“Of course you’ll stay here with us tonight.” Marcella hitched a smile onto her face, abandoning her loom and its three-inch band of new cloth. “I’ll have a bedchamber made up.” She ushered him upstairs, disposed of his baggage, and had the slaves turn down the bedclothes.

“Thank you, my dear.” He turned away, and Marcella put her hand on his arm.

“Is that all the greeting you have for me, Lucius?” She gave a little squeeze. “It’s been a long time, after all. And I have missed you.”

He turned back, brows raised. Marcella gestured for the slaves to shut the door. He smiled and shrugged, flicking the strap of her dress down her arm.

“By the way,” Marcella murmured after a polite lovemaking during which she’d faked a little more enthusiasm than usual, “I spoke with Emperor Otho not long ago, and he said something about a post for you here in the city. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“I don’t imagine anything will come of it.” Lucius tugged the sheets up. “Otho has plenty of his own favorites to reward first.”

“I’m one of his favorites, Lucius. He mentioned it as a favor to me.” Marcella leaned her head against her husband’s bare shoulder—she’d seen Lollia use the exact same gesture whenever she was wheedling something out of a man. “You always said you wanted a post here in Rome someday. We can have our own household at last—I thought I’d look for a suitable house this month.”

“I wouldn’t bother,” Lucius yawned. “Finances are tight.”

“Lucius, we’ve been married four years.” With an effort, Marcella kept her voice sweet. “Isn’t it time we had a house of our own? I really can’t impose on my family forever.”

“I’m sure they’ll put up with you a little longer.” Lucius linked his arms behind his head, displacing Marcella from his shoulder. “Otho won’t give me a post in the city till after this business with Vitellius plays out, so why bother with the expense of a house? I doubt I’ll be here in Rome more than a few weeks.”

“But if we could have a place to call our own, even just a modest apartment—”

“I said no, Marcella.”

“Lucius, I can’t keep living here!” Marcella sat up in bed, abandoning tact. “Do you have any idea how loathsome my sister-in-law is? She snoops in my desk! She waters my wine! She plants flowers in primary colors!”

“Well, you’ll have to make the best of it.” He yawned again. “Wake me in time for dinner, will you?”