“No buts! Plotina and Hadrian aren’t the only ones who expect me to grant their every desire, Vibia Sabina. What do you all think an emperor is, a wishing well?” Trajan scowled at the sunlit river. “It’s enough to turn any good-natured man into a dictator.”

She’d never heard him so short-tempered. Is his age hurting him more than he lets on? Frightening thought. Rome without Trajan… it couldn’t be imagined.

“You are a dictator, Caesar,” Sabina ventured. “Just a very good-natured one. I suppose we do take advantage of that.”

“At least you admit it,” Trajan said grudgingly.

“Are you sure you won’t consider—”

“No! I may be fond of you but gods be good, girl, I’ve got an empire to consider! You think your whims stack up against that? I’ve got a duty to Rome, and so do you! If I ever do let you divorce Hadrian, it’ll only be to marry you off to someone more useful!”

“I’ll take that,” she cajoled. “I know my duty, Caesar. Go ahead and marry me off to someone else; you won’t hear a peep of protest from me.”

“Don’t hold your breath waiting, Vibia Sabina. I need Hadrian, and I need him in a good mood.”

“Yes, Caesar,” Sabina said meekly.

“Don’t be abject with me, it doesn’t suit you.” Trajan gave her chin a fierce tweak. “Why don’t you just ask for emerald necklaces and diamond rings, like most women? I’d be happy to give you those.”

“No diamonds needed, Caesar. But you could give me something else. Not a divorce,” she added hastily. “I promise I won’t keep nagging on that score. This is something different.”

His voice was very dry. “What is it?”

Sabina took another breath. This really was much harder than she had anticipated. “Don’t make my husband your heir.”

A pause, as Trajan halted and glowered down at her.

“I’m sorry,” said Sabina. “That wasn’t very tactful, was it?”

“Implying I might die someday? No, it wasn’t, but I’ll forgive you.” He started walking again, perhaps leaning a little harder on her arm as they rounded a bend in the winding path. “I suppose it’s possible, after all.”

“Please—don’t make Hadrian Emperor after you. Please.”

“Why?” Trajan looked grimly amused. “I thought all women wanted to be an empress.”

“I don’t. I’ve never seen an empress yet who got to have any life of her own.”

“Plotina could have one if she wanted.” Trajan sounded defensive, and Sabina grinned despite her churning insides. The Emperor never said anything exactly disparaging of his wife, and certainly in public they were the picture of serenity. In private… well, they didn’t seem to have any “in private,” did they?