A Charioteer's Promise

by Tanya Bird

  Nero tried again to sit up, ignoring Felix’s disapproving stare. Every inch of him ached and throbbed. Mila must have heard them talking, because she appeared in the doorway looking exhausted.

  ‘Thank the gods,’ she breathed, then rushed to his bedside. Her gaze moved over him before a scowl settled on her face. ‘What in heaven’s name were you thinking? You almost died.’

  Felix cleared his throat. ‘I thought you might get a few moments of pity before this part. It appears I was wrong.’

  ‘You would have bled out if someone had not dropped you on our doorstep,’ she continued as if Felix had not spoken. ‘Now Remus is running about the city, out for blood. No one even knows where Dulcia is.’ She crossed her arms. ‘Manius has her locked up gods know where.’

  ‘She’s with Manius?’

  Mila glared at him. ‘Even if I did know, I would not tell you. You cannot be trusted.’

  He stared at the blanket covering him, head pulsing. ‘We were so close. Someone alerted them.’

  ‘It was probably Gallus himself,’ Mila said, throwing her hands up. ‘Why on earth did you trust that man to begin with?’

  Felix raised his hands in an attempt to calm her. ‘Gallus is many things, but I would be very surprised if he would conspire against Nero. He values his life more than coin, and he knows we would come for him.’

  Nero winced as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. ‘Well, someone told them.’

  Mila’s hands went to her hips. ‘Where on earth do you think you are going?’

  ‘To Remus. This is my mess. I don’t want him cleaning it up.’

  She shook her head at him. ‘Oh no you do not. You are not moving from this bed until the physician says you can. Be thankful for your injuries or I would beat you myself.’

  ‘I need to find Dulcia.’

  ‘What do you think Albaus is doing right now?’ Her retort was abrupt.

  Nero hung his head in his hands as a wave of nausea washed over him. ‘Great idea. Send a mute man to make enquiries.’

  ‘He might not have a tongue,’ Felix said, ‘yet somehow he is one of the most well-connected men in Rome.’ He made a gesture for Nero to stay put. ‘Do not move from that bed unless you want Mila to start breaking things. I will go to Remus, tell him you are awake. It might soothe his agitation.’

  ‘How long have been I out?’

  ‘Two days,’ Mila said, much louder than was necessary.

  It occurred to Nero that they were supposed to be at sea by now. He had watched them leave that morning. ‘Why are you still here?’

  Mila glanced at Felix before replying. ‘We really thought you would come with us. We believed it right up until the moment we were supposed to board.’ Her shoulders fell. ‘Call it intuition, but we decided to delay a few days, until we could convince you to join us.’

  ‘You made it all the way to Ostia, then turned around?’ Another wave of nausea. ‘You should have just gone.’

  ‘Thank heavens we did not.’ Mila sighed. ‘Have you not figured out yet that we love you, that we are your family? We cannot leave you behind any more than we could leave one of the children. At least not now.’ She took an unsteady breath. ‘The entire way to the port we were watching the road behind us.’

  Felix walked over and patted his shoulder. ‘For me it was the seasickness. You were just a convenient excuse.’

  Nero raised his head, noting the mischievous glint in Felix’s eyes.

  ‘We will leave as soon as you are well enough to travel,’ Mila continued. ‘And this time you will come with us. I will bind and gag you if I have to, but you will come.’ She stared at the wall for a moment. ‘I am going to send Asha in to watch you, to make sure you do not leave this room.’

  ‘Best lie down for that visit,’ Felix said, walking over and picking up Nero’s legs, easing them back onto the bed. ‘She is almost as mad as her mother.’

  Nero winced and lay down again. His eyes met Mila’s. ‘You will tell me as soon as you hear anything about Dulcia?’

  ‘That depends if my anger subsides.’

  ‘It appears to be still rising,’ Felix whispered.

  Mila glared at the dwarf. ‘The problem is I love you far too much to sit back while you self-destruct.’

  A choking noise came from Felix. ‘Sorry.’ He pounded his chest with his fist. ‘Do not let your own past actions get in the way of this memorable speech. Please, continue.’

  She turned to him again, a warning in her eyes.

  ‘I should probably go find Remus,’ Felix said, giving Mila a wide berth.

  Nero closed his eyes and heard Mila calling Asha. Despite his best effort to remain awake, sleep took him once more.

  Nero woke when he felt the mattress shift beneath him. He opened his eyes slowly, the only speed he was capable of. Remus sat on the end of the bed, his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. His knuckles were swollen and bruised.

  ‘Who or what did you punch?’

  Remus turned, surprised to see him awake. He looked exhausted. ‘How are you feeling?’

  ‘You know, you are the first person to ask me that.’

  Remus laughed through his nose. ‘Well, we know Mila expresses her concern in other ways.’ His eyes moved over him. ‘They did a good job on your face.’

  ‘Certainly feels that way.’ He tried to sit up, the pain no better. Rather than object, Remus moved to help him. ‘Any news on Dulcia?’

  Remus settled himself on the bed once more. ‘No one’s talking. Mila’s losing her mind.’

  ‘Tertia must know something.’

  He shook his head. ‘Rufus won’t let Mila near the house to ask.’

  Nero blinked slowly and stretched out his legs. ‘This is all my fault.’

  Remus leaned on his knees again. ‘No, I think it’s my fault. I taught you to fight like a gladiator instead of a man.’

  ‘Gladiators are just men with armour.’

  A nod. ‘Yes, but Dulcia’s not a prize, and real life’s not an arena.’

  Nero glanced at the door. All was quiet in the house. The light in the room suggested it was late. ‘Tell me then, what should I have done?’

  ‘Been honest.’ Remus thought for a moment. ‘You should’ve knocked on Rufus Papias’s door the moment you realised you loved her. You should’ve told the senator there is no better man for her.’

  ‘Lied?’

  ‘It’s not a lie. If you don’t believe it, they never will.’

  ‘To be clear, you think I should’ve gone to Rufus Papias and explained why I’m a better option then Manius Liberia?’

  Remus looked at him. ‘You must believe it deep down if you were prepared to smuggle her out of the city and away from her family for the rest of her life.’

  ‘I love her.’ It was such a bland description of what he felt. ‘And I need to know where she is and if she’s all right.’

  Remus studied him for a moment. ‘Then what? Sneak her onto a boat and hope Manius and Rufus forget all about their humiliation? Not much of a plan.’

  ‘I can’t do anything. Manius has made sure of that.’ He raked a hand through his hair. ‘I don’t understand him. He has wealthy women forming a line praying the wedding doesn’t happen, and he wants the one who’s shown the least interest.’

  A hum of voices came from the next room, little boys protesting to being put to bed.

  ‘The thing you need to understand about men like Manius,’ Remus said, ‘is that his interest in Dulcia might’ve been genuine in the beginning, but now it’s about winning. He’s rich, he’s worshipped as a charioteer, and he’s used to getting his way. His pride couldn’t take the hit of a woman so beneath him choosing a man with barely a sestertius to his name.’ He paused to take in Nero’s reaction to his words. ‘He’s not from our world. He can’t fathom it. And he doesn’t know you as we do.’

  Nero blinked. ‘He sees a rodent.’

  Remus rubbed the knuckles of his hand. ‘I see someone who hasn
’t reached his full potential, but is still twice the man Manius is.’

  ‘Bet you wish you hadn’t labelled me a Latinius.’

  Remus’s eyebrows rose. ‘Why? Because you made a few mistakes? Latinius men are notorious for doing things the hard way. Besides, you’re doing better than me at that age. I still had a lot to prove.’

  ‘As do I, it seems.’

  Remus patted Nero’s leg as he stood. ‘Just remember to prove them wrong, not right.’

  ‘Sounds like something Dulcia would say.’

  A slow nod from Remus. ‘Well, she’s a smart girl. That’s why she chose you.’

  A pang of guilt hit Nero. ‘I would rather die here with you than walk back through that gate,’ she had told him. He had not listened. She had chosen him, and then he had destroyed her, exactly as she said he would. ‘I need to get out of this bed.’

  Remus was already walking away. ‘Take it up with the physician in the morning. He’s coming to check you over. Until then, don’t move.’

  ‘Wait,’ Nero called. Remus paused in the doorway, one arm resting on the frame. ‘Who tipped off Manius’s men?’

  Remus sniffed. ‘Don’t know.’

  He gestured to his swollen knuckles. ‘But you found the men who did it?’

  Remus looked down and stretched out his fingers. ‘All five of them.’ His mouth lifted in a weak smile. ‘Get some rest.’

  Nero lay back down, an arm draped over his face as his thoughts crashed in on him. There had to be a way to fix everything, to fix Dulcia. If anyone could piece her back together, it was him. And the moment they let him out of that bed, he would figure out a way.

  Chapter 30

  There was only so much bad poetry one could take, and Junia’s poems were very bad.

  The pair were sitting in the garden of the house Dulcia would share with Manius for the rest of her life. Instead of listening, Dulcia was reflecting on the past week.

  Panic, anger, then suffocating disappointment.

  She had thought Nero dead for three entire days before Junia had finally put her out of her misery and brought her news of him. The panic had dissolved into anger. He had handed her over after she begged him not to. He had given up after he swore to fight. And he had let go of her hand after promising to keep hold of it.

  Now on day six, she had resigned herself to a permanent state of disappointment. Every hope had to be abandoned. That was what Manius had said the night his men brought her to the house. She had fought them the entire way, thrashing and kicking and crying like a mad woman. When she had collapsed at Manius’s feet, he had pulled her up by the arm and shouted so loudly in her face that a spray of spit accompanied the ringing in her ears.

  ‘How many times must we do this? Why are you so determined to humiliate me and your own family? For some fantasy? I thought you were a smart girl. I thought you understood. A good marriage is built on foundations stronger than love.’

  She had covered her ears at one point, unable to take in what he was saying. It was all just noise competing with the screaming in her mind.

  Rufus knew. Her mother knew. Yet no one came to her. They let Manius deal with the situation as he saw fit. After all, she was to be his problem in a few days.

  ‘Your own father does not even want to see you,’ Manius had said.

  Those words had the effect he was hoping for, stinging almost as much as Nero’s words, the ones she replayed in her mind.

  ‘Go with them. Don’t fight.’

  She had fought anyway, because she had seen Nero collapse to the ground, blood pouring down his face, while Manius’s men kicked him over and over. She could still hear the sickening thud of their feet.

  Junia, who had been assigned the role of guard, had eventually taken pity on her. She had her own connections, people Manius was not aware of, and sought information for the purpose of closure.

  Nero was alive.

  Manius had buried the scandal. Not even his mother knew. Wealthy people could afford to cover their problems with a big pile of money.

  ‘Are you even listening to me?’ Junia asked, dropping the parchment on her lap. ‘This one was inspired by your heartbreak.’

  Thank goodness she had tuned out.

  Dulcia poked her needle through the tapestry and set it aside. ‘Very touching.’

  Junia sank down in her chair and signalled for the slave by the wall to bring the plate of fruit to her. It seemed leaning to get it herself was too great an effort.

  ‘At least you have known love. Many women do not get to experience it at all.’ She crossed her legs, one foot bouncing. ‘I was just twelve when I was in your situation, and my husband was not nearly so handsome. While you have made it abundantly clear that Manius is not your first choice, you could certainly do a lot worse.’

  ‘I know.’ It was all she could manage.

  ‘Beneath his competitive nature is a decent man.’

  Dulcia shook her head when the plate of fruit was brought to her. ‘I never said he is a bad person.’ She just did not love him.

  Junia cocked her head. ‘Poor Dulcia. She must marry the rich man and live in a big house. I am sure Rome’s poor would love to hear all about your woes.’

  She was right, of course. It was obscene to be trapped in a house of luxury, feeling sorry for herself. And she had a new problem now. Even if by some miracle Manius released her from her obligations, she had nowhere to go.

  ‘I won’t let go.’

  Her palms pressed her thighs. Before she had a chance to respond, another servant entered the garden and announced that Tertia was at the front door, wishing to see her daughter. Dulcia and Junia looked at one another.

  ‘She knows Dulcia is here?’ Junia asked, visibly surprised.

  Dulcia held her breath, not daring to speak. Manius had been very clear—no visitors.

  ‘I did not say anything, Era. I told her to wait at the door.’

  Exhaling, Junia replied, ‘Show her to the atrium. Dulcia will be there momentarily.’

  Dulcia released the breath she had been holding and went to stand.

  ‘Just a few minutes,’ Junia warned, eyes on her poetry. ‘And not a word to Manius.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Dulcia said before rushing off.

  Her mother waited inside, taking in the beauty and size of the room. Relief broke out on her face the moment she spotted her daughter. Dulcia felt six years old again as she ran into her mother’s arms. She could not stop the tears she had been holding back for days.

  Tertia held her shaking body as she cried.

  ‘Shh. Pull yourself together.’

  Dulcia straightened and wiped her face. ‘We only have a few minutes. Is there any news of Nero?’ First question off her tongue, despite everything.

  Tertia shook her head and took a firm hold of her shoulders. ‘Enough.’

  Her sharp tone made Dulcia’s breath catch.

  ‘There is to be no more mention of that man. No more scheming, no more hoping for a different outcome. It ends now.’

  Dulcia tried to step back, but her mother kept hold of her. Yes, the trust was damaged between them, but not the love. She still needed to know that he was all right.

  ‘I do not need to tell you how dangerous your actions were, how impulsive and foolish.’ Tertia’s voice was low, and her gaze kept flicking to the entryways either side of them. ‘Now the work begins. You must fix things with Manius, redeem yourself. You must be the wife you ought to be, because that man has done nothing wrong.’

  ‘Nothing wrong?’ She hugged herself.

  ‘Listen, carefully.’ Tertia looked around before speaking. ‘It was me who went to him with the information about Licinia. That is not on him, it is on me.’

  Dulcia’s heartbeat slowed, her brain struggling with that piece of information.

  ‘I encouraged him to go forwards, to use it for his own purposes.’ She swallowed. ‘When you did not come home that night, I panicked.’

  ‘But it was a lie.’ H
er arms fell to her side. ‘You passed on a lie.’

  Tertia’s face fell. ‘I know.’

  The silence that followed was uncomfortably long. ‘You know?’ Dulcia finally asked.

  A nod. ‘My lie, one I made Manius believe.’ She reached out to touch her daughter, but Dulcia stepped back. ‘Everything I did, I did for you,’ Tertia continued. ‘And I am asking you not to throw it all away, because then it will have been for nothing.’

  Dulcia opened her mouth, then closed it again. ‘They were going to bury her alive.’

  Tertia shook her head. ‘I knew you would never let that happen. I had every faith you and Manius would figure it out, and you have.’

  Dulcia wiped at her face, surprised to find her cheeks wet with tears.

  ‘Everything I have done is so you could have a good life, a happy life, because you deserve that.’

  Dulcia did not know where to look. ‘Do I look happy?’ It came out as a whisper. All the pieces began to fall into place. She was beginning to understand more than she wanted to. ‘You said everything.’ Another piece dropped. ‘The night we tried to leave.’ The question stuck in her throat. ‘The men waiting for us. Was that you too?’

  Tertia’s shoulders fell a few inches. ‘I knew something was wrong. You were not yourself that day. At first I thought it was because Mila was leaving. Then you hugged me, and… I just wanted to ensure you did not do anything foolish.’

  Dulcia could barely breathe.

  ‘Gallus Minidius is not a good man. When I learned he was helping you—’

  ‘You went to Manius.’

  Tertia hesitated. ‘He wanted you safe also.’

  ‘Nero almost died because of you.’ Another step back. ‘I can still see him lying on the ground while those animals attacked him.’

  ‘I did it to protect you.’

  Dulcia continued to stare at her mother. ‘Is that what you really believe? That you did it for me?’

  Her mother’s eyes pleaded with her. ‘I barely know Nero aside from his violent reputation.’

  ‘You did not care to know anything else about him, even after he carried me through flames.’

  ‘We are not talking about him anymore. You need to fix things with Manius.’