‘And lover; I know. But for the last year and more she’s been Narcissus’ spy in your bed.’
‘Liar! No one would dare betray me.’
‘Why? Because you alone have the right to live life as you wish and everyone else in Rome should serve your every need?’
‘I am the Empress.’
‘You were the Empress but, like Caligula’s, your behaviour could not be tolerated; you took everything and gave nothing back. Narcissus and Pallas may guard their power jealously and use it for personal advantage but at least they spread patronage; people can gain by them. The two of them ensure that Claudius gives back also: the new port, the draining of the Fucine Lake for more agricultural land, new aqueducts and much more. But who profits from you being in power? How does Rome benefit from you, who would not even help your own brother?’
‘He was of no use to me any more!’
‘Which was why he betrayed you; it was he who told Narcissus what you planned to do. Flavia spied on you because I told her to; because I knew it would strengthen my standing with Narcissus and Pallas who were determined to get rid of you — rightly. Now they have you, and Claudius, in his folly, can’t protect you any more.’
‘But he promised to look into my eyes.’
‘So you could lie to him?’ Vespasian pushed his sword hilt into Messalina’s midriff. ‘Well, that won’t happen now. Take the sword. There will be no reprieve for you, Messalina. You will die here in the gardens that you killed to possess and Asiaticus gets the vengeance that he foresaw.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You sealed your fate when you drove him to suicide. He set this all in motion: he put Corvinus in touch with Narcissus even though they hate each other; he knew about you and Flavia and how useful she would be; and he judged me, correctly, to be ruthless and unscrupulous enough to use my wife to gain favour. Yes, Messalina, your death was ordained the moment you grabbed the most beautiful place in Rome. So embrace it now with the dignity befitting your status.’
Messalina stared in horror at the sword and then looked to her mother, who just shook her head slowly and then gently lifted the weapon with the palm of her hand. Tears welled in Messalina’s eyes as she slowly grasped the hilt. ‘Must I, Mother? Can’t I be granted exile on an island somewhere? Then Claudius will have time to change his mind!’
Lepida eased her daughter to her knees. ‘That’s the whole point, child, Rome has seen you deceiving Claudius openly, relying on the fool’s love that he has for you; no one is going to let you take advantage of that again. No, be strong and do this; I shall help you.’ Lepida turned the sword so that the point was just beneath her daughter’s heart and then, placing herself behind Messalina, wrapped her hands over hers. ‘Ready, Messalina?’ Mother and daughter tensed, tears flowing down both their faces, and then Lepida jerked her arms towards her. With a squeal, Messalina twisted and buckled; blood coloured the blade and Lepida cried out as she looked down at the cut on the outside of her left thigh.
‘I won’t die, Mother!’ Messalina shrieked. ‘No one has the right to-’ She stopped abruptly and looked around, shocked, and then focused on Burrus’ forearm, just in front of her. She followed it with her eyes, down to the wrist and then on to the hand that grasped the hilt of a sword. Along the blade her eyes went and they widened with horror; only half was visible. She tried to scream but succeeded only in spewing blood on Burrus’ hand as it thrust forward and twisted left then right. Messalina looked at her executioner with fury raging on her face before falling back into her mother’s arms.
‘Enough talk,’ Burrus said, pulling his blade free with a wet sucking sound and then wiping it clean on Messalina’s palla before turning to his men. ‘Let’s go.’
Vespasian looked down at the dead Messalina, blood seeping from her breast and soaking her clothes, and felt nothing: no joy, relief, pity, triumph, regret … nothing. ‘Take the body and deal with it privately, Lepida,’ he said and turned to follow Burrus and his men, leaving Lepida, weeping softly, clutching her daughter’s corpse.
As he walked down the steps Vespasian looked up at the newly risen moon shining through the branches of the apricot trees that had witnessed so much, and swore to himself that he would never again set foot in the Gardens of Lucullus.
CHAPTER XXII
Almost two hours after he had left it, Vespasian walked back into the triclinium at the palace; apart from the addition of a group of musicians the scene was exactly the same. Narcissus looked at him questioningly and he replied with a tired nod as he slumped back down onto his couch, next to Sabinus.
‘Such villainy,’ Lucius Vitellius pronounced, just loud enough to be heard over the music, whilst peeling a pear.
Vespasian ignored the remark as he caught a brief, silent exchange between Pallas and Agrippina before she returned her attention to her uncle who was now well into his cups and adding to them.
Signalling a slave to fill his, Vespasian turned to his brother, keeping his voice low, so as not to be heard over the music. ‘What’s happened? Why is everyone still here?’
‘None of them wants to leave the others alone with Claudius.’
‘They’ll be here all night then. Why are you still here?’
‘I was waiting for you, to remind you to be at the Senate at dawn and make sure that Uncle Gaius comes too.’
‘Of course, the incest law; I’ll speak directly after you.’
‘I’d appreciate that. Gaius has managed to persuade Servius Sulpicius Galba to speak for the motion. I’ll have him follow you.’
Vespasian grimaced as he took a full pull on his cup, remembering his dealings with Galba when he was first assigned to the II Augusta. ‘He’ll shout them into submission.’
‘He can do whatever he likes as long as he helps get the motion passed and I can get off to Moesia, Macedonia and Thracia; and if you want my advice, brother, you should get out of Rome for a while too, because after witnessing Agrippina’s behaviour this evening I can tell you that life with her in power is going to be just as precarious as it was with Messalina.’
‘I will. I’ll go back to the estates until my consulship and after that hopefully Pallas will get me a province.’
‘Don’t rely on him too much. He’s sleeping with Agrippina, I’m sure of it; there’s a hint of it in her eyes when she looks at him.’
‘I noticed that too and thought that it would be a good thing for us.’
‘That would depend on which one of them has the stronger will.’
Vespasian looked over at Agrippina, wiping her uncle’s mouth and talking soothingly in his ear.
‘But I want her,’ Claudius suddenly cried out. ‘I miss my little bird already.’
‘Then summon her now to account for herself. If she is indeed innocent, why wait till morning to find out? And if she’s guilty then have done with her and choose another.’
‘I could do that, couldn’t I?’ Claudius’ face lit up at the prospect.
‘Of course you could, Uncle,’ Agrippina purred, looking directly at Narcissus, who paled visibly, even in the soft lamplight.
Claudius indicated to his freedman with his cup, slopping much of its contents onto his couch. ‘Narcissus, have Messalina brought to the palace.’
Narcissus regained his composure. ‘Surely you’re joking with me, Princeps? You ordered me to have her executed just two hours ago.’
Claudius opened and closed his mouth and then his features froze, staring blankly into vacant space.
‘Uncle!’ Agrippina cried. ‘How brave of you to do so. But why didn’t you tell me? In fact, why didn’t I hear you give the order? I’ve been reclining next to you all evening.’
Claudius did not answer or even register that he had heard the question. Nor did he seem to hear loud wailing from out in the atrium.
‘It was what you wanted, Princeps, after all,’ Narcissus insisted, ‘otherwise I would have questioned it when you gave me the command.’