Roxanna stood outside the Temple of Venus, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the bright sunlight. She had left her offering and said her prayers as she had done every market interval since her arrival in the city. She was dressed in a deep blue chiton. A strophium of the same material and color was tied beneath her breasts and a matching belt emphasized her narrow waist. Her arms and head were covered by a matching palla, which she had draped to cover her lower face as well. Roxanna did not like attracting attention in public and found this disguise perfect for her needs.
She was attended by Felicity, who was also dressed modestly, and guarded by the ever-faithful Ajax and two other former gladiators. Roxanna insisted upon making this trip by foot and Ajax had given up trying to talk her out of doing so long ago. The men followed well behind, since anyone so well guarded was prone to attention and gossip.
It was late morning and the day was glorious, the stifling heat of summer had finally broken and the sky was the deep azure blue that marks the coming of fall. Roxanna was in no hurry. She and Felicity wandered among the stalls lining the forum, which was on their way home. Roxanna's favorite vendor was there and she purchased his specialty, braised sausage and vegetables stuffed inside freshly baked bread. She treated everyone in her entourage, though one of the men would come in to collect theirs after the ladies left the stall, their own goodies tucked neatly into the small basket Felicity carried.
Roxanna and Felicity stood outside, exchanging gossip about those who passed by. A group of senators stood nearby, talking amongst themselves. Now that the worst of the summer heat had dissipated, the rich families were returning from their seaside and country estates. A great many of the rich men were senators, and Roxanna knew their reappearance in Rome would be a definite boon for her business.
Ajax caught her eye and nodded; she and Felicity could wander at will. Roxanna was reviewing her mental to-do list for any other tasks she might complete before returning home when she felt the odd sensation that she was being watched. She lowered her head and began scanning the thronged forum through her lashes. It didn't take her long to locate the source. He stood at the fringe of the group of senators, the oak-leaf chaplet atop his thick blonde hair, his dark eyes dancing in a secret smile meant only for her. How had he recognized her with her head covered and her face veiled, among so many others?
His last visit to her had been three weeks ago; three weeks that had felt more like three months. He had sent her a message that his late-night wanderings were causing tongues to wag and that he would return as soon as the talk stopped. Roxanna had her own spies in the forum, none of whom had mentioned his name, despite her repeated prodding to 'tell her everything, even the dullest gossip.' She had come to the conclusion that the wagging tongues worrying Caesar were likely those of his wife and mother.
The memory of his last visit flooded Roxanna's mind and she was glad for the veil that hid her blush. Her mind's eye flashed the image of him standing naked over her in her bath. She felt the thud of desire firing through her veins, making her entire body tingle. She wondered if he was thinking similar thoughts about her.
Another senator clapped him on the back, stepping close to confide something before laughing heartily before turning his eyes to Roxanna. He proffered a slight inclination of his head; Roxanna acknowledged him in turn. Caesar's smile was briefly apologetic before Crassus led him away.
"That's strange," Felicity noted, looking at the skies. "I did not know Marcus Crassus ever laughed unless a building he does not already own is on fire, yet there's not a puff of smoke to be seen."
Both women were laughing as they started home.
Roxanna, still draped in her palla, though she had pushed it off her head, was in her study, perusing her well-kept accounting ledgers as she finished the meal she had picked up in the forum. She looked up when Felicity entered.
"The senator is here to see you, Mistress."
Roxanna required no further information; she had made it plain to the few members of her household who knew of his visits that his name was never to be mentioned. He had never come unannounced, most certainly not in the middle of the day. "Show him in," she instructed as she returned the ledgers to the basket beside her chair.
