A remonstrating look flashed across Wryn’s face. “Mother. We’re at a dinner party.”
Also, she hadn’t kissed him yet, not since that wedding in the Paterculi courtyard when he told her he would wait. Libya fingered the sash at her waist.
Marcellus laughed. “He didn’t even kiss her at that ceremony.”
“If you’re worried about creating a scene, you’re a little late.” Gwen gestured to the staring people.
Eric flashed a smile. “He just doesn’t want to reveal how bad at kissing he is.”
An uncharacteristically wicked grin turned up Cara’s lips. “Libya’s not wearing a veil, so you needn’t worry about tearing off a tunica.”
Libya moved closer to Wryn. Warmth surrounded her like summer days and peaceful lakes. She slid her fingers into Wryn’s. Ink stained the base of his thumb. She flicked her gaze up to his.
Wryn lowered his mouth to her ear. “You don’t have to just because of what they said. I’ve mocked Eric many a time myself. Usually, I win.”
“I want to.” She touched his shoulder. Her fingers tingled. She pressed closer to him. Her chiton sleeve fell back as she wrapped her arm around his neck. He’d kissed her before at those taverns, and she’d kissed him that once after he adopted Horus, but this felt new.
Enchantingly new.
His heart thumped against her through his tunic and the thin linen of her chiton. His chest felt so strong. A streak of something, like a cool breeze on summer days, passed through her. Stretching up, she moved her mouth toward his.
His breath stopped as he gazed at her. Desire shone in his eyes. No dread swept through her. He’d still want to see her soul even after this.
She touched her lips to his. Warmth spread through her. The brush of his lips felt like she imagined warm ocean shores might, his arms surrounding her with safety as wave after wave of feelings crested over her. Laughter, excitement, a pensive sort of beauty.
She pressed her lips tighter against his, circling her arms around his neck. The scent of olives surrounded her as his hands tightened against her back. His gaze connected with hers.
“You call that a kiss?” Gwen scoffed, laughter in her eyes. “I could think of many a cruder word, and you don’t even have the excuse of it being your wedding day.”
“Ignore her,” Wryn said. He pressed his mouth over Libya’s again.
She never wanted him to stop.
The End
Translation Key
Armatura sword — a wooden sword used for practice.
Chiton — a dress with sleeves that was popular with the Greeks as well as the Romans.
Coalemus — the Roman spelling for the Greek god of stupidity.
Denarius — a silver coin equal to a day’s wages for a laborer.
Domina — the title for an elite married woman. A slave would also address his mistress by this title.
Dominus — the title for an elite man. A slave would also address his master by this title.
Domus — house.
Ecce — behold, see, look.
Equestrian — a person of higher rank who still wasn’t as elite as a patrician.
Familia — family.
Legate — a Roman general.
Legionary — a foot soldier roughly equivalent to our modern day private.
Ligula — a Roman unit of measure.
Patrician — a member of the noblemen class.
Mea culpa — mine is the blame, I’m sorry.
Plebian — a commoner.
Salve — greetings, hello, goodbye.
Sestertii — silver coins worth about 1/4 of a denarius.
Stola — an outer garment worn by married women.
Stulte — stupid, foolish.
Tunic — a knee-length garment worn by men.
Tunica — a floor-length, sleeveless dress.
Tribune — a Roman officer position usually assumed by young men of the patrician class. This office was a stepping stone into political positions.
Quidquid — whatever.
The Way — an old name for Christianity.
Paterculi Family Tree
Discussion Questions
1. How did the rapid rise of the christian religion change the way romans treated slaves and women? How is this reflected in without love?
2. Cor 13:1-2 NKJV reads, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” Do you agree that love has that much power? What is love?
3. Who demonstrated love as God’s holy word defines it in the story Without Love? How and when did characters in Without Love show true love?
4. Wryn and Gwen have been squabbling since seven years ago in When Gambling… How did Without Love resolve their disagreements? Or did it?
5. Did you find Horus more endearing or frustrating throughout the book? How do you predict his change in circumstances from chapter one as a fatherless slave to the ending as an adopted heir will change his childhood and future?
6. Given her options, what do you think of the choices Libya made? When someone is an oppressed slave does that in any way mitigate or change the responsibility one bears for one’s choices?
7. If Wryn had chosen to follow Roman society’s ethics and way of doing things, rather than Christian morals, how do you think the story would have ended differently? What would have been the consequences to himself and others?
8. How did Wryn’s mixed Celtic and Roman upbringing affect his struggle? Read more in Book 1, For Life or Until, his parents’ love story.
9. How did this book and its epilogue tie off threads from all four books in the Love & Warfare series? Do you think the love interests from all of the last four books are happy now? How do each of their relationships differ from each other?
10. Aulia, Gwen’s best friend, was in love with Wryn for three books in this series. In the end, though, Gwen said that Libya suited Wryn better. Do you agree? Why or why not?
11. What struggles do you think Wryn and Libya will face in the years to come based on their personalities, pasts, and Roman society disapproving of their match? How do you think they will navigate those struggles?
Historical Note
“A ll men are created equal” is a phrase that rolls easily off the modern tongue. State that sentiment to a second century A.D. Roman and he’d laugh in your face.
Slaves were considered property, not persons, and the gap between male and female stretched wide indeed. Into that world came the radical words of Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (NIV).
This radical affirmation of the worth of all humanity was unheard of in any other religion of its time. Thus, early Christianity had a special appeal to the downtrodden of society.
Among the most downtrodden in the Roman Empire were those labeled infamia. Like the untouchable caste in India’s caste system, those deemed infamia were not allowed to mingle with respectable society and were shamed at every turn. One could become infamia through a variety of criminal acts, but it mainly applied to those who engaged in prostitution, acting, and dancing, or gladiatorial fights. Unsurprisingly, given the stigma of infamia, many prostitutes and gladiators were slaves who were forced into the profession by masters.
Acknowledgements
To my critique partners and beta readers. Thank you for reading at a crazy fast speed so I could meet my deadline.
Kati
Abigail Cossette Ryan zarecaspian.com
J. L. Bradley jlbradley.com
Kim Griggs www.kimberlygriggs.wordpress.com
Sue Campbell Freivald
Rachael Tamayo www.RachaelTamayowrites.com
Kira Jessup
And others who did not wish to be named.
>
A big thank you to my husband and parents for the time they gave me to write. To my son, “Joe-Joe,” who may or may not have inspired some of Horus’ antics. And to Baby Chip who inspired one character in the novel. See if you can guess which one.
For better or worse, the series is finished. I still have plans to tie up Edna, Aulia, and Horus’ storylines someday.
Cavé
CAVÉ - (pronounced kah-weh) Latin meaning Caution or Caution (You).
The Cavé Books imprint is dedicated to relating true to life stories from the historical period in the time of the early church. Scripture offers much wisdom on the topic of caution. Proverbs 14:16 informs believers that The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.
Daily life for the followers of Christ the Lord during the latter part of the first century in the Roman Empire is truly difficult for modern Christians to imagine. These godly saints behaved so bravely in such trying times because they cautiously but devoutly followed the narrow path, the path of the cross - “the Way” (John 14:6; Acts 24:14-15). The legacy of their devotion and caution is the body of believers we know as the church today.
More Books by Anne Garboczi Evans
Love & Warfare Series
For Life or Until
When Gambling
To Deceive an Empire
Whoever Does Not Love
Lawmen & Suffragette Series
Hot Lead & Cold Apple Pie
Plum Pudding Bride
Short Fiction
Christmas Treasures: A Collection of Christmas Short Stories
Forever Family Series
What’s a Foster Family?
What’s A Forever Family?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
annegarboczievans.wordpress.com
Anne Garboczi Evans is a mental health counselor, military spouse, and mama to an opinionated preschooler named “Joe-Joe” and a very dramatic baby named “Chip.”
Reading Rosemary Sutcliff as a middle school student and taking Latin in college instilled in her a love of the Roman Empire, leading to her Love and Warfare series. Moving to the CO Rockies inspired her to write the Lawmen & Suffragette series, romantic comedies set in the Old West. Working in mental health got her interested in writing women’s fiction.
When not writing or reading, you can find Anne introducing her boys to the outdoor wonders of colorful Colorado.
Website: annegarboczievans.wordpress.com
Blog: annegarboczievans.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/annegarboczievans
Twitter: twitter.com/garboczievans
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/garboczievans
Without Love: Love and Warfare series book 4 Page 38
