by Carol Ashby
“Where’s Miriam? She was supposed to keep you out of here.” His mouth turned down. “Tending me is her job, not yours. You go and send her back. This fever is too dangerous for you to be in here.”
“She did keep me out until your fever broke several hours ago. She didn’t leave your side until it did. Philip says no man is worth more than any other man, but Miriam is worth more than any other woman I’ve ever known. She’s much better than me.
“Don’t you remember all she did? She sat up with you two nights running and all day, too, trying to keep you from getting too hot. I don’t know how she did it. I told her to get some rest after your fever broke so she wouldn’t get sick herself. She wanted me to wake her so she can make dinner for us. I’m not going to. She really needs to rest. I can manage something simple.”
She walked over to stand by his bed. “Really, Titus. I didn’t expect you to wake up so grumpy and ungrateful that she risked her life to take such good care of you. She knew she could have caught the fever and died herself. She said that wouldn’t matter to you, but I couldn’t believe that. Now you’re talking like she was right. Where’s my cheerful, appreciative brother?”
Titus’s eyebrow rose at her words. Miriam was only a slave. Their father had always treated his slaves well, but they were still only slaves. Philip had put some strange ideas into his sister’s head.
She flashed a smile at him that drew one in return. Claudia was fond of Miriam. That’s probably what colored her view of his slave.
“That’s more like it. I like you much better when you’re smiling.”
He tried to sit up, but his head started spinning, so he lay back down. The fever had weakened him more than he expected.
Claudia poured a cup of water and handed it to him. “Miriam said you’d be weak until you get some good food into you. I’ll bring some bread and cheese and maybe some grapes to get you started now. You can have one of her delicious meals tomorrow.”
“That sounds good.” He was hungrier than he expected, too.
Claudia patted his arm and walked toward the doorway. He watched her as she went. There was a confidence in her step, a sense of purpose that he didn’t remember seeing before. That was good, but what could have caused it?
Chapter 66: A Very Different Claudia
The light supper Claudia brought to Titus’s room satisfied his hunger. It wasn’t one of Miriam’s exquisitely delicious meals, but it was what he needed after being sick for so long. He already felt a little stronger, but it would take a few days before he fully recovered from the ravages of the fever. He’d send Nestor to the palace in the morning to report his survival and tell the governor and garrison commander that it would probably be a day or two before he was strong enough to report for duty.
Claudia had refused to awaken Miriam to wait on him that evening, so he had a chance to observe his sister in a way that simply eating dinner together never allowed. What he saw raised some questions.
Claudia was the most intelligent person he’d ever known, with the possible exception of their father. Despite her intelligence, she’d always been a sweet, helpless kind of person. In many ways, she’d been more of a child than a woman, even though she was sixteen. That was probably because Father had protected her like she was still a child. Many Roman women were already married and raising children of their own by her age.
Something had changed. Even in the few hours since his awakening, he’d seen a very different woman than he expected. She seemed calm, capable, strong―almost like a second Miriam. It was good to see her that way, but why hadn’t he noticed it before? What could have caused the change?
She’d gone down to the well to fetch some fresh, cool water for him to drink before he went to sleep for the night. He could hear her humming as she came back along the balcony to his room. It sounded like one of the songs Miriam sang when she was kneading the dough while he ate breakfast.
Maybe the change was from being around Miriam. His little Jewish slave had ended Claudia’s nightmares and helped her out of her crushing grief. Maybe she was helping the child become a woman as well.
Titus stayed home for the next two days as he regained his strength. It was an eye-opening experience. He’d thought he knew what was going on in his own household, but he discovered he was wrong.
Miriam had been able to calm and cheer his sister since their first day together. Claudia was very happy with her as her maid, and she found it entertaining to watch Miriam in the kitchen. No surprises there.
What he hadn’t realized was how much influence Miriam had over his sister. If he hadn’t known Miriam was only his slave, he would have said they were good friends or even sisters, and Miriam was definitely the older sister.
The first morning he stayed in bed. Miriam checked on him several times to see if he was hungry or thirsty, and she left his door open so she could hear him if he called. He spent part of his time reading and part sleeping. When he was awake, he could hear her and Claudia talking and laughing together. He heard Claudia teaching Latin to Miriam and Miriam teaching Claudia to sing one of the songs he enjoyed so much while he ate breakfast.
Miriam was a Jew, so he wasn’t surprised when he heard her say something to Claudia about the song praising God. He assumed she was referring to the god of the Jews, who was legally worshipped. What he found surprising and a bit disturbing was then Claudia said something back where she was talking about praising God as well.
Like their father and him, Claudia had never believed in any of the Roman gods. It appeared she might have become a God-fearer, like Father. That would be all right, as long as it stopped there.
The problem was he wasn’t sure it had. When he was drifting in and out as his fever burned, he’d thought he heard Claudia saying she believed in Jesus and Miriam did, too. After the fever broke, he figured he must have been delirious and imagined it. She couldn’t possibly have become what killed their father and what she hated so passionately because of that. Or had she?
That afternoon, he moved from his bed to the chair under the tree in the garden.
Claudia kept him company, reading one of his histories while he read or dozed in the sun, so they hadn’t talked much. Miriam only prepared one of her delicious stews for dinner. She said she didn’t think he was ready for everything she would have prepared for a three-course meal. She was right. He’d been exhausted by the end of dinner and went straight to bed. Except for it being a lighter dinner than usual, the evening had seemed normal.
The second morning was another matter. He’d slept in, so Claudia had come to check on him. She’d roused him, but she didn’t realize she had. That let him hear a conversation he was quite certain he wasn’t supposed to.
“How is he, mistress?”
“He’s still sound asleep, but he looks so much better today. God has been so merciful. I just want to keep singing thanks and praise for Him sparing Titus.”
“Me, too, mistress. I’m so thankful God didn’t let him die when he wasn’t ready yet.”
“I am, too.”
The young women were walking away, and he didn’t hear any more of their conversation. What Miriam said bothered him. What did she mean when she said he wasn’t ready yet? Was anyone ever ready to die of a fever? What did she think made a man ready or not? Whatever it was, Claudia agreed with her.
He rose and went downstairs to find them in the kitchen. Claudia was leaning on the counter watching Miriam shape the loaves of bread. They didn’t realize he was watching them from the doorway. Miriam would sing a few phrases in whatever language that was, then Claudia would sing a few, then they would sing something together. They went through the cycle several times before he stepped into the room and they became aware he was there. The singing stopped abruptly, and Claudia hurried over to give him a big hug.
“You look like you feel so much better today.”
He kept his brows from lowering as he analyzed her face. Then his gaze shifted to Mi
riam.
She turned to face him. “Good morning, master. Where would you like your breakfast today?”
“In here.” It would be wise to watch the two of them more closely. He’d be able to return to duty tomorrow, and he needed to figure out their relationship while he had a chance.
Unfortunately, they didn’t let him. Claudia spent almost all her time under the tree with him, either reading quietly or telling him about something she found interesting in one of his scrolls that she was reading for the first time. Miriam started working on his three-course dinner right after lunch, so she was mostly out of sight in the kitchen. He was certain he wasn’t seeing anything remotely like what usually went on when the two of them were alone.
By late afternoon, he felt frustrated. He’d have to get them to think he wasn’t listening if he was to learn anything.
“I think I’ll go up and rest awhile before dinner.”
Claudia perked up at the prospect. That seemed suspicious. When he rose, she wrapped her arm around his and walked into the kitchen with him.
Miriam was shaping some pastries and looked up from the counter. “Can I get you anything, master?”
“No. Just come wake me when it’s time for dinner.”
“Yes, master.” She returned to her work.
Claudia was still wrapped around his arm. “Would you like me to keep you company while you go to sleep?”
He smiled disarmingly at her. “No. I can manage just fine without you mothering me.” She needed to stay downstairs so he could listen from the balcony.
“Sleep well.” She flashed him that beautiful smile before unwrapping her arm and going over to the counter to watch Miriam.
As he stepped into the courtyard, he glanced back. Claudia had shifted her attention completely from him to Miriam. His time of observation could begin. He climbed the stairs and entered his room. Then he stood just inside the doorway, listening. Nothing unusual reached his ears, only some comments by Claudia about the sauce Miriam was stirring. A few minutes later he stepped back out onto the balcony. Whatever they were doing then, he didn’t hear anything. After a few minutes, he returned to his room and took his nap.
Titus awoke to find Claudia shaking his shoulder.
“Ready for one of Miriam’s delicious dinners?”
He sat up and smiled at her. “Always.”
As he followed her downstairs, he ran his hand through his hair. Maybe he was worried over nothing. It was probably just delirium and his imagination playing tricks on him.
Dinner was perfectly normal. He was still a little tired, so he went right to bed. He’d be going to the garrison tomorrow, and a good night’s sleep would probably be enough to get him ready for a normal day on duty.
Titus had dozed off, but he woke to hear them talking quietly as they climbed the stairs for Miriam to help Claudia get ready to retire.
First Claudia was speaking. “Titus is feeling so much better today. He’s even planning to go to the garrison tomorrow. He was so close to dying, and now he’s well. I’m so glad God heard all our prayers and spared him.”
“I know, mistress. He always hears our prayers, and I praise Him for His answer.”
“I know He saved Titus from the fever, and I’m praying He’ll soon save him from his sins. I want him to be just like me and Father.”
Her door closed, and he heard no more.
Titus’s brow furrowed at what he’d just heard, and then the frown came. What did Claudia mean by her last comment? It could just mean she was a God-fearer; they worried about sin. But he had a bad feeling that wasn’t the case. Father had written that he’d worried about how his god could forgive his sins without the temple sacrifices. His letter clearly said it was only by becoming a Christian that he’d actually been saved from them. But it didn’t make sense that Claudia, who hated Christians for causing Father’s death, would decide to take that step and become one herself.
Tomorrow morning, he would ask her. That was the only way to find out what was really going on. She would tell him the truth, whatever that happened to be.
Chapter 67: Blaming Miriam
When Titus entered the kitchen, his breakfast tray awaited him on the table. Miriam was kneading the dough and singing, as usual.
“Good morning, master. I hope you’re feeling all better this morning.”
“Close enough. I’ll be going to the garrison today.”
He ate his breakfast quickly to leave time for a conversation before he left. Or, more accurately, an interrogation.
“Would Claudia be awake yet?” He’d wake her if she wasn’t.
“Yes, master. I usually help her dress right after I finish with the bread dough.”
He rose. “Good. I want to talk with her about something.”
Miriam turned from the counter and watched the master head back into the courtyard and up the stairs. There had been a hard edge to his voice. What could the master want to say to Mistress Claudia that couldn’t wait until dinnertime?
Claudia was already up and standing at her window, gazing out at the cloudless morning sky. It would be good to have a normal day helping and talking with Miriam. Doing nothing in particular for two days had been boring. She turned at the sudden sound of Titus entering her room.
“Titus. This is a nice surprise. I thought you’d left already.”
“Not yet. I needed to ask you something.”
“What’s that?” He looked too serious. Was he feeling bad again?
“I’ve been watching and listening to you for the past two days, and you seem very different. I want to know why.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “What do you mean, different?”
“Calm, confident...different.”
Her head tilted. “And I wasn’t that way before?”
“No. You weren’t. I’ve heard you saying things, too. Things about giving thanks to God and about him saving me.” He paused. “It sounds to me like you’ve become a God-fearer like Father was.”
She beamed. “I have. I should have done it a long time ago. It always made Father so happy.”
“Is that all you are, Claudia? Only a God-fearer?”
His face turned grim, and every muscle she had tensed. Then she relaxed. She hadn’t intended to tell Titus she followed Jesus just yet. He still hated Christians. But was this God’s way of getting him not to? God used a fight with Philip to open her eyes. Maybe He intended the same for Titus.
“No. I’ve become a Christian, just like Father. And it’s so wonderful, Titus. I’ve met God, and He loves me, and life just couldn’t be better.”
Titus’s face turned redder than she’d ever seen. The fury building in his eyes made her tremble. He gripped her arms so tightly it hurt. Then he erupted.
“How could you? They’re still killing Christians in Rome. It’s a death sentence in Bithynia. First Father, now you? Is everyone I love going to die because of this Jesus?”
He’d never, ever raised his voice at her. Now he was yelling.
“Please, Titus. Let me tell you why I just had to believe in Him, why you should, too.”
“It’s that slave of yours, isn’t it! She talked you into believing in that Jewish carpenter.” He shoved her away and stormed out of the room before Claudia could say another word.
Miriam was laying out Claudia’s breakfast tray when Master Titus stormed into the room. He grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around to face him. He gripped both her arms and gave her a hard shake. His vice-like grip hurt, and the anger in his eyes made her heart pound.
“Did you make my sister a Christian?”
Her eyes saucered, and she trembled as she answered him. “No, master. God did that.”
Black fury filled his eyes. He struck her hard with the back of his hand, knocking her to the floor. She rose and stared at him as her eyes filled with tears.
Miriam had been struck many times, but never by someone as strong as he was. Never har
d enough to knock her down. She’d never even imagined a blow could hurt so much. She touched her cheek, then jerked her hand back as the screaming pain surged again.
But the pain in her face was nothing compared to the pain in her heart. So many times, the master had said he’d never hit her, and she’d come to believe him. If she’d thought he was about to, she’d have moved to lessen the impact. She’d figured out how during her many years with her first mistress. But she’d been so sure he would never strike that she’d done nothing to prepare for the blow.
“I bought you to help her, not get her killed.”
“I only did what you bought me for, master. I helped her heart heal.”
“By turning her into a Christian?” He clenched his teeth, and fury still burned in his eyes.
“Jesus is the only one who can heal a heart, master.”
She stood motionless in front of him, looking him straight in the eye like he’d always told her to do. Black fury turned to red rage, and he drew back his arm. She saw it coming, and she tried to respond, but he was quicker. He struck her even harder, knocking her to the floor again and cutting her cheek with his signet ring.
This time Miriam remained crumpled on the floor as the master stood towering over her. She knew now it had been a mistake to stand up the first time. It was best to stay down and say nothing, or he would hit her again. If he did, he might not be able to stop. With her first mistress, the third strike always led to many more. It had been many years since she had a beating. He was so strong that one from him might kill her. His flaming eyes said he might want to kill her.
She knew how dangerous it was to look at an angry master. Still, she couldn’t resist looking up at him. She saw only rage in his eyes.
Titus saw deep pain and paralyzing fear in Miriam’s, but in his wrath, he was unmoved.
Nestor had just brought the stallion from the stable. Now he stood in the doorway. Titus strode to the door, and Nestor jumped back to let him pass.
