Lucius and his young wife Calpurnia lived in a comfortable villa on the banks of the Tiber on the outskirts of ancient Rome.
Lucius, a senate official, was often away on business. On this occasion, he had been abroad for a month and was not expected back for at least another week. Calpurnia was left at home with only her maidservant, Decima, for company.
Calpurnia busied herself as best she could. She tended her peristyle garden; took long strolls along the Tiber and visited local markets. It was a rather lonely existence, but Calpurnia didn't mind. Married for less than a year, she loved Lucius and accepted her husband's regular absences as the one downside in her otherwise happy life.
The warm summer day was drawing to a close. Calpurnia ate a light evening meal and then treated herself to a long, lingering bath. Her maid Decima, a pretty twenty year old girl, had laced the bathwater generously with Calpurnia's favourite oils: rose oil for scent, lavender to relax her mind and geranium to lift her mood.
Calpurnia reclined in her warm bath and listened to Decima's foolish chatter. The maidservant reminisced about the boy who first kissed her; she spoke at length about her new love interest, namely the "cute" Marius who worked for the local wine merchant; she described in hilarious detail the farcical time when her drunken brother-in-law tried unsuccessfully to have his way with her. Calpurnia allowed her maidservant to ramble. It amused her and it distracted her.
Rising from her bath, Calpurnia stood as Decima dried her off with a towel. The only hands that had touched her body in the last month were those of Decima. Calpurnia enjoyed the sensations as Decima carefully dried each part of her body. No region was left unattended and Calpurnia could not help draw breath as Decima patted dry her intimate place.
Decima dressed her mistress in a short linen tunic, drawn in at the waist by a length of golden rope, and placed sandals on her feet. Calpurnia then moved to the garden to enjoy the sunset. The huge blood-orange sun had painted the sky crimson.
Calpurnia was just twenty one and had relinquished her virginity to Lucius on their wedding night. Although still a novice, Calpurnia adored sex and it had become a vital part of her life. She therefore longed for Lucius to return and for the resumption of their passionate love-making.
So poor Calpurnia sat alone in the garden watching the sunset; her body relaxed by her bath, but gripped with sexual tension. Decima reclined silently on the floor of the porch, keeping a respectful distance between her and her mistress, but close enough to serve if called upon. She watched and admired Calpurnia, whom she rightly considered to be supremely beautiful.
"Hello, anyone at home?" came a voice from the vestibule. The voice belonged to Livia, Lucius and Calpurnia's neighbour. Livia, a single woman just turned forty was from a wealthy family and was of independent means. Livia had befriended Lucius and Calpurnia from the day they came to live next door and was a regular visitor. Bisexual, Livia secretly lusted after both Lucius and Calpurnia.
Decima escorted Livia to the garden where Calpurnia, glad to have some company, greeted her neighbour with a warm embrace. Livia maintained the embrace for far longer that might be normal for a sisterly greeting, but Calpurnia thought nothing of it.
Decima scurried away and, without needing to be asked, returned in a trice with a platter of wine, dates and grapes.
Calpurnia and Livia enjoyed the victuals served to them by Decima. They talked as friends talk: not about anything in particular, but about how their day had been; the local gossip; the price of linen.
Calpurnia and Livia rose to take a stroll around the torch-lit garden. Livia complimented her young neighbour on her skill as a gardener. As they ambled, Livia's right hand clasped Calpurnia's left hand. It was a skilful manoeuvre which Calpurnia hardly noticed. They continued hand-in-hand, their shoulders brushing together, and when they laughed at a shared joke, their foreheads met and Livia put her arm around Calpurnia's waist.
Moving inside to the atrium, the women relaxed on plush couches, sipping their wine. Calpurnia's feet were bare and her legs exposed to the knees. The low cut line of her tunic did little to hide her cleavage and the luscious shape of her firm breasts. Livia moved to sit by Calpurnia's side, kicking off her sandals as she did so. Calpurnia rested her head on her neighbour's shoulder, nestling her forehead under Livia's chin as a child might snuggle into a parent. Livia draped an arm around Calpurnia and held her close in a warm, comforting hug.
Livia could not help but notice Calpurnia's edgy, distracted, demeanour. After a few moments of silence, Livia asked "Calpurnia, what's wrong, you're as taut as the strings on a lyre."
The abrupt nature of this inquiry was like the turning of a key in a lock for Calpurnia. She promptly burst into tears and shook like a leaf. It took several minutes for Calpurnia to regain her composure.
Livia said "I am so sorry my darling, I didn't mean to upset you, but I could see that all is not well. Tell me what distresses you so."
Calpurnia explained through her sobs that she missed her Lucius terribly. Choosing a euphemistic phrase, Calpurnia said "my nights are so lonely without him."
Livia required no further explanation. Her young neighbour was clearly gripped by pent-up sexual tension and it had all become too much for her young mind and body.
Livia faced Calpurnia and asked "then why not take a lover?" "I can recommend several if you like" she added with a wry smile.
Calpurnia, somewhat startled by the proposal, replied "I could never be unfaithful to Lucius with another man."