'I twisted my ankle in the fall. Nothing to worry about' Her words tumbled out. Her eyes were drawn to the way his black hair curled on his neck just above his tunic as he bent over her foot. Giving her head a quick shake, she attempted to recapture her wit. 'I'm sure I can cope. I wouldn't want to deprive any woman who might be looking to arrange an assignation with you…'
Valens kept his hand on her leg. Instead of letting go, he touched the area above and below her ankle with careful fingers, turning her foot this way and that, but never enough to cause real pain. Julia again felt the heat from his hand course up her leg. It terrified her and excited her.
Now she started to understand why the poets went on about instant attraction. She had never felt this warm melting for anyone before, and she knew little to nothing about this man, this gladiator. She stared at him, wondering how a turned ankle could make her so light-headed, breathless.
'I think I've had my quota for the day,' he said, answering her joke with one of his own. 'Besides, I wouldn't have wanted to miss the opportunity of holding such a pretty ankle.'
The intimacy of his smile made her knees weaken and her hands itch to bury themselves in his hair. She had to take control of the situation or her actions would echo her thoughts, and she'd be little better than the women who stood around the gladiators' entrance after a match, hoping for a glimpse of their hero. And swooning with great long sighs whenever any gladiator appeared.
Julia withdrew her foot from his hand.
'You are an idle flatterer. It is the first time in my life anyone has praised my ankles.'
'Maybe it is time somebody did.' He laughed and then his face sobered. 'How bad is your ankle? Is the pain better or worse than when you first turned it?'
'It is nothing. I'll shake it off in a few steps.'
She forced herself to ignore the pain as she rotated it, but the world blurred in a haze. She could do this. She was strong enough to withstand it. She forced her back straighten
'It looks more than a twisted ankle to me. You can barely put weight on your right foot.' Valens stood up, then reached out and lifted her chin. 'Your lips are white from pain.'
Julia's breath caught in her throat. For a heartbeat, she could only stare at him, watching the rise and fall of his chest. His eyes seemed to swallow her. Her lips ached, parted of then-own volition. He might kiss her.. in public. The thought acted like a plunge into the cold-water pool at the baths, bringing her to her senses. She ducked her head, hiding her face deeper in her shawl and made one last attempt to keep her dignity.
'The pain is lessening.' Julia took a step backwards and forced a smile on her face. She was a Roman matron, not a courtesan or a prostitute. Roman matrons had pure thoughts and a steady heartbeat. Keeping those thoughts uppermost, she folded her arms across her breasts. 'The Forum is only a few streets away, after that it is not too far to Subura and home. It should hold out if I go slowly.'
She shut her eyes and tried to believe her words, tried not to count the number of steps it would take.
'What, and collapse on someone else? Subura is at least a mile from the Forum. And how far do you think you'll get on your own, limping like that? You'll be a target for every thief and cutpurse in the city,' he said gravely.
Julia's heart started to race faster and she clenched her fists to prevent herself from throwing them around his neck. She had help. She wasn't alone.
'Julia, Julia, what in the name of the Good Goddess do you think you are doing?' Sabina said, rushing up to her and grabbing her arm. Julia put out her hands to keep her balance. She felt Valens's hand on the small of her back steady her. 'The litter is here at last. Your father did remember after all.'
'I…that is…' Julia gulped. Sabina would have to appear, just as things were starting to become interesting.
'It came just after you went on your little walk. I have been searching for you everywhere!' Sabina said, her voice rising in a piercing shriek. 'It is bad enough that your father uses our one and only litter on the day I promised Livia I'd meet her at the baths, but you have to go off on some excursion of your own, just when we need to leave. If you won't think of your own reputation, Julia, at least think about your family's.'
'I hurt my ankle and this gentleman has been helping me.' Julia said, hoping her stepmother had not seen Valens's hands on her leg. 'You were obviously too busy to notice.'
Julia watched Sabina's eyes narrow as she regarded Valens, taking in the short tunic and the expensive cloak slung around his shoulders. Julia resisted the temptation to bite her nails.
'And you are?' Sabina's voice could have been chipped out of marble.
'Valens the gladiator at your service, ma'am.' He gave a slight bow. 'Rescuing fair maids in distress is a speciality.'
'Julia, how could you? A gladiator,' Sabina whispered furiously. 'You promised—no more scandals. You're not to give Mettalius any excuse to wriggle out of your wedding.'
'Since when is falling a scandal?' Julia stared at Sabina. An edited version of the truth was in order if she was avoid a lecture—something that skirted around Valens's early banter and her replies to it. At Sabina's narrowed eyes, Julia widened hers. 'It's the truth. Valens kindly helped when others would have ignored me.'
'Please spare me.' Sabina cast her eyes heavenwards, before turning towards Valens. She made a shooing motion with her hands. 'It's all right now. My maid and I can see Julia Antonia safely home. We do have a litter. Thank you for helping.'
There was a pause as Valens lifted his eyebrow and Julia watched her stepmother's cheek colour.
'Would you like something for your trouble?' Sabina asked through firmly pursed lips. 'Galla—'
'Keep your money,' Valens said stiffly. 'A simple act of kindness, such as I would do for any.'
Julia wished the ground would open and swallow her. How could her stepmother be that rude?
'Thank you. You were very kind. I appreciate it.'
He caught her hand and held it, encasing it in his warmth. Their eyes locked and Julia felt her heart begin to race again.
'Julia, we have to go. Are you aware of how many things I have to do today?'
Julia started and withdrew her hand, scorched from the heat.
'It was my pleasure. What else are gladiators good for?' Valens gave a lopsided smile. 'If I come across your flask, I'll try to return it to you.'
Julia returned his smile, before she limped off with Sabina and her maid flanking her on either side. One bright spot in her otherwise gloomy day. As if on cue, the rain started drizzling down, sending the market stall owners scurrying to close up and cover their goods.
She ignored Sabina's litany of complaint and concentrated on thinking about Valens's smile, indulging in a daydream of how he'd find her perfume flask and use it as an excuse to see her again.
Chapter Two
Valens watched the trio hobble off until they were submerged in the growing throng—Julia's head the highest of the three and her shawl easy to follow in the crowd. She was quite unexpected. The odour of her perfume lingered in the air—a light floral scent of lavender mingled with roses and somehow suitable for the woman.
He ran his hand through his hair. He had a thousand things to do, to prepare, and wasting time speculating about a woman was not going to help. This one last fight on the biggest stage in the world, and then he'd retire…with honour. But he'd seen far too often what happened to those who failed to concentrate.
Valens pulled his cloak more firmly around his shoulders and hunched his head against the rain. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a small stone flask wedged between two paving stones. He picked it up—JA. was faintly scratched on the top. Julia Antonia? He glanced towards the direction he had last seen her, weighing the flask in his hand.
'Excuse me, excuse me but is that a gladiator's badge?' a young boy lisped, pulling on his cloak. 'I saw some gladiators fight last year in Capua with my father. And the spectacle was fantastic. Which sort of gladiator are you? I col
lect the figures. I have a Samnite, a rentarius and my mother just bought me a Valens the Thracian figurine whose arms can move.'
Valens glanced down at the boy's upturned face, glowing with admiration, and then back to where Julia had disappeared. He shoved the flask into his belt. There would be time later to find her if the Fates were willing. Back to being a god.
Julia chewed the end of her stylus, trying to think of a way to describe her encounter with Valens the gladiator to Claudia. Without a doubt, Claudia would have a hundred questions that as a dutiful best friend she should answer before she was asked. The problem was she had little idea of how to answer. She only knew he was a Thracian gladiator, but not if a Thracian was a great or little shield. Claudia was an avid supporter of the great shields, the ones who were nearly covered in body armour and carried the oblong shields, if she remembered correctly. Thracian would have to do. She sighed and pushed the tablet away.
'I know, Bato,' she said to the elderly greyhound who whined at her from his place by the brazier. 'But what is the point of writing when I am ignorant of so many things Claudia will demand to know?'
The dog gave a sharp bark and covered his nose with his paws. Julia laughed.
'Exactly what I'll do when Claudia demands further and better details.' She picked up her stylus again and started to write. Before she had written three words, a loud banging and shouts sounded outside. 'What is that unearthly racket, Bato? Have a whole host of Furies descended on the courtyard?'
She limped to the door, only to have it pulled out of her hand by Sabina, her stepmother's face contorted in fury.
'Now you've done it, Julia. You have done it. Listen to that racket! Just you wait until your father gets home.'
'What is it, Sabina?' Julia crossed her arms and stared at her stepmother. Julia's mind raced, trying to think what she had done to cause this red-faced anger. Nothing. But that small fact seemed to have escaped the older woman. 'Ever since we arrived back from the baths, I've been in that room, resting my ankle and writing letters. I'm totally innocent of whatever is happening out there.'
Sabina's mouth opened and closed like a codfish several times before she emitted a piercing shriek.
'That gladiator you talked to this morning, outside the baths. He's at the gates.' Sabina shook at finger at Julia. 'I will not have your brutish friends intimidating the porter. I won't have it, I tell you. You may speak to them in the marketplace, but I refuse to have an infamis in the house. Gladiators are the lowest of the low. They are even worse than actors. And, by Juno's necklace, you know how many times I have refused to allow them in my house, even for entertainment!'
'Is he?' Julia's fingers went to her throat. Valens here! A warm glow filled her as she remembered the way his hands had engulfed her ankle. She tried for a casual shrug of her shoulders. 'He's probably found my missing flask of perfume and is returning it, that's all. There is no need for you to put the house in an uproar.'
'He thinks you invited him to stay.' Sabina had a triumphant gleam in her eye. 'Julia, your father will be furious with you. I dread to think what Senator Mettalius will say when he finds out. You take his proposal of marriage too lightly,Julia. Many women would be delighted to ally their families with Mettalius. He's a rising star in the Senate.'
'Where is my father?' Julia asked, thinking fast as her stomach hit the tops of her sandals. Had she said something, anything Valens could take for invitation? She went back over the conversation. Nothing.
'He retired to the gym two hours ago. Perhaps, your luck will hold, but I'd make a shrewd guess and say you have less than a half-hour to get rid of your lovelorn gladiator friend before your father returns and Mettalius comes for dinner.'
'Mettalius is dining with us. Nobody told me.' Julia wrinkled her nose and her mind raced to think of a suitable excuse. This day was getting worse with each passing word from Sabina's lips. Perhaps her ankle would be too painful and she'd retire to bed.
'He sent word at five hours, just before we left for the baths. I want you to look your best. I will not accept any excuse. Your last one about your dog being ill was utterly transparent. Your father knows what is best for you and the family. Think of Mettalius's power, his influence.'
His bad breath? His high-pitched voice? Julia resisted the temptation to add these attributes to the list.
'Furthermore, if you cross me on this, I will…I will have that dog of yours put down.' Sabina's eyes narrowed.
Bato bared his teeth and gave a low growl.
'You wouldn't dare.' Julia curled her fingers around Bato's collar. She gave a wild look at Sabina, standing there, one hand on her hip, the other pointing at Bato. 'Hush, Bato, be good. She's only having her little joke.'
'Try me.' Sabina made a shooing motion. 'Now, go and get rid of the gladiator. Then we'll talk, and remember what happened the last time you tried to get the better of me.'
Julia clenched her jaw. She remembered all too well what happened—Sabina had consulted her favourite augur and she had been married off to Lucius before she had had a chance to voice a protest.
She covered her letter to Claudia with several scrolls, then placed her stylus on top. The last thing she needed was Sabina prying into her private letters. She snapped her fingers. 'Come, Bato. We have a gladiator to disable.'
Valens stood with his tablet in his hand, his foot blocking the porter from shutting the huge iron-and-oak door. The pain between his eyes had reached a crescendo. After he had answered an ever-growing crowd of supporters' questions, he arrived back late to the School's temporary headquarters only to discover the memories of Spartacus's rebellion cast long shadows. The Senate had passed a law forbidding more than three gladiators to be housed in one place. And Strabo wanted the situation sorted out yesterday.
Now, all he wanted to do was leave his gear, find the nearest public baths before they closed and try to soak some of today's problems away. It was highly unlikely that this family would have its own private bathing suite, because as far as he could tell, they were equestrian, rather than senatorial in stature.
It had seemed straightforward when he left Strabo and Caesar. Unfortunately, the place where he was supposed to stay seemingly had no knowledge of him.
The fine drizzle dripped on the back of his neck, echoing his mood.
'But I'm expected,' he explained again to the grizzled porter cowering behind his table. For Hercules's sake, he had kept his voice low and deadly calm. The man behaved as if he had tried to strike him. He only wanted to go to his room.
'I know nothing about this—' the porter said in an officious tone.
'It's fine, Clodius. I will handle this,' a firm but melodious voice said.
Valens raised his eyebrows in surprise. The matron from the marketplace. Julia Antonia. Another sign from the gods?
A shaft of sunlight appeared through the clouds, lighting the doorway and the woman standing in it before vanishing. She looked lovelier than he remembered. No longer covered in a mantle, her hair had a dark black sheen like the wing of a blackbird he had once owned as a boy. Her movements reminded him of that bird—quick, sharp, nervous. At first, the bird had pecked his finger, but after his mother had shown him how to be patient, the bird had taken crumbs from the palm of his hand.
'At last, someone with a bit of common sense.' Valens made his voice sound playful but there was no relaxation of her shoulders, no answer to his smile. If anything, she looked more wary. There had to be something he could use to recapture the camaraderie of the marketplace. He frowned and reached into his satchel. 'I found your perfume flask. It had rolled a little way along the gutter.'
He held it out as if he were holding crumbs for his blackbird. At the sight of the flask, a cloud seemed to lift from her face, and she gave a smile that could have lit a thousand lamps. Cautiously she stretched out her hand. Her cool fingers closed around the flask, touched his and sent a jolt up his arm.
His eyes traced the relaxed curve of her neck before locking with her sobe
r hazel eyes. Valens's lips curved upwards into a smile of triumph—he had her tamed.
A slim greyhound peered from behind her skirts, and then raced forward, breaking Valens's gaze, returning him to the present. The dog's cool muzzle touched Valens's hand, his tongue lapping at his palm. Valens reached down and stroked the dog's ears. Instantly the dog gave a whine of pleasure, turned over and wriggled on its back, exposing its belly and nudging Valens's leg.
'Bato, come back here,' Julia said, tugging on the dog's collar and her face growing bright red. 'I'm so sorry. He's normally very wary of people, men in particular. I can't think why he should behave like that. Bato, sit!'
The dog gave another lap of his tongue—this time to Valens's sandal.
Valens went still. For a breath, he thought he knew the dog. It reminded him of one he'd left with his father before he went off to fight in North Africa more than five years ago. But that would be too much of a coincidence. He shook his head at his folly. The poor thing probably smelt the pie he had had for lunch. Mystery solved.
'It is quite all right. No harm done,' he said. 'I like dogs, in particular greyhounds. I used to have one as a pet when I was a boy. Have you had Bato since a puppy?'
Julia gave a wistful smile and her shoulders tensed. The blackbird look was back.
'He belonged to my ex-husband, but Bato tired of my ex's uncertain temper, decided he was my dog and took to defending me against my ex. When I left, he came with me. Except when I am at the baths, he is rarely more than a few feet from me.'
Her words held a wealth of hidden agony. It was no wonder she looked poised for flight, Valen thought.
'A wise dog.' He lifted one eyebrow and watched her cheeks stain with colour. A small laugh escaped her lips.
The Gladiator's Honor Page 2
