She gave the comb a vicious yank as if the pain could punish her for what she was about to do. She glanced over at Aelius and took a deep breath. “Do you anticipate a busy week ahead?”
He folded his arms behind his head, his body lean and relaxed. “I plan to pay a visit to Flavius Libo on Thursday. If that goes well, I hope he can introduce me to Appius Salonius. Oh, and there’s a dinner party at the Caepio house on Wednesday. I had hoped you would join me but I realize now you may be indisposed.”
“Yes, likely.” She committed the names to memory. “If the election were tomorrow, do you think you’d win?”
He shrugged. “Hard to say. The next five weeks will be critical. I need all the votes I can scrape together.”
The knife inside her twisted. She was going to doom him, and if he found out, he would never want anything to do with her again. If she was lucky, he would settle for a quiet separation, not wanting the scandal of a divorce to tarnish his reputation. But his anger might be so great that he would want no further connection with her. She’d be twice divorced. Twice abandoned, twice humiliated.
She laid down the comb, braided her hair, then joined Aelius in bed. He reached for her, but she pulled away. “I’m very tired.”
He kissed her on the forehead, murmured a good night, and blew out the lamp. Crispina laid next to him and stared up at the ceiling in darkness.
Chapter 23
Aelius ran through the facts about the man he was going to meet as he strode through the streets. Flavius Libo was a friend of Crispina’s father, which meant his support should be easy to come by. Like Aelius, he’d served in the army, so Aelius planned to drop the mention of his legion early on to establish camaraderie. They’d met at a dinner party a month ago, so they weren’t total strangers, but Aelius didn’t know the man well. He did know the man had a significant farming estate in central Italy, so Aelius planned to test out Crispina’s idea about providing tax breaks to rural landowners for employing free rather than enslaved men.
Libo had suggested meeting at the baths, which suited Aelius. People tended to be more willing to grant favors when they were relaxed and soaking in a hot pool.
Aelius met Libo in the columned entrance to the baths. They clasped arms. “How nice to see you again,” Aelius said to the stocky, gray-haired man. “I trust your family is well?” Libo had a wife and two children.
Libo nodded as they proceeded into the baths. “And how is your esteemed wife?”
“Crispina is very well.” In fact, Crispina had been tired and withdrawn for the past few days, but that was to be expected during this time of the month. “I was speaking with her father the other day and he mentioned you served in the seventh legion. I was in the ninth myself.”
Libo’s face brightened. “Ah, a worthy cohort.”
“The gods know I would have killed for luxuries like this during my service.” Aelius gestured around at their lavish surroundings as they entered the changing rooms. “Even clean hot water felt like a luxury sometimes.”
Libo chuckled. “The mud in Germania still haunts my dreams.”
Aelius joined him in laughter, and soon they were swapping war stories as they sank into a steaming pool.
“Do you miss the army?” Libo asked, immersing himself up to his neck. “The discipline brings a certain peace, does it not?”
Aelius saw his opening to turn the conversation to the topic he really wanted to discuss. “I’m grateful for the things I learned, but I never wanted to be a career soldier. My true interest lies in politics.”
Libo nodded. “Ah, yes, I hear you are mounting a campaign for tribune of the plebs, correct?”
“Indeed. My father-in-law suggested I might find an ally in you. No doubt there are certain things you would like to see passed in the Plebeian Assembly. If I were to become tribune, I would be happy to assist however possible. And I have some ideas that could benefit your interests.”
“Yes…” Libo’s voice took on a note of hesitation. He shifted on the underwater bench, stretching an arm along the edge of the pool. “This is rather awkward.”
Aelius raised an eyebrow. “Have I overstepped?”
“Not at all. It’s just that Publius Veturius Rufus paid me a visit yesterday and had a similar line of questioning.”
“I see,” Aelius murmured. Rufus had met with Libo only yesterday? It was to be expected they’d be chasing the same votes, especially this late in the campaign. But still, the coincidence rankled.
Libo was still talking. “…We have neighboring estates in Baiae, you see, so I have an acquaintance with the young man. He somehow became aware that my wife has been angling to renovate the villa, and recommended several builders and artisans who would offer favorable estimates. Alas, I gave my word I would lend him my support in the upcoming election.”
So you exchanged your political support for a refurbished summer house.No doubt Rufus had paid off the craftsmen to supply Libo with their services at a reduced rate. “How convenient.”
“If I may say, you and Rufus are very similar. You are both very driven, ambitious young men. I know you are competitors now, but if you both attain positions as two of the ten tribunes, as I hope you will, you could find strength in an alliance.”
Aelius summoned his most charming smile to mask his disappointment. “I will keep that in mind.” Mount Olympus would crumble before he would ally himself with Rufus.
Conversation turned to other things. When they had their fill of the baths, Aelius headed home. The interaction still bothered him—not just that Libo had chosen to support Rufus, but that Rufus had somehow managed to secure Libo’s support a mere day before Aelius.It’s just a coincidence, he told himself. But he hadn’t even had a chance to make his case to Libo. What if it happened again? Time was running short.
