Gladiator Heart (22 page)

“Please, my lord, I would lie with you before I leave.” She walked over to him.

“Stop,” he ordered, lifting his head to look at her. “I asked you to leave.”

Surprise showed on her face. “My lord, I have been dispatched to pleasure you.”

It was a nice thought, and for a brief moment he considered it, but he wanted no gifts from the Romans. “I would not have a woman who was given no choice in coming here.”

She relaxed at his words, then came to sit next to him on the cot. “No gladiator has refused me before.”

“Now you have a story to tell,” Tristan snapped, hoping she’d leave him to the confinement of his cell and find another.

“I should like to have a story to tell,” she said, sliding over to sit closer to him.

Her bare leg brushed against his, then she rested a hand on his thigh and slowly inched it higher.

He grabbed her wrist to stop her. “I have no wish to lie with you.”

“How different you are from other men,” she said, echoing the same words he’d once heard spoken by Valeria. “It would be my pleasure to serve you this night.”

Tristan would grasp at anything to take his mind off the woman he couldn’t manage to get out of his thoughts, but succumbing to the lusts of another would only make the torment worse.

The next morning Valeria was up before most of the household. Paula was surprised to find her already bathed and dressed when she entered her rooms and set about styling her hair in some intricate work of art.

“Too much, Paula.” Valeria pushed her hands away in irritation and continued the task herself, weaving a white ribbon through her long tresses to keep it out of her face and leaving the rest free to fall down her back. “I’m in a hurry.”

“I didn’t think you’d be so excited to see Gaius Cato today.”

“I’m not.”

She was in a hurry to get free of the palace and go to the games. Tristan and Angus were fighting again, and today she might take a chance to see them after the games since both Rufus and Lucia would be accompanying her to the arena. Knowing they couldn’t stop her from going, they’d given up the battle and insisted on attending the games with her. Lucia knew it was because she cared about Tristan, and Rufus believed it was because of her bet. They probably thought to try talking more sense into her, but Valeria was wholly invested in Tristan and she would watch him fight until he was freed, or he was killed. Whether or not he hated her, she’d made a promise, and because she’d invoked the Gods, they would hold her to it.

Valeria studied her reflection in the mirror, satisfied with her appearance. The lavender stola she’d bought on the road was becoming one of her favorite colors to wear because it reminded her of Tristan. Was she a fool to still feel anything for him? She’d tried to stop caring about him, but she couldn’t push the man from her thoughts, or her heart. Maybe when he was free and her vow to him fulfilled she could turn towards another and remember him only as the first man she’d loved.

Did she love him?

“Will you take the morning meal with your cousin?” Paula slipped silver earrings into her ears. “You should have something to eat before you go with Gaius.”

Valeria cringed just from the mere mention of his name.

“No, I won’t have time. I can eat at Lucia’s.” She stepped into her leather sandals and slapped Paula’s hands away when she started lacing them up for her. “I can do it. You don’t have to fuss over me so much.”

Paula stared at her with a look of pure shock. “But it’s my duty, Domina. I’m here to serve you.”

Valeria released a heavy sigh. “I don’t need to be served and bathed and dressed like I can’t take care of myself. Why don’t you find something you’d like to do today? I’m releasing you from your duties.”

“What shall I do?”

The poor girl looked lost and confused at the idea of thinking for herself. It upset Valeria that she’d surrendered to her role so completely she couldn’t come up with one thing she’d like to do.

“Why don’t you go into the city?” Valeria threw on her blue cape and opened her purse to give Paula some coins. “Take some money and buy whatever you want. If anyone questions you, tell them you are there on a private errand for me and you’re not to be interfered with.”

Paula stared with amazement at the coins in her hand. “This is for me?”

“Yes, it’s for you.” Valeria laughed, glad she had the power to give the girl a bit of freedom. Then she wondered why she’d never thought to do it before. “Today you are your own person, Paula. Make the most of it.”

She hurried from her rooms and avoided the main staircase so she wouldn’t be caught leaving. The back stairs used by the servants led directly to the kitchen where she could grab something to eat on her way out the back entrance.

The large room was warm and servants were already busy preparing the day’s meals. She passed a platter of bread and cheese and took some of the food to eat on her walk to Lucia’s.

“You’re up early this morning,” Septima said from behind her.

Valeria dropped the food back on the platter and whipped around to see the woman she was quickly beginning to hate. By her immaculate appearance it was clear she’d been up getting ready for hours. A fine gown and jewels adorned her person, her spiteful face was made up and her red hair styled in an intricate fashion Valeria hadn’t wasted time with. The woman could only be in the kitchen at this early hour for one reason.

“I see you’re dressed and ready to go with Gaius.” Septima inspected the morning meal being prepared by a servant and threw the loaf of bread on the floor at the servant’s feet. “We are to have fresh bread every morning. Do you think you can pass off yesterday’s bread? Do you think me a fool?”

“No, Domina.” The servant bowed her head in shame. “Apologies.”

Valeria resisted the urge to intervene. She knew the bread was fresh, but if she attempted to stop Septima from berating the servant she’d only make it worse on the girl.

Septima turned her attention back to Valeria. “Gaius should be here any moment. Why aren’t you waiting in the atrium?”

Gods be damned, the woman was going to ruin her escape. She wouldn’t make it down the avenue before Septima alerted the entire palace of her departure. She looked longingly at the back door, watching the servants come and go. It would have been so easy for her to slip out and disappear.

“I’ll walk with you.” Septima laced her arm through Valeria’s and began leading her back to the main part of the palace.

The pictures and wall hangings they passed by became a blur as they got closer to the atrium. Valeria’s stomach tensed up in nervous knots and her throat closed, making it difficult to swallow. She felt like she was being led to her execution rather than delivered to her future husband for a casual outing.

“You must be so excited about this day.” Septima patted her arm as if to calm her, but the woman’s every move was designed to intimidate. “I know many young women who will be wild with jealousy to learn Gaius has settled on a wife. You’re quite lucky to have him.”

“You can drop the act,” Valeria snapped, trying to pull her arm free of Septima’s grasp. “We both know you’ve laid this trap. What else have you and Gaius arranged?”

“I do admit that planning your demise with Gaius while he had his cock deep inside me was very stimulating.” Her smile was as cold as her heart. “I found my pleasure more than once.”

Disgusted, Valeria fought to escape her and finally succeeded in slithering out of her grasp.

“You depraved bitch.” She glared at Septima in absolute awe. “Is there no limit to the lengths you’ll go in order to have your way?”

Septima threw her head back and let out a shrill, evil laugh. “Fucking Gaius hardly took effort. He’s very experienced. In fact, I shall be sad to give him up.” She plucked casually at the sleeves of her yellow stola.

Unable to listen to another spiteful word, Valeria rushed ahead of her into the atrium. Stopping at the edge of one of the shallow pools to catch her breath, she heard loud voices in the entryway. Gaius was here.

When Septima walked into the room with an air full of superiority, wearing an arrogant grin, Valeria continued into the entryway. She didn’t know who she feared more in this moment, Septima or Gaius.

Gaius stood just inside the open double doors, dressed immaculately in his white toga with the curls of his blonde hair falling over his forehead. He broke into a wide, cheerful grin when he spotted her.

“Good morning, Valeria.” He walked up to her and took her hands in his. “I see you are as anxious to start the day as I.”

“She’s talked of nothing else.” Septima put her arm around Valeria’s shoulders and hugged her close.

Caught between the two, she felt trapped and helpless.

“And here I thought to escort you down.” Crispus descended the stairs and headed over to them. “I should like to see you off properly, cousin.”

He was dressed casually for the games today in a toga of deep blue embroidered with gold and silver threading. There was a strange glint in his eyes as he greeted Gaius with a handshake.

“What a lovely creature.” Crispus walked through the open doors and stood looking at the two horses in the front avenue.Gaius’s great black steed waited there, and beside it rested a smaller, white horse with sleek lines and a flowing mane. “Her coat is the color of fresh snow.”

“She’s a wedding gift for Valeria.” Gaius joined Crispus outside.

Valeria followed after them and openly admired the white horse. It was a perfectly wonderful wedding gift and made her hate Gaius all the more. He was trying to buy his way into her affections and she’d have none of it.

“What do you think of her, cousin?” Crispus wore a pleased smile.

Gaius also looked to her in expectation, and she could feel Septima’s malicious presence lurking behind her. They were all closing in on her and it was almost too much to bear.

“She’s a fine animal. Thank you, Gaius.”

His indulgent smile told her that he expected more than a simple thank you in return for his gift.

Today she would lose the battle against Gaius. It was all over. A brief vision of her life flashed before her and she was left feeling empty and vacant. This was not the life she’d dreamed of having. Her fantasies of passion and love and adventure were about to be crushed.

One thing she could be thankful for was Tristan. He’d made her first experience with a man something special that she would never forget. It was one thing Gaius could never take from her. And one thing he would probably never give to her.

“Shall we be on our way?” Gaius extended his arm to her.

Valeria reluctantly slipped her arm through his, surrendering to her inevitable fate. What was the use in fighting?

“I should like to accompany you,” Crispus said. “I hope you don’t mind, but I am rather curious to see where my dear cousin will be making her life with you.”

Valeria felt sick inside at the very thought of spending the rest of her life with a man she despised. If the Gods hated her so much, why didn’t they strike her dead with a bolt of lightning, or turn her into a leper?

Gaius stiffened next to her, obviously unhappy about the sudden intrusion on his plans, but he couldn’t say no to the Caesar of Rome. “You would be most welcome to join us.”

Valeria let out a shaky breath, feeling the clouds of doom hanging over her head lighten ever so slightly. With her cousin present, there wasn’t much Gaius could do to her. Maybe the Gods did have a care for her.

“But darling.” Septima rushed over to Crispus and clung to his arm, turning a sad face up to him. “You promised to spend the morning with me.”

“There will be many mornings aside from this one,” he patted her hand, and then pried her clasping fingers from his arm. “I will return shortly.”

Septima stood at the front doors, watching them with a dark, angry expression while Crispus sent for his horse and Gaius helped Valeria into the saddle of the white horse. Once they were all mounted, they set out for the country.

The day was turning out to be a gloomy one with low, gray clouds moving across the sky, heavy with the promise of rain. The scent of an approaching storm lingered in the air. A cool breeze toyed with the ends of Valeria’s hair, whipping it around her shoulders as she rode over green hillsides in forlorn silence behind the two men. They talked of horses and war, of politics and the Senate. Things she had her own opinions about, but she didn’t have the energy to start a lively debate with Gaius or her cousin.

She stroked her hands over the horse’s neck as she continued along, appreciating what a fine animal the mare was and wishing the gift had come from anyone but Gaius. The horse was well-tempered and made for an easy ride. In a sudden fit of displeasure she wondered what Gaius had done to the creature in order to make it so docile. Would she eventually end up like this, with no fight, no spirit left in her?

They soon came upon the large villa in the hills, and though the home was idyllic and peaceful, a cold wave of nausea washed over her. She didn’t want to live here.

Gaius led them to the stables where they dismounted and began the tour of his home. He owned many fine horses and could trace the pedigree back to the first horse he’d ever bred. The training facility was impressive and modern and staffed mainly by paid laborers because Gaius didn’t trust his valued horses to slaves.

Next he led them up to the villa, and Valeria held her cloak wrapped around her in an attempt to fight off the chill creeping into her soul. As they toured the many rooms and atriums and gardens, she knew Gaius would never make her happy. It became obvious that he prided himself on his possessions, and she would simply be another to add to his collection.

“You have quite an extraordinary home,” Crispus complimented Gaius once they were settled around a table in the main atrium.

The servants had put out a light meal of bread and cheese, some fruit and wine. Crispus accepted a cup of wine, but Valeria refused to take anything that Gaius offered her.

“My cousin makes a lucky match with you, Gaius.” Crispus helped himself to some of the grapes. “I’ll be sending word to my father of the engagement and the upcoming nuptials. I’m sure he’ll be just as pleased as I am by this union.”