swung open, and she turned in the chair to see Philip, smiling at her. She focused again on his good eye and that welcoming smile. She was getting better at ignoring the scars each time she saw him.
“The rowboats are here to pull us out of the harbor. As soon as we’re past the breakwater, please join us on deck for some fresh air. The evening should be lovely.”
“Thank you, Philip. I’d love to join you and meet your sister if you come get me when you think it’s safe.”
“I’ll be back for you soon.”
He left the door to her cabin open when he withdrew. A light breeze blew in the window, through the room, and out the open door. The last trace of stale air was borne away, just as the last bit of tension flowed out of her as it sank in that her escape was a fact.
Through the window, she heard the captain barking orders to the crew as they cast off and moved away from the pier. As she sat at the table gazing out the window, the ship was towed past many others awaiting their turn to dock. She watched the lighthouse as the ship passed through the channel between the breakwater where the lighthouse sat and the massive rocky barrier that separated the harbor built by Emperor Claudius from the open sea. She’d gotten used to the soothing rocking of the boat on the gentle waves in the harbor. The boat began to rock more as it left the quiet waters of the harbor behind.
Claudia inhaled the salt air and let it out slowly. Her escape from her murderous brother and that horrible man he was selling her to was assured. That really was what it would have been―a slave sale where the price was a small fortune. Sabinus was so powerful in Rome that he could have done anything he wanted with her. Lucius would never have let her divorce him, so she truly would have been sold into slavery, just like a household slave.
Philip had rescued her from certain misery, and he appeared to have spared no effort or expense doing so. The things in the chests he’d provided―nothing she could possibly want was missing. The tunics and pallae were exquisite and probably more expensive than anything she owned. The hair accessories and tunic clips were
elegant and reflected the latest fashion. They were made of gold and silver, and some even had jewels on them. Three expensive perfumes in swirled glass bottles nestled in a carved sandalwood box. The table mirror was even polished silver, not brass like the one she’d left behind.
The whole affair was so risky for him. If he was caught helping her leave against her guardian’s will, he’d be charged with kidnapping. Lucius would make sure of that, no matter what she said to defend him. He wasn’t a Roman. He’d be in the arena or nailed to a cross for helping her. When she reached Titus, the two of them could try to repay Philip for his expenses, but money alone could never repay all she owed.
Claudia was expecting Philip when she heard his steps coming through the galley. He stooped as he stuck his head into her room.
“Now you can go wherever you want on board. My sister, Penelope, is eager to meet you. Care to join us under the canopy?”
“I would like to very much.”
She stood to accompany him, and the rocking of the ship made her almost lose her balance.
He offered his hand. “It takes a little while to get your sea legs.”
His big hand engulfed hers completely. When they stepped through the cabin door onto the deck, he placed hers on his arm and escorted her to a collection of chairs, a couch, and some small tables under the canopy. She kept her eyes on the deck as she walked. She still wasn’t quite sure how to look at him without it feeling awkward, like she was either staring or trying not to.
Seated there were Junia and her mistress, a pretty girl with dark brown hair, sparkling brown eyes, and a cheerful smile. Claudia couldn’t see any family resemblance between her and Philip, but she’d tried hard not to look at him too closely, so there might be one she’d missed.
Penelope stood and held out her hand. “Come sit with us. What should I call you? My brother gave me money to buy everything I thought you’d need, but he wouldn’t even tell me your name or who we were taking you to.” She slapped his arm and got an indulgent smile in return. “He was so secretive about you, like he couldn’t even trust his own sister.”
“Please, call me Claudia. I’m going to my brother, Titus Claudius Drusus. He’s a tribune serving the provincial governor in Perinthus.”
“That’s where Philip lives. He controls part of our merchant fleet and all the family estates in Thracia and Moesia from there. I’m going there to live with him for a while.”
Claudia glanced at Philip. She’d thought he was the owner of this ship or maybe only the son of the ship owner. He couldn’t be much older than Titus. He was lounging in one of the chairs with his legs stretched out and his hands clasped at the back of his head, watching and listening with a relaxed smile. In his plain white tunic, he didn’t look or act at all like the rich man he must be. He smiled at her, but she looked away quickly and turned more toward Penelope. She still found it hard to look at all his scars.
“Do tell me more about your brother.” Penelope leaned toward her.
“Titus is twenty-four, and he’s been serving in Thracia for four years. He’s the best brother―so kind and thoughtful and smart and...well, I just couldn’t have a better brother than Titus. He’ll try to make everything right. If he’d been in Rome, I wouldn’t have to be here now.”
Her voice filled with passion. “He would have killed Lucius for betraying our father. Then he would have hunted down and killed that horrible man who told Father about that Jesus and convinced Father to follow him. He’s responsible for Father’s death as surely as Lucius is. I hate the blood of the games, but I’d gladly watch the lions do to him what they did to Father. I’d love to wipe Lucius’s blood off Titus’s sword. I could kill them myself if I had the chance. I hate the two people who took Father from me. I want to see them bleed and die just like my father had to.”
Penelope’s head snapped back as her eyes saucered. Claudia hadn’t meant to say what she’d just said, but somehow it had just come pouring out.
Philip sat forward in his chair, and he was looking at her oddly. It was the first time she’d seen him without a smile. He looked surprised, then serious, then sad. Why would that be? Surely any man would understand and agree with her desire for revenge.
Tears began to pool in Claudia’s eyes. The last thing she wanted was to cry in front of these strangers who’d been so kind to her.
“Please excuse me. I really don’t feel very well.”
She turned and hurried back to her room. She closed the door, threw herself on the bed, and let her tears flow as she buried her face in the pillow to muffle the sound.
Philip was shocked to hear such hatred spewing from those beautiful lips in that beautiful voice. She had just lost the person she loved most and left behind everything she’d ever known. It was her grief speaking, but it grieved him that she could feel that way, that she wanted revenge so passionately because she didn’t know how to forgive or the freedom from pain that forgiving would give her.
He stood and motioned for Penelope and Junia to follow him toward the bow of the ship. He normally used the room he’d put her in. She would hear any conversations under the canopy just outside her window.
When they were well out of earshot, he began his warning. “Be careful what you say under the canopy. It can be heard inside the cabin. You can hear what’s being said in the adjacent bedrooms, too. When we carry passengers, we always give thanks for meals silently if we don’t know they’re all believers. Given what we just heard, we need to avoid saying anything about Jesus where Claudia might hear.”
He shook his head as he crossed his arms and looked at the deck. “Her hatred for Father and me could extend to other Christians, and I don’t want to put you at risk from anything she might say or do after we land. Her brother is a Roman officer, and he’ll probably share her hostility. I’ll tell Hector to warn the crew as well.”
Penelope nodded; then she put her hand on his arm. “Oh, Philip. She’s in such pain. Just watching her makes me want to cry.”
He nodded and uncrossed his arms to place his hand on top of hers. Her compassionate eyes mirrored his own feelings. “It’s a good thing her steward came to Father for help. She needs our prayers even more than she needs me to take her to her brother.”
Penelope brightened. “Maybe the weeks with us on the ship will change her mind. Maybe God will use us to reach her. I’ll be praying for that.”
“Maybe, but don’t say anything to her about Jesus without talking to me first.”
Philip placed his hand on Penelope’s cheek and stroked it with his thumb. Her faith was so simple and strong. She hadn’t seen the ugly side of life yet. She hadn’t seen how a gentle soul could be made to suffer unbearably by the evil choices of others. She hadn’t seen the bitterness that suffering could cause. But Penelope knew the power of prayer, and Claudia needed their prayers more than anyone he’d ever known.
He led them back to the canopy to watch the sun set the clouds on fire as it descended toward the horizon. It was a beautiful evening, but it was marred for them all by the occasional soft sound of Claudia weeping in her room.
Finally, Junia rose. “I’m going to go see if Claudia is ready for me to help her get ready to retire. I think she needs me before you will tonight, mistress.”
Penelope nodded her approval.
Claudia raised her head from the pillow at the gentle knocking on her cabin door. “Yes?”
“It’s Junia, mistress. Are you ready for me to help you prepare to sleep?”
Claudia brushed the remaining tears from her cheeks and sat up. “Come in.”
She pressed on the puffy areas below each eye that revealed how hard she’d been crying.
Junia pulled the larger trunk out and removed a clean tunic from it. “Let’s get you into something fresh for sleeping. I helped Mistress Penelope choose your clothes. Our choices may be a bit more Greek than Roman, but I hope they’ll still please you.”
Claudia smiled weakly. “
What you chose is lovely. I really am grateful for everything you all have done.”
Junia pulled the stola and plain tunic over Claudia’s head. She transferred the shoulder pins to a clean linen one before helping Claudia into it.
“Would you like your hair brushed tonight, mistress?”
“Maybe a little.”
As Junia removed the clips and spun-gold hair net from Claudia’s hair, her thick blonde tresses tumbled down her back. When Junia began to brush them, Claudia sighed. She would miss Graecia styling her hair and the visits with her friends at the women’s bath. Everything and everyone were gone now, but at least she’d escaped the marriage that would have been a living hell. When she got to Titus, somehow things would get better again.
As Junia pulled the brush through for the last time, Claudia forced a smile. “That felt wonderful. Please thank Penelope for sharing you with me.”
“It’s a pleasure for both of us to have you on this voyage.”
Claudia placed her hand on Junia’s arm. “And thank you so much for the risks you took in getting me here.”
Junia’s smile was remarkably like Philip’s when she’d given him thanks. “I was glad to help. If you need anything in the night, I’m in the upper bunk in the first room with my mistress.”
“I think I’ll be fine.”
In truth, she was afraid she wouldn’t be. She hadn’t been fine at night since Father had been killed by the lions, and she was beginning to fear she would never be fine again.
As Junia closed the door behind her, Claudia lay down on the bunk, closed her eyes, and began the long night of wanting to sleep and being afraid to because the dreams would come.
Philip and Hector stood by the rail, watching the moonlight reflecting off the crests of the waves.
