She wasn’t vapid, but she liked people to believe that she was. Which made her all the more intelligent. And dangerous.
“My son, Marcellus, is the new tribune to Legatus Scippio,” said Agrippa in his stern manner of speaking. “Apparently, some of the provinces there have slowed sending their tribute and taxes to Rome. Scippio is there to ensure they pay Caesar in a timely manner.”
“Wonderful. I hope they are swift in their endeavors. But I hopesome of them put up a real fight against the general and your son’s army.”
“Why is that?” Agrippa asked, genuinely concerned.
“So that they’re forced to bring back the warriors and sell them at market,” she said with a trilling laugh before licking the honey off a finger, giving me a flirtatious wink.
“I see your grandfather is here, Trajan. If you’ll excuse me.” Agrippa ducked away with a swift bow of the head to Fausta.
“Agrippa doesn’t know what to do with a flirtatious woman,” I noted as soon as we were alone. “Was it your aim to frighten him away?”
Fausta’s carefree gaze became assessing, studying me carefully. Her light brown hair was immaculately coifed, with a single thick curl hanging over one shoulder. Diamond-studded dragon combs were pinned in her hair, and around her neck she wore a black-jeweled dragon that curled around her throat as if it were sleeping against her pale skin.
“Perhaps it was, Tribune. Maybe I wanted you all to myself.”
“Now you have me.”
“I haven’t had the chance to congratulate you on your promotion to tribune.” She plucked another honeyed date from the tray then shooed the servant away. “That was unexpected, wasn’t it?”
“It was,” I answered coolly. “But appreciated.”
“You seem better built for the battlefield than the floor of the senate house. Whatever will you do with your sword now?”
Her smile was all sex.
“I’m sure I’ll find some place to put it.”
“Must keep that blade sharp, Trajan.”
“Do you have a special whetstone for me?”
“I might.” She bit and chewed her date.
I took a sip of wine, wondering at the games Fausta played. She’dnever shown any interest in me. And though my family was the oldest and most renowned in the senate, I couldn’t imagine she flirted so aggressively because she had designs on me as her next husband. Or even lover. We’d never said more than a few words at parties, and none that hinted at seduction.
“So how is the grain business?” I asked.
“No, no, silly man. That’s too droll. Keep to the more enticing topics. Besides, the grain business is always doing well.”
“And keeping you a wealthy, powerful woman.”
“The only kind to be.” She examined me over her silver goblet as she sipped her wine.
“What do you do with all that power, I wonder?” I asked.
“Must I do something with it?”
“Seems a waste, if not.”
“True. Perhaps I simply lure handsome men into scintillating conversation with me.”
“Is that a euphemism for your bed?”
She tossed her head back and laughed. “My, my, Tribune Tiberius. You play this game so much better than most.”
“But you just called me droll.”
