Page 53 of Enslaved
“Well, she was Queen of the Iceni, a wealthy Celtic tribe with much gold and silver. I believe it was the Procurator Catus who plundered their wealth. When poor Boadicea objected, he had her publicly whipped. His men raped her two daughters and enslaved her people, so they rose up in rebellion and burned London. She was so brave that she took her own life rather than be taken alive by the Romans.”
“First of all, Boudicca was not a queen. She was, however, married to the King of the Iceni. When Emperor Claudius came to Britain, he and the king came to peaceful terms and he agreed to allow the Romans to build and occupy military camps. For sixteen years we lived together in peace and prosperity. We built roads and towns whose populations were mostly Britons who had become civilized. The king outlived Claudius, then had the same arrangement with Nero. We increased trade so that people from all over the world came here to settle.
“When the king died, he bequeathed half of his vast wealth to Emperor Nero and the other half to his daughters. The monstrous Boudicca was so jealous that she paid some soldiers to destroy her daughters. Then she proclaimed herself queen and incited the tribesmen to revolt against Roman rule.
“My legion and the other three stationed in this region were fighting in the west country under Governor Paullinus. Only token garrisons were left behind. The wild Iceni overran the new administrative capital that was being built at Camulodunum. They set ablaze the half-built town and massacred two hundred defenseless stonemasons and builders.
“Having seen what they could do, they became gluttons for destruction. They looted the richest towns where defense was weakest. Paullinus brought the legions back at double speed, knowing the beautiful and wealthy trading port of Londinium would be her target. We arrived before the barbaric tribes, and rather than risk Londinium’s population, we evacuated them. It was a town of merchants, aristocrats, retired legionaries, administrators, and clerks. Many were left behind—the old, the sick, those too stubborn to leave their homes.
“Boudicca and her wild tribes looted, burned, and beheaded everything in their path. When we went back in, we found they had destroyed the basilica, the forum, the baths and temples, but that was not the worst part. The rivers ran red with blood. We were a month picking up severed heads, and most of the victims were civilized Britons, not Romans. Put all romantic visions ofpoorBoudicca from your mind, Diana. She was huge and terrifying, with a loud coarse voice and a filthy mass of bright red hair.”
Diana clung to him. “This happened only a few months ago, Marcus? I thought Aquae Sulis such a beautiful place.”
“It was almost a year ago. Aquae Sulis is a beautiful place,” he told her firmly, “but some of the Celtic tribes are still unconquered. They have retreated into the west country and the legionaries are trained here before they go in after them.”
“Marcus, I’m afraid,” Diana whispered.
He kissed her and soothed her. “How can you be afraid with me beside you?”
“But I am afraid for you,” she said, clinging even tighter.
He began to tease her to dispel her anxiety. “You’ve seen the size of my weapon, little one, I’m invincible.”
She curled against him knowing he would protect her with his life. All life was uncertain; each day an unknown quantity. To be held warm and safe in someone’s arms was the best anyone could ever hope for.
Chapter 16
Diana awoke and sat up in the bed. When she saw Marcus at his desk, she said, “Oh, I thought you had left me.”
Marcus came up the steps, sat on the edge of the bed, and took her hands in his. “I didn’t want to waken you and yet I couldn’t make myself leave.”
“It’s lovely to wake up and find you here.”
He enfolded her in his arms and gave her a lingering kiss. Her breasts were crushed against his metal breastplate and he whispered, “Damn, I cannot feel your soft flesh against mine. How will I get through the day without seeing you?” His fingers dipped inside his tunic and he drew the gold chain over his head. “Wear my Caesar coin today.” He slipped it over her head and saw the goldpiece rest in the valley between her breasts. He hardened instantly, recalling the feel of that deep and delicious valley intimately. “All day long I shall know that the coin that covers my heart is covering yours today.”
“It’s still warm from your body,” she murmured.
“Keep it warm for me and return it tonight.”
“Marcus, if I had a horse, I could ride out to you sometimes.”
“You know how to ride?” He could never remember seeing a woman on a horse. Horses were for cavalry and warfare. Women rode about in litters. “A horse could be dangerous. They are very strong, Diana, and need a great deal of controlling. Have Kell bring you in his chariot. I must go.”
Below, as Kell picked up Marcus’ tunic in the triclinium, he raised his eyebrows. Never before had the general discarded his clothing before he reached the bath or the sleeping chamber.
At that precise moment, Nola picked up the crimson loin dress from the bottom stair. As the two met, each saw what the other held, and came to different conclusions.
Nola thought,She holds him in the palm of her hand.
Kell thought,He has claimed the prize.
They were both right.
By the time Diana bathed and had her breakfast, Marcus was back. “Get your mantle and come out to the courtyard. I have a surprise for you.”
As Diana stepped into the peristyle and pulled her red wool mantle about her shoulders, she saw Marcus leading a milk white steed. It had a saddle with four pommels, two in front and two behind, to aid a rider to stay put.
“It’s a mare with a fairly good nature. Do you think you can handle such a huge beast?”
