‘My only concern now is if the senator materialises in Jerusalem.’ Pilate waited until their horses had clopped over a wooden bridge before adding, ‘If he does perhaps we should invite him to dine with us, my dear. See what sort of man he is; can he be bought? Presumably, Tiberius will have given him a copy of the letter. I need to see it. I need to know what I’m accused of. I need to stay one step ahead and cover my back.’
Reaching over she lightly touched his arm. ‘Don’t worry, my love. Between us, we can handle a senator.’
‘Worried? I’m not worried,’ he shrugged her off, but he chewed his bottom lip in a manner that suggested otherwise. ‘Jerusalem during the Jewish Passover is troublesome enough place with the Sanhedrin complaining to me about something or other, the Zealots causing trouble and all the blasted citizens of Jerusalem to contend with. The last thing I want is a nosy senator poking into my affairs.’ He paused as a thought occurred to him. His face brightened. ‘Yes,’ he said smoothly, ‘the Zealots can be troublesome—and dangerous.’ He smiled, for the first time in days. ‘As you say, my love; between us, we can handle a senator.’
CHAPTER FIVE
(Rome)
As Sejanus stormed unannounced into Prefect Macro’s office he waved the tablet angrily at him. ‘What do you know about this assignment?’
Prefect Macro looked up calmly. His grey wolfhound slunk behind his master’s chair, and even though Macro was a sturdy man he was relieved a desk stood between himself and Sejanus.
‘What assignment, Commander?’
‘Pontius Pilate tells me Tiberius received a letter some weeks ago from a disgruntled employee. He suspects it concerns affairs in Palestine.’
‘Really?’
Sejanus hurled the tablet on to Macro’s desk. ‘Obviously the letter was damning enough for the emperor to send Senator Marcianus to Palestine to investigate.’
Macro paused a beat. ‘And what makes you assume I would know anything about that?’
Sejanus pressed his knuckles down on his desk and leant forward so his face was only inches from Macro’s. ‘Because I was informed that when Senator Marcianus left for the Isle of Capri, it was on one of your vessels.’
‘How do you know he went to see Tiberius?’
Sejanus stood up. ‘Damn it. I saw the man on the island myself.’ He narrowed his eyes so Macro could barely see his pupils. ‘What did the emperor want to see him about?’
‘How should I know?’ Macro said calmly. ‘You’re the one who has contact with Tiberius.’
‘Uh-huh!’ Sejanus grunted. He began pacing the floor. The wolfhound, his ears flattened to his head, slunk towards his favourite corner, his eyes warily watching the pacing.
‘Damn it! I can’t have the emperor upset.’ Sejanus swung his boot furiously at the passing hound. The dog yelped and scrambled back under the desk. Macro could feel his thin body shaking with fear. Sejanus pointed a finger at Macro. ‘My Praetorian Guards can’t be everywhere. I want a handful of your men on the Isle of Capri keeping a close eye on correspondence to and from the emperor.’
‘Spy on him you mean?’ Prefect Macro rose deliberately to his feet, acutely conscious that the conversation so far had been with Sejanus looking down on him. If he was going to argue back, he would at least feel more comfortable standing up. ‘My men are already stretched to the limit with fighting fires, rounding up runaway slaves and keeping law and order in Rome. Surely anything to do with the emperor falls under the jurisdiction of the Praetorian Guards.’
‘It does, but as you say, keeping law and order is the job of the Vigils and I sense disorder brewing on Capri.’ Sejanus clasped his hands behind his back and strutted across the room like a man beset with worries on every side. But then, he glanced at Macro sideways and in the unexpected manner of one commander of men confiding in another said, ‘Between ourselves, Prefect Macro, our emperor is a sick man, a very sick man. He relies on me. He trusts me implicitly to do what is right for Rome and our colonies, and that is a tremendous burden I can tell you.’
Macro found being an unexpected confidant to Sejanus made him even more uneasy.
‘Tiberius refers to me as the ‘Partner in his labours.’ That’s how highly he thinks of me. My job is to protect him from the troubles of Rome; that’s why I handle all his correspondence.’
Prefect Macro pursed his lips thoughtfully before saying, ‘All right, Commander. I shall send a handful of men over to Capri.’
‘Good.’ Sejanus paced across the floor and back again and Prefect Macro had to endure a longer silence this time. ‘My main problem now is the senator. I’ve no doubt the emperor has sent him to Palestine but to do what?’ He paused. ‘I don’t trust the man.’
‘Oh?’
‘If he’s fallen for some crazy notion of the emperor’s, then making enquiries in the wrong places in Palestine could very well disturb the uneasy peace that rests between Roman and Jew. Not to mention disrupt the business ventures Rome has in that colony.’
‘I see,’ Macro said quietly. ‘Why don’t you trust him?’
Sejanus glowered at the cowering wolfhound as if he’d like nothing more than to use his boot on him again, but the animal wisely remained where he was, safely ensconced under Macro’s chair. ‘There was a court case, three or four years ago against Lady Aurelia’s first husband. Treason and embezzlement I think were the charges. I’ll need to refresh myself with the case. I remember he was imprisoned for embezzlement but the charge of treason was dropped, and do you know why?’
‘I have no idea. But what does this have to do with Senator Marcianus?’
Sejanus looked at him steadily. ‘Senator Marcianus was the magistrate who had the charges dropped, and now Senator Marcianus is about to wed the widowed lady.’ He paused. ‘As I say, Senator Marcianus is not a man to be trusted. Was the senator involved in some political or business venture with the Lady Aurelia’s first husband?’ Sejanus clearly didn’t expect an answer because he continued with barely a pause. ‘I believe he was.’ And Macro had the first hint that trouble was brewing for Vivius Marcianus when Sejanus sauntered across the office and said, ‘I think I shall look into this matter more closely.’
* * *
‘Mistress, wake up, mistress. You have a visitor. It’s Prefect Sejanus.’
Jerked into consciousness by Ruth’s urgent shaking, Aurelia sat bolt upright, sucking in sharply through her teeth at the sudden wave of dizziness. Taking a deep breath in an attempt to clear the thick clouds of sleep, she voiced her first thought out loud. ‘Prefect Sejanus? Why would he call on me?’ But then realising the stupidity of her question to a mere slave, she waved her hand dismissively.
‘Shall I invite him in then bring refreshments, mistress?’
‘Yes, er…do that.’ Aurelia scanned the room; it was cool now the brazier had gone out, too cool, and the room still had a strong smell of smoke to it. Her sewing and threads were strewn across the chair in the corner, and an unwashed cup and plate stood on the table. She gave a tut of annoyance that Ruth hadn’t tidied up after her but decided there was little she could do about it now.
Smoothing the creases in her pale yellow dress, she pinched her cheeks to give them colour and tried to recall the last time she had seen Sejanus so she could give herself a talking point. It was certainly when she mixed more sociably, probably when Julius was…her mind flickered uneasily back to her first husband. Folding her fingers neatly in her lap, she pushed him firmly to the back of her mind just as Sejanus walked in.
‘Ah! My dear lady.’
She noticed with some foreboding that he was still the same grim, square jawed, heavily set creature that she remembered. If anything, his bushy eyebrows were thicker making him look more formidable than ever. She had a sudden urge to curl back up on her couch as though this visit was nothing more than a bad dream. Fortunately, her former years of entertaining had taught her how to summon up her social graces whether she felt like it or not. Fixing a smile to her face, she rose
to her feet and drifted towards him with her arm outstretched. His hand was rough as he grasped her fingers.
‘Prefect Sejanus, this is an unexpected pleasure.’ She indicated the couch opposite the one she had been sleeping on. ‘Please, join me for refreshments?’
Ruth drifted silently across the room and placing a tray on the table between the two couches, poured their drinks and drifted silently out again.
‘You have me curious, Prefect. What can I possibly do for you?’
‘I understand Senator Marcianus has gone to Palestine?’
Aurelia’s stomach did a summersault at the directness of the question. Dampening down concerns that this was information Vivius hadn’t wanted even her to know about, she felt she had no other option but to speak the truth. ‘Yes,’ she said easily and handed him the goblet.
Sejanus leant back on the couch, his face taking on a puzzled expression. ‘And what business could the senator possibly have in Palestine?’
Aurelia took a sip of wine to give herself time to think, then taking time to neatly dab the sides of her mouth said, ‘He’s travelling to Jerusalem to bring my brother home.’ She managed to inject a lightness into her voice that she was far from feeling.
Sejanus blinked rapidly. ‘Huh? Your brother?’
‘Decurion Dorio Suranus. He was wounded by Zealots in Galilee. The army is transferring him to the infirmary in Fort Antonia.’
Disbelief crossed the Prefect’s face. ‘And the senator is travelling all the way to Jerusalem just to bring your brother back to Rome? Surely the army could send him back?’
‘Not in time for my marriage ceremony, Prefect.’ She tilted her head as if reflecting further on the subject. ‘Vivius also said something about investigating olive groves while he’s in Palestine.’ Whether that was true or not she had no idea, but knowing Vivius’s passion for his olive grove it was a fair assumption to make.
‘Olive groves?’
‘Yes, he’s been talking about extending his for some time now.’
Sejanus raised a quizzical eyebrow. ‘I see; and does the Senate know about this trip?’
‘I’ve no idea, Prefect, but I would imagine so. Vivius always sticks by the rules.’
Sejanus helped himself to a sweetmeat. He chewed noisily and with an open mouth. ‘And who looks after his affairs while he’s away?’ He ran his tongue over the front of his teeth.
‘His manager, and I have a cousin who oversees any urgent or financial affairs.’
Sejanus picked at his teeth, removed a crumb and examining the offending object asked, ‘What about his friends?’
‘Vivius is not a man with a large circle of friends, Prefect.’
‘Not even in the Senate?’
‘No one that he’s mentioned.’
‘I see.’ Sejanus looked up from his offending piece of food, and Aurelia didn’t like the sadistic gleam in his eyes when he asked, ‘Do you remember Senator Rebus?’
‘I…I don’t think so…’
‘Oh, I believe you do. Wasn’t there a court case between Senator Rebus and your first husband?’
‘That was some years ago,’ she said stiffly. ‘And I’m not sure why you would…’
‘Something to do with embezzlement, wasn’t it?’
Aurelia clasped her hands together to stop them shaking. ‘Julius was in Mamertine Prison for that when he died, Prefect.’ She held her head high and tried not to sound pathetic when she added, ‘I was forced to sell my home and belongings, but I paid off all his debts; all of them. This house is my brother’s town house. If he hadn’t opened it up to me I would be completely destitute.’ She found her face could still redden at the shame of it all.
‘Uh-huh. Wasn’t there also a charge of treason hanging over your husband?’
Aurelia ran her hands up her bare arms; they were covered in goose bumps. ‘I try not to dwell on the past, Prefect Sejanus,’ she said quietly. ‘I focus on the future.’
‘Uh-huh!’
Aurelia didn’t like the way Sejanus smirked, clearly enjoying her discomfort.
‘Tell me about Senator Marcianus’s relationship with your first husband.’
‘There wasn’t one; they never particularly liked each other.’
‘Really? I find that hard to believe since Senator Marcianus was the magistrate when the case of treason was brought against your husband.’
‘The case was dropped for lack of evidence.’
Sejanus gave a forced laugh, his open mouth showing crumbs of sweetmeat stuck to a row of yellow, uneven teeth. ‘My dear lady, I have proof that Senator Marcianus concealed incriminating evidence against your husband.’
Aurelia found she was holding her breath. She forced herself to laugh but to her ears it sounded high-pitched, almost manic. ‘You’re not suggesting Vivius concealed incriminating evidence, are you? Vivius is a man of integrity, Sejanus. He would never do that.’ But even as she spoke, she found it difficult to rid herself of that glimmer of unease at how easily Julius had been exonerated.
‘Ah! Forgive me, dear lady. I have upset you. As you can imagine I have a difficult job and there are times I need to ask awkward questions to keep this land of ours safe.’ He paused. ‘So, as far as you are concerned, Senator Marcianus has gone to Palestine to bring your brother home and to, er…inspect olive groves?’
‘Yes.’
‘He wasn’t asked by the emperor to go?’
Aurelia fixed a look of surprise on her face. ‘The emperor? Why would the emperor want him to go to Palestine?’ She helped herself to a sweetmeat she didn’t really want, but it gave her brain time to scramble around for a topic that would enable her to regain control of this conversation. It landed on one. She swallowed hard; the sweetmeat left a sickly sweet taste in her mouth. Forcing a smile across her face, she asked, ‘Tell me, Sejanus. How are your children enjoying the ponies you bought from our stables?’ She wiped her sticky fingers on the napkin.
‘What?’
‘Your children’s ponies? You bought them from my brother’s stables last year…the Suranus stables?’ She took a sip of wine to wash away the sweetness, and thought she detected an unstiffening in Sejanus’s face.
‘Ah! Yes, my children’s ponies.’ His voice softened momentarily. ‘Yes, they love them. My wife, Apicata, keeps them on her property. She lives out of the city now we’re divorced.’ He wiped the corners of his mouth and for a while his thoughts appeared to be elsewhere. But when he looked up again the human element had disappeared and his eyes had hardened. ‘Well, this had been an extremely pleasant interlude, my dear lady.’
Aurelia watched him drain his goblet of wine before he stood up, but finding herself unable to say, ‘It was a pleasure to see you,’ she simply rose to her feet and smiled sweetly until he had left the room. She waited until the fading crunch of his boots had become at one with the noise of the city traffic before sinking down on the couch and covering her face with her hands.
‘Damn you, Vivius! If you’d told me what all this was about I would have been forewarned. Now I’ve probably said the wrong thing and put you in danger.’
Curling up with her legs under her, she pulled the cushion to her stomach and bit the end of her thumbnail until she felt calmer. After a while, she abandoned the cushion, and uncurling her body wandered over to the open shutters and stared outside. She didn’t have much of a view; a few potted plants in a tiny courtyard to give a splash of colour and a high wall covered in green ivy; that was all. She stood here often and sometimes wondered if the smallness of her view was responsible for the narrowing of her vision, or diminishing of her dreams over the last few years. Her lips fell easily into a pout. What sort of a weakling had she turned her into? she brooded. Even now, her only plan of action was to write to Vivius, warn him that Sejanus was accusing him of treachery and bring him back to Rome so he could tell her not to worry and that everything would be all right.
Aurelia was still staring into the courtyard when the thought occurred to her
; is that why Vivius keeps things from me, because he sees me as a weakling, a woman who needs to be protected? She pondered on this train of thought as she listened to Ruth clattering dishes in the kitchen. Perhaps that’s why Vivius treats me like…like a fragile ornament. She pursed her lips. As for Sejanus, admittedly, he’s nothing more than a big bully, but did I make it easy for him? Did he see me as a weak, fragile, incapable woman, easily controlled and even easier to bully? She frowned. And why is Sejanus dragging Vivius into an old case of treason against Julius? She pondered on this final thought a little while longer before taking a deep breath and shouting, ‘Ruth!’
Then resolutely sitting down at her writing desk she picked up a stylus and began to write on small tablet. Ruth appeared at the door.
‘I’ve made a decision,’ Aurelia said as she continued to write. ‘I shall pay Senator Felix Seneca a visit tomorrow. Would you have this sent to him to see if he will be free to see me?’
By the time she had finished her note, Ruth was at her side with her cloak over her shoulders. Aurelia handed the girl the tablet and she left without a word.
The house was quiet without her, but Aurelia was glad of that. She needed time to contemplate what she was getting herself into. So, she mused, Vivius and Felix joined the army at the same time; they were in the Praetorian Guard together; now they were both senators and loyal to the emperor. Plus, he was the only man she knew well enough to trust; and she trusted Felix, implicitly. If anyone could shed light on why Sejanus would want to resurrect this old court case, quell her fears or advise her, it would be Felix, she reasoned.
She bit her thumbnail as the doubts crept in. Although, Vivius and Felix weren’t really friends, more acquaintances of long standing. Perhaps she was being presumptuous in expecting Felix to help? And Vivius wasn’t going to like her involving Felix in his affairs—especially not Felix. A slow smile spread across Aurelia’s face. But then, Vivius knew nothing about her and Felix, and there was no reason why he should. The affair had ended a long time ago. But she was surprised at the way her heart lurched at the prospect of seeing him again.
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