Still she did not reply and he could see the agony in her expression as she found herself caught between conflicting loyalties. She loved her father, he knew. He had gambled that she would not tell Pompey and see him executed. If affection had grown for the Dictator, Brutus knew his life could be measured in hours. Already he was appalled at the risk he had taken, and as she remained silent he would have given anything to take back the words.

“Does my father want you to lead a legion?” she asked faintly.

He smothered a grin then, knowing she was his and he had won. “He does, Julia,” he said.

“Then I will persuade my husband to give you a command.”

He forced surprise onto his face, as if he had never considered the idea.

“Can you do it? He will not like to be pushed,” he said. He saw she had grown pale and now that the idea had been planted, he had a sense of time running away from him. He could not be found at her gate, especially now.

“I know him well,” she said. “I will find a way.” On impulse, she pressed her face against the bars and kissed him hard on the lips. “Let my father know I have not forgotten him,” she said.

“I will, girl, but I must go now,” he replied.

He could have sworn he heard the clatter of iron-shod sandals in the distance. He would have to be far away when they found him, preferably in a tavern with a girl on his arm. It would be difficult to talk his way out of it, but not, he hoped, impossible.

“When will I see you again?” she asked.

“Dismiss the slaves two days from now at the same time. If I can, I will be here,” he said, rejoicing inwardly. It was far more than he had hoped for at the beginning. Instead of the private pleasure of rolling Pompey’s wife once in a while, the stakes had become frighteningly large.

“Go quickly!” she said, catching his nervousness.

He nodded and ran at last, taking the first corner at a sprint. She watched him go and jumped as her husband’s soldiers clattered by a few moments later. He would lead them a merry dance, she thought, and for the first time since her arrival in Greece, her heart beat wildly with excitement.

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

The festival of Bona Dea was in full cry and Rome was filled with women. On this one day each year, the men closed their doors and went to sleep early while the free women of the city drank and sang and danced. Some went bare-breasted, reveling in the festival’s freedoms while their families were safely at home.