“Salve,Bronwen,” Carissa bowed deeply, then stepped aside to let usin as she began babbling, something I had learned she did when shewas nervous or unsettled. “Your mother will be here before dark,Master Gnaeus. She was just out to visit a friend, and she said shewas going to stop at the Temple of Jupiter to make anoffering.”
This sounded odd to me, and I asked, “Forwho?”
“Why, for you of course! The lastmessage we received about you was from Mistress Algaia, when shelet us know that you had been successfully ransomed. But then, youdidn’t show up, and we just received word from her that she hasn’theard anything more!”
I was just happy that Alex was not there tohear this last part, but it did make a decision for me, because theguilt that I felt that had slowly been receding came rushingback.
“We’ll only be staying a night,” Itold her, and she did not try to hide her disappointment as shecollected our cloaks.
“Your mother will be unhappy to hearthat, Master Gnaeus,” she said this reprovingly, but I did notfault her.
“I know she will,” I agreed. “But onceshe hears why, I’m sure she’ll agree.”
This was my hope, anyway, and Carissaled us into the triclinium,which my mother actually does use. Alex arrived then, and I decidedto take Bronwen on a brief tour of my mother’s home, which isconsiderably smaller and only has one floor. She was stillimpressed, though, and was particularly taken with the paintedfresco on one wall of my mother’s personal room that portrayed apastoral scene that, as far as I could tell, seemed to attempt torepresent what the view would look like if there was not a cityhere. Once the tour was over, we rejoined Alex to find that Carissahad heated up some posca forus, another first for Bronwen, and we watched her eyes above therim of her cup with amusement as she tasted it for the firsttime.
I am not sure what I was expecting,but it was not her face lighting up as she exclaimed, “Thisis very pleasant tasting!”Without hesitating, she drained her cup, then held it out toCarissa, smiling as she asked, “May I have some more?”
Naturally, Carissa was happy to comply, butI was only partially jesting when I said, “You might want a clearhead when you meet my mother.”
I instantly knew I had said the wrong thing,her face losing its color as she set the cup down so hastily thatsome of it splashed out of it onto the table. Despite my bestattempt, I was unable to ease her mind, and she did not touch thecup again. More to pass the time, I asked Carissa for news, hopingto glean some information about the plan for the Legions, and I hadeven considered the possibility that, if Germanicus was presenthere in Mogontiacum for some reason, I would report directly to himinstead of going through the normal process of returning to PrimusPilus Sacrovir. This, thankfully, was one of the few things thatCarissa did know.
“The Propraetor isn’t here in Mogontiacum,” sheinformed us.
“That’s probably for the best,” Isaid. “This way, I can report in to Sacrovir, then Germanicus canpunish me as he sees fit.”
It was the manner in which Carissareacted that gave me forewarning, “Master Gnaeus, thePropraetor isn’t in Ubiorumeither.”
“Did he go back to Gaul to finish thecensus?”
This seemed to be the most likelyexplanation, which was why I offered it, but I was wrong again.
“No, he’s not in Gaul either. He wassummoned back to Rome by the Imperator.”
This was the moment where we heard the soundof a door opening and closing, followed by the sight of my motherrushing in, her cloak still on and flecked with snowflakes. Ibarely got to my feet when she launched herself at me, hugging meso fiercely that I thought I might strangle, although I waslaughing. Whether it was my reaction, or she had planned it allalong, I never asked, but she released her grasp of me, then drewback her right hand and slapped me, hard, across the face.
“That’s what you get for worrying yourmother to death!”
It was probably for the best that she burstinto tears; I do not like being slapped by anyone, even my mother,but the sight of her so distraught meant that all that came out ofmy mouth was, “I’m sorry, Mama.”
As is her habit, it did not take long for mymother to recover her composure, although she spent some timefussing over the new scars I had earned before she naturally huggedAlex next, then the moment I had been alternately looking forwardto and dreading came as she turned to face Bronwen, who had alsorisen. She looked calm enough, but I had observed her habit oftwisting her hands together as they hung down in front of herwhenever she was nervous.
“Mama, this is Bronwen, of the Parisiipeople of Britannia, daughter of Praesutagas, one of the richestmerchants of all the tribes of Britannia.” I had no idea if thiswas anywhere near the truth, but it sounded good, and Bronwen didnot object as I finished, “Bronwen, this is my mother, GiuliaVolusenus.”
“Mistress Volusenus,” Bronwenperformed the feminine version of a bow, “it is my…”
She got no further, because my mother hadcome to her and, without a word, swept her into an embrace. I wasstanding in the right place to see the look of first surprise, thenhappiness suffuse Bronwen’s face.
“You,” my mother’s voice was almosthusky with emotion, “are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,Bronwen.” I should have known what was coming, because now sheturned so she was looking at me, although she still addressedBronwen, “Which makes me ask, how did my son manage to win yourheart?”
Honestly, it felt good to fall back into ourmore normal pattern of teasing each other, so I replied with mockindignation, “How couldn’t she fall for me? I,” I turned slightlyto strike a pose like a statue, “am a model of Roman manhood.”
“Which is why I’m asking her,” mymother replied tartly.
This made us all laugh, then with theintroductions done, my mother handed her cloak to Carissa, then ledBronwen to sit on the couch next to
