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.“He’s hungry!” he shouted after her.Rizpah stopped beneath the archway.“Be at ease, Atretes.He’s not that hungry.” She laughed, and themusical sound floated around him in the marble-tiled chamber.“Besides, I doubt he’ll draw much blood.Not until he has teeth.”Alone with his son, Atretes paced nervously.Caleb squirmed and looked ready to cry, so Atretes heldhim close again, cold sweat breaking out on the back of his neck.He found it ironic that he had faceddeath hundreds of times and never been reduced to the sweating fear he felt now holding a baby— hisbaby.Caleb’s tiny pudgy fingers grasped the ivory chip hanging from a gold chain around Atretes’ neck andstuffed a corner of it into his mouth.Scowling, Atretes tugged the gold chain and ivory chip, which declared his freedom, from his son’smouth.He tucked it quickly out of reach inside his tunic, muttering under his breath about women whodeserted their babies.His son’s lip quivered.“Don’t start crying,” he said gruffly.Caleb’s mouth opened wide.“By the gods, not again,” Atretes groaned.He winced at the howling wail that came forth.How was itpossible for such a small child to make so much noise? “Very well.Eat it!” he said, pulling the chain outfrom beneath his tunic again and dangling it temptingly before his son.Still whimpering, Caleb grasped thechip and gummed it.Atretes carried his son over to a massage table and placed him on it.“Rizpah!”Her name echoed off the marble, muraled walls around him.Startled, Caleb lost hold of the chip againand screamed.Gritting his teeth and holding his breath, Atretes unwound the soiled wraps and tossedthem in a heap near the wall.“You need a bath, boy.You stink.” He picked him up and carried him intoGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlthe pool.Caleb stopped screaming as he felt the warm water of the tepidarium swirl up around him.Gurgling happily, he grabbed the chip again and pounded it against his father’s chest, splashing water intoAtretes’ face.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 howmuch more of her was in him.Rizpah stood in the archway, linens draped over her arm.“You called, my lord?” she said sweetly.Shecame to the edge of the pool and watched him wash Caleb.She laughed.“He’s a baby, Atretes, not asoiled 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 wetlinen 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 thepictures depicted.Caleb didn’t like the cool air as much as the warm water and began fussing again.“Take him,” Atretessaid, holding him out to her.Tossing the linens onto her shoulder, she did as he asked, relieved to be distracted.She kissed Caleb’swet cheek.“Did you have a nice bath?” she said, laughing at his chuckle.She bounced him gently as sheheaded for the massage table.Atretes stood watching her.He had noted her discomfort when he came out of the pool as well as theway her gaze was quickly averted from his body.He recalled her embarrassment the day she fed thebaby, too.The woman seemed to be an odd combination of contradictions: fiery and rebellious, unafraidto challenge him, and yet thrown into painful embarrassment by the sight of a man’s form.He frowned ashe watched her.Her voice was soft and sweet.She laughed and leaned down, letting Caleb grab her thumbs.Kissing hischest, 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 presenceand talked to the baby the whole time she swaddled him in linen, but as she lifted Caleb, she glanced upat 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, holdingCaleb against her like a shield.“You will please excuse me, my lord,” she said, eager to take Caleb andescape those predatory eyes.“No, I will not.”She blinked.“My lord?”“Take him into the triclinium.”Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html“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 tokeep 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 wasthankfully cool.She entered the lavishly furnished triclinium and sat down on a couch.Caleb fell asleep ashe nursed.She wrapped her shawl around him and placed some cushions around him.Her hands shookas 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 takenher 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 inthat 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 atease.He had seen Atretes standing on the balcony overlooking the yard when Rizpah was taking thebaby out for air.Silus and Gallus had also noticed and remarked on it.They made bets as to how long itwould 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 onlyone use for women.”Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html“You talk as though he’s an animal.”“Not far from it,” Lagos said grimly.“He’s a man, Lagos.Like you.Like any other [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]