Perhaps this was no bad thing. Young Titus Aurelius, one of the richest men in Rome, in her debt. A rich young consul who could easily be led about by the nose; oh, yes, that would be quite an ally for Dear Publius.

“And after a year as consul your name would be eligible for a governorship,” she went on. “Shall we say Germania? Or Hispania, if you prefer something warmer. Or perhaps—”

“My dear lady,” Titus sighed, “are you really trying to bribe me?”

Plotina’s teeth snapped shut on an offer to see him Prefect of Egypt within five years if he made a few timely loans and some public support to Dear Publius. She could feel the familiar twin pinpoints of pain begin to hammer faintly at her temples. She had not felt those steely drilling pains in so long; it had been so many years since anyone had thwarted her—since anyone had looked at her and not simply obeyed—

“Let me make myself plain.” Titus looked at her, weary and implacable. “I want nothing from you. Nothing but the immediate halt of your petty pilfering from the Imperium.”

“You dare—”

“I’m not the thief in this room, Lady, so yes, I do dare. No more skimming from the building funds for the baths—that should be easy enough; the baths are nearly complete. But the Emperor has just informed me that I am to oversee the alimenta project next, in support of Roman children orphaned in the provinces, and you’ve helped yourself from that quite generously over the years. It stops now. And really,” he added, exasperated, “your famous moral scruples should have stopped you from stooping that low. Skimming off a building fund is one thing, but stealing from orphans?”

Plotina surged to her feet, the twin pains hammering now against her skull. “You think you can threaten the Empress of Rome?”

“Of course I can threaten you. I have enough definitive proof to expose you to the Emperor. I doubt he’d be pleased with me, and I doubt you’d suffer much punishment. But everyone in Rome would know, and I doubt you’d like that at all. ‘Empress Plotina, so virtuous and high-minded. Empress Plotina, the common thief.’”

“You dare—”

“Skip the threats, Lady. And if you’re thinking of going on to blackmail, I’d advise you to skip that too. There is nothing in my life you can use to buy my silence. One advantage, I suppose, of being a dull little plodder. Dull little plodders have nothing to hide.”

“Oh?” Plotina gave a vicious smile. “Your affair with Vibia Sabina is nothing you wish to hide? I saw you with her, before she left for Antioch. Usually she is more discreet, but when she wore that whore’s dress I suppose you couldn’t keep your hands off her.”