by Carol Ashby
Cornelia leaned forward and rested her hand on her daughter’s cheek. “I’m sure he will. The captain would never break his word.”
Drusilla’s smile brightened as she nodded her agreement.
Cornelia gazed out the window, but she wasn’t seeing the passing view. Her mind’s eye was filled with curly black hair that was graying at the temples, a short silver-frosted beard, lips parted in a smile as he appreciated one of her teasing remarks, and eyes so honest she could never doubt a single word he spoke. There must be some way to win his heart as he had already won hers.
Hector watched the raeda until it turned the corner. He hadn’t expected it to hurt so much when he sent it to Philip’s house instead of his own. He couldn’t love Drusilla more if she were his own daughter. He could visit, but that was a pitiful substitute for seeing her every day.
And Cornelia―if she were an ordinary woman, he’d pursue her to see if her friendship could grow into love...and marriage.
But she wasn’t an ordinary woman. She was the proud daughter of one of the most important political families of Rome. He didn’t even know who his father was, and his mother had been sold before he was old enough to remember her. The gold in Cornelia’s chests was enough to buy even the largest estates between Perinthus and Byzantium. He was a ship’s captain with a farm.
He stared at the ground and kicked at the dirt. He took a deep breath, held it, and released it slowly as the corners of his mouth turned down. He drew two overlapping circles in the dirt with his toe, then erased them with the sole of his sandal. One more deep sigh and a slow shake of his head. Finally, he squared his shoulders before turning to head back down the ramp.
He still had cargo to unload and a ship to prepare for mooring until spring. He wasn’t a man who allowed himself to waste time dreaming of gaining the unattainable. She was a gracious woman who’d enjoyed his company during the voyage, but no man with his history could expect to win the heart of a queen.
Chapter 27: Gifts and Surprises
The raeda carried them west from the harbor about two miles before it turned onto a side road. Cornelia leaned over to examine the large houses of the upper-class neighborhood on the hillside where Claudia lived.
About three quarters of a mile uphill, the mules slowed in front of a tall wall that flanked the road. The driver reined in and turned the mules through an open carriage gate.
Drusilla leaned out the window as the raeda passed through a small orchard.
“I see a house, but it’s not very big.” She pulled back in. “Our villa must be at least twice its size.”
Cornelia leaned forward to look out the window beside her daughter. “No, it’s not as large, but I’m sure it’s very nice inside.”
Drusilla was right. It wasn’t nearly as large as she expected for the house of man with several estates in Thracia and Moesia. It wasn’t much larger than the Drusus house in Rome where Claudia had grown up. They were only four people, so there should be room. But what if Philip didn’t want to add so many to his small household?
The raeda passed along the side of the house and halted in front of a stable at the rear. A stableman hurried over to open the door and offer his hand to assist them.
Malleolus climbed out first, then Drusilla. She spun and stuck her head back inside.
“Mother, is that Aunt Claudia?”
Cornelia stepped out to see a stunningly beautiful woman with reddish-gold hair hurrying toward them with outstretched arms. “Yes, dear, it is.”
“She’s so beautiful.”
“Yes, she is, and she’s very nice as well.”
Cornelia strode forward to greet her sister-in-law.
Claudia clasped both Cornelia’s hands. “I could scarcely believe it when Hector sent word that you were on his ship. Philip will be home shortly before dinner. I can hardly wait for you to meet him. He’ll be so pleased that you’ve come. Hector said you might only need to stay for a short while, but you’re welcome to live right here with us as long as you want.”
Claudia’s warm smile and sparkling eyes erased the last trace of concern about their welcome.
“It’s wonderful to see you again, Claudia. Thank you for taking us in. From the moment Tertius told me what his father was planning, I was certain you’d want to help me protect Drusilla from Lucius. He hasn’t changed at all from the horrible man he was when you escaped.”
Claudia shook her head. “Poor Lucius. Strange as it may seem, I owe him a debt of thanks. I would never have met Philip if he hadn’t tried to marry me off to punish me. Maybe I owe him another for making you decide to join me here. I’ve missed you.”
Cornelia’s brow furrowed. Poor Lucius? Owe him anything, least of all thanks? Why on earth was Claudia talking like that?
Claudia looked past Cornelia to Malleolus standing behind her. “And I’ve missed you most of all, Malleolus.” She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the old man. “To be with you again is something I never even dreamed possible. Having you here is almost like having Father with me.”
Malleolus embraced her and wiped beside his eye as he stepped back. “Aristarchus insisted I come. He said to tell you I was his gift to you.”
Claudia rested her hand on his cheek. “Other than his asking Philip to rescue me, this is the best gift he’s ever given me.”
“We agreed it was too dangerous for him as well if I were to stay.” Malleolus grinned. “Lucius has no idea how happy he’s made me by forcing Cornelia to divorce him.”
Claudia stepped back and knelt before Drusilla. “You were only two when I saw you last. Titus’s little girl, Vania, is going to be so glad to have a girl cousin living close. She’s been the only girl around four lively boys. Philip grew up with four brothers, and his sisters found it very trying sometimes.”
Cornelia’s smile broadened as she watched Drusilla grin when she heard about the cousins. Maybe she wouldn’t miss the captain as much with cousins to play with.
The captain. She suppressed a sigh. It was impossible not to think about him. Those honest brown eyes. Those lips that twitched before curving into a smile as she teased him. A virile man who made her feel feminine and young again. Drusilla might find the cousins could fill the void left by his absence, but nothing she could imagine could replace his company.
Not more than five days. That’s what he’d promised. Five days too many for her.
Cornelia and Malleolus were relaxing with Claudia in the garden when the hoof beats of Philip’s stallion drew Cornelia’s attention. Hector’s glowing praise had piqued her interest in this man who’d earned Claudia’s love and Hector’s friendship.
Claudia rose and hurried over to greet him even before he dismounted. He swung his right leg over the stallion’s neck and slid off. His feet had scarcely hit the ground before she caressed his cheek, smiling as if the clouds had just parted to reveal the sun.
“Welcome home. Hector brought us a wonderful surprise from Rome.”
Claudia wrapped her arm around his and led him toward the circle of chairs where Cornelia and Malleolus waited. She waved her arm toward them. “My sister-in-law Cornelia and Drusilla have come to stay with us. Malleolus is here, too. Aristarchus sent him as a gift for me.”
Philip’s gaze shifted from his wife’s face to the group. His loving smile transformed into a warm welcome for them all.
“The Claudia often brings us the best things from my father. Welcome.”
Cornelia tried not to stare at him, but that was almost impossible. She’d expected Claudia to marry a handsome man. Before her stood the ugliest man she’d ever seen with horrible scars on the right side of his face and an eyepatch. But Claudia gazed at him as if he were an Adonis.
She glanced down when a small hand slid into her own. Drusilla stood at her side. Her eyes were enormous, and she alternated between staring at Philip and looking away. Cornelia squeezed her hand to remind her to say nothing.
Malleolu
s stood on her other side, smiling at the approaching couple as if nothing were amiss.
Claudia reached over and took Cornelia’s free hand. “Philip, this is Cornelia Scipia.” She moved her hand to Drusilla’s shoulder. “And this is my niece, Claudia Drusilla. We call her Drusilla. They’ve come to live with us because Lucius planned to betroth Drusilla to his friend’s vicious son.”
Cornelia offered her hand to her brother-in-law. “I’m very pleased to meet you, Philip. I apologize for coming without asking or at least letting you know we were coming. It was imperative that I get Drusilla away from my husband as quickly as possible. We left only four days after I learned about his plans for her. I’m very grateful for the welcome we’ve received.”
Cornelia focused on his good eye and found it much easier to look at him. The warmth of the welcome she found there mostly overcame the distraction of his scars.
“Your timing was perfect, or you would have missed our last ship coming from Rome this season. I’m glad you decided to come to us. Claudia and I will do all we can to make the move to Thracia easy for you.”
A wry smile lifted the corner of his mouth as he shook his head. “So Lucius hasn’t changed much in the last eight years. I’m glad Hector had the Claudia in Portus. He specializes in rescuing women from Lucius Fidelis for me. I hope you had a good voyage.”
“It was exceptionally enjoyable. Captain Hector took excellent care of us.” She glanced down at Drusilla. “He was especially kind to Drusilla. She learned about knots and sails and tides and all manner of things related to ships and the sea. She’ll miss being onboard with him, I fear.”
And I shall miss him at least as much. Hector’s trustworthy eyes and friendly smile flashed in her mind. It had only been a few hours since she left his ship, and she already longed to be near him.
She pulled her mind back to the conversation.
Claudia’s eyes warmed when she shifted her gaze. “And this is Malleolus. He was Father’s steward since before I was born, but he was really more like my second father. Aristarchus sent him with Cornelia as a gift to me. Your father knows better than any man how to arrange the perfect gift.” She caressed his scars again. “First you, now Malleolus.”
Philip rested his hand on Malleolus’s shoulder and beamed. “I owe you more than I can ever repay. If you hadn’t gone to Father to ask his help, Claudia and I would never have met. You are most welcome.”
“Aristarchus has given me a greater gift. These two women are like daughters to me, and to live where I’ll be near them both is more than I ever hoped.”
Philip went down on one knee to get eye-level with Drusilla. “I’m glad you’re here, Drusilla. My boys will be better off having another girl cousin to teach them how to act around girls, and Titus’s Vania will have an ally against them. What was the best part of your trip here?”
Drusilla still held Cornelia’s hand and was staring at the ground to avoid looking at her uncle’s scars. Her eyes rose to his at the question.
“The best part? Captain. He taught me Mercenaries and how to tie knots and how to read the clouds and...well, too many things to tell you.”
“Hector taught me some of those things as well when I was eighteen. He’s a very good teacher.”
Drusilla beamed at him. “Captain is good at everything.”
A grin escaped as he rose. “Yes, Hector is good at almost everything.”
Claudia wrapped her arm around his once more. “Miriam was with me when the news of Cornelia’s arrival came. She insisted we all celebrate with a special dinner at her house tonight. She’s gone to prepare it for us. She’d like to have Cornelia and her maid and Drusilla stay with them so the girls can enjoy each other’s company.”
She turned to Cornelia. “Titus’s house is only a quarter mile down the street. Our families spend a great deal of time together. Do you mind staying there for the girls?”
Drusilla squeezed her mother’s hand.
When Cornelia glanced down, her daughter was nodding vigorously. “I think that’s an excellent idea.”
Claudia scooped up Malleolus’s hand. “I want to keep you here with me. I’ve missed you so much.”
Two boys of about six and four and a servant were walking up the drive toward them. The boys broke into a run when they saw Philip. When they reached him, they tackled his legs. He scooped up the larger one and placed him on his shoulders.
Claudia laughed at their exuberance. “These are our boys, Publius and Philetus. Boys, this is Malleolus. He’ll be living with us from now on. He was like a father to me when I lived in Rome.”
The four-year-old, Philetus, sidled over to Malleolus. His head was down, but he kept tipping it up to sneak a peek at him. When he was right in front of Malleolus, he tipped his head back. “Do I call you Grandfather?”
Malleolus’s eyebrows shot up, and Claudia laughed. “Yes, dear. I think that’s a wonderful name to call Malleolus.” She placed her hand on his arm. “That is, if you don’t mind.”
He nodded his head and knelt to get eye-level with her son. “I’d be honored if you would call me Grandfather.”
Philetus threw his arms around Malleolus’s neck, and the old man wrapped his arms around the little boy. Tears brimmed in his eyes when Malleolus looked up at Claudia.
Claudia bent over and kissed his forehead. “Welcome home, dear Malleolus. Welcome home.”
Chapter 28: Different and Better
Cornelia walked beside Claudia as they headed down the street to Titus’s house.
“Miriam is a wonderful woman. I met her two days after I arrived in Perinthus. She ended my nightmares and pulled me out of my despair over Father’s death less than two weeks after we met. She’s truly a sister to me. Finding Miriam was the best thing that could ever have happened to Titus as well.”
Cornelia smiled at Claudia’s enthusiasm for her other sister-in-law. Since Hector spoke well of Titus’s wife, too, Miriam must be quite a woman.
Their party entered Titus’s house through the door that faced the road. Titus was standing near the opposite end of the inner courtyard by the kitchen door.
He leaned into the room. “They’re here.”
As he strode toward Cornelia, a warm welcome radiated from his eyes and smile. “Malleolus. Cornelia. Welcome to Perinthus. It’s good to see you both again. I’m sorry you had to leave Rome under such circumstances, but we’re very glad you’ve come.”
Cornelia’s smile concealed her surprise. Titus was not wearing a tunic with the narrow purple stripes worn by men of the equestrian order. He was a Claudius Drusus, and his estate north of Rome was worth at least three times the 100,000 denarii required to be a member of that order. So why was he dressed in a plain white tunic?
A small, pretty woman with thick brown hair cascading down her back limped out of the kitchen. She wore an apron dusted with flour. Cornelia’s gaze was drawn to her deformed ankle as she approached them. Titus must have remained a kind man, like his father. A crippled slave was never cast off, just retrained at the Drusus estates.
Titus turned and held out his hand to the kitchen slave. When he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and drew her close to his side, Cornelia’s eyes widened.
He smiled down at the woman. “This is my Miriam.” His lips brushed her forehead. Her fingertips stroked his jaw before she turned to Cornelia.
“We couldn’t be happier that you’ve come to stay with us while you plan what you want to do. Vania is so excited about sharing her room with Drusilla.” Miriam grinned. “She said there have been too many boys and not enough girls for too long in this family.”
Cornelia smiled her gracious social smile. “Thank you for such a warm welcome when we’ve come so unexpectedly. Drusilla has been looking forward to meeting her cousins since I first told her we were coming here.”
She was expert in concealing her true thoughts, and today had certainly tested that skill. Miriam had clearly been working in t
he kitchen when they arrived, like a servant or slave. Why would Titus allow his wife to do that?
Just as she’d hidden her surprise, Cornelia concealed her flash of insight. Eight years ago, Lucius had been furious when Titus sent 400 denarii back with the men he’d sent to fetch Claudia, telling him it was Claudia’s bride price and the same amount he’d given for his own wife.
She’d thought that a paltry amount, but that was the price for an inexpensive houseslave. Titus married the slave he bought to serve Claudia two days after her arrival.
Miriam rested her hand on Titus’s arm. “It will be a little while before everything is ready. Why don’t you take everyone into the garden to sit and relax until it’s done?”
Titus nodded, and Miriam limped back into the kitchen.
A surge of envy shot through Cornelia when she saw the look in Titus’s eyes as he watched his wife. Lucius had never looked at her like that. Not once in twenty-five years.
Claudia slipped her arm around Cornelia’s. “The wait will be worth it. I’ve never tasted better cooking than Miriam’s, not even from the chefs Father kept in Rome. It’s a wonder she hasn’t made Titus fat.”
Cornelia glanced around the house, all of which could be seen from the courtyard. It appeared to follow a Greek floorplan. The central courtyard was cobblestone with a well near the door they’d entered. To her left was the bath chamber, and next to it a large sitting room where Titus would receive clients and visitors. To her right was the dining room, which would connect to the kitchen by a separate door through a pantry. Opposite the entryway were two small rooms. One was probably the private office, the other a sleeping room for the household slaves.
The stairs to the balcony level rose directly opposite the door to the center leg of a U-shaped balcony. There appeared to be a single bedroom just to the right of the stairs. Next to it was the women’s room, which occupied almost two thirds of that side. Four doors opened onto the left-side balcony and a fifth door at the head of the stairs.