"My wife," Leander murmured incredulously, as he gazed lovingly upon the delicate form of his new bride. He touched her cheek gently, then let fall his lips on her own. They stood thus, engrossed in one another, desiring one another, until the young man tenderly lifted her in his arms and placed her upon the bridal bed. "I love you," he murmured softly, as he gazed deep within her eyes. He had never noticed before now quite how beautiful her eyes were. They were still large and sapphire-emerald in color, though now they were wide and wet with joy, emotion, and shade of virgin fear. He could tell by the way she blushed that she was nervous before him, nervous as every virgin is on her first night with her husband…but to him, everything about her…her body…was more beautiful and more perfect than it had ever been.
Calliliana reached up and placed a soft kiss on his cheek, then laid her head trustingly on his breast. "I love you as well," she answered, her bright eyes lowered. He smiled and tilted her chin to meet his gaze.
"All beautiful you are, My Darling, there is no fault in thee."
It was not long before the news of the private nuptials between Leander and the Grecian slave-girl were noised abroad. All the village gossips thrived upon this fresh news like vultures to a carcass, each one attempting to outdo the other in the story-telling.
"They say his parents disapprove of the girl…"
"Truly? I heard that it was her parents…"
"Do not be an idiot. Her parents are dead, and who on earth would disapprove of a man such as Leander Maximinus?" (At this one or two of the more romantic, younger woman would sigh with longing)
" She is young, they say, nearly ten years his junior…" (some of the more jealous girls would then add),
"So like a child she must be…in everything!"
Maximinus and his new bride were blissfully untouched by the gossip, however. It was enough for both of them that they were happy in and with one another. Everything seemed at that time to be favoring the young couple—whether it was the jewel market of Rome, which was booming in business, or the fact that the two only seemed to grow deeper and deeper in love as time wore on.
"Darling," Calliliana announced one night at dinner, as she reclined in her husband's arms, "I have news for you." He kissed the tip of her nose.
"Well?" She blushed deeply, and modestly lowered her eyes.
"I have not had my blood in nearly two months now. I…I am with child!" The look upon Leander's face surpassed that of the fairest dawn. His eyes filled with tears of joy, and his mouth twisted with emotion so that he could barely smile at his wife.
"Come here," he growled affably, gathering her tightly into his arms.
As she lay within her husband's embrace, the young woman briefly reflected on how much joy was now in her life. A life of freedom and happiness with a man who she not only loved, who shared her forbidden faith…but now this as well—to be pregnant with his child.
Oh God in Heaven, thank You for my many blessings!
As she gazed into the storm-sky eyes of her husband, gazed upon his strong body, his manly beauty, and thought of his goodness to her and to all, another thought came to her.
Oh Lord…Let me bear him a son!