"Blessed Vinalia. I am sure you join me in praising the goddess. This has been a fruitful season, for her concerns. The celebrations tonight will do her honour."
I know that that is a dig at me, and once again I feel angry shame that Tetricus has been going about with that boy. Does he have no sense of how it makes me look? People have suggested he has tired of me and replaced me with that. As if there is any comparison between the two relationships.
"I have made offerings to Venus Genetrix," I say smoothly, "in thanks for my good fortune at home." There is a reminder to him of my successes at the hearth - a dutiful wife, two children. "And I of course made offerings in the name of friends less fortunate than myself." It is a wonder that the Consul has not remarried; were we still in Augustus's reign he would have been fined for it by now, no doubt, though Emperor Caninus seems less concerned.
I have sometimes wondered if the Consul's reluctance to wed indicates he has - tastes close to my own. There have been rumours over the year, but he is clearly a man of discretion. I wonder if I should perhaps bribe his slaves to tell me about his habits. There will undoubtedly be someone in the household willing to give up his secrets. There is always a weak link. I would not try to shame him on that score - it would be undignified, and besides the same shame could be turned on me - but it might be a way into having some influence over him. He is a man to be careful of, and I think he would do me a mischief if he could. I must have armour in such a fight.
"And do you look forward to the party tonight?" I ask, since I am sure he has been invited. I will also watch who he is watching. Dinners are always more business than pleasure, these days, so it is lucky I enjoy my work.
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I know that that is a dig at me, and once again I feel angry shame that Tetricus has been going about with that boy. Does he have no sense of how it makes me look? People have suggested he has tired of me and replaced me with that. As if there is any comparison between the two relationships.
"I have made offerings to Venus Genetrix," I say smoothly, "in thanks for my good fortune at home." There is a reminder to him of my successes at the hearth - a dutiful wife, two children. "And I of course made offerings in the name of friends less fortunate than myself." It is a wonder that the Consul has not remarried; were we still in Augustus's reign he would have been fined for it by now, no doubt, though Emperor Caninus seems less concerned.
I have sometimes wondered if the Consul's reluctance to wed indicates he has - tastes close to my own. There have been rumours over the year, but he is clearly a man of discretion. I wonder if I should perhaps bribe his slaves to tell me about his habits. There will undoubtedly be someone in the household willing to give up his secrets. There is always a weak link. I would not try to shame him on that score - it would be undignified, and besides the same shame could be turned on me - but it might be a way into having some influence over him. He is a man to be careful of, and I think he would do me a mischief if he could. I must have armour in such a fight.
"And do you look forward to the party tonight?" I ask, since I am sure he has been invited. I will also watch who he is watching. Dinners are always more business than pleasure, these days, so it is lucky I enjoy my work.