by Carol Ashby
Malleolus sighed. “No, you don’t. And you mustn’t tell Graecia anything about this. I’m not sure whether she’s loyal enough to you to risk your brother’s wrath. She might betray you.”
The corners of his mouth drooped. First, he’d lost Publius. Now he would be sending Claudia away with someone he didn’t know to get her to Titus in some unknown way that he couldn’t be sure was safe for her. It would be months, if not years, before he even knew if she made it to Thracia. He was as worried as she was, but he didn’t let it show. She would lose her courage and stay, and that could end in her death.
Claudia’s shoulders slumped at the prospect of Graecia’s betrayal, but she nodded in agreement. Then she drew herself up to her full height and raised her head.
“Then I’ll do it. Titus will know what to do when I reach him. He’ll make everything right. Somehow, he’ll make Lucius pay for killing Father.” Her voice started strong and brave, but it was quavering by the time she said ‘Father.’
Malleolus glanced at her dressing table. It was time to focus her on the plan before she dissolved into tears again.
“You’ll need a small box.”
“It can’t be too small. I have to put some of my poetry codices and scrolls into it. As many as I can and still carry it.”
“Won’t that make Graecia suspicious?”
“I’ll tell her I am taking some of my favorites to share with Aemilia in the garden at the baths. Graecia knows we often talk there, so she won’t think it too odd that I want to get her interested in my favorite poets.”
“I have what you need. It has a handle on each end, and it’s shaped right for holding a good number of codices. Gather what you want from the library today so it won’t seem like you’re packing tomorrow.”
Claudia cradled her face in both hands. “I don’t have any money to take, but I can take some of my jewelry. I can sell it if I need to. I can hide some at the bottom of the box, but I want to save most of the space for poetry. I’ll wear my large gold headband and hair net, my largest gold ring and the ruby one, and the gold tunic clips.”
She felt her neck. “I hate that ugly, heavy necklace that Sabinus gave me, but it is worth a small fortune, so I’ll wear that, too. And some gold bracelets. I can’t wear too much or Graecia will be suspicious. It’s too bad she helps me dress, or I could hide some under my tunic.”
“Taking your jewelry is an excellent idea.” Malleolus smiled at the change. She had turned her mind away from dark thoughts of death toward planning for her escape.
The quaver returned to her voice. “This is the right thing to do, isn’t it?”
“Yes. You must try to act like nothing is going on so Graecia won’t become suspicious and tell Lucius.”
“I can do that.”
Malleolus masked the worry churning within him as she took his hand and squeezed it. His young mistress had been a sweet, protected child, but her determined smile revealed the woman ready to face uncertainty on her own. She was very beautiful and very smart; now she would have to be very brave.
“I must return to my duties now.”
“Yes, and I need to go to the library and make my selections.”
She headed toward her father’s library. It was hard, but Malleolus managed to keep the tears from forming as he watched his beloved mistress for almost the last time.
Chapter 16: Preparations
When Aristarchus entered Philip’s room, his son had almost finished packing the eight boxes of codices and scrolls that he was adding to his library.
“I have a problem for you to solve for me, son.”
Philip greeted him with a smile. “What, Father?”
“I need you to get Publius’s daughter to his son in Perinthus right away.”
Philip turned his attention back to getting the final two codices snuggly packed in the last box. “That’s not much of a problem. I can give her my room in the cabin and sleep with my boxes. She’ll have Penelope and Junia to entertain her.”
“There’s much more to the problem than her berth on your ship.”
Philip’s eyebrow rose as he straightened. “More to the problem?”
The corner of Aristarchus’s mouth lifted at Philip’s response to the chance to solve a tricky problem. “His son Lucius told the authorities that his father was a Christian, and Publius has been killed in the arena.”
The smile vanished from Philip’s lips. “I’m sorry to hear that, Father.”
“It gets worse. Publius’s daughter, Claudia, was very close to him. Her brother is planning to marry her to Flavius Sabinus for a large amount of money. To put it bluntly, Sabinus is an evil man, and her life would be a living hell. Publius’s steward just came to beg me to get her away from Rome immediately and deliver her to her other brother. He’s a tribune serving the governor in Perinthus. It was only his promise to get her to Titus that stopped her from killing herself.”
Philip took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “So you want me to devise an escape plan to get her away from Lucius without him suspecting where she’s gone.”
Aristarchus smiled. “That should be simple enough for the best strategic thinker in Rome.”
Philip’s lips twitched up while he shook his head. “Not the best in Rome, but I’m certainly willing to do the best I can.”
“Too modest, son. I meant what I said. I know you sail on the evening tide in two days, so I told Publius’s steward to have her at the women’s dressing room of the Baths of Titus right after they open that morning. She will have a single small box light enough for her to carry, and she will be expecting a woman to meet her and take her away after she sends her maid off on some errand. I expect Junia will help with this part. She is to identify herself to Claudia with Publius’s name. I thought you could devise the rest of the plan.”
Philip placed his hand over his mouth and rubbed his scarred cheek with his thumb as he thought for a few moments. “This shouldn’t be too difficult. I can get Lucius looking for her in the wrong place while I get her to my ship. Leave the details to me, Father.”
Aristsarchus’s smile broadened. “I told Publius’s steward I knew the perfect man for this job.”
Philip let the compliment pass. “What do you know about the girl?”
“Publius told me she is the most beautiful in Rome.” He chuckled. “All fathers think that of their daughters, but, according to the steward, she really is an acknowledged beauty. That is why Sabinus wants her. She is sixteen, has reddish blonde hair and brown eyes, and her face is the perfect image of beauty, by Roman standards. Her figure is perfect, too, and she stands about this high.” He tapped his chin.
“Stunningly beautiful...That makes it harder to sneak her out of Rome if all the men she passes are going to stare at her, but I have an idea for that.”
He turned back to finish tightening the strap around the last box.
“Do you know where Penelope is? The first thing I need to do is send her shopping for...Claudia, is it?” Philip grinned. “I’m quite certain my baby sister will be happy to help with that part.”
Aristarchus grinned back. “Claudia Drusilla. I am sure she will, too. I think she is in the garden.”
Philip tightened the strap and straightened up. “Leave the lovely Claudia Drusilla to me, Father. She’s as good as in Perinthus already.”
A satisfied smile curved Aristarchus’s lips as he left Philip’s room. Once Philip put his mind to something, it was as good as done. Publius’s precious daughter would be in good hands.
It was late afternoon by the time Penelope and her lady’s maid, Junia, returned from buying all the clothing and accessories that Penelope thought necessary for a young lady. The only restriction had been that everything must fit in the two chests that would be stowed under her bunk. Philip had given his sister a large sum of money for the purchases. The poor girl was leaving everything she owned behind, and he didn’t want her to feel destitute.
&
nbsp; By then, Philip had devised a plan that should get her safely to his ship in the early afternoon, leaving some margin in case something delayed her arrival, while misdirecting any efforts that Lucius might launch trying to find her. It was so simple that only Junia, his ship’s captain, and he needed to know the details. It didn’t require precise timing for any particular step after Junia met her at the bath, and it should leave Lucius searching in a different part of Rome for a nonexistent accomplice in the escape.
He excelled at games involving strategy, and he welcomed this chance to use his skills to help someone in desperate need. It was good that Father had offered him the chance to do one last thing for Publius. If those in heaven could still see what took place on earth, his newest brother would be pleased.
Philip loaded his travel chest, his library boxes, and the chests for Claudia into his father’s raeda. He’d chosen that carriage because its solid wooden walls could conceal the passengers within. Carriage travel in Rome was banned for most of the daylight hours, so he’d been forced to wait for the lifting of the ban in early evening. He needed to get to the harbor at Portus as soon as possible to get his captain, Hector, prepared for his role in the escape. Junia already knew what she had to do. He wouldn’t see her again until she came to the ship with Claudia in two days.
After saying farewell to his parents, Philip climbed aboard the driver’s seat and clucked to the mules. The night was going to be clear, and the moon was close to full. He had about twenty-five miles to travel, so he should arrive at the ship before midnight if he could keep the mules mostly trotting once he got out of the city. That would allow a half day of rest before he drove them fifteen miles north on the Via Portuensis. He’d leave the carriage at the family warehouse closest to the edge of town, where wagon traffic was still allowed during the day. The riding horse tied behind would get him back to the ship after he walked the planned escape route to identify potential problems. It would also carry Hector from Portus to Rome for the actual rescue.
The daytime carriage ban within the city was unfortunate. Claudia had to walk across most of Rome since he couldn’t risk revealing her escape route with a sedan chair or litter. It crossed a rough part of town where the normal travel mode of a wealthy woman would draw too much attention. He also didn’t want to risk the slaves who carried her revealing where she’d gone. He was helping her escape from her legal guardian, and that could be considered kidnapping if Lucius Drusus wanted to claim it was. He would rather not be charged with a capital crime.
The plan was sound, but there was one part he regretted. The escape party must pass unnoticed through several miles of Rome in the middle of the day. He would have preferred to fetch her himself rather than have Hector do it. It was enough to risk the arena himself without dragging his captain and best friend with him. But his scars always drew the attention of people when he was in public, and that would put her in danger. It was much easier to conceal an unusually beautiful woman than a truly ugly man. A stunning beauty with an ugly man like him―that would be ludicrous enough to catch the attention of almost everyone.
His father had required all his sons to work a shipping season as a crewmember on one of the family’s merchant ships that hauled cargo along the northern coast of the Mediterranean. That summer, he learned all he’d ever need to know about his ship, including the proper way to load the cargo. He would take over Hector’s job while Hector performed his.
Chapter 17: Slipping Away
Claudia was already tired when she rose early the morning of her escape. Between the nightmares about the lions and the worry about what lay ahead today and into the future, she hadn’t even slept two hours. She joined Lucius for a light breakfast of bread, fruit, and cheese. She only picked at it, and Lucius scolded her about making herself sick if she didn’t eat. They’d had that conversation every day since he betrothed her to Sabinus, so it should suppress any suspicions he might have if she seemed too happy.
Graecia had laid out a fine linen tunic and was getting ready to spend the hour it would take to do Claudia’s hair.
Claudia swallowed hard as she glanced at the box of poetry. It was time to begin her escape. “I don’t want to stay here this morning. I need to get away from this house, to think about something different. Lucius is so mad at me for crying all the time, and I’ve got to do something to stop.”
She tried to keep the building excitement from her voice. “Aemilia was planning to go to the Baths of Titus this morning. I think I’ll join her. A refreshing bath, some time in the gardens together―maybe I can start acting more like Lucius wants. I want to go early so I won’t miss any time with her.”
“Yes, mistress. I’ll prepare what we need to take.”
Claudia’s heart began to beat faster. What if Graecia noticed? She took several deep breaths, and it slowed.
She waived her hand at the box by the side of her bed that held her treasured poetry. “Good. Oh, and be sure to take that small box of poetry for me. I’ve been telling Aemilia about some of my favorites that she hasn’t read. I want to show her some of my own poems as well. We can read some in the gardens after we bathe.”
“Yes, mistress. I’m sure Master Lucius will be pleased that you’re trying.”
As Graecia packed her perfumes, Claudia took note of which were left behind. She would insist that she absolutely had to have one of those, one of the rare ones that couldn’t be bought in the shops at the bath. When she sent Graecia home for it, her escape could begin.
Claudia walked over to the dressing table where her hair accessories were stored. “I want to wear my hair simple today since I’m only going to bathe.”
She picked up the solid gold headband. “I think this and a gold net is what I want.”
She opened her jewelry box and took out the gold and ruby rings and the two gold bracelets. She slid them on.
“I think this necklace from Sabinus is horribly ugly, but if I wear it today, then Lucius can tell him I’m wearing it. He keeps telling me I have to be nice to Sabinus since he’s going to be my husband and there’s nothing I can do about it.” She sighed to make it seem like she was finally reconciled to the match.
“Oh, and I want the gold tunic clips. I think they’ll help draw attention away from that ugly necklace.”
Claudia closed the jewelry box after taking out all the items she’d mentioned. She didn’t want Graecia noticing that some of the other gold pieces that were now hidden at the bottom of her poetry box were missing from their usual places.
As Graecia swept Claudia’s hair into the simple style, Claudia watched her in the brass mirror. The smile on Graecia’s lips...was it because she was glad to see Claudia a little happier or because she could report to Lucius that her opposition to the match was over? Was Malleolus right that Graecia was more loyal to Lucius than her?
Graecia caught her watching, and the smile she gave Claudia seemed like one that showed she cared. Was Lucius going to do something terrible to Graecia for letting her escape?
She suppressed a sigh. She had to leave. She could only hope that Malleolus and Graecia wouldn’t pay a terrible price because she did.
Junia was already waiting at the bath when it opened. Now she sat in the women’s dressing room, pretending to be waiting for her mistress while she held a small bag of clothes.
It felt like she’d been sitting there for a very long time. She glanced at each young woman as she entered the room, but none had been what she’d call stunningly beautiful. She’d seen a few natural blondes, more than a few bleached blondes, but no reddish blondes with brown eyes. Was Master Philip’s description only the result of the imagination of people who loved the girl? Had she missed her?
When Claudia finally entered the dressing room, Junia breathed a sigh of relief. There could be no mistake. The stunningly beautiful young woman of about sixteen with thick, reddish-blonde hair and large brown eyes walked past her. Close behind her came an unhappy slave with two boxes s
tacked in her arms. Now all Junia had to do was wait for Claudia Drusilla to send her maid away, and the execution of Master Philip’s plan could begin.
Claudia glanced around the dressing room as she headed toward a quiet corner. Several lady’s maids sat on benches, waiting with varying degrees of patience. Was one of them the woman she was supposed to meet? If only she had some idea what the woman looked like or what she’d be wearing or something.
What if she sent Graecia away when the woman wasn’t there yet, and she returned before the woman showed up? All the plans might be for nothing. Graecia would be suspicious if she tried to send her home a second time.
But it was definitely past the time the woman was supposed to be there. She couldn’t wait until she was sure since there was no way for her to be sure. It was time.
“Graecia, I want that new perfume from Spain.”
“I brought the attar of roses and the lavender perfume that are your favorites.”
“But I don’t want those. They make me think too much of Father because he loved them.”
She blinked fast a few times, like she did when she fought the next flood of tears. “If I wear them, I won’t be able to keep from crying, and I must stop that. Father never cared for that one from Spain. Nothing else will do. Go home and get it for me. You can leave both boxes. I’ll watch them here in the dressing room and read some poetry until you return.”
“Yes, mistress. I’ll hurry back as quickly as I can.”
The lady’s maid bowed to her mistress and walked out of the room. Junia rose and approached the beauty.
“Excuse me, mistress.”
Claudia turned to face her, a look of nervous anticipation in her eyes.
“Publius Claudius Drusus would have you go with me.”
“I’m ready.”
