Fortune Favors

Chapter 19

Sabina had been patiently waiting for Nico to return, and she couldn't help but wonder what he was talking to Marcus and Sam about out in the back garden. She would have given anything to have been able to go find them in the garden, but it would have been considered unseemly.

Still, she had considered bringing Kaia and Aya with her out to the back garden, if only to escape the blistering gaze of Jacquetta, who no doubt had noticed the looks her husband had been giving Sabina.

Sabina didn't feel sorry for her. All of Rome knew of the lust Eolus had for Jacquetta, and how he had pursued her and promised her the world. It wasn't enough that she become his mistress, but he wanted her to be the mother of his children. It may have taken the suspicious death of her second husband, but Jacquetta finally relented.

Once the quarry is captured, a man's lust cools. Everyone knew that. Jacquetta was lucky she held his attention for eight years. Her children were Hadiuses. Even if he divorced her, it was unlikely that Eolus would let his children's mother starve. She would be fine, and she would be free. Jacquetta should, frankly, be grateful to Sabina.

Sabina was about to get up and call for her brother to take her home when she heard a commotion. A slave came and whispered in Jacquetta's ear, and Eolus's wife got up with only a short word to her husband.

After she was gone, Eolus's smiled and lifted his goblet. "It seems my wife's first grandchild is about to make his appearance."

Sabina swallowed her last bit of wine and got up from the table. She followed after Jacquetta, down the hallway to where a group of women had gathered outside a door.

"Will the labor be long?" asked Sabina.

"Hours, my lady," said one of the midwives.

"She is my friend," said Sabina. "I wish to visit her."

It wasn't a question. Sabina walked past the women and into the bedroom. It was a big room that had been prepared with a hard couch for the labor, a soft bed for the recovery and a wooden birthing stool for the actual event.

Lilli stood in the middle of the room, wearing a simple dress and her hair down around her shoulders. Her belly protruded out and despite her earlier screaming, she didn't look terribly distressed. She did appear puzzled to see Sabina.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Surely you knew I was invited to dinner," replied Sabina.

Just then, a black and white kitten brushed against Sabina's legs. It was an adorable little thing, and it meowed softly.

"This is Cleopatra," breathed Lilli. "She takes care that no vermin invade my room."

Sabina knelt down and petted the kitten. "She's adorable, and she looks every inch a queen."

Lilli laughed. "Sam named her. I would not have been so brave as to give her the name of an enemy of Rome."

"You're brave in your own way," replied Sabina. "How do you feel? Scared?"

Lilli smiled. "A bit. I know what happened to your mother and so many others, but I also wish to meet my child. The fates will do what they do. I'm also looking forward to not resembling a cow anymore."

Sabina would have agreed, but in truth, Lilli looked radiant and very little like a cow. Her body had taken the pregnancy well.

"You look well, and you know I wouldn't say that if it wasn't a lie. I think you'll get your figure back quickly," said Sabina.

"Thank you," said Lilli. "Did anything interesting happen at the party?"

"You mean beyond your scream echoing through the whole house? My Adonis cousin is visiting from Greece, and my brother wishes me to marry him. I came to meet him."

Lilli let out a heavy breath. "What does Marcus think of that?"

Sabina's mouth dropped open at the impertinent question. "Whatever do you mean?"

Lilli placed her hand on her back and began walking a bit around the room. It had the effect of circling Sabina, who picked up Cleopatra and cuddled her.

"You've loved Marcus since we were children," breathed Lilli. "Your left eye twitches every time you say he's beneath you and that you could never love him. Your eye twitches like that whenever you say you're happy for me. Your eye doesn't twitch like that when you say I'm lucky to be married to Sam. It doesn't twitch like that when you say you wish your father was alive. That twitch is a sure sign if you're being truthful or not."

Sabina blinked and petted the kitten. She had no idea she could be so easily read. Her lip started to quiver, and to her horror, she began choking back tears.

Lilli inhaled. "I understand. I would have been angry if the fates been so cruel as to make my Sam out of my reach."

Sabina didn't have an answer. She couldn't answer, but she suddenly felt very much like Lilli wasn't as dull-witted as she had thought she was. Impulsively, she moved toward Lilli and put an arm around her and squeezed her. If it weren't for Lilli's belly and the kitten in Sabina's hand, she would have fully hugged her.

"You will make a wonderful mother," said Sabina. "Your child has been blessed already."

Lilli looked at Sabina with a slight bit of skepticism at the compliment, but she smiled.

"I wish Sam were here," said Lilli. "If only for him to see what pain I must suffer to bring our child into this world."

Sabina put Cleopatra down and the kitten scurried under the couch. "If it were any other man, including Marcus, I would say he would be too cowardly to face it. Sam might actually be able to withstand it. It's the barbarian in him."

Lilli started to breathe in quick short bursts, and then she clutched her belly and screamed in pain. Sabina took her hand and led her to the couch.

"They say it's going to be hours," said Sabina.

Lilli nodded and clutched Sabina's hand. "My mother is dead. Jacquetta is unkind. Could you stay with me?"

Sabina felt tears start to well up again but she held them back. She placed her free hand over Lilli's.

"I'll stay as long as you need me," she said. She meant the words.