Read Online Captive Heart (Truly Yours Digital Editions) by Darlene Mindrup - Free Book Online
Authors: Darlene Mindrup
Ads: Link
to come.”
Their eyes met, and Crastus was the first to look away. He pulled another towel from the rack and began to pat Cassius with it. When their eyes met again, Cassius could see resignation in the old servant.
“The physician says that the master has only a short time to live. I didn’t understand all the particulars, but the master did.”
Cassius felt himself go cold all over. He quickly sat up, grabbing his tunic. Throwing it over his head, he jumped from the table and headed for the door.
He found his father still reclining in the triclinium, the table beside him now set for the evening meal. He motioned for Cassius to take the couch opposite him.
“Have a seat, Cassius.” Noticing the set look of his son’s face and the fact that he hadn’t yet shaved, he sighed. Obviously Crastus had shared something he shouldn’t have. “Let’s eat before you launch your attack.”
Aggravated, Cassius pressed his lips tightly together to keep from bombarding his father with the questions he held tightly in check. Taking his cue from Anticus, Cassius kept up a steady flow of small talk while they ate, though his stomach churned with anxiety. He regaled his father with tales of his journey through Palestine, but other questions burned on his lips.
“I heard you had been lifted to rank of commander,” his father beamed proudly. Cassius nodded, his mind on other things.
Anticus wiped his hands on the cloth provided and threw it on the tray. “I also heard rumors of Titus distributing his wealth among the troops?”
It was more a question than a statement. Cassius pursed his lips, wiping his hands, also.
“Not quite, but he did reward those who excelled.”
Anticus lifted his goblet towards Cassius. “And of course, that included you.”
Cassius watched his father drink his wine, wondering what the old man would say when he informed him of the reward he had received. Lifting his own goblet, he swallowed a large gulp of the cold liquid, hoping to dislodge the lump that had formed in his throat.
“I was rewarded, yes.”
Anticus heard the hesitation in his son’s voice. Lowering his goblet, he studied Cassius’s face. The look there sent the old man’s eyebrows flying upwards. He waited for Cassius to continue.
Taking a deep breath, Cassius met the full force of his father’s probing brown gaze.
“I received a woman. It was all I asked for.”
Anticus stared at his son and didn’t know what to say. At the declaration, his own wits had scattered to the four corners of the earth. Cassius asking for a woman? He stared at his son as though he had suddenly sprouted two heads.
“This woman. She was Jewish?”
“She’s a Samaritan.”
Anticus’s eyebrows rose to his balding pate. “Is there a difference?”
“Not really.” Cassius stood and paced to the window overlooking the garden. “And then again, yes, I suppose.”
Totally confused, Anticus didn’t know what to ask next. He was saved from having to make that decision when Cassius turned back to him.
“Sentinel was injured.”
Wondering if his son was trying to change the subject, Anticus shrugged, though there was concern in his voice. “He is well?”
Cassius nodded. “Now. Thanks to the woman.”
Anticus slowly leaned back against the couch. “Perhaps it would save time if you just explained.”
So Cassius did, leaving out nothing, not even the fact that Samah was a Christian.
Anticus’s eyes narrowed. “A Christian, you say?” He pressed his lower lip between his thumb and forefinger, a habit his son had long since formed. “That’s very interesting. And where is this woman now?”
“At my villa.”
“I would like to meet her.”
The softness of Anticus’s voice was belied by the intensity of his regard. Cassius wondered at the fixed look on his father’s face.
“I will bring her tomorrow,” he told his father. Coming back across the room, he smiled down at Anticus. “Which reminds me. I have business to
Their eyes met, and Crastus was the first to look away. He pulled another towel from the rack and began to pat Cassius with it. When their eyes met again, Cassius could see resignation in the old servant.
“The physician says that the master has only a short time to live. I didn’t understand all the particulars, but the master did.”
Cassius felt himself go cold all over. He quickly sat up, grabbing his tunic. Throwing it over his head, he jumped from the table and headed for the door.
He found his father still reclining in the triclinium, the table beside him now set for the evening meal. He motioned for Cassius to take the couch opposite him.
“Have a seat, Cassius.” Noticing the set look of his son’s face and the fact that he hadn’t yet shaved, he sighed. Obviously Crastus had shared something he shouldn’t have. “Let’s eat before you launch your attack.”
Aggravated, Cassius pressed his lips tightly together to keep from bombarding his father with the questions he held tightly in check. Taking his cue from Anticus, Cassius kept up a steady flow of small talk while they ate, though his stomach churned with anxiety. He regaled his father with tales of his journey through Palestine, but other questions burned on his lips.
“I heard you had been lifted to rank of commander,” his father beamed proudly. Cassius nodded, his mind on other things.
Anticus wiped his hands on the cloth provided and threw it on the tray. “I also heard rumors of Titus distributing his wealth among the troops?”
It was more a question than a statement. Cassius pursed his lips, wiping his hands, also.
“Not quite, but he did reward those who excelled.”
Anticus lifted his goblet towards Cassius. “And of course, that included you.”
Cassius watched his father drink his wine, wondering what the old man would say when he informed him of the reward he had received. Lifting his own goblet, he swallowed a large gulp of the cold liquid, hoping to dislodge the lump that had formed in his throat.
“I was rewarded, yes.”
Anticus heard the hesitation in his son’s voice. Lowering his goblet, he studied Cassius’s face. The look there sent the old man’s eyebrows flying upwards. He waited for Cassius to continue.
Taking a deep breath, Cassius met the full force of his father’s probing brown gaze.
“I received a woman. It was all I asked for.”
Anticus stared at his son and didn’t know what to say. At the declaration, his own wits had scattered to the four corners of the earth. Cassius asking for a woman? He stared at his son as though he had suddenly sprouted two heads.
“This woman. She was Jewish?”
“She’s a Samaritan.”
Anticus’s eyebrows rose to his balding pate. “Is there a difference?”
“Not really.” Cassius stood and paced to the window overlooking the garden. “And then again, yes, I suppose.”
Totally confused, Anticus didn’t know what to ask next. He was saved from having to make that decision when Cassius turned back to him.
“Sentinel was injured.”
Wondering if his son was trying to change the subject, Anticus shrugged, though there was concern in his voice. “He is well?”
Cassius nodded. “Now. Thanks to the woman.”
Anticus slowly leaned back against the couch. “Perhaps it would save time if you just explained.”
So Cassius did, leaving out nothing, not even the fact that Samah was a Christian.
Anticus’s eyes narrowed. “A Christian, you say?” He pressed his lower lip between his thumb and forefinger, a habit his son had long since formed. “That’s very interesting. And where is this woman now?”
“At my villa.”
“I would like to meet her.”
The softness of Anticus’s voice was belied by the intensity of his regard. Cassius wondered at the fixed look on his father’s face.
“I will bring her tomorrow,” he told his father. Coming back across the room, he smiled down at Anticus. “Which reminds me. I have business to
Similar Books
