Barbarian Bride by Scott Eva

Author:Scott, Eva [Scott, Eva]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-02-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

“So where are you going all dressed up?” Alexandra lounged in the doorway, eating an apple, her long blonde tresses uncharacteristically loose. Lucius glanced in her direction, still surprised at how his little sister had blossomed into a woman while he’d been gone. Her beauty caught him by surprise at odd moments, like now.

“To see father.” He held his arms out to the side while a house slave draped his toga just the right way.

“What?” Alex choked on her apple, coughing and spluttering with the effort to clear her throat. Lucius ignored her. He had no doubt her surprise was genuine although Alex had always been prone to dramatics. “Why?” she finally managed to croak.

“Because I need coin—a lot of coin—immediately.”

“Whatever for?” Alex stepped into the room and into his direct view. “I thought you were as rich as Croesus.”

“I am. But I don’t have it all in one place. My business is stretched out across the Empire. It would take me weeks, even months, to gather the amount needed. So I’m…”

“Going to see father,” she finished for him. “You know he’s not going to give you the coin you seek, don’t you? I’d hate for you to waste your time asking when it could be used profitably elsewhere.”

Lucius sighed. “Yes, I know the outcome is almost certain. I’m not asking father for coin. If I can convince him to become the patron of the luda Livius then there is a very good chance I can get the price of a certain gladiatrix lowered. Then I won’t…”

“Need to raise so much wealth at all. Clever plan.”

“Thank you,” said Lucius.

“Not your plan,” Alex laughed, “I meant the lanista’s plan. Clearly he’s coercing you into getting father to patron his flea-bitten gladiator school before he’ll give you an exorbitant price on the woman you love.”

“When did you get so clever?” Lucius asked.

“I’ve always been clever. You just never noticed before.” Alex shooed the slave away and set about adjusting the drape of his toga with long, elegant fingers. “Are you mad? This is a fool’s mission. Father will say no, of course. Then he’ll try to bully you into giving everything up to follow his plan for you. Before you know it, you’ll be a magistrate with an ugly wife and a brood of ungrateful children. Surely there’s another way?”

“Of course he’ll say no but I have to try. As for the ugly wife, I don’t plan to give him the opportunity to get a word in let alone marry me off.” Lucius offered his sister a wink and a smile as she glanced up at him, a frown furrowing her brow.

“Be sensible Lucius. Have you considered borrowing the money?”

“Who from exactly? I don’t know a single money lender who has the capability to fund such a loan at short notice.” He grabbed her hands and stilled them. “Thank you. I’m sure I look very handsome.”

Alex pulled her hands free and spun away. “You could approach some of the patricians. They have enough money.

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