Plotina did not dismiss the slaves. She wanted them to spread a few whispers around. Not that one liked to see rumors circulate about a member of the Imperial family, but it was time to strip a little gleam off that adventurousness of Sabina’s that Hadrian found so charming.

Trajan too. It was Dear Publius he should be finding charming, not Sabina.

“Common soldiers,” Plotina said regretfully. “Legionaries. Those were Sabina’s… companions… during the march.”

Hadrian’s chin jerked. “She has always had a taste for making friends in low places, but—”

“More than friends this time, dear boy. I hate to be the bearer of bad news—” Not precisely true; oh, well. Plotina bent her head to twist a ring into place, hiding her satisfaction. “Your wife was seen once or twice looking very intimate with common legionaries. Rough men, of the lowest sort. I need hardly remind you what people would think if that got around Rome.”

Dear Publius stood quite still, turning his seal ring around and around his finger.

“I know how fond you are of your wife.” Plotina gave a final comprehensive glance into her mirror, pleased at the severe vision in Imperial purple who gazed back. Juno herself would approve. “But perhaps it’s time you brought little Sabina to heel?”

“You look very well.” Hadrian offered his arm, expressionless. “Shall we go in to the banquet?”

VIX

“Cheer up,” Titus implored as he dragged me toward the spill of lights and noise and music. “Don’t you want to enjoy the occasion? It’s your first Imperial banquet!”

“No, it isn’t,” I said. “There was another banquet once where I tried to kill the Emperor.”

Titus blinked as we joined the line of guests waiting to be admitted. “You tried to kill Trajan?”

“Hell’s gates, no. Another Emperor. Crazy as a loon.”

“We’ve had a few of those. Are you making up stories again?”

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

“I can never tell when you’re joking. Don’t tug at that synthesis.”

“It’s too small.” I yanked at the fine white folds of the dinner tunic he’d lent me.

“Well, it’s the best I could do at short notice. Otherwise you’d have had to show up naked under that lion skin.”

“Bet that would make all these fine ladies sit up.”