An Echo in the Darkness(62)

Alexander laughed, looking down at the child in his hands. “You’ve a son, Magonianus!” he said with a mixture of awe and relief. “Come take a look at him,” he urged as he cut the cord and tied it.

Hadassah stepped back, trembling violently, enraptured by what she saw.

Rashid released Habinnas, and the idol maker stood motionless for a moment, hearing the cry of his newborn son. Livilla was there to take him from Alexander.

“A son, Habinnas,” Antonia rasped, exhausted. “I’ve given you a son. . . .” She tried to rise enough to see her child, but hadn’t the strength to do so. She sagged against the damp bed, her breathing slowed and relaxed, her eyelids closing.

After a brief glance at the squalling child in Livilla’s arms, Habinnas knelt down beside the bed. Seeing the blood on the sheets, he buried his head in his wife’s neck. His shoulders shook. “Never again. I swear. Never again will you go through this.”

“Tend to the child,” Alexander said to Hadassah, massaging Antonia’s abdomen so that her body would expel the placenta. “I’ll see to her.”

Livilla put the child in her arms and drew back from her, eyes wide. She was shaking noticeably, and Hadassah frowned slightly, wondering what was wrong with the slave girl.

Hadassah washed the baby carefully in a basin of warm water. Then she placed him gently on soft linen and rubbed his body all over with salt to prevent any infection. Remembering how her mother had wrapped Leah, she did likewise. Murmuring to him, she wrapped the infant tightly so that he was perfectly firm and solid, like a small mummy. She took a small strip of white linen and bound his head, passing the shawl under his chin and across his forehead in small folds. Then she lifted him, secure and warm in his swaddling clothes, and carried him to his mother.

Habinnas rose at her approach. “Livilla will take him to his wet nurse.”

“He will not be given to a wet nurse. He needs his mother,” Hadassah said and leaned down. “Antonia,” she said softly, brushing the girl’s brow. “Your son.” Smiling sleepily, Antonia shifted slightly, and Hadassah laid the infant down beside her. Antonia gave a soft, gasping laugh of joy as the baby’s mouth closed on her nipple. Her expression fell after a moment.

“I have no milk,” Antonia said, blinking back tears and struggling against exhaustion.

Hadassah stroked her cheek gently. “Don’t worry. You will.” Already Antonia’s eyes were drifting closed.

The room was very quiet. Hadassah continued to stroke Antonia’s cheek, giving thanks to God for sparing her and the child. She felt joy swelling within her and longed to sing praises as she had once done, but the scars she bore from the lion’s attack in the arena had done more than disfigure her. Ensuing infections had taken most of her voice. Yet, she knew it didn’t really matter. God had heard her prayer. He now heard the singing of her heart.

Blinking back tears, she raised her head. Habinnas Attulus Magonianus stood across the bed from her, staring at her. She saw in his eyes what she had seen in Livilla’s a moment before—fear.

Alexander stepped back from the bed, having finished binding Antonia. He gave instructions to Livilla concerning her mistress’ care. Turning from Magonianus’ stare, Hadassah approached, only to have Livilla bow deeply. Hadassah told her to change the infant’s swaddling clothes once a day. “Wash him carefully and rub him again with salt. Then wrap him as you saw me do. Do not give him over to a wet nurse but allow his mother to tend him.”

“It shall be as you say, my lady,” Livilla said, bowing again.

Habinnas spoke to another servant. He left his wife’s bedside and approached Alexander and Hadassah as they packed up unused instruments and medicines. “I do not even know your name.”

Alexander introduced himself, but hesitated when Habinnas looked pointedly at Hadassah. “My assistant,” he said, withholding her name for a reason he couldn’t quite grasp. He looked at Rashid. “We are finished here,” he said. “You may take her back.”

As Rashid bent and caught Hadassah up in his arms, Alexander turned to Magonianus again, ignoring Hadassah’s soft protest as the Arab carried her from the room. “How is it a man of your position sent for a physician who practices outside the public baths?” Alexander said, curious, but also wanting to distract Habinnas’ attention from Hadassah.

“Cattulus removed himself from Ephesus,” Magonianus said, and Alexander recognized the name of a prominent physician. Cattulus was reputed as one of the finest physicians in the city and treated only those of wealth and position. “I learned of his disgrace when it was too late to make other arrangements,” Habinnas said grimly. “I sent my wife’s slave to find help. How she came to find you, I don’t know, but I thank the gods that she did.”