She met Max at the front door, and held up the bag of provisions with a smile. “I brought sustenance.”
He gave her an answering grin. “Excellent.”
They set off. Hermes had once again been asked to watch the door in Max’s absence. Really, Volusia wasn’t entirely sure why a legionary had been assigned to do a job that one of the household slaves could easily manage, but perhaps there had been a desire for extra security.
“Am I finally to meet the famous Elephant?” Volusia asked as they reached the military stables on the outskirts of Narbo.
“You remember her name?” Max said, looking pleased.
“Of course. It’s the stupidest name for a horse I ever heard.”
He chuckled, then paused before entering the stables. “In case anyone asks, this outing was entirely your request.”
She raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
A trace of guilt flitted across his face. “I’m technically banned from the stables for another week. But if I’m acting on the orders of the lady Volusia, then I think I can get away with it.”
“So you’re just using me to get access to your precious horse?” She couldn’t help smiling. Max was always in some sort of trouble.
“I guess you could look at it that way.” He hauled open the heavy stable door, and beckoned her inside.
The earthy scent of horse droppings and hay greeted her as she stepped into the stables. A few grooms glanced at them, their gazes lingering on Volusia with curiosity. Max went straight for a stall toward the end of the aisle. A large gray head poked out through the slats in the stall door, and Max quickened his pace into a half-jog until he reached the horse.
Volusia hung back, watching as Max ran a gentle hand down the horse’s cheek and pressed his forehead to hers. He tapped at the underside of her head, and she lifted her head until her nose was level with his face. He planted a kiss on her nose, after which the horse gave an appreciative snuffle of his hair.
“This is Elephant,” Max said. “Come introduce yourself.”
Volusia was not in the habit of introducing herself to horses, but she approached and obligingly patted Elephant’s silky nose. “You are quite pretty, aren’t you?” The name Elephant was apt; the horse was large for a mare, and her coat was a dappled gray like raindrops on stone.
Elephant found the gold bracelet on Volusia’s wrist and snuffled at it. Volusia yanked her wrist back, tsking at the horse.
“She does have a taste for finery, like any lady,” Max said. “Now, where’s your horse?”
Volusia helped Max locate the docile gelding she’d brought from Rome, along with the sidesaddle, which had been stored in the stable’s tack room. He saddled both horses with practiced efficiency, then led them out into the stable yard.
With gentle strength, he boosted Volusia onto her horse. His hands moved over her legs, checking that her knees were properly positioned. His touch was businesslike, not lingering, but she still suppressed a shiver.
Once satisfied, he mounted Elephant in a fluid, effortless movement, and took hold of the lead attached to her horse’s bridle. Sitting sidesaddle unfortunately did not allow her to control her own horse, but it was a small price to pay for the exhilaration of riding.
Max signaled Elephant to walk. Volusia’s horse dutifully followed as they left the stable yard.
With Volusia riding sidesaddle, the fastest they could go was a gentle trot as they took the flat road away from Narbo. Ordinarily, Max would have been simmering with irritation at the slowness, but he would have been happy to move at a snail’s pace if it meant spending time with Volusia.
He stole a glance at her. She appeared to be comfortably seated on her horse and was tipping her face up, as if enjoying the sun and fresh breeze on her face. It had rained yesterday, and today the air smelled pure and clean. He tried not to look at the way the horse’s motion made her hips sway.
They passed several small farms on the outskirts of Narbo. He raised his hand in greeting to the farm workers who stopped their labor to watch him and Volusia pass.
Soon, the dwellings became less frequent, and the road turned to a rutted dirt path. The further they got from civilization, the more Max’s shoulders relaxed. He loved being out here in the countryside, with only Elephant and the birds for company. And today, Volusia.
“It becomes wooded just over that rise.” Max gestured to the rolling hill before them. “Do you like redcurrants? There’s a spot I know with bushes of them.”
“How lovely,” Volusia said. “Perhaps I can bring some back for the kitchens. Avitus is fond of them as well.”
The casual mention of her husband threatened to dampen his good mood, but he strove to keep the conversation light. “How does the governor find his province so far?”
He expected her to have a cheerful, meaningless response about how busy Avitus was or how well he’d settled in, but instead her mouth drew into a small frown. “To be honest, I don’t know. I walked in on him arguing with Petronax before I left. I’m sure it was nothing, but…” She shook her head. “Do you know Petronax well?”
The question caught Max off guard. “Not really.” It was probably for the best that he didn’t have much direct interaction with the legion’s highest commander, given how much his own centurion already disliked him.
