'Good fortune, my lord,' Cailin told Aspar.
He bent and, cupping her face in his hand, touched her lips softly with his. 'When I look at you, my love,' he told her, 'I find my devotion to duty growing weaker and weaker.'
'You do not fool me,' Cailin said with a small smile. 'The empire is your first love, and I well know it. I am willing to share you with Byzantium, my dearest love.'
He smiled into her face. 'You are without peer among all the women I have ever known, Cailin Drusus. I am fortunate to have your love.'
'You are fortunate to have his love,' Casia told her as they departed the Hippodrome in her large and comfortable litter.
'Why did you refuse to allow the prince to come later?' Cailin asked her friend. 'I believe he truly loves you.'
'I do not want to cling to Basilicus like some dreadful little vine,' Casia said. 'Nor do I want Basilicus to ever presume upon my love for him. I am his mistress, not his wife. I will not accept part of an evening at his discretion. I want an entire evening. Surely he knew beforehand that he would be with his sister tonight, but he did not tell me. He presumed that I should be there for him, but I am not, now am I?'
When Cailin did not answer, Casia focused upon her friend and said, 'Have you heard a word that I said? What is the matter with you, Cailin? You are suddenly so distracted.'
Cailin sighed. She needed to confide in someone, and Casia was the only friend she had. 'It is the Saxon,' she replied.
'Aye, he is gorgeous!' Casia agreed.
'It is not that,' Cailin answered.
'Then what is it?' Casia demanded.
'I think the Saxon is Wulf Ironfist,' Cailin told her friend.
'I am not certain, Casia,' Cailin said nervously, 'but I must know! We wed because he was tired of fighting and he wanted to settle down. My lands were what drew him to me. I have thought Wulf Ironfist to be in Britain, on those lands, these months past. I even decided that he must have taken another wife and had a child by now. I have to know if the man they call the Saxon is he! I must know one way or another.'
'Ohhh, Cailin, you are opening a Pandora's box,' Casia warned. 'What if this man is Wulf Ironfist? What will you do? Do you still love him? What of Aspar?'
'I cannot answer you, Casia. I have no answers. I only know I must learn if it is he, or if my eyes have been playing tricks upon me.' She looked so distraught that Casia's heart went out to her. 'Ohhh, what am I to do?' Cailin asked, and she began to cry.
'Well,' Casia said briskly, 'we will simply have to satisfy your curiosity, won't we?' Pulling the curtains of her litter open, she leaned out and called to her head bearer, 'Go to Villa Maxima, Peter!'
Cailin gasped. 'Oh, Casia, no! 'Tis madness! What if I am seen? Especially now that I am to be married to Aspar.'
'Who will see us?' Casia said. 'Jovian and Phocas have closed Villa Maxima to their regular clientele while the gladiators are in residence. I will go in while you remain in the litter with the curtains tightly closed. I will seek out Jovian, and he will know how you may learn if the Saxon is your Wulf Ironfist. We will be discreet, and you will be safer than if you were in your mother's house again,' Casia promised. 'Then you can go home and feel foolish, for it is very, very unlikely that this gladiator is your man, Cailin Drusus.'
'But what if it is Wulf?' Cailin fretted.
Casia's face grew serious. 'Why then, my friend, you are going to have to decide just what it is you want-a beautiful but savage Saxon who is obviously penniless, and willing to risk his life in the ring; or the cultured and wealthy First Patrician of the empire. If it were me, Cailin Drusus, I would order this litter to turn back, and I would return to Villa Mare this instant. If a man like Flavius Aspar loved me, I would thank God each morning when I awoke for the rest of my days. I think you are mad to tempt the Fates so. Let me tell Peter to turn back. I will come home with you and keep you company this night. The Saxon cannot be Wulf Ironfist.'
'I must know, Casia. Seeing him, even from a distance, has filled my mind with doubts. If I do not resolve these doubts, how can I ever pledge my faith to Aspar? What if the Saxon is not Wulf, but someday in the future Wulf does appear upon my doorstep? What if I still love him?'
'The gods forbid it, you foolish creature!' Casia exclaimed.
The litter made its way down the Mese and then through a series of side streets. The two women had grown quiet. Casia twisted the rich fabric of her gown with her slender fingers. She was already regretting her impulsiveness. It was not Cailin alone who was opening Pandora's box. She drew a deep breath. Nothing was going to come of this. Cailin, having a fit of bridal nerves, was seeing ghosts. The Saxon would turn out to be no one she had ever known. Still, Casia started nervously as the litter was set down and her head bearer, Peter, drew back the curtains to reveal that they were in the courtyard of Villa Maxima. Cailin reached out, touching Casia's arm encouragingly.
Casia nodded. 'I will find Jovian. Remain here, and whatever you do, do not open the curtains. Let them think the litter is empty.' She stepped from her elegant vehicle. 'Peter, let no one be aware that I have a companion with me. I will not be long.'
'Yes, lady,' he replied.
Casia hurried into the magnificent atrium of the villa. A servant came forward and his eyes widened as he recognized the visitor. 'Good afternoon, Michael,' Casia said. 'Will you fetch Master Jovian to me, please? I will await him here. Were you at the games today?' she inquired brightly. 'Was the Saxon not wonderful!'
Michael allowed himself a small grin. Casia had a fine eye for the gentlemen, and it was apparent she had not lost it. He bowed politely. 'At once, lady. Shall I have refreshments sent to you while you wait? It is hot for autumn. Some iced wine, perhaps?'
'Thank you, no,' Casia returned. 'I can stay but long enough to speak with Master Jovian.' She sat down upon a marble bench, watching as the servant went off, and wondering how long it would be before Jovian put in an appearance. The gods! Why had she ever suggested coming here?
Jovian came into the atrium, but to her intense distress, he was not alone. She silently cursed herself for a fool.
'Casia, my pet!' Jovian kissed her upon both cheeks. 'What brings you here this day? I am quite surprised to see you.'
'Indeed, Casia,' Justin Gabras purred. 'I, too, am surprised. I wonder if Prince Basilicus would be also?'
'No, he would not,' Casia replied sweetly, regaining her composure. 'I grant the prince certain favors, my lord, but he does not own me. Nor would he presume to interfere with my friendships, many of which are of a long- standing nature.' She turned to Jovian. 'May we speak alone?'
Before Jovian might answer, however, Gabras said, 'Secrets, my pet? I am fascinated. What possible secrets could a whore have? I believed that everything about you was already common knowledge.'
Casia felt her temper rising. 'I wonder how long it will be, my lord, before you are poisoned with your own venom,' she snapped. 'Jovian! Where may we speak?'
'No! No!' Gabras persisted, chortling. 'I would know your secrets, lady. I really will not leave you to Master Jovian until I do.'
Jovian looked helplessly at Casia, and she shrugged. 'Ohh, very well! If you must know, my lord, I came to gain a closer look at the gladiators. There! Are you satisfied now?'
Justin Gabras burst out laughing. 'You women are all alike,' he said. 'A look, you say? Is that all, Casia? Perhaps what you really wanted was to sample their passions. Which is it who takes your fancy? The Saxon? The Hun? Were you still a resident of this house, you would have had your pick of them tonight, would you not?'
'Big, sweaty men with big cocks and childish minds do not make particularly good lovers,' Casia replied coolly. 'Their bodies, however, are beautiful, and I am a lover of beauty, my lord. I could see little from our box in the Hippodrome, which is why I came to Villa Maxima. Perhaps I have chosen a bad time. I can come back in the morning.'
Jovian, who was astounded by Casia's speech, finally found his voice. 'Yes, my darling, that would really be better,' he agreed. 'Their day has been long, and they are about to enjoy a fine meal and the kind of entertainment
