He followed past the stares of clients into the private suite of rooms and sank onto a couch, gazing at nothing. Servilia sat next to him and took his hands in hers. He saw how she had painted and prepared herself, and knowing it was for Julius was almost enough to make him walk out, if his legs would have borne him.

“Tell me,” she said softly.

He was surprised to see a rim of tears on her lashes. He reached up to touch them gently with his thumb and let his hand fall as she flinched from anything that would spoil her perfection. “I’m leaving, Servilia,” he said. “I’m free of him.”

Servilia shook her head in confusion, gripping his hand. “What are you saying?” she demanded.

He grimaced. “Exactly what you heard me say, Mother. I am done with Julius and he is done with me.”

“Will you tell me what happened?”

“I saw him make Mark Antony first in Rome and it all became painfully clear. Julius was never the man I thought he was. Never. He’s played with my loyalty as cleverly as any other of those Senate bastards, until we are all working for them, giving our lives for nothing more than their promises and prestige.”

“What does it matter if he honors Mark Antony? The man is no more than competent. There are dozens like him working for Rome. Julius needs you. I have heard him say it.”

Brutus shook his head in disgust. “He doesn’t need anyone. Just followers. I’ve done that for too many years and I’ve been his dog for most of my life. That can end too, like anything else.” He closed his eyes for a moment, overcome by memory and pain.

She reached a hand to his cheek and he flinched away, wounding her.

“Have you thought what you will do, at all?” she said, her voice hardening. “Have you planned how you will live? Or must a son of mine be reduced to mercenary work and petty theft? How will you eat?”

“I’m a little old to be looking for another life, Mother, don’t you think? I’m a Roman general and I know how to train soldiers. There will always be a place for men like me. I’ll go as far as I can until I have to work and there I’ll stay. I’ll build armies for someone else and never see Rome until Julius has gone from her. You may prefer me to stay and wash his feet for the rest of my life, but I will not.”

“You must talk to Julius,” she said, her eyes pleading. “No, let me talk to him. You stay here for an hour and I will see him. He loves you, Brutus, as much as I do.”

He rose and she stood with him, not willing to let him go.