To Love Again

that only Villa Maxima can provide. Come back in the morning and I will introduce you to them all. You may even see them in the baths.' What was Casia about? This behavior of hers was quite out of character. 'I will escort you to your litter.'

'Thank you, dear Jovian,' Casia said with a smile.

'And I will come, too,' Justin Gabras told them.

'It is not necessary, my lord,' Casia said quickly.

'But I insist,' Justin Gabras said, smiling toothily at her.

When they had reached the litter, Casia said loudly, 'I will come back in the morning, Jovian, and see those beautiful bodies then.'

Before she could stop him, Justin Gabras leaned down and pulled the litter's curtains aside. His eyes widened, and reaching in, he pulled a resistant Cailin forth. 'Well! Well! Well! And what have we here? Flavius Aspar's bride- to-be come home for a little visit? Did you come to see the gladiators, too, my pet? Or was the purpose of your visit to relive old times?'

Cailin shook his hand off her arm and glared icily at him.

'It's all my fault,' Casia burst out. 'Aspar was called to the palace after the games today. I said I would take Cailin back to Villa Mare, but I did so want to get a close look at those marvelous men. I detoured my litter here. Cailin did not want to come, and as you see, she has remained in the litter, practically hiding. If Aspar finds out, he will not let us remain friends!'

'If Aspar finds out, the wedding will most likely be off,' Justin Gabras said drolly.

'I think not, my lord,' Cailin said. 'I have done nothing wrong, and my lord Aspar knows I am not a liar. If I but tell him the truth of this matter, he will believe me.'

'Probably he will,' Justin Gabras admitted, 'but will the imperial court? Or the patriarch? They will be all too eager to believe the worst of you, Cailin Drusus.' He laughed. 'Just today I told my wife that you were now inviolate. It seems that I was wrong.'

'Who is to say that we were here today?' Casia demanded. 'Given who your wife is, my lord, do you think you will be believed if you tell tales?' She pushed past him, taking Cailin's hand in hers. 'Come, I must get you back to Villa Mare before it grows dark and the road cannot be seen. I will stay the night with you.'

'No!' Justin Gabras grasped Cailin's other arm in a bruising grip. He had already devised a wicked plan by which he might discredit her.

'Jovian!' Casia appealed to the master of the house.

'Jovian cannot help you, my dears,' Gabras said. 'What do you expect him to do for you? You came here of your own free will. I did not force you to come. Now you will stay, and amuse my guests.'

'My lord Gabras,' Cailin said pleadingly, 'why do you do this thing? What have I ever done that you should hate my lord Aspar so?'

'I do not know Flavius Aspar well enough to hate him,' was the cold reply, 'but I am tired of hearing my wife Flacilla whine for revenge upon him for their loveless marriage. No, do not tell me that she loved him not. She says it often enough herself, but hate-and hers is very strong toward Aspar-is the other side of the love's coin, Cailin Drusus. Surely you know that. Flacilla's choler is such that I fear for my unborn child. I want that child! Until this moment I had not the power to give my wife what she claims to desire so dearly. Your foolishness at coming here has given me an opportunity I never expected to have.' He smiled cruelly. 'By this time tomorrow, Flacilla will have her revenge, and may rest easy, I think.'

'Spare her,' Casia said, 'and I will personally entertain your guests in any fashion you desire! Just release Cailin, I beg you, my lord Gabras! Jovian, have you no say in any of this?'

'I cannot help you,' Jovian said, and his eyes filled with tears. 'He would kill me if I tried, would you not, my lord? Even if I dared to send for help, by the time Aspar got here, it would be too late. You should not have come here tonight, Casia, and you most assuredly should not have brought Cailin.'

'Michael!' Justin Gabras called to the servant, who came quickly to his side. 'Help me take our guests and lock them up until we are ready for them.' He dragged Cailin into the atrium while she struggled in vain to escape his strong fingers.

'Let us go!' Casia cried as Michael pulled her along in their wake.

'And lock up the whore's litter bearers until we are of a mind to release her,' Justin Gabras called out to Jovian.

'Lady, I apologize for this,' Michael told Cailin as he pushed her into a sparsely furnished, windowless room behind Casia. He shut the door behind them, and they heard the lock turning noisily.

'Forgive me!' Casia said, flinging herself into Cailin's arms. 'I am a fool to have ever suggested coming here! The gods help us both!'

'It is as much my fault as yours,' Cailin said generously. 'If I had let the matter of the Saxon rest instead of pursuing it, we would not be in this predicament. What do you think they mean to do?'

'It is obvious,' Casia replied. 'Gabras will give us to his gladiators. It matters not to me. I am a whore and used to taking a variety of men between my thighs, but you, my poor friend!' She began to cry, much to Cailin's astonishment, for Casia was not a woman given to tears.

'Do not cry,' Cailin comforted her friend. Strangely, she felt nothing right now. Not even fear.

'Gabras will spread word of this incident all over Constantinople,' Casia said, still sobbing. 'Basilicus will never forgive me!'

'You love him!' Cailin was again surprised.

Casia nodded. 'Aye, the gods help me, I do! He doesn't know, of course. He is not the kind of man one can confide such an emotion in, sadly. He will never accept being embarrassed by me. I will never see him again after tonight, I fear! I have ruined not just your life, but my own as well!'

'Perhaps we can escape,' Cailin said hopefully.

Casia, her tears finished, looked at her friend and shook her head. 'How? This room has no windows, and but one door, which is locked. They will come for us, and that will be the end of it. There is no escape, Cailin. Make up your mind to that right now.'

Chapter 14

The two women did not have long to wait. Four male slaves arrived to escort them to the baths, where they were thoroughly washed and their bodies rubbed with fragrant oils. The bath attendants rubbed Cailin's auburn ringlets and Casia's thick, long blue-black hair until they were dry. Their hair was perfumed, Casia's first being braided into a single plait, and then floral wreaths were set atop their heads. No fresh garments were offered them, and the women realized it would be useless to even ask.

They were then escorted into a large airy room that opened onto the villa's beautiful gardens. Justin Gabras sat, now garbed in a short white tunic, upon a black marble chair. The gladiators were assembled before him. There were no other women in the room. At their entry, the men turned, their eyes avid with interest. The guards forced Casia and Cailin forward, and reaching out, Justin Gabras pulled both women into his lap, balancing them each upon a single knee. His hands reached up to fondle their breasts, pinching at the nipples.

'You have eaten well, my friends,' he said to his guests, 'and now I have a little treat for you. These two women are the most exclusive whores in Byzantium. They are pretty little rabbits, are they not? We are going to have a little game. We shall release these two little rabbits into the gardens, and then you, as randy a pack of dogs as I've ever seen, will chase after them. They will hide from you, will you not my beauties? But someone will find them, and whoever the lucky men are will have their pleasure of these women for this entire night. There are no losers in this game, however. The rest of you will have your choice of any other woman in the house after our game is over. What think you?'

The gladiators cheered Justin Gabras lustily.