Everyone who was anyone wanted Lady Lepida Pollia for a mistress. No one who was anyone wanted me for a wife.

“Mother?” Sabina came into the room, reading a scroll, and curtsied hastily as she saw me. “Father’s not here. An Imperial messenger came, and he had to go out. I’ll tell him you called.” She turned away.

“Wait,” I said. “I thought he went to the library.”

“Oh—” Sabina dropped her scroll, leaned down to pick it up again. “Well, maybe he did. Excuse me, Mother, my tutor is expecting me.”

“Stop.” I uncoiled off the couch. “Did you say an Imperial messenger?”

Her eyes slid to one side. “I thought—”

“The Domus Augustana has been locked up like a fortress for weeks. The Emperor’s orders. Who would be sending Marcus messages?”

“The Empress.” Sabina drew herself up. “She has great respect for my father. Some people do, you know.”

“Well, what a rude little queen you are.” My daughter turned hastily to go, and my hand shot out and fastened on her wrist. “I think we need to have a little chat, darling. After all, now that I’ve been divorced I have so much more time to spend with you.”

“I don’t have anything to say to you.” Edging back.

“Oh, I think you do.” Something clicked in my head, the reason why Domitian had locked his palace up like a fortress. “Today is the day Domitian is supposed to die. On a day like that, the Empress should be locked up tight with her guards. So why is she sending your father messages?”

THEY met in the Gardens of Lucullus: two curtained litters pausing briefly beside each other.

“Thank you,” said the Empress behind her half-drawn curtain. “I know it’s short notice.”

“Paulinus?” Marcus said sharply.

“No, no, he’s at the palace soothing Domitian. He’s the only one who can. We’ve a different problem. I’ve sent my page to summon Arius and Thea—your house is empty?”

“Yes, Sabina is busy with her tutor in the afternoons and I’ve ordered the slaves to turn away all visitors. What’s wrong?”

“We may have to put the plan forward.”

LEPIDA

DARLING, I don’t like it when you lie to me.” I stroked Sabina’s arm. “The slaves say Marcus went to the library. You say he got a message from the Empress. So who is lying?” My nails were freshly lacquered, and they left little red marks in her arm.

“I was wrong, he’s at the library.”

“Oh, I don’t think so.” Stroking my daughter’s hair. “You saw him get a message from the palace, and away he went. Probably to meet the Empress. What can they possibly want to talk about on a day like today?” I wound my fingers into her hair. Just a little tug, to encourage her.

“I don’t know, I—ouch—”

Irritation surged. I gave her hair a sharp yank. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not lying, I’m not—”

A knock sounded at the door. “Domina?” A slave’s timid voice.