Keeping a guard of only five of his men, Julius strode through the busy city streets following the directions Tubruk had supplied. His spirits were light as he moved through the crowds. He had his uncle’s house safe in his possession and well guarded by twenty soldiers. Even more important, the problem of what to do with Primigenia had been resolved. Silently, he blessed Brutus and Renius for their loyalty to him. Even in his pride, part of him whispered that in the end he had manipulated their love for him as coldly as any enemy. There had been no other way, he told himself, but the inner voice would not be still.

Not far from Marius’s house, Julius found Tabbic’s shop easily. As he came close to it, excitement filled him. He hadn’t seen Alexandria since his wedding day and at first had been frightened to ask Tubruk if she’d survived the vicious fighting that followed his own flight from the city. As he put his hand to the door, he hesitated, experiencing a touch of the old nervousness that had plagued him in her presence. He shook his head in amusement as he recognized the feeling, then went in, his men blocking the narrow walkway outside.

Alexandria was standing only a few paces from the door, and she turned to greet whoever had entered. She laughed at seeing him, with the simple pleasure of meeting an old friend. She was standing with a gold necklace around her throat, with Tabbic working on the catch behind her.

Julius drank in the sight of her. The gold lit her throat with its reflection, and she seemed to have found a poise or a confidence that had been missing when he knew her before.

“You look beautiful,” he said, closing the shop door behind him.

“That’s because I’m standing next to Tabbic here,” she said lightly.

Tabbic grunted, looking up from his work. The jeweler took in the man who had entered the shop, and straightened with a hand pressed into the small of his back.

“Are you buying or selling?” he asked, removing the necklace from Alexandria’s neck as he spoke. Julius was sorry to see it go.

“Neither, Tabbic. Julius is an old friend,” Alexandria replied.

Tabbic nodded in guarded welcome. “The one who’s looking after Octavian?”

“He’s doing well,” Julius said.

Tabbic sniffed, quite failing to hide a brief smile of affection. “I’m glad of it,” he said quietly, before going into the back of the shop with the necklace, leaving them alone.

“You are looking thin, Julius. Is that beautiful wife of yours not feeding you?” Alexandria asked artlessly.

Julius laughed. “I’ve only been back a couple of days. I have Marius’s old place as a town house.”

Alexandria blinked in surprise. “Quick work,” she said. “I thought Sulla’s general was living there.”