Theron opened his mouth and eyes in mock horror. ‘Take me to court! The humiliation of it when our sordid little deal is exposed to the public; and you a senator, what disgrace!’
Vespasian took a pace forward and thrust his face close to Theron’s. ‘I’ve no intention of taking that contract anywhere near a court for the reasons that you’ve just outlined.’
Theron scoffed; all pretence at subservient friendship had now disappeared. ‘And what will you do with it then that’ll make me pay you?’
‘I strongly advise you to bring the money this afternoon because I don’t think that you’ll want to find out what I intend to do; and I certainly don’t think that you’ll want to see just how much I’ll enjoy doing it. Don’t forget, Theron, I really don’t like you.’
Theron hawked and then spat at Vespasian’s feet before turning to go.
Vespasian did not demean himself by responding to the insult. ‘I think I’ve had my final answer. Have one of your lads follow him and find out where he lives, Magnus.’
‘Do you want me to arrange for his house to be heated up a touch, if you take my meaning?’
‘No; but thank you for the offer. He will be my price for Flavia’s co-operation.’ Enjoying the confused look on his friend’s face, Vespasian set off to confront his wife, determined to regain some control over his affairs.
Flavia stood before Vespasian with defiance in her eyes, her arms tense by her side and her shoulders shaking. ‘Who told you such a wicked lie?’
‘It’s not a lie; I saw how you and Messalina looked at each other at the circus yesterday. I suspected then what was going on — though I didn’t really believe it. But when it was confirmed to me last night, I knew it had to be true because I didn’t feel surprised.’
‘It’s not true!’
‘Flavia, keep your voice down.’ Vespasian rose from his seat and paced quickly to the door of the triclinium and opened it abruptly; it crunched into the heads of two of Flavia’s slave girls. ‘Get away! And draw lots between you, because one of you will be sold; and tell the rest of the household I’ll get rid of anyone else I ever find listening in on our private conversation.’
The women fled, too terrified to plead for forgiveness.
Vespasian slammed the door and rounded on Flavia. ‘Let’s stop this accusing and denying. Admit the charge and then we can discuss how best to take advantage of the situation.’
Flavia wrenched an ivory comb from her hair and hurled it at her husband. ‘What did you expect me to do for six years? Lie in my bed every night as unfulfilled as a Vestal? I played the faithful wife for you; I kept my virtue for four years.’
‘And then you cuckolded me!’
‘With another woman!’ Flavia screamed. ‘Yes! But that is not the same.’ She pointed to the couch upon which they had made love. ‘Since the day you left no man has touched me until you took me there on your return. And don’t tell me that you didn’t have another woman in all that time; Caenis was with you for a few months and then there would have been all those captives.’
‘My actions are irrelevant in this, woman. We are talking about your chastity, or lack of it, whilst I was away serving Rome.’
‘I was chaste! No one impregnated me. I didn’t feel an erect penis for six years. Do you know how hard it was to deny myself that? Can you understand the longing, the images burning in my head night and day, the trembling desire each time I caught the scent of a man? I had to do something before I broke and straddled the nearest slave, as many of the women do. But I didn’t, out of respect for you, husband, even though I was well aware that you wouldn’t be showing me the same consideration — not that I expect it of you. Messalina offered comfort of a different sort, not as satisfying but at least it was physical; now you’re back I don’t need that any more so I won’t be going to her bed again.’
Vespasian stared at his wife, his mouth gaping in astonishment. ‘Do you have any idea what would happen if you broke off your affair with her?’
‘She would understand now that you’re back.’
‘Understand? What do you know of this woman?’
‘She’s the Empress and she has been my friend ever since Claudius invited me to move into the palace. We weave together and talk about the children and-’
‘And do whatever it is that women do together; you don’t have to go into the details, I can imagine.’
‘I’m sure you can.’
‘Does she not involve you in her other affairs, try to tempt you into bed with her other partners?’
‘She has suggested it but I said no.’
‘You refused Messalina?’
‘Yes, husband; I know what she does, she confides in me. I know about all the men, I know about her going out into the city and whoring herself in rough brothels. I have no wish to do that; at least, I wouldn’t let myself do that. I just enjoy her when she wants me.’
‘And have you noticed what happens to people who refuse her?’
‘They end up either dead or banished.’
‘And you still think you will be able to say: “That’s it, no more, Messalina; I shan’t open my legs for you again”?’
‘She loves Britannicus and values the friendship that he has with Titus; she won’t harm me if I refuse to “open my legs” for her.’
‘Well, you won’t refuse; you will carry on as before.’
‘What, in Mother Isis’ name, do you mean?’
Vespasian found himself cooling in the face of her obvious confusion. ‘Flavia, you weren’t asked to move into the palace as a favour or an honour to me or you; quite the reverse: Claudius was manoeuvred into extending the invitation to you by someone who wanted vengeance on me, someone who wanted to scare me by showing how much power he could have over my family.’
‘Who would do a thing like that?’
‘Messalina’s brother.’
‘Corvinus? But he’s so polite to me; he’s even taken Titus on his knee on the few times that he’s visited.’
Vespasian shivered at the image. ‘He fully intended to harm you and still might. We are not safe. Somehow he knows of your relationship with Messalina and he wants to use it to his advantage; and to be frank, we’d be stupid if we didn’t take advantage of it ourselves.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean that the tide has turned against Messalina and she is not long for this world. Corvinus is conspiring against her and if he adds his weight to Narcissus and Pallas they will soon persuade Claudius how worthless she is; but to do that they need someone close to her to report her activities and, if possible, her plans.’
Flavia put her hands to her chest. ‘Me?’
‘Yes, my dear, you. You are to act as if nothing is wrong; you’ll tell her that just because I’m back doesn’t mean that you should deprive each other of — what was the word she used? — ah yes, each other’s nectar. You’ll kiss her sweetly and moan at her touch and listen to all her stories. If Narcissus agrees to Corvinus’ proposal then he will reveal what she’s planning and it will be down to you to keep us informed of the progress. If we’re part of bringing her down we’ll gain tremendously from it.’
‘You’re asking me to whore myself for our political gain.’
‘No, Flavia, it’s not whoring, any more than sleeping with another woman is cuckolding your husband. You just said so. This is business. It may be business that I would rather not be involved in, but seeing as your affair with this harpy has dragged us into imperial politics it seems to me that the best thing that we can do is try to survive and come out with credit.’
Flavia slumped down onto a couch. ‘How am I supposed to act naturally with her when I’m part of a plot to bring her down?’
‘I’m sure you’ll manage; you were quite prepared to lie to me just now and pretend you had been faithful. If it helps, try to remember that this woman has already caused the deaths of over a hundred senators and equestrians, the latest one being Asiaticus. There will be many more if she stays in power and I may well be one of them if I refuse the advances that she made to me yesterday.’
‘She wouldn’t harm you, you’re under my protection.’