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and take care of Felix.”
    “Yes, Dominilla.”
    Once again Claudia followed Milo through the palace and found herself before another ornately carved door, covered with gold leaf. Milo knocked and was told to enter. He waved Claudia in, bowed to the empress, and retreated.
    The empress sat in a large impressive chair as her two maidservants hovered nearby.
    “Come closer, Claudia. Let me have a look at you.”
    She did as she was asked and stood quietly in front of the empress.
    “You are tall for your age. When is your birthday?” She spoke in Latin, a test.
    “May, my lady.”
    Livia smiled. “Ah, after the goddess of spring. Your Latin is good. Who was your teacher?”
    “My grandmother, Scribonia.”
    The empress frowned. “Ah yes, Scribonia. Augustus divorced her.”
    “The day my mother was born, my lady.” She stopped short of saying to marry you.
    “You speak your mind. I would caution you not to be impertinent to me.”
    Claudia kept her face bland. “I was only stating what I know. I did not wish to offend.”
    The empress sighed. “You have courage. It may stand you in good stead, dwelling in this place.” She leaned forward in the chair. “Have you ever been to the baths?”
    Claudia chided herself for her quick tongue. She must be more cautious. “No, my lady, we, uh, remained in the villa.”
    “Well, then it will be my pleasure to introduce you. No Roman matron would go a day without attending the bath. We learn there of what is happening in Rome.”
    Claudia realized it was in her best interests to be submissive. She had a feeling the empress had much to teach her.
    Livia quizzed her in Latin a little further, then discussed weaving and needlework.
    “Do you sing? Play the lute?”
    “I play a little, but have only sung to myself.”
    “We will obtain an instrument and you can demonstrate your skills. You will have a husband to entertain one day.”
    “Yes, my lady.” Claudia did not look forward to playing before the empress.
    “Come to my quarters after your morning meal, Claudia, and we will proceed to the baths.” With a wave of her hand, Claudia was dismissed. Hotep was waiting.
    “Have you been here all this time?”
    “No, Dominilla, I took Felix out to the garden and waited in your room. It seemed that it was time to come for you, so I came.”
    Claudia looked up and down the hall. “You didn’t encounter anyone on the way, did you?”
    Hotep shook her head and smiled her gentle smile. “No, Dominilla, no one.”

 9 
    W henever she encountered Sejanus, Claudia had a sense of darkness. Felix was a comfort but no real protection against the evil that stalked the halls of the palace. Claudia tried to protect Hotep by forbidding her to go about the palace in the late afternoon or evening.
    Hotep often told her things she heard from other servants, how Sejanus filled the ears of Tiberius with thoughts of many plots against him. Those of noble rank fawned over the prefect, considering him the power behind the throne.
    “He appears to be devoted to the emperor, for once, when they were traveling, part of the grotto where they were eating collapsed. Several men and servants died, but Sejanus protected the emperor with his body and saved his life. The emperor trusts him completely.”
    Claudia listened quietly. “But others do not?”
    “No, Dominilla, those who oppose him fear his power growing and now the emperor is talking about leaving Rome . . .”
    “Leaving Rome? When?” Would Sejanus be in charge of her? That was a thought that caused her heart to race.
    “No one knows, but they feel he is grooming Sejanus to run the empire in his place. There is talk about the Isle of Capri where the emperor has a palace.”

    As Tiberius invoked the blessings of the gods and they began their meal, Claudia had a strange feeling of uneasiness. Something was wrong but she didn’t know what it was. She had a strong urge to return to her room but wondered how she could do that