Nobilissima (35 page)

Sylvia nodded and wiped her eyes. “Thank you,” she said. “And I promise I’ll do better. I’ll try.”

I sent her off to find the candle servant for the room before she began crying again.

Later that day, I told Aurelia that I intended to agree to Honorius’s plan and requested an appointment with my brother. He sent a messenger back immediately, asking me to come to his rooms.

“Good,” I said. “If there’d been any delay, I might’ve had time to change my mind. I’ll need you with me for moral support.”

Honorius chose to meet us in his less formal salon, rather than in the audience room. He smiled at Aurelia, and sent away all but his personal guard and two servants. The chickens were also allowed to stay.

He waited until wine had been poured and then leaned forward slightly towards me. I saw his impatience and decided to keep him waiting a little longer.

“The weather is lovely today,” I commented. “Aurelia and I were out in the gardens earlier and there’s a hint of autumn in the air, but the temperature is perfect. Neither too hot nor too cold.”

Honorius glanced at a window as if to verify my words and then nodded. “Yes, perfect,” he agreed.

“Did you enjoy the Pope’s visit?” I asked. “I was very happy to see him again, and Gardius too of course. Were you able to spend much time with him? His projects in Rome are going very well.”

Honorius took a big swallow of his wine. “Not really. I was busy while they were here. That’s good, then, that things are going well. Good.”

I let the silence draw out. Aurelia sat as still as a statue as if fearing to disturb even the air that separated us. Honorius took another gulp of wine and put the goblet down. “Sister, do you have anything in particular you wish to tell me? Or is this merely a social visit?”

“I am always glad of the opportunity to see you,” I said. I paused, but I’d teased my brother for long enough. “Yes, I came to talk to you about your… suggestion regarding the Goths.”

He looked confused.

“Your promise to finalize the settlement to them as long as I marry Constantius,” I finished.

“The marriage,” he said. He smiled and his face relaxed. “So the answer is yes?”

“As long as I have your word that the Goths will receive their land and their money.”

“Very well, very well,” he said in a peevish tone. “You wed Constantius and I’ll sign the papers releasing the land and the money.”

“The wedding will take place after the papers are signed and delivered to Wallia,” I said. Honorius had already signed the documents once and then refused to honor them. I wouldn’t trust him a second time.

“Yes,” he snapped. “But if you play any games with me, sister, and the wedding doesn’t happen for any reason whatsoever, I will banish you from Ravenna and strip you of your imperial rights. Is that clear?”

“It’s clear.”

He leaned back on the couch and smiled widely. “Wonderful. Then we should recall Magister Constantius to Ravenna and begin planning the celebrations.”

“And I will have the notaries bring the documents to you later this evening,” I said. I stood and held out my hand. “Shake hands with me, Honorius.”

Reluctantly, he reached out and grasped my hand in his. He held it for a few seconds, and then withdrew as though my touch had burned his skin.

“He didn’t enjoy that interview one bit,” commented Aurelia, as we walked away from his rooms. “He seemed genuinely confused and he certainly didn’t like you telling him how this is going to proceed. I don’t think he realizes how much power you had as queen of the Goths. He thinks you’re still a young girl that he can manipulate.”

“My brother has a great deal to learn about me,” I said. “And I doubt he will like any of it very much.”

That evening, Honorius assembled a large group to witness his signature, yet again, on the deeds to the land of Aquitania. I sat next to him while he scrawled his flowery script across the page and a notary countersigned the document and affixed a seal to it. Honorius stared at the document for a few seconds and then pushed it away. “It’s done,” he said. The courtiers and senators in the room applauded and someone called for wine.

“The document will be carried to Wallia under guard,” he said to me. “And copies will be sent to the Senate. So now it’s your turn to keep to the bargain and make arrangements for your marriage. I’ve already dispatched a messenger to bring Constantius to Ravenna. He should be here within a week. Now give me a kiss and say thank you for signing the deed.”

I gave him a peck on his cheek and then stood, excusing myself from the party. If Honorius thought I was rushing to my rooms to start planning my wedding, so be it. In fact, I spent the remainder of the evening writing letters to Wallia, Felix and Gardius, telling them that the settlement was complete. Just before midnight, I summoned my messengers and gave them the letters. I wished I could be with Wallia when he received the news.

When they’d left the room, I felt overwhelmingly sad. Since arriving in Ravenna, all of my time had been spent working on this settlement for the Goths. It had been my last connection to Ataulf and my life with him. Now I had only my future with Constantius to look forward to. Unable to stem the tears, I knelt by my bed and cried, feeling the loss of my beloved husband as though it had happened only yesterday.

Chapter 32

On the day of Constantius’ arrival in Ravenna, Sylvia helped me to dress for the first formal audience. I wore a gold silk gown and the ruby necklace and earrings that my father had given me. Sylvia pinned up my hair and when I looked at myself in a mirror, I was pleased. I looked regal and composed.

Gathering in the audience chamber, we waited for Constantius to enter. The room was full of people, and too warm so I instructed the servants to open the balcony doors to let air in. Marcus was there, standing next to Honorius, who was on his throne, holding one of the chickens. I couldn’t help wondering whether a hen had ever dared to lay an egg on the Emperor’s lap and was still smiling at the image when Constantius entered.

He strode into the room with six soldiers at his heels. He wore a red cloak over a gleaming cuirass embossed with a battle scene, with heavy shoulder guards that highlighted his broad chest, and he carried a helmet with a red plume, which he handed to one of his men before kneeling in front of Honorius. They exchanged some words that I couldn’t hear and then Constantius stood and turned to face those gathered in the room.

At a nod from Honorius, I stepped forward and held out my hand to the general. He caught it in his own, and I noticed the color of his suntanned skin in contrast to the whiteness of my own. I also realized that his hand trembled slightly, an unexpected sign of nerves. For a few seconds, we stared at each other and then I gently pulled my hand away. The room was quiet and I heard only the thud of my own heart.

Seeing Constantius brought back a flood of memories of the camp in Nizza; the dinner and his strange proposal; watching Ataulf ride off into battle. It seemed so long ago, but Constantius was just as I remembered him. He had a distinctive face, dominated by a prominent chin and a less than straight nose that must have been broken at some time in the past. He smiled at me, a warm smile that creased the corners of his eyes, which surprised me. I wondered if he was genuinely happy to see me, or just pleased to be at court and the center of attention.

“Welcome to Ravenna,” I said, to break the silence that made the air in the room feel heavy. “I trust your journey was not too onerous.”

“Thank you, Nobilissima,” he replied. “The travel was eased by my happy anticipation of seeing you again.”

There was a murmur of approval from the crowd and I felt my cheeks flush.

Honorius clapped his hands once and the chicken squawked in alarm. “Bring in the food and wine,” he ordered the servants.

I sighed in relief as the silence was broken and everyone began to talk at once. Several senators pressed forward to greet Constantius and I was able to move away to rejoin Aurelia.

“Well, he’s not hideous,” whispered my friend.

“No,” I agreed. “But his warm and sunny demeanor is very different from the sour disposition I saw in Nizza. He’s playing to the crowd and to Honorius.”

We watched for a while as Constantius talked with the courtiers and advisors. I was surprised by how at ease he seemed. Then Honorius called for silence and gestured to Constantius to approach. Again, they spoke a few words in private, and Honorius looked over at me. His expression was smug, as though he’d won a bet. Clearing his throat, he stood and spoke to the audience. “As you know, Flavius Constantius is an admired and much-decorated general, second only to our esteemed former Magister Militum, Marcus.”

A flutter went through the room, and many bowed their heads towards Marcus in recognition of the Emperor’s praise.

“Constantius has asked for the hand of my sister in marriage and I’m happy to grant him that honor. Placidia, please step forward.”

I did, with my stomach churning. I’d thought that the betrothal would come later, after Constantius and I had some time to talk together. Clearly, my brother was taking no risks that I would change my mind.

A courtier presented Honorius with a silk pillow on which rested two gold rings, each bearing the interwoven initials ‘C’ and ‘P’. I held my breath as Constantius took one ring from the pillow and slid it on my finger. The metal felt cold against my skin. Without thinking, I fingered the gold pendant that Ataulf had given me, and Constantius frowned as if he recognized the significance of it. Honorius narrowed his eyes at me and I realized I was supposed to give Constantius the other ring. With a trembling hand, I picked it up and managed to push it on to his finger. It was a tight fit.

The audience clapped and servants scurried through the room, refilling goblets with wine. Honorius raised his and everyone fell silent again.

“‘If you would marry wisely, marry your equal,’” he said, quoting Ovid. He paused, looking at me. “This is a betrothal of equals in ambition, and should suit you both well enough.”

I held my breath, praying that my brother would say no more, and exhaled only when Marcus held up his glass. “Every happiness to you both,” he said. People cheered and the moment passed. I glanced at Constantius, but his face gave away nothing of his thoughts. I supposed I should say something to him but was saved from having to do so by a group of courtiers eager to congratulate us both. Honorius looked as though he was bored of the proceedings already.

Excusing myself, I made my way out of the throng and rejoined Aurelia, who smiled and kissed me on the cheek. “I should add my congratulations,” she said drily. “But I’m sure you don’t want them.”

“It seems so unreal,” I replied. “As though I’m watching someone else. I feel nothing, no emotion at all, good or bad. What does that mean?”

Aurelia took my hand. “It means that this is all happening a little too fast. I was astonished that Honorius had gone to the trouble of having rings made for you both. He’s obviously determined to make sure you go through with this.”

“It’s an outrage,” said Sylvia, joining us. “I didn’t like that Constantius before and I like him even less now.”

“Really, Sylvia, keep your voice down,” said Aurelia.

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to get used to him as you’ll be seeing a lot more of him now,” I said. “We all are.”

“You ladies look as though you’re attending a funeral, not a betrothal,” came a voice in a low undertone. I jumped but smiled when I saw that it was Marcus.

“A little levity might be a good idea, as the Emperor is looking in this direction,” he added.

Aurelia slipped her arm through his. “See, we are all smiling now that you are here with us. I noticed that you and your general have exchanged only a few words together. What do you think of him, really?”

Marcus shrugged his shoulders. “He’s an outstanding leader and has shown great courage on the field. I admire him, but I don’t particularly like him. He’s a product of the times, I think. A lifelong military man who has accumulated unwarranted influence because the Emperor no longer leads the army. This conjunction of military and political power seems to me to be a volatile mix.”

“You’ve had both,” argued Aurelia.

“Yes, but Marcus always used his political power sparingly,” I said. “Like Stilicho before him, he’s never abused the position of authority he holds.”

“I have faith that you’ll be able to keep Constantius under control,” Marcus told me. “And I’ll continue to keep an eye on him, trust me.”

“He’s coming over,” said Sylvia, as Constantius made his way towards us. I thought I saw a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

“Placidia is fortunate to have such friends as you, Magister, and your lovely wife, of course.” He bowed his head slightly to Aurelia. “I hope I will earn the privilege of your friendship also.”

“Of course you will,” said Aurelia graciously.

After a long pause, Marcus and Constantius both began to talk at the same time, and then stopped. “We should let Placidia and Constantius have some time alone,” said Aurelia finally. “There must be much to discuss and many plans to make.”

Constantius looked uncomfortable. “Oh, we’ll have plenty of time to talk later on,” he said. “For now, we should enjoy the celebration that the Emperor is kind enough to hold for us.”