As badly as I wanted to stay longer, I madeit clear that night that we would be leaving in two days’ time. Iwould have insisted on it being the very next day, but Alex rightlypointed out that, given the time of year, there would bedifficulties in procuring horses, both to ride and as pack animals.The fact that it also gave Miriam and her children, along withScribonia and her baby to get word that we had returned safely andsuccessfully meant that I was not hard to convince.
“Besides,” Birgit had pointed out, “weneed to find Bronwen a proper traveling cloak, lined withfur.”
This was done the next morning, with Birgit,Bronwen, and Gisela going out to purchase a cloak, and as I wasinformed, other clothing that she needed. I would have beendisposed to argue, but frankly, I was a bit distracted by thethought of Gisela and Bronwen spending time together. Alex leftwith them, but he had a different task, looking for animals thatsomeone was willing to rent at this time of year, although it wasnot just the weather, it was the number of animals, because we haddecided to use spare mounts. The bulk of the goods that had comewith us from Alexandria were staying in Arelate, Alex had persuadedme to bring a smaller sack of peppercorns, and of course a roll ofthe silk in each color, although I was certain that very little ofthat would be sold and would end up as part of Bronwen’s wardrobe.She did remind me more than once that the undyed blended fabric Ihad insisted on buying was not going to be touching her skin, norwould she be responsible for how it would be used.
While they were gone, I sat down withSeptimus as he tallied up the family account, which, frankly, Ifound extremely tedious and boring, but I also felt obligated topay attention because it had a direct impact on me. Ever since Alexhad informed me when we returned to Ubiorum the winter before thatSeptimus intended to use the family’s wealth so that I couldqualify to return to the Equestrian Order, I felt both honored andunder immense pressure. Watching him stacking the coins thenincising the tally in one of the tablets gave me time to think,something that I had been assiduously trying to avoid. After all, Isilently reasoned as I sat there, when Septimus made that offer, Iwas in the good graces of Germanicus Julius Caesar, and I had beeninformed that my father had made a personal plea to thePropraetor to help me, but that hadbeen before all of this happened. At that point in time, I had notrefused to return to Ubiorum immediately as I should have once Ihad been released by the Parisii, making it a decent propositionthat any good feelings Germanicus held for me were gone. As theonly sound was the quiet clinking of coins as Septimus stackedthem, I was reluctant to break the silence between us, yet I alsoknew that I had something to say to Septimus, and that somethingwas to release him from his vow. It turned out that it was notnecessary, and I learned why when Septimus muttered a soft curse,then sat back to stare down at the tablet in front of him for aspan of several heartbeats.
“Gnaeus,” he broke the silence, “I’mafraid I have some bad news.” Not as bad as mine, I’ll wager, Ithought, but aloud, I asked what it was.
“Even recovering four hundredthousand sesterces, I’mafraid that, while the villa is safe, as are the other businesses,once I settle the debts owed by Gaius, we’re not going to haveenough left for you to qualify for elevation.” I only realized thenthat I had been holding my breath, because I exhaled it one longgust as I slumped over the table, the cause for which Septimusmistook, because he leaned over to place his hand on my arm.“Gnaeus, I am so sorry. We…”he shook his head, “…I failedyou.”
“What?” It was then I realized hiserror, and I assured him, “Septimus, I’m not upset. I’mrelieved.”
Now his expression went from sorrow toconfusion as he asked, “Why in Jupiter’s name are yourelieved?”
It was this moment that I realizedsomething, so instead of explaining, I shook my head and told him,“This is something everyone needs to hear. When we sit down tonightfor our meal, I’ll explain everything.”
When Bronwen and the two Pullus womenreturned home, I pretended to be dismayed at all that they werecarrying in their arms. Then, at long last, I finally showedBronwen what a full Roman bath is like, Septimus having ordered thefire started earlier in the day, and while she found itfascinating, when it came time for the oiling and scraping, sherefused.
“I scrubbed myself very well. I do notneed to smell like a Roman. Besides,” she gave me a smile that wasboth sweet yet offered a hint of other things, “I bought someperfume today that I think you will like. Would you rather smellolive oil or that?”
One thing that I had forgotten to mention toBronwen about a bath is that, once you are clean, you can findyourself incredibly drowsy, so Bronwen retired to our room for anap, leaving me to spend time with Miriam, who had arrived with thechildren, and she told me that her husband would be attending themeal.
Obviously, I looked uncomfortable at theidea, which made her laughingly say, “Servius is going to heareverything anyway, Gnaeus. That,” she said mischievously, “is whatit means to be husband and wife.”
“So I’m learning,” I mumbled, whichthe others thought quite funny, particularly Alex, who had alreadyinformed me that he was enjoying watching
