“No, thank you. I intend to keep her, if only because Paulus went to the trouble of finding her for me. Here she comes…”

Alysia returned with a tray prepared by the cook and passed it to the two women. She set the tray on a table and went to stand beside Selena, not knowing where to look, and finally focused her eyes on a painting of a woman covering the opposite wall. The woman’s almond-shaped black eyes stared blankly back at her.

The afternoon wore on. A trip to the theater was planned. There was a wedding to attend next week. The women discussed a chariot race to be held the following week—the chief attraction of which seemed to be one of the drivers, known for his handsome face and his skill on the track.

“I’m betting very heavily on him,” Selena said. “I swear he is a Hercules, Megara, and yet he handles those horses as if they were kittens!”

“I know, and he’s thoroughly conceited. I’ve met him.”

“Oh, Megara, do give a party and invite him! I’d give anything to meet him!”

“Dear, I wouldn’t have him at my table. Don’t you know his parents were slaves? Decius is having a banquet day after tomorrow. Tell him to invite your Hercules.”

“He wouldn’t either.” Selena frowned. “But I’ll find a way. Maybe Paulus can arrange it.”

“Do you think Paulus would introduce his precious sister to such a rascal? The man has a veritable stable of women.”

Selena was wide-eyed with curiosity and the conversation turned into a recital of names and places associated with the apparently tireless chariot-racer. Alysia was able to relax and listen with some interest, for her presence had been completely forgotten.

* * * *

A cool, if somewhat noisome breeze drifted in from the Tiber as the day arrived for Decius’ dinner party. He had had a profitable day collecting his rents and spent an enjoyable afternoon at the baths, and he was in a festive mood. Slaves had been cleaning and cooking since dawn. In the kitchen, waiting to be served course by course, were platters and silver trays of roasted pheasant, clams, mussels, assorted fruits and melons, baskets of smoking breads and dainty pastries, and pitchers of fragrant wine mixed with honey.