Cornelia- the First Woman of Rome by Dan Armstrong

Author:Dan Armstrong [Armstrong, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780999321904
Published: 2017-11-30T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 49

By the end of the day all of Rome knew that Aemilianus had died. As Polybius had requested, the cause was reported as natural. This did not stop the rumors. By standing up for the Italians and non-citizen Latins, Aemilianus had made himself a target. There was good reason to assume foul play, especially in the wake of Tiberius’ murder and the new wave of thuggery that had invaded Roman politics. Papirius Carbo, Fulvius Flaccus, and my brother were mentioned as suspects.

As the truest measure of Aemilianus’ fall from grace, he was not given a public funeral. Even I, the perpetrator, felt this insult against my husband. He had served as a consul twice. He had commandeered the destruction of Carthage. He had righted Roman standing in Numantia. He had spent twenty years in the Senate as the most outspoken proponent of the populares. He had been the leading advocate of Greek literature and art in Rome. His character was considered the highest example of the Roman ideal. He lived for the state and served with strength and courage. But it had all run out on him at the end. Such was the fickle nature of the Roman populace. One day a hero, the next day forgotten.

I knew deep in my heart that what I had done was simply an act of survival. I did not second-guess myself on that. But someone else had strangled him. There had been an accomplice and I wanted to know who that was. But how could I find out without also raising questions about Aemilianus’ death? And more importantly, did this other person know about the poison or me?

I was not a natural-born killer. I was not prepared for the emotional aftermath. I suffered with bouts of guilt and vulnerability. On top of that, Polybius, one of the smartest men I had ever met, with uncommon understanding of logic and human frailty, was set on finding the murderer—or murderers. This was unsettling to say the least. I did not think he suspected me. He saw my ankle that morning. I was incapable of going up and down the stairs alone without a superhuman effort, of which no one felt I was capable. But the inclusion of another murderer was deeply unsettling. Maybe Polybius would discover who that was. Would that person then give me away? I thought about this constantly. I struggled to sleep at night. When I gazed into the eyes of anyone I encountered, I wondered what they might be seeing in mine.

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