Judiths’s room was over the tavern with a window that looked out onto South Gate Road and Drivers’ Square below. Whenever she was free, she would place two flower pots on the sill as a signal to Damon that he might come and visit. Despite the heavy carpet that was hung over the window to keep the chill out, she still put the pots on the sill when she was free. He was very busy these days, but she knew he would come if he could.
The town was crowded these days with merchants and farmers come to register for the tax census. They crowded the inn and filled all the available rooms, but they brought little extra business to Judith. She had time to stand in the window bundled against the cold and observe the life in the square below, watching the merchants come and go and listening to the peddlers haggling and arguing with one another. There was always something to see in the square.
And so she was at the window along with the two flower pots at twilight on this cold day when she saw Damon himself moving through the crowd in the Square. His hat and cloak could not disguise his body nor the way he moved, which she would have recognized anywhere. Even in this light she could see his flashing smile as he joked with the merchants.
She just had time to check her face in the bronze mirror and run a comb through her long, curling black hair before she heard Reuben the Innkeeper bellow over the noise in the tavern: “Judith! Judith! You have a visitor!”
She stopped to fluff the cushions on her bed and then ran excitedly down the stairs, almost bumping into two wealthy landowners from Sharon returning to their room after their evening prayers. She found Damon just starting on his way up. “Damon!” she exclaimed.
He answered with a smile, his whole face coming alive, like the sun breaking through a cloud. “Judith! Come have some wine. I’ve just ordered a jar.”
She flushed deeply. Despite her profession, despite the fact that she was older than him, the sight of Damon always made her feel like a nervous girl. Without a word she let him lead her back down to the crowded tavern where they found a table between a group of Roman soldiers and a party of Sadducee Jews. The Jews glanced at her with disapproval and moved their stools away, but Judith was too happy with Damon to take notice.
They sat on low, backless stools as Reuben put the flagon of wine down, and she poured for Damon and herself. To herself she recited the Hebrew benediction over the wine--for whatever good it did, she thought. Damon raised his cup in a salute and they drank.
“Perhaps the gentleman would like some bread and olives with his wine? Or a bowl of soup on such a cold night. Freshly made?” Reuben was not one to miss an opportunity for some business..
“No, no. This is sufficient for now. This is all.” Damon said.
Reuben smiled and bowed low and Judith knew that as soon as he was out of sight he would bite the coin Damon had paid with to make sure it was real gold. Only then would he be satisfied.
Normally Reuben didn’t allow the girls to have their own male friends as it wasn’t good for business. But he approved of Damon, who always bought at least one flagon of wine, and who, as the son of a very wealthy Greek merchant family, would not be likely to run off with a common whore like Judith.
“Do you have much time?” Damon asked her.
“All evening.” she said smiling at him. “But you never know.”
Damon smiled. “We’ll have all evening tonight.” he said. “I’ll pay Reuben for a whole night.”
“Oh Damon you shouldn’t waste your money.” she said, but then seeing the worried look on his face, she stopped..
“I have something to tell you.” he said seriously, and her heart leaped into her throat. “I’m being sent to Damascus. To run the family interests there.”
She controlled herself. She had learned to control herself with Damon. “Damascus? But that is so far.” she said. “How long will you be away.”
He looked at her and she knew the answer. Her heart sank..
“It is to be permanent. There are no plans for my return.” he said. “My uncle Phineas is very ill, and his children are too young to manage the business. The family needs me there.”
She reached for his hand, forgetting their arrangement. “Damon, no!”
“It is not hopeless though Judith.” he said. “You know what I’ve told you.”
She quickly filled their cups again. It would not do to talk of it here. She told him so with her eyes.
“Judith,” he said, “I don’t care who hears. Marry me and we’ll be together always. You’ll go with me to Damascus.”
Some of the Jews at the next table overheard and turned their faces towards them. Judith lowered her eyes, blushing. “Damon, please. If Reuben hears…”
Damon glared at the Jews who quickly went back to their business. He looked around the crowded room to see if anyone else was eavesdropping. Judith feared for him. One day his pride would get him into trouble, she was sure of it.
Deirdre came out of the back with another flagon of wine for the soldiers. Deirdre liked soldiers, she’d told Judith, because they always came quickly. Plus they tipped well. She said she could do four or five an hour on a good night.
A soldier grabbed her wrist now and Deirdre let him pull her into his lap, laughing with delight and kicking her feet to show off her legs.
