“I wasn’t expecting you,” Birgit saidapologetically, “so I’m afraid all I can offer is some bread andoil.”
“That,” I assured her, “will befine.”
“Mama, do you know where Septimus is?”Alex asked her.
Before she could answer, we heard the soundof someone descending the stairs, then Gisela entered, came to acomplete stop, her eyes wide and shining with happiness as sheregarded me as the proof that her brother’s task had beensuccessfully completed, or so I assumed. And she did begin to runto me as I stood up to receive a hug, but once more, she came to astop, her eyes no longer on me but on Bronwen.
“Who is she?” I doubt that she meantto sound hostile, or perhaps she did, given how she had been makingeyes at me the year before, and I will not lie and say that I hadnot been mutually attracted.
“Gisela!” Birgit’s voice cracked likea whip. “Where are your manners?”
The color came rushing into her face,and I had to suppress a wince, seeing how she was mortallyembarrassed, but she managed to stammer, “I apologize.” Then,making a visible effort to sound polite, she addressed Bronwen,“Salve, my name is GiselaPullus, Alex’s sister.”
Bronwen had stood as well, and while she isonly a couple years older than Gisela, the manner in which shecrossed the room to take both of Gisela’s hands made her look evenmore like a queen, at least to me.
“Salve,Gisela,” this was the first time she used our form of greeting, andI sensed how proud she was for doing so, “my name is Bronwen, and Iam from the island the Romans call Britannia. I am a member of theParisii tribe, and the daughter of Praesutagas themerchant.”
Gisela did attempt to sound pleased, but inthe moment, I did not believe anyone was fooled; very quickly, Iwould learn that Bronwen had instantly understood thesituation.
“Septimus,” Birgit broke in, thank thegods, “returns home just before dark.”
“Where’s Gaius?” Alex asked, which Ifound surprising since I had always sensed a certain level ofcoolness on Alex’s part towards his half-brother.
“He’s with Septimus,” Birgit answeredreadily enough, but I saw a look exchanged between mother and sonthat indicated this meant more than was immediately apparent, and Idecided I would ask Alex about this later.
The bread was served, along with a bowl ofoil, and Birgit also found some cheeses that she put on aplatter.
When I bit into the bread, I must havemade some moan of delight, because Bronwen, who was seated next tome, gave me a quizzical look, and I explained, “I didn’t want totell you this, but the bread you Parisii make ishorrible.” She opened her mouth, Iassumed to argue the point, so I shoved the rest of the chunk I hadleft into her mouth, saying, “Taste it.”
She had no choice, although I suppose shecould have spat it out in my face, but thankfully, she chose tochew it, and I watched as her expression changed.
Nevertheless, she was not quite readyto submit, although she admitted, after swallowing her mouthful,“It is good. But,” shesniffed, “I do not think that it is better.”
“What is their bread made of?” Giselaasked, seemingly innocently, but I should have known better, andwhen I told her, she turned to Bronwen and said laughingly, “Barleyis what we feed our horses!”
I braced myself, waiting for Bronwen toretaliate in some way, but while she did, it was not only not whatI expected, it was deadly effective as she replied sweetly, “Thankyou for teaching me about this, Gisela. There is much I have tolearn about Rome and its ways.” Then she looked up at me, and I sawthe gleam of amusement in her eyes. “But I am looking forward tolearning everything Gnaeus can teach me.” She turned her attentionback to Gisela, and with wide eyes, finished the contest. “Oh, andyou of course, Gisela. I will not forget your kindness.”
From the opposite end of the table, I heardAlex coughing, but I was more worried about Birgit’s reaction toher child’s defeat, but she was smiling as she looked down at herplate. And Gisela obviously knew that she had been bested, hercheeks turning scarlet, but like her mother, she chose toconcentrate on her plate.
To break the awkward silence, I said, “We’renot going to be staying long, Birgit.”
“I was surprised to see you,” sheanswered. “I had expected that you would leave…Britannia,” Iunderstood that in that instant she had chosen a different termthan the one she was about to utter, out of courtesy to Bronwen,which I appreciated, “but that you’d go immediately back toUbiorum.”
Gnaeus, I groaned to myself, why can’t youlearn when to keep your mouth shut? It was not as if I had thoughtto keep our trip to Alexandria a secret from them, but I hadplanned on only talking about it once.
“Mama,” Alex came to my rescue, “we’regoing to tell you everything about what we’re planning to do, but Ithink we should wait for Septimus and Gaius to come home. And, willyou send for Miriam? She needs to be here as well, and so doesScribonia, but only if she’s able to with the baby.”
I could see by her expression this had notoccurred to her, and she got up to hurry out of the room. Alexwasted no time, turning to Gisela.
“Sister, may I speak to you inprivate?”
Even if I had never met her before, Icould see she wanted to refuse, but between the tone her oldestbrother had used and the look he was giving her, she mutely noddedher head, getting up from the table. Alex did as well, and when heled her in the direction of the stairway, I knew he did so becauseif they had gone into the triclinium, we would have overheard himchastising Gisela.
“I’m sorry that Gisela was so rude,” Isaid, but I was shocked when Bronwen sighed, then replied, “Poorgirl. That must have been very difficult for her.”
“What?” I tried to understand why shewas speaking in this way, but I could not come up with a goodreason. “She was rude to you!”
The look she gave me
