“Look, lass,” he said gruffly. “You are a freewoman now. You’ve walked the same path that I have. Even if you hadn’t fought in the riot, I’d help if I could. We look out for each other now and then.”

She looked at him with sudden understanding. For most of her young life, he had been the estate manager. She had forgotten he knew as much about slavery as she did, that they shared a bond she had never realized. She walked with him to the gate, the tension vanishing from her.

Brutus and Renius were there, leading two young mares and talking in low tones. Brutus looked sharply at Alexandria as he caught sight of her. Without a word, he handed the reins to Renius and rushed over to her, lifting her off the ground in a great hug.

“Gods, girl, it’s been years since I saw you last.”

“Put me down,” she replied furiously, and Brutus almost dropped her at the icy tone.

“What’s wrong? I thought you’d be pleased to see me after—”

“I won’t be handled like one of your slave girls,” she snapped. Her cheeks burned. Part of her wanted to laugh at her sudden attack of dignity, but everything was happening too quickly. Mute with embarrassment, she held up her hand, bare of the iron finger ring that marked a slave.

Brutus laughed at her. “I didn’t mean to offend, mistress,” he said, bowing low.

She was tempted to kick him, but with Octavian and Tubruk looking on, she had to bear his cheerful mockery. Insufferable, as he always had been. A memory of something Julius had said flashed into her mind, and as Brutus rose she swung to slap his face.

He began to move to hold her wrist, then clearly thought better of it and let her connect. His smile never faded.

“Whatever that was for, I hope it’s over now,” he said. “I—”

“Julius told me what you boasted about me,” she broke in. This was all wrong. She wanted to sit and laugh with this young wolf of a man that she’d known, but every expression and word he spoke seemed to enrage her.

Brutus’s face cleared in sudden understanding, “He said I boasted . . . ? Oh. The clever bastard. No, I never did. He thinks ahead, does Julius. When we see him, I’ll have to let him know how well it came out. He’ll love this. Slapping me in front of Renius! Beautiful.”

Renius cleared his throat. “I’ll take your horse to the stables until you’ve finished playing,” he muttered, leading the mares away into the gathering gloom.

Alexandria frowned after him, noting the way he wrapped both sets of reins around his wrist with the ease of practice. No welcome from him.