It wasn’t Volusia, but Iris, her fair-haired maid. Max leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest, trying to suppress his disappointment. He hadn’t seen much of Iris, but the few times their paths had crossed, she’d looked at him as if he were a pile of horse droppings in her way.
Nevertheless, he addressed her with respect. “Hello, Iris. Does Volusia need something?” Even if she did, she had a whole household full of servants to attend to her every need. She wouldn't need anything from him.
Iris shook her head and moved closer to the front door. She regarded Max with what he now recognized as her customary suspicious, disdainful stare, lips pursed and nostrils flared. “I wanted a word.”
He shrugged. “All right. I’ve got nothing but time.”
She glanced over her shoulder, into the atrium, and lowered her voice. “I wanted to warn you. Because it seems you're too thick to understand the situation for yourself.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What situation?”
She rolled her eyes. “Volusia, of course. Dis, soldiers really are stupid.”
“You don't have to insult me, Iris.”
She ignored him. “I tried to tell Volusia as much. Soldiers are just big dumb killers, every one of them. All you know how to do is say ‘yes sir, no sir, how many innocents should I slaughter today, sir?’” She clutched her fist to her chest in a mocking salute.
This was the most Iris had ever spoken to Max, and he noticed a Gallic lilt to her words. That, coupled with her curly, fair hair and sprinkling of freckles, made him realize she must be a native of Gaul. Thus, she'd have plenty of reasons to hate the Roman army.
Few of his legionary fellows would let such insolence—especially from a slave—pass without retaliation, but Max allowed the insults to roll off his back like water from a duck's feathers. “Why are you discussing me with Volusia?”
“I merely advised her that she should be careful. But of course there are limits to the advice I can give to my mistress. Which brings me to you.” She folded her arms. “If Avitus catches wind of what's going on between you, he will divorce her. She'll be separated from her son. And no doubt I'll be sold off somewhere terrible. You have no reason to care about me, but for the sake of Volusia and her son, you need to watch it. Keep your cock in your braccae, or you'll have me to answer to.”
Max stared at her. “Nothing's happened between us.”
Iris arched an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “You mean to tell me that you went off to the countryside for an entire afternoon, alone, and nothing happened?”
“Nothing happened,” he insisted.As much as I wanted something to. “Besides, her husband spends his nights with Silvanus. Why should he care what Volusia does?”
“Because men are hypocrites. Not that you know what that word means, I expect.”
“I know what a h-hypocrite is,” Max said. At least, he was pretty sure he did. “I'm telling you again, there's nothing inappropriate between us.”
“Then it should be easy for you to stop staring at her like a lovesick donkey,” Iris said.
“Well, I only have three more days on guard duty here,” Max snapped. He hadn’t realized his feelings for Volusia were so plain, if Iris had picked up on them. “You'll be rid of me in short order.”
On one hand, he was looking forward to resuming normal duties. But on the other hand, that would mean giving up the moments of delight when Volusia found an excuse to come see him. She took an uncanny interest in checking whether the front antechamber was perfectly swept, or ensuring that the lamps were properly filled. They were usually able to steal a few minutes of conversation each day.
“That's the best news I've heard all week,” Iris said with a wide, sarcastic smile. “Good day, legionary. May our paths never cross again.” She turned on her heel and left.
“The feeling is mutual,” Max muttered in the empty antechamber.
Later that day, Volusia found him, a mournful look on her face as she pretended to check the corners of the antechamber for dust. “Iris told me you’ll be leaving soon.”
Max nodded. “This was only meant to be a temporary stint. So I’ll be returning to normal duties soon.”
“Oh. I see. Normal duties.”
His heart twisted at her obvious disappointment. For a moment, he debated asking Glabrio to station him here permanently. He could see Volusia every day.
But despite the pleasure that seeing her brought him, guard duty was as monotonous as he’d feared. Even the endless drills that the legion undertook were better than this. He needed excitement, activity. And besides, he was still angling for a promotion to decurion. He needed to prove himself worthy to command his own men, and standing guard in a governor’s house was not the way to do that.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“There’s no need to apologize,” she replied. “You have your duties. I have mine. Seeing you here was a pleasant surprise, and I’ve appreciated your friendship, but I think it best if we go back to the way things were.”
She meant the ten years of never seeing each other. Maybe Iris had succeeded in warning her away from him. He knew there was no other possible response she could have, but her words still made his chest feel tight with regret. “Yes.”
