by Carol Ashby
“No. After the first week, she tried to jump into the sea. I reached her in time to prevent it. She tried again with a knife the next morning. I told her what that would do to you, and she never tried again. I don’t think she’ll try here, either. She loves you very much and doesn’t want to do anything that would hurt you.”
Titus took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. He would have bet anything that his happy little sister could never be so sad that she would seek to end her own life. Would she try again, or would being with him be enough to stop her?
“I owe you a debt of gratitude for stopping her and for getting her to me safely. I also owe you money for her passage. How much?”
“Nothing. I was sailing from Rome to Perinthus with an empty passenger berth. She merely filled it. She and Penelope have become close friends, and it gives me pleasure to help you both.”
Their conversation ended when Penelope and Claudia emerged from the garden door. Claudia looked like the cloudburst was over. Penelope was holding Claudia’s hand. If that was meant to encourage her, it was working.
Penelope’s gaze shifted between him and Philip as she smiled “Shall we go in and eat? It’s all ready.”
Titus took Claudia’s hand and placed it on his arm. As they followed Penelope into the house, Philip wished it was his arm, not Titus’s. It was too hard to give her to another, even to a brother who obviously loved her.
Claudia tried to be cheerful during dinner, and, for the most part, she succeeded. Each time she felt the tears starting, she looked at Philip. His encouraging smile helped her keep the tears in check. She really didn’t want to worry Titus, and her earlier outburst had caused him great concern.
The final dishes were cleared from the table, and it was time for Titus to leave.
“It was an excellent dinner. I want to thank you for all you’ve done for my sister, Philip. As soon as your contacts can find me a house, I’ll be able to take her home with me.”
“No thanks are necessary. Penelope and I have thoroughly enjoyed her company as we brought her to you. We’ll miss her when she leaves us.”
Leave him. Claudia’s throat tightened, and the tears his smiles had held in check broke free. The last thing she ever wanted to do was leave him, even if she was going to her beloved brother.
As silent tears began trickling down her cheeks, Penelope rose and moved over by Claudia. She placed her hand under Claudia’s elbow to get her to rise as well.
“We’ll leave you now. It’s been wonderful meeting you, Titus. I’m sure we’ll have many more opportunities to get to know you after you take Claudia to your house.”
The rivulet of tears had become a steady stream as the thought of leaving Philip ripped into Claudia.
Titus stood. “Will you be all right, Claudia?”
She nodded, but the tears kept flowing.
Penelope put her arm around Claudia’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, Titus. Philip and I will take good care of her.”
The two girls left the dining room and headed upstairs.
Titus stood staring at the door for several seconds before turning to Philip.
“I’m sorry I have to leave her with you until I find a house and get it set up for her.”
“Think nothing of it. We enjoy having her with us.”
The men headed out to the stable.
As Titus waited for the stable slave to bring his horse, Philip crossed his arms. “My contacts have located a good furnished house for you. It’s a quarter mile from here. In fact, you rode by it on your way up from the main road. If you want to see it tonight, my steward will get some torches and show it to you. If you’d rather see it in the daylight, he can show it to you tomorrow.
“If you decide you want it, he’ll take care of all the necessary arrangements so you won’t have to get time off duty. I hope you find it suitable. It’s close enough that Penelope and Claudia can see each other daily. I think that might be very important for the happiness of your sister.”
Titus’s eyebrows rose. “That was fast. I can ride up around midday tomorrow. I appreciate your help with this, Philip.”
“It’s my pleasure to do it. You’ll need a house steward as well. It can be very difficult to find someone with the proper skills that you can trust completely. I’d like to help you with that. I have a eunuch at one of my local estates who would be perfect for your needs. I’d be glad to lend him to you. He’s familiar with the city, and he’ll provide reliable oversight of the house slaves. He’ll make sure Claudia is safe when you’re on duty.”
Titus’s eyebrows shot up at this offer. He’d already been worrying about how he was going to find a good steward in a town where he knew only soldiers, government officials, and a few shopkeepers.
“That’s a generous offer. Again, I’ll gladly accept, but you must let me pay you for him.”
“That’s not necessary since I don’t want to sell him. It’s my pleasure to help you and your sister this way.”
Titus was not a man who took unfair advantage of the generosity of friends. Normally, he would have insisted that Philip take something, but money would be very tight for the foreseeable future, even after he set up the household for Claudia. He would make an exception with Philip since the ugly Greek was rich enough that the expense meant nothing to him.
The stable slave brought Titus his horse. He mounted and looked down at Philip.
“I’ll be coming midday to see the house and check on Claudia. Thank you again for everything you’ve done for her.”
“No thanks are needed. Penelope and I are glad to have had the opportunity.”
As Titus rode away, he twisted in the saddle to look back at Philip as he walked toward his house. It was a good thing Malleolus had found someone like him to bring Claudia from Rome. His little sister was precious, and he would have lost her without the ugly Greek.
It was a very good thing that Philip was the one who brought her.
As Junia turned back the covers on Claudia’s bed, Claudia chewed her lip.
“What am I going to do when I wake up tonight? I can’t go to Philip’s room in his house like I did onboard, but I can’t make it through the night without him.”
“Don’t worry about that, mistress. Just come to me, and I’ll get Master Philip for you.”
Claudia seized Junia’s hand. “Oh, Junia! How am I ever going to make it without you all when I move in with Titus?”
Her eyes glistened as she fought to hold back the tears.
“Don’t think about that now, mistress. I’m sure your brother will take care of everything you need. I think you’ll be living just a short distance down the street from here, so you can visit often.”
Claudia lay down on the bed, and Junia tucked the sheets around her.
“Go to sleep now, mistress. Everything will be all right.”
Claudia closed her eyes. The night always started out all right, but then the lions came.
Claudia didn’t get Junia when she awoke from the roars and screams. She would have to get through the night soon with no help. She buried her face in the pillow and tried to cry as quietly as she could.
She hadn’t been crying for long when Philip entered her room with a lamp and a scroll.
Claudia sat up in bed and reached out for his hand. “I tried to make it without you, but I just can’t. What am I going to do when I’m with Titus?”
Philip set the lamp on the bedstand and pulled a chair over by her bed. “Titus will care for you at least as well I have. He loves you very much.”
She leaned over so she could stroke his scarred cheek. “No one, not even Titus, can take care of me like you do.”
“I wouldn’t be here all the time. I’m often away on business. Titus will be here every day. I do expect you to be living only a short distance from here. I’ve found a house for you and Titus just down the road. Penelope and I will see you often.”
“It’s not the same, Phili
p.”
“I know. Now lie down, and I’ll read you to sleep.”
She took his hand and held it against her cheek as he began to read. How was she ever going to get through the nights when Philip was gone?
As Titus rode out the gate of the rental house the next day after meeting with Philip’s steward, he was more optimistic about his financial situation.
The house Philip’s contact had found was exactly what he needed. Philip’s steward would arrange the details that afternoon, and he could begin preparing it for Claudia the next day. It already had the necessary furniture, so he wouldn’t have to buy any before they could move in.
Best of all, the rent was only 145 denarii a month. Financially, he was in a tight situation, but it wasn’t hopeless. With a low rent and no furniture to buy, it was better than he’d feared.
He hadn’t been getting an allowance since his officer’s pay was more than enough for a single man. That would have stopped with Father’s death, anyway.
With Father’s execution as a Christian, the family property would have been seized. The northern estate that was to have been his inheritance was his no longer. Lucius had arranged with his praetor friend to receive it all back as reward for his betrayal. All Titus now had was his tribune’s pay, and he’d have to save as much as he could to live on after he finished serving.
Five more years―if he could save 1000 denarii a month, that would give him 60,000 denarii when he finished his tour of duty. Not enough to stay in the equestrian order, but enough to take care of him and Claudia, if she remained unmarried. He certainly couldn’t ask Lucius for anything. He’d rent himself out as a mercenary before he’d take a bronze quadrans from that son of a snake, anyway. If he gave up his lodgings near the palace and lived with Claudia, he could manage the rent without any great difficulty. The rest of the household expenses...he’d have to figure out how to support it all on 350 denarii a month. That might not be easy, but it was doable.
Philip’s eunuch would be at the house sometime later today. Tomorrow morning, he would go to the slave market and buy the other slaves he would need. Getting a household set up was proving to be easier than he’d expected, thanks to Philip. Now if it would just be cheap enough.
Before inspecting the house, he’d joined Penelope and Claudia for lunch. Claudia was in much better spirits. There wasn’t a single tear during the whole meal. She did seem a little sad when he left, but at least she wasn’t crying. He hated to watch her cry.
Chapter 38: Miriam
Titus’s stallion was saddled and waiting the next morning when he entered the garrison stable. Philip and Penelope were taking good care of Claudia for the moment, but nasty rumors could start if she stayed too long with an unmarried man with no blood relationship to her. He would move from his lodgings to the rented house that evening, but first he needed to staff it. He’d arranged to take the morning off and had withdrawn most of his savings from the paymaster.
Philip’s loan of a trustworthy eunuch to be his steward had solved the most difficult dilemma of finding someone who would guarantee both her safety and her reputation when Titus was on duty. A decent steward would cost more than he even had, and he had no money to waste. Just buying enough ordinary slaves to properly care for Claudia would stretch his resources to their limit.
He’d never had to worry about the details of running a household before. As a soldier, taking care of himself was easy; figuring out how to care for her was another thing entirely. As a bare minimum, he needed to buy someone to cook, someone to clean and do other domestic chores, and someone to be her personal maid. With only one horse and so few house slaves to oversee, his steward could serve in the stable.
As he neared the slave market, Titus pulled a deep breath and blew it out slowly between pursed lips. He only had 1200 denarii―enough for three decent horses, but would it buy three good slaves?
He’d have to bargain very shrewdly to get everything they needed with so little. He couldn’t stay for the afternoon auction, so he had to find what he needed that morning. Auction prices could run up higher than a direct purchase, anyway. A walk through the market to see what others were paying should give him an idea of the going rates for slaves in Perinthus. Horses he knew how to judge and set a value on, but he’d never had to buy a person before.
Miriam’s arms hung at her side as she fingered her tunic. Of all the female slaves standing in line, waiting to be sold, she was the only one whose tunic swept the ground. With good reason. While the other owners were trying to lure buyers to pay higher prices by displaying their property’s womanly curves, hers was trying to hide something.
She shifted her weight onto her bad leg for a moment, then back to her good one.
God, please let me be sold into a kind household.
She knew firsthand how hard it could be in a cruel one with a limp like hers. She’d been struck so many times for not moving fast enough to satisfy her first mistress, even though it was the mistress’s own son who’d crippled her through his carelessness. Her shattered ankle had healed badly, and one leg was shorter because of it.
She’d been overjoyed when she was sold to Master Alexander when she was almost eleven. He was a Christian, and he treated his slaves like real people, not just property. Best of all, it was there she’d come to know Jesus was the Messiah so long awaited by her people, the Jews. But now Master Alexander was dead, and at the age of nineteen, she was being sold again.
She glanced at the wooden platform with the turntable, and her stomach knotted. Master Alexander had bought her directly from her first mistress, so she’d never been on the auction block before. Slaves would be displayed naked so potential buyers could see exactly what they were getting, and they could handle any part of a slave they wanted. Standing naked before a crowd...all the men who were buying and even those who weren’t staring and touching her...She swallowed hard and fought the tears.
It had been horrible enough when the slave trader examined her so carefully to make sure she was a virgin before buying her. Her virginity was the main reason he bought her from the official who seized all Master Alexander’s property before his execution. It might increase the value of a cripple enough to make her worth buying.
She had a very pretty face and a lovely figure, and those would draw the attention of all the men. Her deformed ankle would make buying her attractive only to those who couldn’t afford to pay a higher price. The auction would be bad enough, but what came after...She fought the trembling that swept through her each time she thought about what would happen to her that night...unless God brought the kind master she’d been desperately praying for.
Her gaze was drawn to the proprietor of a local brothel as he made his way through the slave market, selecting young women to add to his stable of prostitutes. Last night, the woman in the holding cell with her had warned her about him. Not everyone wanted to go to the temple prostitutes, so he made a fortune satisfying the desires of a provincial capital that was also a seaport. Life was short in that brothel. He needed to buy new girls often.
What if her owner decided she might not bring a good price at auction? What if he decided to sell her to the brothel early for a guaranteed amount?
She closed her eyes. Please, God! Deliver me from that fate. I’ll gladly serve any household of decent people, but to be a plaything for lustful men? Please spare me from that...degradation. She swallowed hard again. I’d rather die.
When she opened her eyes, she saw the handsome Roman officer wandering through the market, looking at female slaves. Intense relief flooded through her...relief straight from God. He’d brought the officer as the answer to her prayers.
But there was more than relief. There was a strange certainty. That officer needed to buy her for his sister at least as much as she needed him to buy her before the brothel owner came over.
He came closer...and closer. Finally, he was right in front of her.
And then he stepped past witho
ut even looking at her.
Stop him, God! Please make him buy me.
Mustering all the courage she had, she stepped out of the line and touched his arm.
Titus spun to look at the slave who had presumed to touch him.
Before him stood a pretty young woman with thick brown hair and a pair of enormous brown eyes. Solemn eyes that seemed...wise.
“Your sister needs me. Please buy me for her.”
His eyebrows dipped when she spoke to him. How did she know he was looking for slaves for his sister?
The slave trader turned at the sound of her voice. He stepped over and slapped her cheek.
“I am very sorry for the impudence of this one in speaking to you unbidden, noble sir. I bought her from a household that allowed such forwardness and coddled its slaves. She is actually very docile in spite of that. She will quickly learn that most masters do not treat their slaves like freeborn servants. Then she will be fine, excellent in fact.”
Her response to the slap surprised Titus. He’d expected her to either cower before her owner or flash a look of defiance at him. Instead, she simply rubbed her cheek and continued to look at him with those earnest eyes.
His head tilted, and he rubbed his clean-shaven cheek. He’d planned to buy an older woman to care for Claudia’s needs and to make sure she didn’t hurt herself. This slave was not much older than his sister, but there was something about those eyes that made her seem like she was.
“So you think my sister needs you? Do you know how to help a Roman lady with her beauty preparations and other personal...activities?” He wasn’t quite sure how to describe what a Roman lady’s maid would do.
“I’ve never served a Roman, sir, but I did my Greek mistress’s hair.”
Greek hair, Roman hair. Was there a difference? He looked away from her and scanned the group of older women in the next stall. Maybe an older one would be better.
