As Sure as the Dawn(23)

Supporting the babe under the arms, Atretes held him away and dipped him up and down in the water. Caleb squealed with delight, fists hitting the water. Atretes’ mouth softened and tipped up on one side. He studied Caleb as he splashed. The babe had Julia’s dark eyes and hair. Frowning, he wondered how much more of her was in him.

Rizpah stood in the archway, linens draped over her arm. “You called, my lord?” she said sweetly. She came to the edge of the pool and watched him wash Caleb. She laughed. “He’s a baby, Atretes, not a soiled garment.”

“He needed a bath,” Atretes said.

Rizpah felt on fire with embarrassment when Atretes walked up the steps out of the pool, for the wet linen tunic molded Atretes’ body. Though he seemed not the least concerned at how much was revealed, she was unnerved. She looked quickly away and studied the muraled walls, scarcely realizing what the pictures depicted.

Caleb didn’t like the cool air as much as the warm water and began fussing again. “Take him,” Atretes said, holding him out to her.

Tossing the linens onto her shoulder, she did as he asked, relieved to be distracted. She kissed Caleb’s wet cheek. “Did you have a nice bath?” she said, laughing at his chuckle. She bounced him gently as she headed for the massage table.

Atretes stood watching her. He had noted her discomfort when he came out of the pool as well as the way her gaze was quickly averted from his body. He recalled her embarrassment the day she fed the baby, too. The woman seemed to be an odd combination of contradictions: fiery and rebellious, unafraid to challenge him, and yet thrown into painful embarrassment by the sight of a man’s form. He frowned as he watched her.

Her voice was soft and sweet. She laughed and leaned down, letting Caleb grab her thumbs. Kissing his chest, she blew air into his belly button. The baby gave out that funny chuckle again. Mouth curving, Atretes walked over to watch his son kicking and waving his arms happily. Rizpah ignored his presence and talked to the baby the whole time she swaddled him in linen, but as she lifted Caleb, she glanced up at him. Her expression held awareness.

His pulse jumped and, with it, his mistrust. He’d seen beautiful dark eyes like hers before.

Rizpah was disturbed by the intensity of his look, for it touched her in some instinctive elemental realm. When his gaze moved downward over her, she felt a rush of warmth. She drew back a step, holding Caleb against her like a shield. “You will please excuse me, my lord,” she said, eager to take Caleb and escape those predatory eyes.

“No, I will not.”

She blinked. “My lord?”

“Take him into the triclinium.”

“Why?”

“Do I need a reason?”

She hesitated, uncertain as to his motives, distressed by the emotions stirring within her.

“Do I?” he said again, eyes narrowing.

“No, my lord.”

“Then do what you’re told.”

Why must he use that tone with her? “Caleb is ready to be fed and put down to rest,” she said, trying to keep calm.

“He can do both in the triclinium.”

Seeing he had no intention of relenting, she carried Caleb out of the baths. The inner corridor was thankfully cool. She entered the lavishly furnished triclinium and sat down on a couch. Caleb fell asleep as he nursed. She wrapped her shawl around him and placed some cushions around him. Her hands shook as she folded them tightly in her lap and waited.

Lagos entered. “Lady Rizpah!” he said in surprise. Since being admitted to the household, she had taken her meals in the servants quarters. What was she doing in the master’s dining room?

“Atretes ordered me here,” Rizpah said, seeing the question in his eyes.

“Oh.”

Her nerves tightened as though the Spirit within her warned of the battle to come. “Why do you say it in that tone, Lagos?”

“No reason.”

“He wants to spend more time with his son.”

Lagos could not imagine Atretes bouncing a baby on his knee, but said, “Of course,” to set her mind at ease. He had seen Atretes standing on the balcony overlooking the yard when Rizpah was taking the baby out for air. Silus and Gallus had also noticed and remarked on it. They made bets as to how long it would be before Rizpah warmed Atretes’ bed.

Rizpah watched him tidy the pillows. “Say something, Lagos.”

“What would you have me say?”

“You know him better than I.”

“I know him hardly at all, but what I do know is that he’s unpredictable and dangerous. And he has only one use for women.”

“You talk as though he’s an animal.”

“Not far from it,” Lagos said grimly.