Otho's Regret by L. J. Trafford

Author:L. J. Trafford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AEON Books

She looked beautiful. Of course she did. Because she always did. Even when she'd just woken up or was in a fury with one of their children, Faustina generally. He hadn't seen her since that scene during Parentalia. Hadn't dared even to write to her. He was terrified that if he did, she would respond with finality: I am divorcing you.

His heart stepped up a beat. His throat tightened. For a man as poised as Epaphroditus, these were uncomfortably raw feelings. He knew that he had to talk to her, but on the route over he'd failed to devise any speech. Thus, when he reached her, rather than complimenting her appearance or telling her how wonderful it was to see her, he eyed up the curly-haired youth on her arm and demanded, “Who's this?” It was said with such naked hostility that Domitian instantly broke the connection.

Aphrodite grabbed Domitian's arm and re-hooked onto it. “What's it to you who I decide to venture out with?”

He would have responded with a proprietorial, “You're my wife.”

But luckily, for it could only have inflamed her further, Caenis, who had been quietly standing beside Aphrodite, interjected, “This is Flavius’ nephew.”

Epaphroditus took another look at the boy. “I have heard much about you. Your heroics at the siege of Yodfat pleased Nero greatly. He had you marked for a good position when you returned to Rome. This new emperor, I am sure, will be willing to recognise your successes.”

“I've never been to Judaea. I've never been anywhere. I've not done anything. You're thinking of my brother.”

“Oh,” said Epaphroditus. Then, to Caenis, “Am I?”

“You are.”

“You look a lot like him.”

A platitude that failed to placate Domitian, who said, “He's eleven years older than me.”

“I was going to say you look like him when he was your age,” Epaphroditus attempted to soothe.

Domitian did not look soothed.

Caenis put an arm around her stepson. “Come, let us join Flavius. They'll start the entertainment soon.”

Aphrodite went to follow but was stopped by Epaphroditus grabbing hold of the top of her arm.

“Dite.”

“What?” she hissed. “Do you want me to secure another adolescent for you to humiliate.”

He removed his hand. “We need to talk.”

“Do we? Strange, I've not seen much of a need for chatting from you recently. She's fine, by the way. Silvia. Not that you've bothered to enquire.”

“Because you made it very clear I wasn't welcome.”

“You could have sent a letter. A note. Anything to show you care.”

“Of course I care.”

“Then tell Silvia!” she cried exasperated. “See it from someone else's view for once. She discovers the man she thought was her father isn't. And how does he respond? He cuts off all contact with her!”

Stung by this perfectly true statement, he demanded of her, “What have you told her about her real father?”

Aphrodite couldn't stop herself from glancing over to where Otho, Silvia's father, reclined, nattering away, oblivious, to Statilia.

“I couldn't tell her the truth, could I? It would put her in terrible danger.”

“So what did you tell her?”

“That I was brutalised.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.