by Carol Ashby
Philip stood beside Hector, watching the crew as they prepared for the final docking procedures. He glanced down at Claudia and found her gripping the rail, white as a sheet. He climbed down the ladder and went to stand beside her. He laid his hand on one of hers and gently squeezed.
She looked up at him with enormous eyes.
“I’m afraid, Philip.”
His brow furrowed. “But there’s nothing to be afraid of. We’re safely in the harbor, and docking isn’t dangerous.”
“What if you can’t find Titus right away?”
“Then you’ll stay with Penelope and me until I do find him.”
“What if he can’t have me live with him?”
“You’ll stay on with us. If he can’t take care of you, I will.”
“But for how long? I can’t ask you to do it forever.”
“For as long as you need me to. You were entrusted to my care until Titus takes that responsibility from me. You don’t have to be afraid that you’ll be left alone.”
“But what if―”
He placed his finger against her lips to silence her.
“No more what ifs. You’re worrying about things you don’t need to worry about. You don’t have to be afraid. Trust me to make sure coming to Titus ends well for you.”
He watched fear drain away and trembling lips curve into a smile. “I trust you, Philip. I’ll try not to worry.”
“Good.” He squeezed her hand once more before rejoining Hector.
As Claudia gazed up at the ugly face that had become what she loved most in the whole world to see, she breathed a sigh of relief. Philip had promised to make sure everything turned out well. No one, not even her father, was better at doing that than Philip.
Chapter 36: Arriving in Perinthus
As Claudia walked down the gangplank onto the dock, once more she was entering a world unknown to her. In leaving Rome, she’d left all her friends and everything familiar. She’d felt so terribly alone. Arriving in Perinthus was different. Penelope and Junia were her friends. Titus was somewhere in the city, and the finest man in the world had promised to make sure all would be well.
Penelope turned to smile at her as they walked along the pier toward the road where Philip’s carriage waited for them. “I’m glad you’re going to be living here. I don’t know anyone in Perinthus except you and Junia. I’m so glad I brought a friend with me.”
Claudia couldn’t agree more, so she nodded. Then she bit her lip. Did Titus live close enough to Philip’s house that she could see them often?
Especially Philip. He’d promised they would visit, but it wasn’t just visits she longed for. She wanted to spend every day with him and every evening, too. She wanted him to marry her.
For at least a few days, she’d be living at Philip’s house. Would he realize how much she loved him and decide he didn’t want her to go to her brother? All it would take was a word from him, and she would be the happiest woman in the world, in spite of losing her father, in spite of leaving everything she’d ever known behind.
She glanced back at his ship. They’d become close friends on the voyage, but what if he didn’t want her as his wife? She still missed Father terribly, and the nightmares about how he died still tormented her every night. Only Philip was able to fill her days with smiles and laughter and to drive the lions from her mind at night. Only Philip.
Philip walked into the garrison at the provincial palace, looking for Titus. It was not a place he would normally choose to go. Being too close to Roman power was not comfortable for a leader of a Christian house church. The look the soldier guarding the entrance gave him did nothing to make this visit easier.
He approached the centurion in command of the guards that day.
“I have some important news for Titus Claudius Drusus. I understand he’s a tribune serving the governor.”
The centurion’s gaze swept Philip from head to foot and back. Philip had dressed so it would be obvious he was wealthy. He carried himself so a guard would think he was someone important enough to justify summoning the officer he was requesting.
With a flick of his hand, the centurion summoned one of the soldiers. “Find Tribune Drusus. Tell him there’s someone here with news for him.”
The soldier saluted and disappeared into the building. In a few minutes, he reappeared with Titus.
Titus was not what Philip expected. Claudia had described him as a sweet, kind brother. The man who stood before him had the hard look of a seasoned Roman officer.
Titus crossed his arms and stood facing Philip with a slight frown. “You have news for me.”
“Yes, and part of it is bad. I would speak to you in private.”
Titus’s frown deepened. “Follow me.”
He led Philip into a room off the courtyard where they could converse undisturbed. He turned to face Philip and crossed his arms again. The frown had been joined by suspicious eyes.
Philip drew a deep breath. “First, I have brought your sister from Rome at her request. My ship docked this afternoon, and she’s now on her way to my house with my sister Penelope. She hopes that you’ll be able to take her under your protection and that she can live with you here in Perinthus.”
Titus’s jaw dropped as he stared at Philip. The hardness of the Roman officer had been replaced by the deep concern of a loving brother.
“Is she well? Why did she leave Father and come to me?”
“That’s the bad news. Your father had become a Christian, and your brother Lucius reported him so he could take control. Your father has been killed in the arena. As the new head of your family, your brother planned to marry Claudia to Flavius Sabinus for a large bride price. She chose to come to you for protection rather than be sold into a bad marriage by your brother.”
For a moment, Titus was stunned into silence. Then hot anger twisted his features. “Lucius. That cold-hearted, murdering son of a...” He checked himself. A steely look replaced the hot one. “He’s a dead man when I return to Rome.” He glared at Philip, even though he wasn’t actually mad at him. “And how is it that you’ve come to bring my sister here?” His look and voice softened as he shook his head. “How is she, really? Father meant the world to her. His death must be crushing her.”
From the pain in Titus’s eyes, it was obvious Titus had loved their father almost as much as she had.
“One of your father’s friends asked me to help her. She was about to kill herself when your father’s steward suggested that she come to you instead.” Philip locked his gaze on Titus’s eyes as he asked the key question. “Will you be able to care for her as she hoped?”
Titus glared at him as if that was the stupidest question he’d ever heard. “Of course I’ll care for my sister.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m not implying that you wouldn’t want to. She’s always been certain you would welcome her. I was concerned that your duties as an officer might mean you wouldn’t be able to.”
Titus’s attitude softened. “This is my permanent station. I very seldom leave the capital, so it shouldn’t be a problem. I’m living in rented lodgings outside the garrison now. I can get us a house instead. It shouldn’t be too difficult.”
Philip stifled a sigh. Her brother had no idea how much was involved in establishing a household suitable for his sister, or he would never have brushed aside the difficulty. Even though Philip was about to officially hand her over to her brother, the responsibility for making certain she was protected and properly cared for would remain his.
He would just have to find some tactful way to help her brother without him realizing how much help he was getting. Her brother seemed the typical Roman aristocrat, accustomed to having slaves do everything so he was ignorant of how much work simply living involved.
“I have connections throughout the city. It can be a challenge to find a suitable house to rent without them. If you will allow me to be of service to you, I can locate a house in a
safe part of the city at the price you desire. I’d be very happy to do so. My sister and Claudia have become good friends during the voyage, and I expect they will want to continue the friendship. If Penelope is to visit your sister, I’d prefer it be somewhere I know is safe.”
Titus kept his eyebrows from rising. Such an offer was unexpected, but he welcomed it. He couldn’t take much time off duty to search through the city for a home for them, and he really had no idea where to even start looking.
“My duties here prevent me from spending much time house hunting, so I accept your offer.”
He paused as he did a quick mental tally of his normal monthly expenses, other than rent, and doubled them to support both Claudia and him. He’d have to buy some slaves: a steward, a cook, a maid for Claudia, someone to clean, someone for the stable. There were many more than five in his father’s town house, but how many were really needed? And at what price? He’d never bought one, so...did a good slave cost about what a good horse did? And then he’d have to feed them, so he added in five times the cost of what he usually spent to feed himself.
There would be some expenses for furniture and all the other things needed to set up a household. He had no idea what that would cost. It was good he wasn’t a heavy gambler. He had about eighteen hundred denarii saved and fifteen hundred each month in wages as a tribune, but one thing was certain. Money would be very tight.
“If you could find something with a monthly rent less than 150 denarii, that would be helpful. All Father’s estates will have been seized. It sounds like Lucius got everything transferred to him somehow. All I’ll have for the foreseeable future is my officer’s pay.”
Philip blinked at the low figure. That would only rent something in a part of town that he considered too dangerous for the woman he loved. It was fortunate he’d made the offer. It gave him a chance to secretly subsidize the rent in a good part of town to keep her safe.
“I’m sure I can find something suitable for you and your sister in that price range. Your sister is welcome to stay with us as long as necessary for you to set up your household. Penelope is going to miss spending time with Claudia every day, so she would most certainly say the longer the better.”
Titus simply nodded in response. It was clear he was distracted and deeply grieved by the news of his father’s death. At least Philip hadn’t been forced to report Claudia’s death, too. This brother she loved so dearly loved her as well.
Titus squared his shoulders. “I’m on duty until the beginning of first watch this evening, so I’ll need directions to your house for later. I want to see Claudia as soon as possible.”
“Of course. I’ll draw you a map. It’s a short ride to the west from here. It would give me pleasure if you would join us for dinner, and we can discuss how I can best help you in getting your sister settled with you.”
“Thank you, ...”
“Philip.” Philip offered his arm, and Titus took it.
“I’m very grateful for what you’ve done for my sister, Philip.”
“Penelope and I think she’s a fine young woman. It’s been our pleasure getting to know her during the voyage. We’ll be happy to do anything we can to help her.”
Her brother had no idea how happy Philip was that he would need to stay closely involved. The last thing he wanted was to lose frequent contact with Claudia.
He’d already decided where they should live. He owned a very nice house that he rented out. It was only a quarter mile from his own, an easy walking distance along a safe route. God had certainly provided since the previous tenant had recently moved back to Corinth and he hadn’t rented it to someone else yet.
He would furnish and rent it to Titus for only slightly less than his maximum figure. He would have let her live there rent free, but if it cost too little, her brother might get suspicious. Titus could pay the rent to one of the brothers in his house church to conceal his generosity. Then, if Titus’s wages were not enough, he’d find some way to give the rent back.
Chapter 37: Transfer to Titus
As Titus turned off the main road that evening and started up the street that led to Philip’s house, he examined the houses lining each side. They were not as huge as the villas on the three family estates just outside Rome, but they were definitely upper class. All were behind tall mud-brick walls and appeared to have a good number of trees waving their fruit-laden branches.
His map showed Philip’s house to be a little over three-quarters of a mile up the street from the main road. He could barely see the roof since it was surrounded by trees and set back from the roadside wall by some distance. As he rode through the gate, his brow furrowed. The gardens were fruit trees, grape vines, and food crops, and they surrounded a house that was smaller than most of the others he’d passed.
As he reached the house, he was met by a stable slave, who stood waiting for him to dismount and hand him the reins.
“Master Philip is waiting for you in the back garden. This way.”
With a respectful bow, the man led Titus past the house to a more decorative garden at the back, where the stables also were.
As he rounded the corner of the house, he saw Claudia, Philip, and a dark-haired girl about Claudia’s age sitting in some chairs under a large tree.
Philip said something to Claudia that he couldn’t hear, and she sprang up and walked briskly toward him. Philip and his sister rose as well and followed her. As Claudia got closer to him, her walk turned into a run. When she reached him, she threw her arms around him and hugged him so tight it was hard to breathe. Then she tipped her head back, and he saw that beautiful smile he’d always enjoyed.
“Oh, Titus! It's so good to see you. I've missed you so much.”
As Titus held his little sister, smiling down at her, something totally unexpected happened. She burst into tears and buried her face in his tunic.
“It’s all right, Claudia. I’m here now. Don’t cry.”
He kept one arm wrapped around her as he stroked her hair with his free hand. Philip and his sister reached them, and Titus’s eyebrows first lowered, then rose as his eyes asked Philip a wordless question.
Philip’s lips tightened as he slowly nodded. The ugly Greek wasn’t surprised by her tears. Like most men, Titus masked his emotions. He had no experience coping with weeping women. But the Greek had been four weeks in close company with Claudia. If anyone could tell him how to deal with her tears, it would be Philip. A private conversation before Titus left was in order.
Philip’s sister rested her hand on Claudia’s back, and Claudia released Titus.
She flicked some tears from her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Titus. I didn’t mean to do that.”
The dark-haired girl wrapped her arm around Claudia’s shoulder. “Welcome to our home, Titus. I’m Philip’s sister, Penelope.” She waved her hand toward the chairs. “Let’s go sit for a while. The dinner is almost ready, and someone will come get us when they’re ready to serve.”
Titus sat in the chair next to Claudia where Philip had been sitting. Philip stood behind Penelope with his hand resting on her shoulder. Philip’s gaze shifted often between Titus and Claudia. For no reason obvious to Titus, the Greek seemed tense.
The Claudia Titus remembered had been relaxed and happy. Now she was like a lyre string stretched so tight that one more turn of the tuning key would snap it.
Titus took her hand. “I’m glad you came to me. What happened?”
“Oh, Titus. It was all so horrible. Father became a God-fearer about three years ago, and he was happy. Then someone convinced him to become a Christian. He was even happier, but I made the mistake of telling Lucius when he asked why Father was so happy. I never dreamed he would betray Father. He reported Father to one of his praetor friends. The soldiers came and took him away to the arena, and I never saw him again.
“When I told Lucius he was a murderer for betraying Father, he decided to make me marry Flavius Sabinus. That horrible old man b
eat his last wife to death. He was going to give Lucius 50,000 denarii if he’d make me marry him.”
Her eyes swam in unshed tears. “Malleolus stopped me just before I killed myself. He went to one of Father’s friends for help getting me away from Lucius. That friend arranged for Philip to help me escape and get to you.”
The dam broke, and the tears trickled down her cheeks. “I want Lucius dead! I want those Christians dead! I want Father back!”
The trickle turned into a torrent. Titus rose and pulled her up into his arms. He’d expected her to be sad over Father’s death, but to be crying in his arms while two relative strangers looked on?
Philip could barely stand it as he watched Titus try unsuccessfully to console her. Those arms should be wrapped around his chest, not her brother’s.
The tears slowed to a trickle and stopped. Penelope extracted Claudia from Titus’s arms.
“We’re going to go wash your face and freshen up. We’ll be back in a few minutes for dinner.”
Titus watched in silence until the two women disappeared into the house. Then he turned to Philip.
“Has she been this way since leaving Rome?”
“At the beginning of the voyage, yes. She was doing much better by the end of it. There were many days at the end when she didn’t cry at all during the day. Nighttime is another matter. She has nightmares almost every night that wake her up, and she always cries for a while after those. Reading after the nightmares helps.”
It would be unwise to tell Titus how she’d come to his bed each night to get him and how he’d helped her get some sleep lying in his lap as he caressed her temple almost every day. Her brother might be suspicious of his motives and misinterpret his actions.
“I’m concerned that she tried to kill herself. Was it just the one time?”
