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a carriage ready for you in the stables, as well. This is a luxurious post, compared to some. You’ll love it here.”
        “Find a good horse and I won’t need the carriage,” Servilia replied, noting the flicker in Julius’s eyes as he digested this piece of information. Men were such strange creatures, but she had yet to find one who didn’t enjoy the thought of a beautiful woman on a horse.
        “I hope my girls won’t be a disruption to you all. I will look for a place in the city tomorrow. Good night, gentlemen. General.”
        They rose with her and again she experienced that strange frisson of excitement as Julius’s eyes met her own.
        Julius stood soon after she had left, swaying slightly.
        “I have left my orders in your quarters, Brutus, for the time I am away. Make sure there is a guard on those girls while they are in our care. Good night.” He left without another word, walking with the exaggerated stiffness of a man trying to hide the effects of too much wine in his blood. For a moment there was a pained silence.
        “It’s good to have a new face here,” Brutus said, carefully avoiding more difficult subjects. “She’ll liven this place up a little. It’s been too quiet recently.”
        Cabera whistled quietly to himself. “A woman like that… all men are fools around her,” he said softly, his tone making Brutus stare at him in puzzlement. The old man’s expression was unreadable as he shook his head slightly and reached for more wine.
        “She is very… graceful,” Domitius agreed, searching for the final word.
        Brutus snorted. “What did you expect after seeing me with a sword? I’d hardly come from a cart horse, would I?”
        “I did think there was a female quality to your stance, yes,” Domitius replied, rubbing his forehead in thought. “Yes, I see it now. It looks better on her, though.”
        “It is a manly grace in me, Domitius, manly . I’m quite happy to demonstrate it again to you tomorrow.” The old smile had returned to Brutus’s face as he narrowed his eyes in mock offense.
        “Do I have a manly grace, Domitius?” Octavian asked.
        Domitius nodded slowly, his manner easy. “You do, of course, lad. It is only Brutus who fights like a woman.”
        Brutus roared with laughter and threw a plate at Domitius, who ducked it easily. It crashed on the stone floor and they all froze comically before the tension dissolved into humor once again.
        “Why does your mother want a house in the city?” Octavian asked.
        Brutus looked sharply at him, suddenly sorry to have to puncture his innocence. “For business, lad. I think my mother’s girls will be entertaining the legion before too long.”
        Octavian looked around in confusion for a moment, then his face cleared. They were all watching him closely.
        “Will they charge full price for someone of my age, do you think?” Octavian said.
        Brutus threw another plate in his direction, hitting Cabera.
        Lying on the narrow pallet in his rooms above, Julius could hear their laughter and shut his eyes tightly in the darkness.

CHAPTER 3
        
        
        Servilia already loved the little city of Valentia. The streets were clean and busy with people. There was an air of affluence about the place that made her palms itch. Yet despite the signs of wealth, it had a fresh feel to it that her own ancient city had lost centuries before. This was a more innocent town. Even finding the right building had been easier than she’d expected. There were no officials needing a private payment before documents could be signed; it was simply a matter of finding the right place and paying gold to the current owner. It was refreshing after the bureaucracy of Rome, and the soldiers Brutus had sent out with her were able to show her three possible locations as soon as she asked. The first two were close to the water and likely to attract more of the