'I am looking forward to the honor of meeting her,' said Olivia, doing her best not to be impatient.
Arius made his reverence as he opened the door. It was a graceful gesture, as formal and unnatural as the attitudes of the figures in the ikons that flanked the doors. 'August lady, this is the great lady Olivia,' said the eunuch before he stepped aside to let Olivia enter.
Antonina was seated on a silk-covered couch; she was a magnificent woman, all stark contrasts. Her hair, black as onyx, had two white streaks that only served to make the dark more impressive. Her eyes were large, rimmed with heavy lashes and accented by curving dark brows. Her skin was the lightest shade of peach that Olivia had ever seen. Her clothes were silken, the paenula so extensive that it surrounded and engulfed her in vast folds of shimmering red. At her shoulder, her tablion was the size of the palm of her hand, encrusted with garnets and gold. 'Welcome to my husband's house,' she said, not rising.
Olivia smiled without warmth. 'I am pleased to bring you his greetings and remembrances,' she said, hoping that she had come close to the proper formula.
'And this'—she indicated the other woman in the room—'is Eugenia. She is the widow of Katalinus Hyakinthos, who was the bastard of Elezaros.' This name was apparently supposed to mean something to Olivia, and Antonina waited for her response.
'There was a… naval commander, wasn't there?' She hoped that her memory was correct; she sensed that neither woman would be forgiving of an error.
'My husband's father, yes. They were killed in the same storm.' She was not as tall as Antonina, nor quite as richly dressed. Her body was rounder and softer, more yielding, and her posture was more inviting. She, too, wore an enormous paenula, hers of a deep sea-green shot with gold, and her tablion was not as large or as be jeweled as Antonina's.
'How unfortunate,' said Olivia.
'My husband sends me word that you, too, are a widow.' She pointed to another couch, making it clear she wished Olivia to sit there.
'For many years, yes,' she answered candidly.
'Yet you are not ancient,' said Antonina.
'I wear my years well,' Olivia said.
'That may be fortunate,' Antonina declared. 'Widows are not uncommon and it is not always the most simple thing to find them proper mates. There are men who prefer women who have never been married to those who have. I was fortunate, for my husband told me from the first that he was pleased that he had found me a widow, for that meant I knew men and I knew marriage. I was most pleased that he felt that way, and I told him then, as I have continued to tell him, that no woman can appreciate a marriage until her second one.' She smiled, and it was clear she expected her two guests to smile as well.
Realizing that this was likely to be more awkward than she had thought at first, Olivia said, 'That may be, and certainly I have no means to tell, but let me assure you, august lady—'
'You must call me Antonina,' she purred.
'You are all kindness,' said Olivia, going on before she could be distracted. 'Let me assure you that I have not come to you with the hope that you will supply a husband upon request. I have had such experience of marriage that I am not in a hurry to resume my married state. For a time, I am content to be a widow, and if this does not exclude me from friendships and society, I will abide as I am.' She folded her hands in her lap and gave what she hoped was a trusting and guileless look to her hostess.
'No woman has a distaste of marriage,' Antonina said in a manner that would clearly tolerate no disputes.
'I have, I am afraid. My husband was a man of strange appetites which he imposed upon me and that has left me with a lack of trust of marriage.' She regarded Eugenia, hoping she might find an ally. 'If your husband held you in respect and affection, then you have known two things I never had from my husband.'
'It is not fitting to speak against the dead, let alone a dead husband,' announced Antonina, but she relented. 'If what you say is true, then the Church failed you, for it is the responsibility of the priests to be certain that God's commands are obeyed on earth. As you are to be submissive to the will of your husband, so he is to give you care and comfort.'
Privately Olivia thought that the last characteristic she saw in Antonina was submission, but she made no comment about it. 'The priests… were not as apt to take a hand,' she said, trusting that her vagueness would be seen as tact instead of the evasion it was.
'There are those who do not uphold the honor of their God as they ought,' said Antonina, directing a hard glance at Eugenia. 'I have said that your priest was wrong in permitting you to travel to Cyprus without a guard to accompany you.'
'He said that since there were others in the ship who were also visiting the shrine that it would be satisfactory,' said Eugenia, clearly rehashing an old argument. 'My priest said that when the journey is a holy one, then it is necessary to leave all pomp behind in order to show humility in the proper manner.' She smiled, her mouth turning up at the corners and making her look even more like a kitten than her angular face and pointed chin already did.
'Still, think of the insult if anything had occurred,' Antonina persisted. 'It may be spiritually wise to make pilgrimages, but I do not believe that it is sensible to take such extreme risks.'
'You have a General for a husband,' said Olivia, deciding that she might as well discover as much as she could about what Antonina's opinions were since she would have to deal with them while she lived in Constantinople.
'Yes, and a very great man. He is filled with distinction and honor, and he does not use this for anything but his service to God and the Emperor.' There was a faint regret in her words, as if Belisarius' integrity was a subtle disappointment to his spouse.
Eugenia must also have been aware of the underlying lack of satisfaction in Antonina's voice, for she said, 'How it must please you to know that Belisarius is as stalwart as he is, and free from the taint of manipulation and intrigue that has compromised so many others.'
'It is most… rewarding,' said Antonina in a reflective tone.
As she settled back onto the couch, Olivia said, 'I am truly in your debt for your willingness to receive me, Antonina. I have come to realize that many Romans are not so well-treated here in this city, and often for excellent reason. That you have been willing to speak with me, to invite me into this house fills me with gratitude.'
'My husband has said that you have donated your villa to his use while he and his men are in Roma, and that merits my hospitality.' She nodded toward the ikonostasis on the far side of the room. 'We know the obligations of our faith.'
'Belisarius spoke glowingly of you, august lady,' said Olivia, sensing a faint anxiety in Antonina. 'He and his officers were always most respectful in what they said of you while they were at my villa.'
Eugenia's smile was sharpened with malice. 'Now the officers speak of you, Antonina.'
'Only because I asked them,' said Olivia, realizing her blunder almost as soon as it was spoken. 'I know so little about this city and its ways, I wanted to learn how best to comport myself, and I thought that you were likely to be the best example I could have. Your husband was so proud of all you've done, and so sincere in his praises, I asked questions and had answers that truly amazed me.'
'It was not correct to ask such questions,' said Antonina, but her condemnation was modified by the tone of her voice. 'In Byzantium we women are not eager to have our names and reputations bandied about. In Roma it might be otherwise, but here we all assume that it is not proper for a Christian woman to seek after notoriety or approbation.'
'And a man placed as General Belisarius is often is seen in the guise of his wife when he is not here to be evaluated,' added Eugenia. 'As some husbands are judged by their widows' conduct after the husbands are dead.' She did not smirk, but it was more of an effort not to than it appeared to be.
'Then I can see why Belisarius reposes such great trust in you, Antonina.' It was blatant flattery, but Olivia spoke with such skill—and Antonina was so eager to hear such praises—that if Antonina was aware of the intent, she was willing to ignore it.
However, Eugenia did not leave the issue unanswered. 'It is only right for a man of Belisarius' position to rely on the good offices of his wife, and for him to know and acknowledge all that she does for him. A husband who must depend on his wife to put forth his position cannot be indifferent to her activities.' From the tone of her voice,
