[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
that loaned him the money to repay the original loans. The common story is that my mother died
about that time, and she did die, but what is not known is that I was witness to her death. I may
have been only five, but one remembers their father beating their mother to death.
Jupiter forget having him thrown out of the senate. I ll have him stripped of citizenship
if not thrown to the lions! Giaus roared. Do you have any proof of this? He asked as an
afterthought. All he saw was fear in her eyes, everything he had seen before was gone.
Then she felt strong hands slip onto her shoulders. Livia leaned back against Claudius
without really thinking that she hardly knew him. He was the only real support she had.
Claudius took it as permission to show the bruises. His fingers pushed aside the amber and
carnelian and she watched Giaus pale.
If he knew you had seen him do such a thing, why did he send you to your uncle? You
could have told him?
My father never saw me there. One of the slaves came and found me and before my
father realized what was going on, he got permission to take me to my uncle.
And your uncle has never done anything about it?
Her eyes rose from the cup in her hands. I never told him. He has raised me like one of
his own, paying for me to survive, if nothing else. All of my finery on top of that, taking me on
travels across the empire, seeing me educated. He is the one that paid for everything. He loved
me when I had lost it from my own parents. It would bring scandal to the family that is not so
benign. I think he has suspicions of how my mother died, but he doesn t know I could prove it.
I m sure my uncle thinks me long wed and halfway towards starting a family.
Claudius grinned. We could always start on that so as not to disappoint him.
Claudius! Giaus gasped. You would say such things in front of your father. Children
Aghhh! I m leaving. His somewhat overacted anger faded as he looked back at Livia with a
wink. I will see what I can do about your father. Morals have gotten more than one man in
trouble with the Censors, let alone a Senator beating that which should be sacred to him
especially considering you have the best blood lines I think I have ever heard. You could have
gained him great favor. I think I see your point about not letting him get what he wants. He
elegantly draped his toga around him before taking his leave of them. He would give the
13
neighbors something to take about for some time to come. They were silent for a time as the fact
that they were truly alone sank in, but Claudius didn t move from her side while she rested
against him.
I should be getting home.
Are you hungry? He asked ignoring her words.
A bit.
Claudius started to pull some food down from the shelf, but he froze when he turned back
to ask her to get the plates. Blood was seeping through her tunic in a dark red pool. His own
tunic was covered as well where she had leaned back against him.
Livia. She turned around without a clue as to what was wrong. You re bleeding.
You should never have left bed this morning.
It s not as bad as all that.
I ll be the judge of that. He slowly undid the fasteners for her stola at the shoulders.
He pulled down the fabric carefully, only to find she had been bound tightly with linen strips. A
knife from the shelf quickly slit it open. When he finally pulled the bandages away, it was to
find her back a bruised and bloody mess. He had been in war and still he felt like gagging. He
knew that it was more because it had been done to her of all people than the actual damage.
Why did you come and meet me at all?
You have to ask?
Claudius smiled to himself. He obviously wasn t the only one that had been interested
the night before. His smile from her answer faded as he swore he could see the outline of a
signet ring in one of the bruises.
Livia gasped as he wiped away the blood. I m sorry. He whispered for the pain that he
was causing her.
It doesn t really hurt as bad as it looks.
Claudius saw a tear slid down her cheek and he knew she was lying. The real reason she [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl wyciskamy.pev.pl
that loaned him the money to repay the original loans. The common story is that my mother died
about that time, and she did die, but what is not known is that I was witness to her death. I may
have been only five, but one remembers their father beating their mother to death.
Jupiter forget having him thrown out of the senate. I ll have him stripped of citizenship
if not thrown to the lions! Giaus roared. Do you have any proof of this? He asked as an
afterthought. All he saw was fear in her eyes, everything he had seen before was gone.
Then she felt strong hands slip onto her shoulders. Livia leaned back against Claudius
without really thinking that she hardly knew him. He was the only real support she had.
Claudius took it as permission to show the bruises. His fingers pushed aside the amber and
carnelian and she watched Giaus pale.
If he knew you had seen him do such a thing, why did he send you to your uncle? You
could have told him?
My father never saw me there. One of the slaves came and found me and before my
father realized what was going on, he got permission to take me to my uncle.
And your uncle has never done anything about it?
Her eyes rose from the cup in her hands. I never told him. He has raised me like one of
his own, paying for me to survive, if nothing else. All of my finery on top of that, taking me on
travels across the empire, seeing me educated. He is the one that paid for everything. He loved
me when I had lost it from my own parents. It would bring scandal to the family that is not so
benign. I think he has suspicions of how my mother died, but he doesn t know I could prove it.
I m sure my uncle thinks me long wed and halfway towards starting a family.
Claudius grinned. We could always start on that so as not to disappoint him.
Claudius! Giaus gasped. You would say such things in front of your father. Children
Aghhh! I m leaving. His somewhat overacted anger faded as he looked back at Livia with a
wink. I will see what I can do about your father. Morals have gotten more than one man in
trouble with the Censors, let alone a Senator beating that which should be sacred to him
especially considering you have the best blood lines I think I have ever heard. You could have
gained him great favor. I think I see your point about not letting him get what he wants. He
elegantly draped his toga around him before taking his leave of them. He would give the
13
neighbors something to take about for some time to come. They were silent for a time as the fact
that they were truly alone sank in, but Claudius didn t move from her side while she rested
against him.
I should be getting home.
Are you hungry? He asked ignoring her words.
A bit.
Claudius started to pull some food down from the shelf, but he froze when he turned back
to ask her to get the plates. Blood was seeping through her tunic in a dark red pool. His own
tunic was covered as well where she had leaned back against him.
Livia. She turned around without a clue as to what was wrong. You re bleeding.
You should never have left bed this morning.
It s not as bad as all that.
I ll be the judge of that. He slowly undid the fasteners for her stola at the shoulders.
He pulled down the fabric carefully, only to find she had been bound tightly with linen strips. A
knife from the shelf quickly slit it open. When he finally pulled the bandages away, it was to
find her back a bruised and bloody mess. He had been in war and still he felt like gagging. He
knew that it was more because it had been done to her of all people than the actual damage.
Why did you come and meet me at all?
You have to ask?
Claudius smiled to himself. He obviously wasn t the only one that had been interested
the night before. His smile from her answer faded as he swore he could see the outline of a
signet ring in one of the bruises.
Livia gasped as he wiped away the blood. I m sorry. He whispered for the pain that he
was causing her.
It doesn t really hurt as bad as it looks.
Claudius saw a tear slid down her cheek and he knew she was lying. The real reason she [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]