“I’m working on a weaving pattern. Flavius, why do girls have to learn weaving? It's so...boring.” She looked in earnest at Flavius and he suppressed a smile.
“Women run the home, Cassia. They have to learn all the household skills. Besides, you want to do your family proud, don't you? The more intricate the pattern, the more respect you'll bring to your father and your husband.”
“It seems silly to me,” she said. “My fingers don't want to work that way, Flavius. I'd rather work in the shop.”
“Your father has plans for you, Cassia. You're to marry a nobleman. You have to learn all the things a noblewoman knows if you're to run your husband’s home. That's just the way it is.”
“But how will he find a nobleman to marry me, Flavius? I'm just a merchant's daughter.”
Flavius had wondered this himself. Quintus' heart was set on Cassia raising his social status by marrying a Roman patrician.
Quintus believed that older noblemen with children weren’t so picky about their brides, as offspring were not an issue. He would often say that most of them would accept a young virgin with a huge dowry, especially if the nobleman in question had debts he couldn't pay.
Flavius didn't like thinking of his Cassia being “sold” to a fat old Roman nobleman, and would often disagree with Quintus regarding his plans for Cassia. He always put her off whenever the subject of her future arose.
“You'll have to ask your papa,” he said.
“I rarely see Papa anymore, Flavius. He stays away days at a time. Mama doesn't seem to mind, but I miss him. Do you know when he'll be back?”
Quintus had an arrangement with a woman and he often stayed with her for days at a time. Flavius knew about the arrangement, and knew not to disturb Quintus when he was “traveling.”
“He's in Egypt, Cassia. He'll be back by the end of this week in time for your birthday.”
Cassia's eyes lit up as she thought about her birthday. She imagined Quintus riding a camel in the desert, carrying her gift in his arms. She wished she could be there with him.
“I think I'll take my cinnamon home now. I'll see you tomorrow, Flavius.”
Cassia grabbed the cinnamon and slipped off the stool. She walked to the back of the shop and climbed the two stairs that led into her home. She walked through the atrium and could see her mother lying on a couch in the dining area, eating.
Agatha was a 27-year-old version of Cassia, with small lines around her mouth from continuously frowning. The wine she drank didn’t help her appearance, either. Her eyes were blue and often bloodshot, and she had dyed her naturally blond hair red. Agatha drank often and to excess, and even though it was illegal for women to drink wine in Rome, Quintus allowed it as long as she confined her activities to their home.
Cassia looked at her mother to see if she’d noticed Cassia’s presence. Agatha was preoccupied with her bread and honey, so Cassia tiptoed past her and into her room. Novia, her maid, had a distaff in her hand and was spinning in the kitchen when she saw Cassia sneaking past her mother. She put the distaff aside, and followed her.
Novia was forty years old and had raised Cassia since she was a baby. She had streaks of gray in her dark brown hair and soft brown eyes. She had accompanied Agatha to Rome when she married Quintus at the age of twelve.
Novia had nursed Agatha through six miscarriages before her mistress carried Cassia to term. Though Quintus was disappointed in the sex of his only living child, he was glad that she was healthy. After Cassia’s birth, Quintus stopped visiting Agatha’s bed.
Agatha gave Cassia to Novia to raise until her seventh birthday, and when Agatha didn’t show much interest in her, Novia continued to care for Cassia as her maid. Cassia regarded Novia as her mother.
“What have you got there?” Novia asked her, as Cassia slipped the cinnamon under the pillow.
“Cinnamon freshly arrived from the East.” Cassia ran over to Novia and threw her arms around Novia's waist. “Can you smell it, Novia?”
“Yes, I can. It's wonderful.” Novia smiled down at her little girl. “Did the vanilla arrive as well?”
“I forgot to ask Flavius. I'll ask him tomorrow.” Cassia let go of Novia. “Novia, why can't I work at the shop anymore?”
“Because your father wants you to be a proper lady and he doesn't think the shop is the right place for you.”
“But I love it there. And I miss Amatus.”
“Amatus is one of the reasons your father took you out of the shop. You can't form attachments to boys. You're to be married.”
“Amatus is my friend, Novia. I don't have any other friends.” Cassia thought for a minute. “Do you think you could take me to the river?”
“No, we are not going to the river to see Amatus. Now get ready for your bath. Supper will be ready soon.”
Novia helped Cassia out of her dress and wrapped her in a towel. As they entered the hall, Cassia began to smell the water coming from the bath room. Once there, Novia took her towel and Cassia entered the bath.
Cassia didn't look forward to being with her mother at supper. Agatha was always in a bad mood and would snipe at Cassia; she was jealous of her daughter’s youth and beauty. Inwardly, she couldn't wait for the day some old man took Cassia's youth away, too.
Agatha was responsible for teaching her daughter the womanly arts of spinning, weaving, music, and sewing, but Novia had taken over those duties as well. The only time Cassia saw her mother was at supper.
Agatha was still at the table when Cassia came out of her bath. Novia wrapped the towel around her and they walked back to Cassia's room. As Novia dressed her, Cassia frowned.
“What's wrong?” Novia asked her.
“Supper with my mother,” she replied. “I thought she might have finished eating by now.”
“It's only for a short time once a day. She can be mean, I'll give you that, but she lost many children before you were born and that might account for it. Try to be kind, Cassia.”
“I do try to be kind. I've never done or said anything wrong to her, and yet she seems to hate me.”
“Your mother is bitter, Cassia. She feels she’s been cheated somehow.” Novia took Cassia's shoulders and turned her around. She looked into Cassia's eyes. “You are a wonderful girl, Cassia, and you are well loved by your father. Don't let your mother's jealousy ruin you.” Novia kissed her cheek and hugged her. “And I love you, too.”
Cassia held onto Novia and felt her warmth. She would try to remember what Novia had said when she faced her mother at the table.
Agatha was staring into space when Cassia sat down. The food looked wonderful, as it always did, and Cassia was hungry. There were cakes and bread, and all kinds of fruit and fish. Agatha smiled wickedly when she noticed her. Cassia became uncomfortable, but still tried to enjoy her food. Agatha smacked her lips.
“Your father has found a husband for you, Cassia. His name is Cicero Gaius. You remember him, don't you?” Agatha took a swig of her wine.
“No, I don't think so.” Cassia felt the hairs on her neck go up. Her mother’s manner was frightening her.
“He's the man we entertained last week, the old man with the big belly. He liked you on sight, or so he told your father.”
Cassia did remember the man. He had leered at her across the table and made her feel naked. He had spilled wine all over his toga, and food had dripped down his chin, which he failed to wipe off with a napkin. The tops of his teeth were black and some were missing.
“Father wouldn't make me marry a man like that, would he?” she asked innocently.
“What do you think, girl? That's what you're good for, raising your father's social status. You don't think he's been good to you all these years out of love, do you? You're such a little fool, Cassia.” Agatha drained her cup of wine. “Quintus is the one who made the marriage offer. He offered Cicero Gaius a huge dowry to take you off his hands.” Agatha looked hard at Cassia. “I'm looking forward to your wedding night, my dear.”
Agat
ha broke out into a hideous cackle. She laughed so hard she began to choke. Cassia just stared at her in disbelief. Cassia knew her father loved her. He had always been kind and gave her the nicest presents. How could he make her marry that horrible man?
“He sent word to me this afternoon. I'm to get your things ready. You’re to be married to Cicero Gaius at the end of the week, on your birthday.”
A Friend in Need
Cassia finished her meal in silence. She hadn't tasted a thing. When she was through she rose from the table, avoiding Agatha’s eyes. She went to find Novia, and fell into her arms, sobbing.
“He's promised me to an old man, Novia. How…how could he do that?”
Cassia's body was shaking violently. Novia guided her to the bed, and they sat down. Novia put her arm around Cassia’s shoulders. Novia remembered Cicero Gaius from the week before and he was a hideous man. Even Quintus must have seen that. Was his lust for social esteem so great he would sacrifice his precious daughter to that monster? Novia couldn't believe Quintus would sink so low. There had to be some mistake. She put her hands on Cassia’s shoulders and looked into her eyes.
“Wait till your father gets home. Approach him and ask him gently if this is true. In the meantime, cooperate with your mother. We don't want her pushing you out the door before your father gets home.”
“Could she do that?” Cassia asked, biting her lower lip, a habit she’d had since early childhood.
Novia put her arms around her and hugged her, wishing she had been more careful with her words.
“Flavius will stop her if she tries,” she said.
Cassia began to calm down. “Can we go to the river, Novia? Please, I have to see Amatus.”
Novia looked at the girl and saw the tears and the sadness on her face. She was going to tell her no, it was impossible, but she just couldn't. If Cassia was set to marry that swine, there was nothing Novia could do about it. She decided to give Cassia her wish.
“All right,” Novia said, “we can go to the river, but we can't stay there long.”
Cassia hugged Novia tightly, all the time saying thank you, thank you. Novia helped Cassia get under the covers, then she kissed the girl on the cheek and stroked her hair. Cassia looked like such a little girl. How could she be anyone's bride?
“Goodnight, Cassia,” she said and left the room.
“Goodnight, Novia.”
Cassia began to think about seeing Amatus the next day. She remembered the day she met him. Amatus was thirteen when he came into the shop, and Cassia was ten. He was selling fish and asked Flavius if he would buy some. Flavius said no, not for the shop, but if Amatus wanted to sell him a small portion for the household, then Flavius would buy some. Amatus agreed and began supplying the household with freshly caught fish on a daily basis.
At that time, Cassia was working in the shop with Flavius. She and Amatus struck up a friendship, and Cassia would listen to Amatus talk about the river as if it had a personality.
He told her about the bridges, and how some of them had dragons carved into them. He told her about the stars and how bright they shone at night while he slept on the beach. Cassia found his poverty-stricken life very romantic. She in turn would tell him about her dream of marrying a general one day and traveling around the world. She hadn’t shared her dreams with anyone.
When her father decided it was time for her to learn the ways of the nobility, he took her out of the shop and she stopped seeing Amatus. She had no one to confide her innermost secrets to, and she missed Amatus terribly. She would watch for him, hoping to catch him, but Novia kept a sharp eye on her and always called her away before she could see him. It had been six months now, and with her impending marriage causing her such anxiety, she longed to see her old friend.
The following morning she woke up early. She dressed herself and went to the kitchen to get two pieces of fruit to eat along the way to the river. She then woke Novia.
“It's much too early, Cassia, and I've not eaten yet.”
“I've taken fruit from the kitchen. Please Novia, let's go.” Cassia was pulling Novia's arm, trying to coax her out of bed. “If we leave now, no one will know we've gone.”
Novia finally got out of bed and changed her clothes. As they left the domus, the sun was just coming up. They had to walk several miles to get to the Tiber River, and Novia didn't think one piece of fruit would be enough.
“Do you have any money, Cassia?”
“A few denarii,” she answered.
“We may need to buy some bread if we get hungry,” Novia said.
“We can stop at the Forum,” Cassia said, getting excited.
“You’ll have to hold my hand while we’re there,” Novia replied.
They walked and walked until they saw the Pons Aemilius Bridge. Cassia wanted to run, but Novia said no. There were so many people milling about that Novia insisted on holding Cassia's hand. After walking another mile, they were at the river and Cassia scanned the area for Amatus.
There were quite a few fishermen, and Cassia was getting worried that they wouldn't find Amatus. Finally, after walking two miles, they spotted Amatus dragging his net up the beach. Cassia began to run and Novia couldn't stop her.
“AMATUS!” Cassia yelled and waved her hands. Amatus looked up and smiled. He was glad to see Cassia. He dropped his nets and ran toward her. They met and were just about to hug when they remembered who they were. Novia was approaching them with a stern look.
“Amatus, I'm so happy I found you. I have terrible news.” Cassia was biting her lower lip. “My father wants me to marry a horrible man. I'm so scared Amatus.” Cassia just stared at him as he looked at Novia.
“Is this true?” he asked her. Novia nodded her head. “Can she refuse to marry him?” he asked.
“She must prove he is of bad character. That's the only way.”
“But he is of bad character, Novia. He’s lazy and slovenly,” Cassia cried.
“Most of the aristocracy is lazy and slovenly, Cassia. He has a title, and that's all your father cares about,” Novia said.
“But what if we can prove he's not worthy of Cassia? Wouldn't her father have to back down?” Amatus and Cassia were looking at Novia.
“How would you do that, boy?” Novia said, looking skeptical. “You’re talking about a Roman nobleman. Getting evidence on him would be impossible.”
“Not so impossible. I deliver fish to their back doors all the time. I see them with their maids, with their slaves.” Amatus thought for a minute. “Would we have to prove it in court?” he asked.
“No… just to her father,” Novia replied.
The three of them stood on the beach trying to think of a way to show Cicero Gaius in a bad light.
“It really isn’t that hard to find out things about him that would show a bad character,” Amatus said. “Cassia, I'll visit his house and look around. I promise I’ll find something to help you.”
He took her hand and held it. She smiled up at him with such trust that he decided even if he had to kill that old fat bastard to save her, he would.
“We have to go, Cassia,” Novia said as she pulled the girl away from Amatus.
“When you find out, Amatus, come to the shop and tell Flavius,” Cassia said as Novia pulled her down the beach. She waved and Amatus waved back.
Amatus was seething with rage. Cassia was such an innocent. Her father must be mad to even think of giving her to that animal. Amatus knew who Cicero Gaius was. His appetites were well known throughout the city. Amatus decided to visit his home on Palatine Hill and gather evidence against him. He would go there at night when Amatus’ family was asleep.
Cassia and Novia arrived back at the domus just as Flavius was closing the shop for his midday meal. He let them in and asked them where they’d been.
“Cassia asked me to take her to the Forum,” Novia lied.
“You should have asked me to go with you. It’s not safe for a young girl, and you wouldn’t have been able to prot
ect her,” Flavius said. “Don’t do that again without telling me.”
“Flavius, please don’t be angry with Novia. I asked her to take me there because I was sad.” Cassia had her hand on Flavius arm.
“Why are you sad?” Flavius showed genuine concern for Cassia.
“My father has betrothed me to Cicero Gaius. I’m to leave at the end of the week, on my birthday.” Cassia began to cry.
“Oh, no, please don’t cry. Maybe we can speak to your father.” Flavius wanted to make the tears stop.
“The only way is to prove he’s of bad character, you know that, Flavius.” Novia glared at Flavius. She didn’t want Flavius filling Cassia with false hope.
“Then that’s what we’ll do. We’ll find a way to discredit him.”
“It’s okay, Flavius. We’ve already spoken to …” Cassia stopped. She didn’t want to get Amatus in trouble.
“Who, who did you speak to?”
Cassia bit her lower lip. She looked up at Novia and didn’t speak.
“Tell me girl, who have you spoken to?” Flavius looked angry. He didn’t like the idea of anyone knowing their business.
“We spoke to Amatus.”
“What, the boy who delivers the fish?” Flavius said incredulously.
“Yes, he said he would find evidence against Cicero Gaius. I think we can trust him,” Novia said. She then crossed her arms over her chest. “I believed him.”
Flavius could see that the two women were standing together and would never listen to anything he had to say. He knew Amatus, too, and felt the boy was trustworthy, but he couldn’t understand how this boy could possibly find evidence that would persuade Quintus to break the engagement.
“Fine, just don’t mention it to anyone else. I’ll keep my ears open, too. Go on now, get home.”
Cassia and Novia went into the house through the back of the shop. Novia went off to prepare Cassia’s bath, while Cassia went to her room and sat on her bed. She tried to concentrate on Amatus’ promise rather than think about Cicero Gaius.
When Novia came to collect her, Cassia asked her what would happen on her wedding night. Novia said she would tell her all about it after supper that night. As Novia took the towel from Cassia, she looked at her young body and a picture of Cicero Gaius entered her mind. She could see him leering at that young, innocent girl and the thought turned her stomach. Even if she had to comb the city herself, she would find a way save Cassia from that dreadful man.
Pello Island: Cassia Page 3