“Cousin Quintus, this is my good friend, Antonia Porcius.” Cailin pulled the simpering woman forward. “Antonia, this is my big cousin from Rome. I’m certain that you two have much in common. Antonia is the only child of the chief magistrate in Corinium, Quintus.”
Well, well, well, he thought. Little cousin Cailin is being most helpful indeed. I wonder what mischief she is up to now? Yet, he was curious. She had quite clearly signaled him that the blond girl was the daughter of a powerful man, and an heiress to boot. He couldn’t understand why Cailin would want to do him a favor. She had made no secret of her dislike of him since they had first laid eyes upon one another. Her candidate for his hand must have a flaw of some sorts. Then he gazed into Antonia’s limpid blue eyes, and decided whatever that flaw was, he would certainly enjoy ferreting it out.
His hand went to his heart, and he said, “The sight of you, my lady Antonia, gives me comprehension at long last of why Britain’s women are so famed for their beauty. I prostrate myself at your feet.”
Antonia’s mouth made a small round O of delight, while the other girls pressing in on Quintus Drusus gaped with surprise. Then the handsome young Roman took Antonia Porcius by the arm and requested that she show him the gardens. The couple walked slowly from the group, seemingly enraptured by each other’s company, while those left behind stared in amazement.
“Is there madness in your family, Cailin Drusus?” Nona Claudius asked, her tone one of a young lady most put out.
“Whatever possessed you to introduce Antonia Porcius to such an eligible man?” demanded Barbara Julius.
“And whatever does he see in her?” Elysia Octavius wondered aloud. “We are younger and prettier by far.”
“I did not mean to distress you,” Cailin said innocently. “I simply felt sorry for poor Antonia. I just learned that she is divorced. Sextus, her husband, ran off with a slave girl. I but sought to cheer her up by introducing her to my cousin. I certainly never thought he would be attracted to her. She is older than all of us, and you are correct, Elysia, when you observed that we are all prettier.” Cailin shrugged. “There is no accounting for men’s taste in women. Perhaps Quintus will quickly become bored with her and come back to you all.”
“If your villa were not the most remote of all of our homes from Corinium, Cailin, you would have known about Antonia’s divorce,” Barbara told her irritably. “Frankly, none of us blames poor Sextus Scipio. Antonia is selfish beyond bearing. Whatever she sees and desires, she must have. Sextus claimed he was being driven to poverty by her. If he denied her anything, her father would upbraid him. She is not a good mother, and she is cruel to her slaves, my father says. Ohh, she is sweet and charming when she gets her own way, but when she doesn’t, beware! She wanted Sextus Scipio because he was the most handsome and the richest man about. Once she had lured him into her trap, however, she became once more what she really is, a spoilt little bitch. You should really warn your cousin.”
“I hear,” Nona Claudius said, lowering her voice so the other girls were forced to lean forward, “that although Antonia got her husband’s estate, his goods, and chattel, that Sextus Scipio and his little mistress escaped with much gold and other coin. My father was his banker, you know. He says that Sextus Scipio had been transferring funds abroad for months now. Antonia’s not telling anyone that. She’s put it right from her mind. The thought of her husband getting away to live happily ever after in comfort is frankly more than she can bear.”
“She is obviously casting her nets for a new husband,” Barbara said in annoyed tones, “and once again it is the most handsome man in the province. I suppose he is rich, too. I don’t know why Antonia has all the luck!”
“He’s not rich at all,” Cailin told them, hoping to frighten them off and further Antonia’s cause. “He is the youngest son of my father’s cousin in Rome. It is a very big family. There was nothing left for poor Quintus. Father felt sorry for him, and asked his cousin Manius to send Quintus to us. Then he gave him the river villa along with all its lands. Of course, he will loan him slaves to work the lands and keep the orchard, but my cousin Quintus has very little but his handsome face to recommend him.”
“Antonia’s lands match those of the river villa,” Nona said. “When your gorgeous cousin learns that, he will be even more intrigued by her. Antonia’s a rich woman. Frankly, Quintus Drusus would be a fool not to have her. There is no hope for us, I fear.”
“Do you really think so?” Cailin said. “Oh, dear!”
Brenna joined her granddaughter as the other girls drifted away. “You scheme like a Druid, Cailin Drusus,” she murmured.
“The sooner he is married off,” Cailin said, “the safer I will be. Thanks be to the gods that he did not like me on sight. There is something about him, Grandmother. I cannot put my finger on it, but I feel Quintus Drusus is a danger to me, to us all. I hope he weds Antonia Porcius for her wealth, and her connections. I will not be content until he is gone from our home.” She looked into Brenna’s kindly face. “You do not think me foolish to feel so strongly?”
“No,” Brenna said. “I have always said you were more Celt than your brothers. The voice within calls to you, warns you about Quintus Drusus. Listen to it, my child. That voice will never play you false. It is when we do not listen to that voice that we make errors in judgment. Always trust your instincts, Cailin,” her grandmother counseled.
Chapter 2
“With so many lovely girls in the province to choose from, why on earth did Quintus marry Antonia Porcius?” Kyna wondered aloud to her husband and family.
Their cousin’s very lavish wedding had been celebrated the morning prior in Corinium. They were now traveling back to their own villa, which was some eighteen miles from the town; a good day’s travel. Gaius and his sons were astride their horses. The three women rode in an open cart. They journeyed with a large party of families from nearby villas. The neighbors had banded together to employ a strong troop of men-at-arms for their protection along the road.
“Antonia is a very attractive woman,” Gaius answered his wife.
“That is not what I mean,” Kyna said sharply, “and you well know it, Gaius! Quintus might have chosen a virgin of good family. Instead he decided upon a divorced woman with two children, and a father who cannot let his daughter be. Anthony Porcius will not be an easy father-in-law, as poor Sextus Scipio found to his dismay.”
“Come now, my dear,” Gaius Drusus told her, “you know as well as I do that Quintus fixed his sights on Antonia for several reasons. She is rich. Her lands match the lands I gave him. There is little mystery to it, Kyna. Quintus was promised land and a wife if he came to Britain. Of course, I had intended that wife to be Cailin; but since Cailin would not have him—and indeed, if I must be honest, she and Quintus would have been a bad match—Quintus chose wisely in Antonia. He is strong enough to control her. It will be a good marriage.”
“I thought they made a most handsome couple,” Cailin ventured.
Her mother laughed. “You would have thought Quintus and Hecate made a good couple if it would save you from marrying him, my daughter. Now what will you do for a mate?”