A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers

Author:Francine Rivers
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9780842339520
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Published: 1995-01-01T22:00:00+00:00

AVOICE IN THE WIND

of the priest as he read the documents that had more to do with dowry obligations than a lifetime commitment to love one another. Hadassah was saddened. Clenching her hands, she prayed fervently for her mistress.

As tlie procession of guests passed she rose to follow. Most of those attending the wedding were there purely out of social obligation to Decimus Valerian, their patron. Few who knew Julia had any fondness for her.

The guests accompanied the couple to Caius' villa on the far side of the Palentine, where his slaves had prepared a feast. Julia rubbed oil on the doorposts and hung up a garland of wool. She presented Caius with one of the copper coins. He gave her an offering of fire and water, thus relinquishing control of his household to his new wife.

Hadassah helped serve at the elaborate feast that followed, marveling at how different the atmosphere was from the celebratory meal of Julia's first wedding. Caius' friends made ribald ments, and there was much laughter. Julia was radiant, blushing and laughing when her new husband leaned close and whispered in her ear. Perhaps everything would be all fight. Perhaps she was wrong about Urbanus.

Summoned to the kitchen, Hadassah was handed a silver tray of goose liver molded into a horrific beast with exaggerated genitals. Mortified at the obscene offering, she clanged the tray back onto the counter and drew back from it in revulsion. "What's the matter with you? If you've done damage to my work, I'll have the hide flogged off of you. The master asked expressly for that dish. Now take it out and serve it to your mistress."

"No!" she said without thinking, horrified at the very idea of offering something so grotesque to Julia. The blow the cook gave her sent her back against the cupboard.

"You take it," he ordered another who obeyed with alacrity. He turned on her again and she drew back with a gasp of fear, her face throbbing with pain. "Pick up the tray over there and serve it to the guests, now."

Trembling, she went, relieved to see it was only a large tray of a dozen small partridges, browned and glistening with a honey and spice glaze. Her head was still tinging when she entered the large banquet room. Guests laughed and encouraged Julia as Caius dipped his fingers into the dragon and offered it to his bride. Julia laughed gaily and licked it from his fingers. Sickened,

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Hadassah turned to the guests farthest away from the scene and offered the partridges.

Several men called for the bride and groom to be sent off to bed. Caius caught Julia up in his arms and carried her out of the

roonl.

With Caius and Julia gone, some of the guests began departing. Drusus helped an ashen and tearful Octavia from her couch. She was drunk and scarcely able to walk. Decimus rose from a couch of honor and helped Phoebe to her feet. She beckoned Hadassah.

"You're returning to the villa with us.

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