The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora by Stephanie Thornton

Author:Stephanie Thornton [Thornton, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Historical, Biographical, Fairy Tales; Folk Tales; Legends & Mythology
ISBN: 9781101607664
Google: netU_-xC8u8C
Amazon: 045141778X
Publisher: NAL
Published: 2013-07-01T16:00:00+00:00

I woke to dawn’s rosy fingers creeping between the shutters. It took a moment to realize where I was, that the warmth I’d curled into during the night was not one of my children. I’d never woken next to a man before, but it was something I could grow accustomed to. Justinian’s bare chest rose and fell, his face relaxed with sleep. He was a man it would be easy to love.

I shoved the thought away. Loving this man could only bring me ruin. I’d given Justinian my body, but not my heart. Never my heart. I’d learned that lesson too well already.

My borrowed stola made me shiver, my skin craving Justinian’s warmth as I attempted to repin my hair before the gilded mirror.

“Where are you going?” Apparently Justinian excelled at faking sleep, his eyes still closed with one arm bent under his head.

“Home.”

He rose from bed in one smooth movement, his body deliciously bare, and pushed the black rope of hair over my shoulder to kiss the nape of my neck. “Stay a little longer?”

Already my body started to react, that heat like wine flooding through my blood. “I can’t.”

I thought I caught a momentary flash of annoyance, but then his face relaxed. He looked at my reflection in the mirror. “Tasia.”

I nodded.

He let my hair fall and wrapped his arms around my waist. “I’ll have Narses set up a room for you.”

My fingers fumbled with the cheap clasp on my brooch. “What?”

“He can arrange for your things to be brought over today.”

“You want me to move here?”

“Unless you don’t want to.” Justinian took the brooch from my shaking hands and pinned it at my shoulder.

I managed to keep breathing. “You’re too loose with your purse, temperamental as a goat, and smell like an inkpot. Why would I want to live with you?”

“Asks the woman with a temper like an ill-behaved mule.” Justinian chuckled and stepped back as if to give me space. “It’s your decision, Theodora, but as I said, I don’t intend to let you go now that I’ve caught you. I’ll bribe you with sausage to keep you here if I have to.”

“And Tasia?”

“There’s an old nursery that can be arranged for Tasia. And her mangy kitten. I’ll hire tutors to teach her Ptolemy, Plato, and Aristotle—she’ll receive an education worthy of a prince.” Justinian tucked a curl behind my ear. “And I can help you arrange a good marriage for her when she’s old enough.”

A marriage for Tasia, but not for me. Antonina’s warning filled my mind.

“I’m sorry she’s not a boy.”

“Why?”

I wanted to look away. “I’m sure you’d prefer I bring a son into your house.”

Justinian looked at me so closely I was sure he could see the lie in my heart. “A son of yours would complicate matters.”

“How so?”

“My succession is not entirely secure. I’ve arranged for the Emperor’s other nephew, Germanus, to take up the magistrate of Thraciae so he’s conveniently out of town when the question arises.” He glanced at me, pausing as if choosing his words.

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