Yet he was with her, as he said, and his wife was out of the city with no one but slaves for company. Servilia had seen passion become friendship before. She knew she should be easing into that state, as she had once done with Crassus. But the slightest touch from Julius or a kiss would make her remember riding together in Spain and sitting at the feet of Alexander’s statue in the first glow of new love. It was too painful.

A slave entered and bowed to Julius before speaking. “Master, there are visitors at the gate,” he said.

“Excellent,” Julius replied, turning to Servilia. “I asked Domitius, Octavian, and Ciro to bring their promotion lists to me.” He seemed uncomfortable for a moment and the amusement faded from his face. “We have had to make changes since Brutus left for Greece. Will you sit in on the discussion?”

“No, you don’t need me here,” Servilia replied, raising her chin. Had she been summoned only to be ignored? Even for a leader of Rome, Julius was capable of the most appalling breaches of courtesy. It was more than possible that he thought the brief exchange was enough to fulfill his obligations to her. She folded her arms with slow care, and he looked at her then, seeing the irritation. His eyes lost their distracted blankness and she could almost feel the full force of his attention.

“I should have kept the afternoon for you,” he said, taking her hands. “Shall I send them away, Servilia? We could take horses out to the racetrack, or sit by the Tiber and enjoy the sun. I could teach you to swim.”

It was an effort not to fall under the charm of the man. Despite all that had happened between them, Servilia could still feel the glamour he cast.

“I can already swim, Julius. No, you see your men and go to Ostia. Perhaps you will still have a chance to visit your young wife tonight.”

He winced at that, but they could both hear the clatter of his officers as they came into the main house. His time for her was coming to an end.

“If there were two of me, it would not be enough for all I have to do,” he said.

“If there were two of you, you would kill each other,” she retorted as Domitius came into the room. He beamed at seeing Servilia and she acknowledged him with a smile before excusing herself. In a moment, only her fragrance remained in the air and Julius was busy welcoming the others and calling impatiently for food and drink.

In her own house, Servilia relaxed, the soft footsteps of her slaves hardly interrupting her thoughts.

“Mistress? The man you wanted is here,” her slave announced.