The Passion of Mary Magdalen: A Novel (The Maeve Chronicles) by Cunningham Elizabeth

Author:Cunningham, Elizabeth [Cunningham, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780983358961
Publisher: Monkfish Book Publishing
Published: 2013-02-05T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

MA

“Next stop Nazareth,” I announced to my friends.

We were all sitting on the roof garden of our palatial suite of rooms in the upper city enjoying a prime view of the Temple’s southern steps. The speed with which Paulina had made friends and influenced people in the Roman ex-pat community was a little frightening. It was clear to us all that she was enjoying her cachet as a lovely, filthy rich young widow with a slightly racy reputation.

“But we only just got here,” objected Paulina, “and I’ve accepted invitations to dinner into next week!”

“We don’t all have to go,” I pointed out. “In fact, it would probably be better if I went alone with Joseph again.”

“You still haven’t told us what has happened with this Mary he didn’t marry,” Berta reproached me. “We want to know everything!”

“My cousin Mary was indisposed,” Joseph said abruptly. “We did not see her.”

Dido raised one of her eloquent black eyebrows, and I shook my head and cast a glance at Joseph. Presenting me to his cousins had been difficult for him. I sensed that he had his suspicions about my encounter with Mary, but he did not want them confirmed.

“Did you find out anything about where lover boy might be?” asked Reginus.

“No one seems to know,” I said, “but Lazarus promised to tell Yeshua that I’m alive if he ever comes back. I told him that Joseph would always know where I am.”

“When did you talk to Lazarus?” Joseph was dismayed. “Couldn’t you see from Martha’s reaction that no one in Bethany wants to hear his name?”

“I spoke to Lazarus privately before he went out to the fields,” I confessed. “I’m sorry I upset Martha, but Joseph, listen, I’ve traveled at least halfway to the ends of the earth to find him. How can I not ask?”

Joseph didn’t answer. I was feeling more and more uncomfortable about how much I had demanded of him. I will admit to you, I would have been Joseph’s mistress as a way of giving something in return if he had asked me, but I knew I couldn’t offer without insulting his pride. Any scruples were his, not mine. And here was another coil: though none of us were slaves, Dido, Berta, Reginus and I were all dependent on Paulina’s wealth. Our journey across the Mare Internum had had its own logic and momentum. Now that we had arrived at our destination, the oddness of our assortment and our lack of any purpose but mine was becoming more and more apparent.

“Only Nazareth and then—” I began to answer my own unspoken thoughts.

“And then what?” said Dido, giving me one of those cool, level, no bullshit looks.

And then…I didn’t have a clue. All those plans we had made in Domitia Tertia’s chamber seemed so vague and far-fetched.

“I must warn you, Maeve, I am not on good terms with Yeshua’s brothers.” Joseph rescued me from having to answer Dido. “However disastrous this botched marriage was for my cousins, I am still their family.

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