Page 46 of Enslaved
Petrius grinned at last. “Too bad. She won’t get much fucking from you tonight, brother. The legionaries want another demonstration from you of how the standard bearers get their gear across.”
At a signal from Marcus, Kell said to Diana, “He wants us to leave now.”
“I’m glad I came to watch him!”
Kell knew she played some kind of game with the Roman, one that hid what she really thought and really felt about him. He did the same himself. But Kell knew Diana was coming to genuinely admire Marcus. She accepted his protection and she craved his admiration whether she was aware of it or not.
It would be most diverting to watch the relationship unfold beneath his very nose. Would the balance of power shift? In a subtle way, perhaps it already had. Should he foster their relationship or jeopardize it? He smiled to himself. Kell would do whatever was best for Kell!
When they returned to the villa, Diana was surprised at how lovely and warm it was inside on such an inclement day. When she removed her woolen mantle, she was quite comfortable in a silk stola with nothing beneath it. “Kell, how is the villa heated?”
“We have raised floors with ventilation. Heat comes from hot water pipes laid beneath each and every floor. You may go barefoot inside in the dead of winter and still be comfortable. Romans like their comfort.”
Diana marveled that such an ancient civilization could be so advanced. Georgian houses were damp and drafty places in winter, depending on heat from a small fire in every room.
She knew it wouldn’t be too many hours before Marcus arrived home. A bubble of excitement inside her was growing. She wanted to see how her new wardrobe was progressing and also she would have to have Sylla redo her hair because the wind had turned it into a wild tangle.
The merchants had departed from the solarium, but the cloth merchant had left his female assistants to make up the new garments and Nola had set two household slaves to help with the sewing. Diana was delighted with the numerous stolae in different colors and fabrics.
“Thank you, Nola, they are exquisite. I thank all of you for your hard work and generosity.” She took an armful of gowns, including the ultramarine, the tigress print, and the classical white silk up to her own chamber, where Sylla showed her how to fold them in a special way that would prevent creasing.
Diana decided she would wear the white silk tonight for Marcus. As she sat before the mirror watching Sylla thread seed pearls onto strands of her golden hair, her excitement grew at the thought of being alone with her Roman tonight. She had never felt this way over Peter Hardwick, and that told her how attracted she was becoming to Marcus Magnus. In fact, she realized that she was infatuated with him.
When she pictured him swimming across the raging river and then imagined those powerful arms about her, she could have screamed with excitement. She smiled to herself. She would be willing to bet the general would make sure they had no unexpected guests this evening.
When Kell tapped on her chamber door and came in with more new garments, Diana was disappointed to learn that Marcus had already arrived. “Oh, I wanted to be in the atrium to greet him when he arrived home!”
“He needed a hot bath immediately to unthaw his bones.” Kell lifted one of the garments he had brought up. “The general has requested you wear the short white tunic to dinner.”
Diana was amazed at how much it resembled the costume she had worn to the opening of the Pantheon. It came only to the thighs, its hem falling in points and its fastening on one shoulder. “Oh, I’m afraid this has been made wrong. I won’t be able to wear it tonight.” She felt somewhat disappointed, for the tunic would have made her resemble the goddess Diana.
“It has been especially designed this way,” Kell informed her.
“The bodice will only cover one breast,” Diana pointed out.
Kell nodded. “This is one of the tunics the general especially requested and he asks that you wear it to dinner tonight.”
Diana was stunned that he would ask such a thing. How could he possibly expect her to join him for dinner wearing a tunic that displayed one bare breast? Everyone in the household would be able to look their fill at her nakedness. Her bubble of excitement evaporated and was replaced by a tight little knot of anger.
He was treating her like a prostitute! Was he doing it on purpose to insult her, or was his lust so great that he desired her to sit almost naked before him? If she reclined on a couch in a tunic that barely covered her thighs and left one breast fully exposed, she could guess how long it would be before his hands were all over her body!
Diana put the garment on the bed and said firmly, “I shall wear the elegant white silk stola. Would you be kind enough to wait outside until I am dressed, Kell?”
Kell’s gray eyes held hers for a moment. “I have agreed to advise you, lady, and I do so now. Wear the garment the general has selected.”
“I thank you for your advice, Kell. I will explain to him myself why I cannot wear such a garment.”
Kell deferred to her decision and stepped outside of the apricot chamber, waiting to escort her to the triclinium. When she was dressed, Diana carefully examined her appearance in the polished bronze mirror. The white silk fell in a graceful straight line over her slim figure. Her upthrust breasts clearly showed the outline of her diamond-hard nipples through the delicate material. The seed pearls in her silver-gilt hair emphasized her delicacy tonight. She chose a gold wrist bracelet and matching gold anklet and decided to go barefoot tonight so she might display a pretty toe ring.
Diana placed her hand on Kell’s arm and walked down the stairs with her head held high. She was confident that she looked exceptionally lovely.
Once again, Marcus had reached the triclinium before her. Household slaves were busy carrying in serving dishes. On Kell’s arm she paused dramatically between the two pillars and awaited Marcus’ response.
It wasn’t long in coming. His dark face was unsmiling. His black eyes swept over her coldly. “You are not wearing the gown I requested.”
Diana took a step forward. “Marcus, I refuse to wear such a scandalous garment!”
The slaves stopped what they were doing to stare at her.
