Claudia, Wife of Pontius Pilate

by Taylor, Diana Wallis

  When Sejanus and the emperor left to discuss matters of state, Claudia returned to the garden with Lucius.

  “Where is your home, Lucius?”

  “I have a family villa in Ponti in the mountains of Samnium, a half day’s ride from the city. My mother died five years ago, so you will be free to direct the slaves. My staff has been instructed to obey your orders.”

  “I will be happy anywhere you are, Lucius. Forgive me if I say, I will be especially happy to leave the palace.”

  He studied her face a moment. “You have not been happy here?”

  She considered her words. “The emperor has been good to me, but more and more there is word of his leaving for Capri permanently. I will be more comfortable in a villa of my own.” She dared not say more, lest it get back to Sejanus.

  “I may not be able to be with you a great deal, my Claudia. I believe Sejanus has an assignment for me, but he has not indicated what that shall be.”

  Fear suddenly constricted her heart. “Can I not go with you, wherever you are assigned?”

  His eyes widened in surprise. “Most Roman women prefer to remain in the city if their husbands are in the army and assigned to a distant outpost.”

  “I don’t care. I want to go with you if it is at all possible. Please, Lucius.” She looked up at him, feeling the tears behind her eyes and hating the pleading sound of her voice. She could not tell him she wanted to be as far from Rome, the emperor, and Sejanus as she could get.

  He reached up and brushed a tear from her cheek with his thumb. “I too desire you with me. Let us discover my assignment and discuss it then.”

  She nodded. Then another thought occurred to her. “I would like to bring my servant, Hotep. She has been mine since I came to the palace and I depend on her.” How could she say they had become friends and she feared for the girl if left behind?

  “If that is your wish, she may come with you. Who shall be your bridesmaid?”

  She shook her head slowly. “I have no one here in the palace.”

  He rubbed his chin with one hand and his brows were knit together in thought. “The prefect has a young daughter, Junilla, who is eight or nine years old, I believe. Perhaps she could attend you. I believe that would also please the prefect.”

  Claudia had met Junilla once and found her to be a sweet girl, taking much after her mother.

  “If the prefect allows her, I would not mind Junilla.” She would have liked Hotep, but it was not proper for a slave to be part of a wedding ceremony.

  She and Lucius agreed that her clothing and personal property would be sent with Hotep to the Villa Ponti the morning of their wedding.

  He ran a finger down her cheek and his eyes left no doubt of his feelings. “With great anticipation I look forward to our wedding.”

  She felt the warmth rise in her body and spread to her face. “I also look forward to our wedding, Lucius.” Her eyes met his unflinchingly.

  He took her hand and held it a long moment and then reluctantly took his leave of her.

  She thought the month of Juno would never arrive. Since she had no home to be married in, Tiberius chose the temple of Jupiter. The high priest there would officiate.

  To her delight, her grandmother sent word that she would dress Claudia on her wedding day—usually a mother’s task.

  Before her grandmother arrived, Claudia ate what little breakfast she could manage. Anticipation and excitement had dimmed her appetite. She looked down at the engagement ring on her left hand that Lucius had given her—a single jewel that caught the light and sparkled. He’d given her the ring and then held her a long moment, and she felt his heart beating against hers. With great restraint he had put her from him and once again, touching her cheek, bid her goodbye until the wedding.

  There was a knock on the door and her grandmother entered, followed by a very shy Junilla. Sejanus had been pleased at the request for his daughter as a bridesmaid and made sure she was brought to the palace at once.

  Junilla stared at Claudia. “You look so pretty.” She perched on a chair to watch the proceedings, her eyes alight with anticipation.

  Hotep had anointed Claudia’s body with oil and perfume and slipped the undergarment of soft, sheer cotton over her head before Junilla and Scribonia arrived.

  A stola of soft, sheer white wool came next. Scribonia stepped forward and, with a golden belt, tied the “knot of Hercules” in it—the knot only to be untied by Claudia’s husband at their wedding couch. Finally a flame-colored veil was settled over her head. Then her feet were slipped into her gold sandals.

  Hotep divided Claudia’s hair into six locks as was traditional. The locks were coiled and held in position on top of her head with ribbons. A wreath of flowers was placed on top of the veil.

  Claudia rose and went to fetch her small box of treasures, which she offered to the statue of Venus in her room, signifying leaving her childhood behind. Her grandmother’s eyes widened as Claudia pulled out the ring her mother had given her and had Hotep clasp the chain around her neck. The ring remained unseen inside her stola, and as she faced her grandmother, her chin up in a moment of defiance, Scribonia raised her eyebrows in question.

  “Should it not accompany me on my wedding day?”

  Her grandmother sighed heavily but said nothing.

  The emperor sent two bouquets of white roses and chrysanthemums, a larger one for Claudia and a smaller bouquet for Junilla. She was touched that he would do such a thing—perhaps a suggestion from Livia?

  She said a quick goodbye to Hotep, who hurried to a coach that would take her to the Villa Ponti with Claudia’s personal things and her loom. The entourage left Claudia’s quarters and walked to the entrance of the palace where a carpentum waited to take Claudia, Junilla, and Scribonia to the Temple of Jupiter for the wedding. The manes of the two large horses had been decorated with flowers, and they stomped their feet and snorted as if anxious to be off.

  Lucius met them on the steps of the temple in his dress uniform. He too had a garland around his head. Next to him was the emperor, dressed in a white toga with a larger royal purple stripe on the side. Sejanus, in his full uniform, nodded to his daughter in response to her shy smile. Lucius helped Claudia out of the carriage and took her hand firmly, leading her into the temple, followed by the ten selected men, who, along with Sejanus and the emperor, made up the twelve required witnesses.

  As Claudia and Lucius finally stood before the priest, holding hands, she chanted first, “Quando tu Gaius, ego Gaia” (When-and-where-you-are Gaius, I then-and-there-am Gaia). Lucius in turn chanted, “Quando tu Gaia, ego Gaius” (When-and-where-you-are Gaia, I then-and-there-am Gaius). Then the bride and groom were seated on stools facing the altar. The priest chanted other words of the ceremony and an offering of cake was made to Jupiter. Then the cake was carefully eaten by the bride and groom.

  When the ceremony ended and Claudia was pronounced the wife of Lucius Pontius Pilate, they turned to receive the congratulations of the guests. Sejanus and Tiberius had invited the senators and those of the praetorian rank who were in favor at the time, along with their wives.

  The banquet was lavish—bowls of pears, quinces, and plums were placed in the center of the banquet table, along with other bowls of almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, and walnuts. The servants brought in steaming dishes of carrots, asparagus, peas, and cabbage seasoned with garlic. Roasted chicken as well as stuffed pigeons and partridges were served. Platters of various cheeses were offered to the guests along with small loaves of white bread. The olive relish Claudia loved was also in abundance.

  Claudia could hardly contain her joy as she and Lucius exchanged glances throughout the banquet. She looked at Sejanus once and was startled to see him watching her. His expression was almost smug.

  When it came time to leave the palace for her new home, Claudia and Lucius bid their guests farewell. She turned to Junilla and thanked her for being her bridesmaid. “In a few years you will also be a bride.”

&n
bsp; Junilla beamed at this and Claudia could see in her the beauty that she would be one day. Scribonia, acting the part of the mother, clasped her hands around Claudia as if to prevent her from leaving. Lucius, following tradition, good-naturedly pulled his bride away. Claudia turned to her grandmother and Scribonia returned the embrace, tears in her eyes as she whispered in her granddaughter’s ear, “Be happy, child. May this be the beginning of a better life for you.”

  Just as Claudia and Lucius approached their coach, Lucius was stopped by Tiberius and called aside. The emperor drew an official document from inside his tunic.

  “I have a wedding present for you.”

  Claudia stood silently, wondering what this could be. The emperor had said nothing of a gift and she had wondered what he would do. She lowered her eyes so as not to appear to be listening, but what she heard caused her to look up suddenly in amazement.

  “You are to report to Caesarea as soon as possible to serve as governor of Judea, to assume the office vacated by the previous governor, Valerius Gratus. He has been recalled to Rome.”

  Claudia stared in amazement. This was an enormous responsibility. Governor of Judea? Claudia’s mind raced considering all the implications. How soon would they have to leave for Caesarea?

  The face of the emperor was stern. “A ship is waiting to take you to your province. Your bride will join you later in Caesarea.”

  “My lord, I am grateful for your confidence in me. This is a great honor.” He glanced back at Claudia, waiting by the coach in her wedding finery. “I am to leave—now?”

  “You have one hour. The ship leaves with the evening tide.”

  As Lucius turned away from the emperor and Sejanus, facing Claudia, she alone saw the flash of anger in his eyes. She glanced up at Sejanus who stood with his arms folded across his great chest. His eyes glittered with pleasure, but the smile was cold and calculating. He gave a slight tilt of his head and then she understood. This was his doing.

  Lucius turned back and bowed to the emperor. “Your will is my command, Majesty, however it is over three hours just to my villa. I would need to gather certain things.”

  Sejanus stepped forward, dismissing his concern with a wave of his hand. “They have already been sent for. They shall be on the ship when you arrive.”

  Lucius saluted in obedience to his prefect. “I shall be ready in one hour.”

  As the guests whispered among themselves at the turn of events, Lucius took Claudia by the hand and led her back into the palace to the garden where they had some privacy.

  She turned into his arms, weeping softly. “How could he do this to us? Why did we tarry so long at the banquet, thinking we had all the time in the world?”

  “I cannot guess the mind of the emperor, beloved, but I must obey orders. This is a great honor, though I’m not sure I am ready for such a task. Judea is the hotbed of the empire and the Jews are a cantankerous lot to deal with. But if my emperor feels I am up to the governorship of that land, I will do my best.”

  He tilted her chin up and kissed the tears that ran down her cheeks. Then he gave her a long, lingering kiss that set her heart on fire. She leaned into him with longing.

  When he released her, his breath was ragged, but he held himself back. “I desire you with all my being, wife of my heart, but I will not take you in haste as a woman of the streets. You are my wife, but our first night together must not be like that. We will complete the ceremony and come together as one in Caesarea where I will prepare a proper wedding couch for you.”

  He sat her down on one of the stone benches and spoke earnestly. “You must be brave and listen carefully to my instructions, beloved. Marcus will help you become acquainted with the household. They know now that you will come alone. You may select anything you wish to bring to our new post. I will make arrangements for the next ship to Caesarea and you will be notified when to arrive at the dock.”

  She nodded through her tears. “I will do what you ask, Lucius, and will pray the days will pass quickly and hasten my journey.”

  He stood and drew her up against him again. “I know not why this was done in this manner, but we will be together again soon. I shall await your arrival with my whole heart.”

  He kissed her again and then taking her by the hand, whispered, “Leave this place, now, beloved, and go to the villa. The driver will see you arrive safely. Pray to the gods for me, for I shall need your prayers.”

  “I will pray every day, my Lucius, and beseech the gods for you.”

  He led her once more out of the palace to the carpentum, which still stood at the foot of the steps. The emperor was nowhere in sight, nor was his prefect. The other guests had departed and would no doubt spread word of this strange turn of events.

  Lucius handed her into the coach and stood watching it move away. Claudia waved out the window until they turned a corner and she could no longer see him. She rode in silence, muffling her sobs into her shawl.

  In her heart she raged at Sejanus. This was his doing and she knew it with all of her being. He had finally extracted his full measure of revenge for the incident in the hallway with Hotep.

  16

  Claudia finally leaned back in the coach, thinking of the time she and her grandmother had ridden to Rome in a similar coach and she had been fearful of what awaited her. The emperor was a strange man, given to moods, and she didn’t try to understand him but had finally forgiven him for what he had done in Reggio. She couldn’t carry those thoughts any longer without them destroying her. Now those feelings rose up again as she tried to understand what had just happened. She was married, in name only, and her husband, instead of carrying her over the threshold of their home, was boarding a ship that would take him far away from her. It was not how she pictured her wedding night.

  Without Lucius, the trip to his villa seemed to take forever. The cobblestones of the road gave the coach small jolts as they traveled. She finally occupied herself watching the countryside.

  At last the coach slowed and entered a gravel road that led to a villa sitting among a series of low hills and shaded by a stand of sycamore trees. The villa was large, two stories, but not forbidding. The door of the coach opened and she was helped out by the driver. She looked up and marveled that she was mistress of such a home.

  The steps leading up to the entrance were lined with clay pots of flowers, and as she approached the door, it was opened by a man in his fifties, possibly Greek. Next to him, a slender woman about the same age took in the wedding attire and greeted her with a sympathetic smile.

  The man stepped forward. “Domina, welcome to Villa Ponti. I am Marcus, the lord’s steward. We were told of your arrival. Come, enter your new home.”

  The older woman stepped forward and bowed her head. “I am Alba. May we bring you some refreshments, Domina?”

  Domina. She was no longer the young mistress but a married woman and mistress of this house.

  Claudia acknowledged them. “Thank you for making me welcome. It has been a difficult day. I do not need refreshments at this time, I only wish to rest.”

  Alba glanced at the steward and nodded. “Of course, Domina, come this way.”

  As Claudia followed the servant down the corridor and up some stairs, she barely noticed the beautiful mosaic in the entrance hall. She would explore the villa later, but for now all she wanted was to be alone and cry out her unhappiness.

  In spite of her heartache and tumbling emotions, Claudia looked around her room. Soft linen curtains moved in the breeze at the windows, and the bed was covered with a blue embroidered coverlet. The furniture was old, but the patina was polished. Each piece was beautifully made. Then once again she felt the anguish of Lucius torn away from her so suddenly.

  Alba clicked her tongue against her teeth in a sympathetic sound. “I am so sorry, Domina. We all thought it strange, but packed the master’s chests for him and sent them to the ship as ordered by the prefect.”

  They had that much time? “When did you receive w
ord to pack my husband’s trunks?”

  “Why, yesterday, Domina. We barely had time to get them ready for transport to the ship.”

  “I see. Thank you, Alba, for your kindness. I would like to be alone now.”

  Alba hesitated a moment and then nodded to Hotep and left the room. She understood that Claudia’s maidservant would attend her.

  When the door closed and they were alone, Hotep came forward, her eyes filled with compassion. She put her arms around her mistress, something she would never dare to do with others around. This time she comforted Claudia as a friend.

  Claudia wept in her servant’s arms, pouring out her misery. “Sejanus ordered the trunks sent yesterday. He knew before the wedding. Oh how I hate that man!”

  When she was spent, she slowly recovered herself, stepping back as Hotep handed her a linen cloth to wipe her eyes. She looked at her handmaid and said fiercely, “Sejanus let us stay at the banquet until there was not enough time left and then let Tiberius announce the news. How clever of him. He knew the ship was waiting and said nothing!” She wept again as Hotep carefully untied the knot of Hercules.

  Claudia, aware that it should have been Lucius untying the wedding knot, raged inside again. With Hotep’s help, she slowly took off her wedding garments and sandals. Then Hotep began to undo the elaborate hairstyle arranged for the wedding and gently brushed Claudia’s hair before helping her to bed—the bed that she had expected to share with Lucius. Her mother’s ring was placed back in the small chest. Another wave of sorrow overwhelmed her, and as the coverlet was pulled over her, the last Claudia remembered was Hotep settling in a chair nearby, watching over her mistress as she had done so many times before.

  Weary in mind and body, Claudia fell into a deep and troubled sleep.

  She woke hours later with a start, trying to clear the remnants of a strange dream from her mind. She opened her eyes and Hotep was instantly at her side.

  “You are feeling better now, Domina?”