I was a fortunate young woman in Rome, the capital of the greatest empire. I was wealthy and of the patrician class. My family owned estates and thousands of slaves who worked our huge farms.
Even though a young lady at age 18, I was not yet married off. I was also expected to learn the businesses of my family. So one day I found myself in the countryside, at our estate in Tuscany. Little did I imagine I would find my life passion there.
While learning the lay of the land and the basics of the operations, I started to take my horse around alone.
One day one of the slaves smiled at me. She was my age, sweating, scantily clad. I smiled back as if to a friend, for something about her made me relax, and reminded me of friends of my own social class.
I continued my tour, but the next day, feeling lonely, I purposefully went back to that spot.
She was there again, thankfully. She stopped working, looked up and smiled again, her perfect teeth white in the sun, bright against her tanned skin. Still on horseback, I went closer.
To my surprise, my eyes were irresistibly drawn to her much-revealed perfect body, glistening skin. feminine muscles shaping a perfect outline. My heart beat faster. I felt strangely alive near her.
I knew what was happening with me, and I was ok with it, for in our society, same sex relationships were not unusual, though more frowned upon among women.
She curtsied and bowed her head quickly, recognizing from my clothing, horse and bearing I must be of the patrician class.
She smiled that dazzling, world-stopping smile again, eyes squintly slightly in the sun. I felt she wanted to talk but probably knew to wait for the free person.
"Hi, I am Claudia, of the family that owns these lands." I instantly regretted being so formal, anxious to find a friend, though knowing she and I could not be friends in the way other patricians, or even any free person could fully be with a slave.
She kneeled, head bowing, "I am Julia, and then you are my owner. I am a slave on this farm."
"Stand, Julia, my sweet slave," I smiled, dismounting.
We were of the same height and so were looking directly into one another's eyes.
"Our lives are very different, but we have much in common too, I feel," knowing that most owners of slave did not start conversations this way upon their family's slaves, which under our laws are property. Yet I was lonely, and this person had an elegance, athleticism and grace that dazzled me.
She smiled her captivating smile. My heart suddenly yearned ... the aliveness in her was not subdued by being owned. I wondered if it was because she worked mostly outdoors and away from my family and workers, perhaps managed by slave overseers.
"My family owns thousands of slaves, but we are still people too." I found myself saying, wanting to relate to this remarkable person.
"And you and I are especially similar. Same age, probably, similarly athletic, similar in appearance... "
Still smiling, she said "As you say, similar, with a major difference: you can change my life at your whim, and leave to travel on your horse, whereas I have no freedom."
"You have some influence now though. For..." I hesitated ... "I already like you." I smiled with the confidence of power, though she made my heart race and feel warm, and I knew once I told her I liked her, without knowing her well, she might start working the opportunity. But then again, I really had total power.
Julia blushed. "It may seem like flattery, I like you too. You seem different than other free people. Your words, your friendliness, your beauty."
I could now feel warmth in my own face, and I hoped my cheeks did not blush as clearly as hers.
"One of the things we have in common: we speak directly what we think and feel.
I am looking for a personal slave. I believe you might do, though you work the farm rather than the house. You speak clearly and well and you do not seem to hide the truth. In fact... I am surprised you are not a house slave, because you are young and beautiful."
