“I am. I just came from Leto’s feast. Such a bore without you there, Trajan.”
My heart tripped when she centered her attention on me. She cast me a sultry look.
“Can I offer you a ride home? I’m heading in that direction.”
Some of the men behind me chuckled, thinking Fausta was my lover. Let them think what they like. I hadn’t told Grandfather or anyone else about Lela, and I didn’t plan to. I wouldn’t risk anyone knowing who might be tempted by the ransom more than their allegiance to me and our cause. I wasn’t a fool.
“I would like nothing better, Lady Fausta.”
I then ducked inside the litter and sat on the cushioned seatopposite her. She closed the curtain and her litter-bearers marched on down the hill. There were four oil lamps set on either side of each bench, the interior as regal and shimmering as the exterior, all flaunting Fausta’s great wealth and status.
“How did you know where I was?” I asked, knowing she must have been watching my grandfather’s home.
“You’re not the only one who can garner information.”
I arched a brow. “Koska?”
She nodded. “I received your letter.”
“I gathered as much.”
“I told him I’d like to speak with you personally, so he told me where to find you when I threatened to show up at your house.” She tilted her head in an inquisitory way. “Why wouldn’t Koska want me going to your house?”
“I believe you know the answer to that.”
She’d read my letter. She knew what I wanted. I was sure of it. Fausta was no simpleton.
Her eyes glittered with excitement. “So you are protecting the slave Lela who killed Valerius? The one Caesar is doing everything in his power to find?”
My gut clenched at that reality. I knew that Caesar was looking for her, but I’d kept that fact at the back of my mind, lest I go insane with worry.
“Tell me how you’re smuggling runaway slaves out of the city without being caught.”
“Tell me you’re sheltering her in your home first.”
I stared, wondering if I should trust her. My instincts said yes. How else was I going to get her help if I didn’t admit to it anyway?
“Lela is being protected by me. But I need to get her out of the city before one of my servants discovers her and reports us both to Caesar. Will you help me?”
She eased back against her cushion and smiled. “I’d never have guessed that you of all people had a heart for the enslaved.”
“I’d never thought you did either,” I replied. “How are you doing it?”
She shrugged a delicate shoulder in her silk stola. “How else? Through the granary and the shipments in barrels through the port.”
“I should’ve known.”
“No, you never should’ve. And you never would’ve if you hadn’t seen me speaking to her that one day. A misstep on my part.”
“Not really. Now I know we can trust you to help us. I need to get her out soon. The ransom for her head is high.”
“Five thousand denarii, I know.” She clicked her tongue. “It’s shocking your servants haven’t turned her in yet.”
“They don’t know. I keep them out of my bedchamber.”
Her gaze hardened. “Your bedchamber.” It was an accusation, not a statement.
“Where else can I keep her? And if you must know, I’ve been sleeping in my own study. I’m not a brute, Fausta.”
