Masters of Rome (41 page)

‘One or two.'

Hiding his annoyance, Vespasian decided not to pursue the finer details of Theron's entourage – if, indeed, it was Theron.
‘Well, we'll soon find out. Stay here, lads; there's a tavern next to the baths and we'll be in there having breakfast – one of you come and find us when they emerge.'

‘Theron!' Vespasian called, walking fast to catch up with his quarry, with Magnus and his brethren following.

The Macedonian did not turn around even though he must have heard the shout. Surrounded by eight ex-gladiator bodyguards and a boy holding a parasol over his head, he walked on towards the Carmenta Gate in the shadow of the Temple of Jupiter, towering above on the Capitoline Hill to the right.

The deliberate slight annoyed Vespasian but he did not break into a run: it would have been beneath his dignitas as a senator to chase after a slave-trader in the streets.

As the Macedonian slowed to get through the crowds filing in and out of the gate, Vespasian drew level. ‘If you ignore me again, Theron, it'll be more than just money that you owe me.'

Theron turned. He cranked his face into his most ingratiating smile and stepped towards Vespasian, holding out his arms as if greeting a long-lost friend. ‘Excellency, I did not know that you were back in Rome. I thank the gods for your safe return; news of your valiant exploits have travelled before you and I am honoured by your attention.'

‘I'm sure that you are, Theron, and I'm sure that you'll be equally as honoured to pay the money that you owe me immediately.'

‘Noble senator, nothing would give me greater pleasure but, alas, you find me between transactions and—'

‘I don't care for excuses, Theron, you've sold the stock that I allowed you to choose and therefore you have the money to pay me. I want it delivered to my uncle Gaius Vespasius Pollo's house on the Quirinal this afternoon along with the bills of sale, which I shall verify with each of the parties involved to make sure that you haven't cheated me. If it doesn't arrive I'll have no choice but to make use of the contract that you signed.'

Theron opened his mouth and eyes in mock horror. ‘Take me to court! The humiliation of it when our sordid little deal is exposed to the public; and you a senator, what disgrace!'

Vespasian took a pace forward and thrust his face close to Theron's. ‘I've no intention of taking that contract anywhere near a court for the reasons that you've just outlined.'

Theron scoffed; all pretence at subservient friendship had now disappeared. ‘And what will you do with it then that'll make me pay you?'

‘I strongly advise you to bring the money this afternoon because I don't think that you'll want to find out what I intend to do; and I certainly don't think that you'll want to see just how much I'll enjoy doing it. Don't forget, Theron, I really don't like you.'

Theron hawked and then spat at Vespasian's feet before turning to go.

Vespasian did not demean himself by responding to the insult. ‘I think I've had my final answer. Have one of your lads follow him and find out where he lives, Magnus.'

‘Do you want me to arrange for his house to be heated up a touch, if you take my meaning?'

‘No; but thank you for the offer. He will be my price for Flavia's co-operation.' Enjoying the confused look on his friend's face, Vespasian set off to confront his wife, determined to regain some control over his affairs.

Flavia stood before Vespasian with defiance in her eyes, her arms tense by her side and her shoulders shaking. ‘Who told you such a wicked lie?'

‘It's not a lie; I saw how you and Messalina looked at each other at the circus yesterday. I suspected then what was going on – though I didn't really believe it. But when it was confirmed to me last night, I knew it had to be true because I didn't feel surprised.'

‘It's not true!'

‘Flavia, keep your voice down.' Vespasian rose from his seat and paced quickly to the door of the triclinium and opened it abruptly; it crunched into the heads of two of Flavia's slave girls. ‘Get away! And draw lots between you, because one of you will be sold; and tell the rest of the household I'll get rid of anyone else I ever find listening in on our private conversation.'

The women fled, too terrified to plead for forgiveness.

Vespasian slammed the door and rounded on Flavia. ‘Let's stop this accusing and denying. Admit the charge and then we can discuss how best to take advantage of the situation.'

Flavia wrenched an ivory comb from her hair and hurled it at her husband. ‘What did you expect me to do for six years? Lie in my bed every night as unfulfilled as a Vestal? I played the faithful wife for you; I kept my virtue for four years.'

‘And then you cuckolded me!'

‘With another woman!' Flavia screamed. ‘Yes! But that is not the same.' She pointed to the couch upon which they had made love. ‘Since the day you left no man has touched me until you took me there on your return. And don't tell me that you didn't have another woman in all that time; Caenis was with you for a few months and then there would have been all those captives.'

‘My actions are irrelevant in this, woman. We are talking about your chastity, or lack of it, whilst I was away serving Rome.'

‘I was chaste! No one impregnated me. I didn't feel an erect penis for six years. Do you know how hard it was to deny myself that? Can you understand the longing, the images burning in my head night and day, the trembling desire each time I caught the scent of a man? I had to do something before I broke and straddled the nearest slave, as many of the women do. But I didn't, out of respect for you, husband, even though I was well aware that you wouldn't be showing me the same consideration – not that I expect it of you. Messalina offered comfort of a different sort, not as satisfying but at least it was physical; now you're back I don't need that any more so I won't be going to her bed again.'

Vespasian stared at his wife, his mouth gaping in astonishment. ‘Do you have any idea what would happen if you broke off your affair with her?'

‘She would understand now that you're back.'

‘Understand? What do you know of this woman?'

‘She's the Empress and she has been my friend ever since Claudius invited me to move into the palace. We weave together and talk about the children and—'

‘And do whatever it is that women do together; you don't have to go into the details, I can imagine.'

‘I'm sure you can.'

‘Does she not involve you in her other affairs, try to tempt you into bed with her other partners?'

‘She has suggested it but I said no.'

‘You refused Messalina?'

‘Yes, husband; I know what she does, she confides in me. I know about all the men, I know about her going out into the city and whoring herself in rough brothels. I have no wish to do that; at least, I wouldn't let myself do that. I just enjoy her when she wants me.'

‘And have you noticed what happens to people who refuse her?'

‘They end up either dead or banished.'

‘And you still think you will be able to say: “That's it, no more, Messalina; I shan't open my legs for you again”?'

‘She loves Britannicus and values the friendship that he has with Titus; she won't harm me if I refuse to “open my legs” for her.'

‘Well, you won't refuse; you will carry on as before.'

‘What, in Mother Isis' name, do you mean?'

Vespasian found himself cooling in the face of her obvious confusion. ‘Flavia, you weren't asked to move into the palace as a favour or an honour to me or you; quite the reverse: Claudius was manoeuvred into extending the invitation to you by someone who wanted vengeance on me, someone who wanted to scare me by showing how much power he could have over my family.'

‘Who would do a thing like that?'

‘Messalina's brother.'

‘Corvinus? But he's so polite to me; he's even taken Titus on his knee on the few times that he's visited.'

Vespasian shivered at the image. ‘He fully intended to harm you and still might. We are not safe. Somehow he knows of your relationship with Messalina and he wants to use it to his advantage; and to be frank, we'd be stupid if we didn't take advantage of it ourselves.'

‘What do you mean?'

‘I mean that the tide has turned against Messalina and she is not long for this world. Corvinus is conspiring against her and if he adds his weight to Narcissus and Pallas they will soon persuade Claudius how worthless she is; but to do that they need someone close to her to report her activities and, if possible, her plans.'

Flavia put her hands to her chest. ‘Me?'

‘Yes, my dear, you. You are to act as if nothing is wrong; you'll tell her that just because I'm back doesn't mean that you should deprive each other of – what was the word she used? – ah yes, each other's nectar. You'll kiss her sweetly and moan at her touch and listen to all her stories. If Narcissus agrees to Corvinus' proposal then he will reveal what she's planning and it will be down to you to keep us informed of the progress. If we're part of bringing her down we'll gain tremendously from it.'

‘You're asking me to whore myself for our political gain.'

‘No, Flavia, it's not whoring, any more than sleeping with another woman is cuckolding your husband. You just said so. This is business. It may be business that I would rather not be involved in, but seeing as your affair with this harpy has dragged us into imperial politics it seems to me that the best thing that we can do is try to survive and come out with credit.'

Flavia slumped down onto a couch. ‘How am I supposed to act naturally with her when I'm part of a plot to bring her down?'

‘I'm sure you'll manage; you were quite prepared to lie to me just now and pretend you had been faithful. If it helps, try to remember that this woman has already caused the deaths of over a hundred senators and equestrians, the latest one being Asiaticus. There will be many more if she stays in power and I may well be one of them if I refuse the advances that she made to me yesterday.'

‘She wouldn't harm you, you're under my protection.'

‘Under your protection! Flavia, just who are you trying to delude?' Vespasian scoffed. ‘However, whilst we're in a position to take advantage of your relationship with Messalina, we should try and make some money out of it.'

‘But we're already in her debt.'

‘I'm now in a position to pay that off and retrieve the debt marker, which will release us from any obligation to her for the moment. However, it would be a shame if she was to cross the Styx and we didn't owe her money; so when the time draws near you will ask her for another loan, twice the amount. Tell her that it's without my knowledge so you'd appreciate it if it was just a private agreement between the two of you.'

‘So that there's no record of it when she dies?'

‘Exactly; without the debt marker we get to keep the money and you'll see some reward for all your hard work.'

‘Vespasian, don't put it like that, that's not fair.'

‘How else can I put it? You're going to get money out of her because you have sex with her.'

‘What if she refuses?'

‘Do whatever you must to make sure that she doesn't and you'll find me a little better disposed towards you. If not you'll find me extremely well disposed towards Caenis, who's offered to lend me the full amount to pay off
your
original debt.'

‘Don't start playing me off against her after I've been so understanding about the situation, Vespasian, I beg you.'

Vespasian paused and drew breath, contemplating his wife's pained expression. With a conciliatory nod of the head and a half-smile he held out a hand. ‘You're right, my dear, that was unbecoming of me. Just do your best.'

Flavia took the peace gesture and held it to her cheek. ‘I will, husband; and I'm sorry, I was weak and I didn't think about the consequences of what I was doing.'

Vespasian cupped her face in his hand. ‘It'll all be fine if you play your part over the next few months or however long it takes. Now I wish to see the children.'

‘Of course, husband, and whilst you do that I'll make the arrangements to dispose of whichever of my girls drew the long straw; we can't afford to have the slaves snooping—'

A knock at the door interrupted her.

‘Enter.'

The door opened to reveal Cleon the steward.

‘What is it?'

‘Caenis has sent a message for the master. The imperial secretary will see him at the fourth hour.'

‘I don't suppose you had to pay for the privilege of such a quick appointment,' Narcissus observed as Vespasian was shown into his office, ‘at least not financially.' A rare trace of a humorous smile graced his lips and he indicated the chair on the opposite side of his desk.

‘We all use what we have to gain advantage, imperial secretary.' Vespasian sat and adjusted his toga, conscious of Narcissus' penetrating gaze.

‘And what advantage are you trying to gain? Be quick because I'm leaving for Ostia with the Emperor to inspect progress on the new port.'

‘I'm here to offer you a way into Messalina's plans and thoughts.'

‘I already have access to them.'

‘Access through kin and lovers or just through the titbits picked up by spies?'

‘Only the latter, I'll admit.'

‘Well, I can give you the former.'

Narcissus steepled his hands and tapped his forefingers against his pursed lips, studying Vespasian intently. ‘At what price?' he asked eventually.

‘At no cost to you personally.'

‘What do you want?'

‘I've got three requests. The person who offers their services has come to me to broker a meeting between you both as they are naturally wary of contacting you directly for fear of Messalina's agents. This person is prepared to give you information that'll help you bring down Messalina in return for their life. I want you to charge them for access to you and give me half the fee of two hundred and fifty thousand denarii.'