Rubicon

by Linda Coleman

  Chapter 26

  Melissa was woken early by the sound of birdsong. She reached for Antony, but the bed was empty. It was too early for him to have left, and if it was truly his intention to use her as his alibi for not being in the Senate, he would not be going anywhere all day. She looked around the room and saw him sitting on the stool in front of her dressing table. He was staring at her thoughtfully as he squeezed one hand with the other, making his knuckles crack. She glanced at the trunk beside him. It was open and he had obviously been through it.

  “Going somewhere?” Antony’s question was direct. She could tell he was in no mood for games.

  “Yes, actually,” she replied casually, sitting up and stretching so the sheet fell away from her body. “We are going next door.”

  Antony seemed doubtful of this answer, but Melissa decided to press on with telling the lie she had been rehearsing before she had gone to sleep. “The other room gets less light in the mornings. You are not an early riser, not in the sense of actually getting out of bed at least, and I thought you would prefer that room, assuming you are intending to continue to visit. Vitruvius flatly refused to move the furniture unless it was empty so I have packed all of my things and those of Antonius into boxes and I intend for us to swap rooms with him. I plan to decorate at the same time, now we have a few sesterces spare. But if you prefer things as they are, I will unpack and cancel the painter.” Melissa lay back on the bed seductively, praying he would fall for the excuse she had given.

  Antony made no move. He sat perfectly still, mulling over her words. Melissa needed to get him back in the bed and thinking of other things. “Come back here. I want you to do what you did last night again, or I may have to do it myself.” She tried to sound as inviting as she could. She lifted the knee that was furthest from him, raising the sheet slightly with her actions and slid her hand underneath it giving the impression she intended to satisfy herself if he was not going to join her.

  Antony rose and walked over to the bed. He still looked suspicious, but his curiosity was getting the better of him. He pulled the sheet away and sat on the edge of bed. “I do not seem to remember what you are referring to,” he said, playfully. “Show me what it is you want and I am sure at some point it will come to me.” He lay across the leg that was closest to him calling her bluff and leaving Melissa little option but to go through with what she had intimated she was prepared to do.

  Less than an hour later, Melissa was staring at the ceiling, waiting for Antony to climax, when she became aware of raised voices in the hallway. Vitruvius was arguing with someone. She heard him shouting the word “Consul” and thought initially that he must be trying to get Antony’s attention, but then she heard him shout “Caesar” and realised to her horror that Caesar was in the house. She began to thump Antony on the back, trying to get him to move off her, but he had no intention of stopping. As the door opened she tried to reason with him, but he was lost in the moment. Even the sound of Caesar’s own voice did nothing to lessen his resolve. Instead he simply grunted two words in response, “Busy now.”

  “Get out of that bed!” Caesar demanded. He was unimpressed at Antony’s behaviour. As the latter continued with his energetic display of stamina, the former was forced to shout over the noise Antony had decided to make. “If you refuse me, I will summon my lictors and your whore can pleasure each of them in turn while you are made to watch.”

  Antony took immediate exception to Melissa being called a whore. He stopped his thrusting and rose onto his elbows, looking straight at the wall. “I will not be given an order in this house. I will not leave this bed until such time as I choose to and if any man so much as touches this woman, he will find his balls removed and thrust down his throat.” His voice was full of anger and his face was turning red.

  Melissa wanted the bed to open up and swallow her. This was not supposed to be happening. Everything was going horribly wrong. If Antony lost control of his temper now, she did not know what the end result would be. She was truly frightened. She put her hands around Antony’s face and tried to pull his head down to look at her, whispering soothing phrases to try to bring him back to her and away from the dark mood that was descending on him.

  Caesar sat on the stool Antony had earlier vacated. He was barely able to hide the disgust in his voice as he continued to speak. “Who do you think you are speaking to? I am not one of your drunken gambling comrades. I am Caesar and you have me to thank for your position and privilege.” Caesar paused, drawing breath. He stood and began to pace the room. Oh great, Melissa thought, he’s going to deliver an oration! She was still pinned under Antony, who looked as if he would explode at any minute.

  Caesar began his speech. “You and I have not fought together for so long and for so much to allow our acquaintance to end in such a way. Over a mere woman? Surely not? Mark Antony, you are a consul of Rome and the people need you to fulfil your duties to them. All I ask is for a few hours of your time spent in earnest debate on the issues that are of concern to the multitude of your people. I wager she will wait ...” he gestured at Melissa “... as she is now, her legs apart in preparation for your return. She has your patronage and will do nothing to chance it to loss.” He paused as he turned to cross the room again and his tone changed to one of concern.

  “Antony, I have no intention of limiting your time here, for here is obviously where you wish to be. I only ask you to set aside the time that is necessary for you to discharge your obligations. I have no doubt that your need of this woman is great, but think of the needs of your people, your family and your wife. Think of Fulvia and the pain you must be causing her. Has she not already suffered the loss of two husbands? My sympathies go out to her as I watch her lose a third.”

  Caesar paused again. The final part of his speech he delivered softly and with genuine understanding. “My friend, I understand your mind. I too have been tested by the attentions of a woman I should not have wanted, but I understand that I must put her aside when the people’s needs are greater than my own. You have the opportunity for greatness before you, if you do not lose yourself to lust. I will wait for you in the hall while you make your choice, whatever it may be.” And with that, he left.

  Vitruvius had been watching the whole scene from just inside the door. He found it difficult to look at the bed, but he hoped that his presence there would be enough to stop the situation getting out of hand. When Caesar left, he remained where he was, staring at the wall.

  Antony looked down at Melissa. There was concern for her in his face, but there was also a deep sadness in his eyes, as if something in Caesar’s words had hit a nerve.

  “I have not hurt you, have I?” he asked with genuine sincerity. Melissa shook her head and he bent his head, kissing her gently. Vitruvius shuffled awkwardly at the door causing Antony to whisper, “Are we not alone?” Melissa shook her head again and a look of embarrassment crossed her face.

  Antony turned his head and glared at Vitruvius. The latter’s gaze shifted. He returned Antony’s glare without moving. “Caesar waits,” he said simply.

  Antony groaned in frustration and rolled off Melissa and onto the bed. “Fine, tell him I will dress and join him presently. Make it known that I am not best pleased about doing so. Go on,” he waved his hand towards the door, “I do not need you to watch me dress.”

  Vitruvius left and pulled the door to behind him. There was silence in the room and for a moment neither of them moved. When Antony finally rose from the bed, his mood was significantly more sombre. He recovered his crumpled toga from the floor and did his best to dress himself as Melissa too scrambled into her discarded clothing.

  When he finished, Antony turned to Melissa, arms spread wide and said, “Tell me honestly, how do I look?”

  Melissa was unable to stop herself laughing. Antony’s toga was in a sorry state from the night it had spent in a heap on the floor. There were so many creases in it that it looked as if he had slept in it.

  Antony looked at
himself and joined in her laughter. “A toga fit for the most debauched consul Rome has ever seen!” He sat on the bed and took Melissa’s hands in his, pulling her to stand in front of him as he looked up at her. His laughter had subsided and he looked more serious than she had ever seen him before.

  As Antony spoke, Melissa could hear the sadness in his voice. “Caesar was right in many of the things he said − you do know that?” Melissa nodded and he continued, “I enjoy my time here with you, but I have others dependent on me. I cannot leave Fulvia. Our son is but a few months old. It would not go well with the people for me to leave my Roman wife for a foreigner. They would exile us and send us far from this city. The best I can ever offer you is what you have now and that is a life as my mistress. If you had only given in to me sooner, you could have had so much more. Once I would have given everything I owned to have you care for me, but now there is too much at stake for me to walk away from my responsibilities.” Antony sighed as he stood up, pulling Melissa into his arms. He held her tightly and it felt that he knew as well as she did that it would be the last time they would ever see each other. Melissa felt a lump forming in her throat. Antony had made reference to his own future, although he did not know it. He was destined to abandon his pregnant fourth wife Octavia, and Rome, for Cleopatra and exile. It would set in motion a chain of events that would lead to both his and Cleopatra’s death, and the death of the Republic that he was trying so hard to maintain.

  Antony was in love with Melissa and he knew it. Perhaps he always had been, but fate had prevented him from ever expressing his true feelings in the ways he would have liked. He regretted so much of his behaviour towards the woman in his arms. He was desperate to lay his heart open to her and beg her to stay with him, but there was no time left to say the words whose meaning could never be fully explained in the fleeting seconds that remained. He had to force himself to walk away from the woman who gave him so much happiness. It was the only action he could take that was fair on Melissa, even though it broke his heart to do it.

  As they separated and Antony walked to the door, his final words came as a complete surprise to Melissa. “My sources tell me Vitruvius has acquired property in the north. Perhaps you should go there with my son. He is an honourable man who will keep you both safe in the dark days that will no doubt haunt us for many months. I will not look for you, Lissa, if you ask for it to be so. You have my word on it.” He waited at the door for an answer, closing his eyes in preparation for the rejection he fully expected to hear. Melissa said nothing and he left, slightly relieved that she had chosen not to tear his heart out with a reply.

  Melissa just stood there, legs frozen to the spot, unable to move. It was as if Antony knew everything they had planned, but Melissa could not fathom how he could without a spy in Brutus’ house. She finally found her legs and ran through the door and across the hall after him. As she entered the street, she nearly ran into Caesar. One of his lictors grabbed her and pushed her backwards, but Caesar waved him away.

  For the first time that morning Caesar acknowledged her. “Well, Lissa, as you see, the Ides are upon us and I am still here.”

  Melissa replied without thinking. “Yes, Caesar, the day is here, but not yet passed.” She gasped, horrified that the words she remembered from Shakespeare had come from her lips. Her gaze drifted to Antony, looking to see if he had any inkling of what was going to happen, but he had taken up the stance of a man too hung over to care, staring at his feet, barely registering where he was. She knew Antony’s behaviour was merely an act, but if that was how he chose to get through the day, Melissa would not betray his secret. By the end of it he would have many reasons to wish he was drunk. He stood next to Decimus Brutus, who looked away, not wishing to acknowledge Melissa. She nodded curtly to Caesar as he climbed into his litter, then turned and went back inside the house.

  Chapter 27

  Vitruvius could make no sense out of what Melissa was trying to say. Whatever had happened outside had obviously shocked her, but she was unwilling to speak about it. All she kept saying was she had to leave Antony with enough information to save him. Vitruvius left her with Renna and continued on with their escape plan.

  The wagon had arrived just before dawn and he had already packed as many of their belongings as he dared, sending it back to the stables to wait for him. Now he ran as fast as he could to retrieve it. By his estimation they would have little more than an hour to get to the city gates before the news of Caesar’s death spread panic. Even if the assassination failed, they would only have the same amount of time before Antony shut the city down in order to search for conspirators, and, once he knew Melissa had lied, Vitruvius imagined their house would be the first Antony would target. Speed was of the essence, but Melissa now chose to lose control of her mind.

  By the time he had returned to the house, Melissa was calmer and able to function, but she was not herself. She was still writing her letter to Antony, just as she had been when he left. He loaded the last remaining chest from Melissa’s room into the back of the wagon before dragging Melissa from the house. He put her and Antonius in the back and climbed up in the front alongside Renna. In his absence, their former slave had realised that Melissa was a risk to the safety of them all in her current state. Renna exchanged their clothing and now it was she who would pose as Vitruvius’ wife, while Melissa sat in silence in the back, as any good slave would do. Melissa seemed content to comply and sat in the wagon, hugging Antonius as if her life depended on it, whilst tears poured down her face.

  They met no resistance at the gate and left the city without incident. It had all gone so smoothly, Vitruvius found himself saying a silent prayer to the goddess Fortuna to thank her and to ask for her continued protection. All day he kept expecting to hear the sound of hooves thundering along the road behind them, chasing after them in order to punish them for their treachery, but no horses ever came.

  They heard no news of events in Rome that evening when they stopped at a small inn on the road. It was not until the next night that they overheard people talking of Caesar’s murder. There were many rumours, it seemed. Some said he was dead, others that he was merely wounded. One even suggested he and Antony had fought off their attackers and had both fled into hiding. No one was really certain what had happened, but it seemed nobody was searching for Melissa or her friends. They were safe, for a while at least.

  It was not difficult to follow Brutus’ instructions and two days later they found the smallholding located a few miles from a small village just south of the Rubicon. Vitruvius was not overly impressed with Melissa’s choice of location. She had thought he would like to go home, whereas he had hoped never to set foot in the area again. Despite his misgivings, the land seemed reasonable enough for growing food. To one side of the house was a small grazing paddock with four olive trees. This was a definite advantage as olives were a highly- prized commodity. Vitruvius had to admit that Brutus had chosen well.

  The house itself was small, and had only the most basic furniture. It needed work and a good clean, but it was nothing that could not be managed between them. There were only two beds and they had to share: Melissa with Renna to begin with, and Vitruvius with Antonius. Renna was now an equal partner in their odd little family, and took to every task with vigour and determination. In the days that followed, Vitruvius began to notice their former slave in ways he never had before and it was not too long before the sleeping arrangements changed. Melissa was happy for them both. At least something good was coming out of all the terrible things that had happened.

  It was not safe to keep all the money in the house. Melissa and Vitruvius took a joint decision to hide most of it in various locations around the farm and nearby woodland that formed part of their property. Melissa chose to hide the pieces of jewellery Antony had given her along with it. She could have sold the gems, but to do so might draw unnecessary attention to the new arrivals, and they needed to keep a low profile. Vitruvius always kept a coded map of every
location on his person which only he and Melissa knew how to read. Despite his growing feelings for Renna, he was unwilling to trust her with too much information just yet.

  As they searched out new hiding-places, Melissa had a feeling of déjà vu. It was as if she had been to this place before. She soon realised that their new home was right next to the point that Caesar’s army had used to ford the Rubicon, bringing her and Rebecca with them into Rome so many years before. This had to be the same place where she had passed through time, or very close to it. For the first time in years, she began to wonder if there was a chance she could return home.

  Each week passed without incident, and then another after that. The farm was coming on well. Vitruvius turned out to be a reasonable carpenter and made more furniture as they needed it, including a chair with a back to it that Melissa had designed. He thought it an odd piece, but Melissa loved it because it supported her back.

  Melissa was not much help around the farm, due to her condition. She became increasingly sick in the mornings which made it difficult for her to perform physical labour, so instead she schooled Antonius. She taught him Latin, mathematics, Roman history and, much to Vitruvius’ annoyance, she continued to teach him English. She knew he might never have any use for the language, but it did give her something special that only she and the boy shared. Antonius was a poor student, despite his finding learning easy: he had very little concentration and was always looking for some way to avoid his lessons.

  As the weeks passed, Melissa became closer to Antonius than she had ever been before, although Vitruvius was still his favourite. Every afternoon in good weather she would give into Antonius’ pleading and take him for a walk down to the Rubicon. They would take some of his little boats to play with and she began to watch for any sign of a way home. Every night, she would tell him wild stories of ships that could sail through the stars to other worlds, adapted from episodes of TV shows she had seen. She would sing him lullabies taken from her favourite songs by James Reyne and Bruce Springsteen. Who cared whether it was appropriate − no one would ever know or understand. Antonius had no part to play in history to her knowledge, and these tiny links to Melissa’s world kept her dreams of home alive. Antonius’ favourite song was one that referred to living in the future, though of course Melissa was the only one who understood the irony.