Page 78 of Enslaved
Marcus saw the blood drain from her face. “Darling, I know he has treated you with disrespect in the past, but when I tell him you are to be my wife, I know he will treat you with every honor.” He smiled down at her. “I promise you he will be on his best behavior.” Silently he added,If I have to strangle the young bastard!
Diana forced herself to smile back at Marcus, but the moment he returned to the fort, a wave of nausea engulfed her. She had thought she was well rid of Petrius. Surely this was not some sort of omen that her journey to Rome was fated to disaster before it had even begun? Perhaps she should have told Marcus what happened that day at the temple, but she had not wanted bad blood between the brothers then, and she did not want it now. Marcus was taking her to his father’s home, so it was doubly important there be no discord in the family because of her.
She thought of confiding in Kell, for she found him very easy to talk to, but telling Kell was probably the same as telling Marcus. The two men had few secrets. Finally she decided to have a word with Tor. Since it would be his job to protect her, she would have to confide in him. She found him with Kell, listening patiently to last-minute instructions regarding everything from strange drinking water tomal de mare.
“I think it’s time for us to become better acquainted, Tor. Walk with me in the garden where we can be private.”
Tor looked uncertainly to Kell for approval. Kell rolled his eyes heavenward. “Dolt! The number one rule is to obey your lady before any other—even me!”
As Diana led the way into the garden, Tor’s eyes were no longer merry. “I fear I am a sad choice, lady.”
Diana was appalled. Tor had been stripped of his self-confidence and she knew she must restore it at once. “Tor, you are the best possible choice. You aremychoice. Please don’t be distant with me. I want us to be friends; I want to be able to confide in you. In fact, I want to be able to tell you anything.”
The frown disappeared from his brow. “You can, lady. I will serve you in any way you wish. Please correct me when I do things wrong, lady.”
“Call me Diana. Please don’t concern yourself with unimportant things like manners or dress, Tor. Come and sit by the pool so I can confide my fears.”
Tor seemed much relieved that she was not overly concerned with manners for he had never been trained as a house slave. “Tell me your fears, Lady Diana.”
She bent toward him confidentially. “I hate Romans and fear them.” She saw his look of astonishment. “Oh, I love Marcus with all my heart. He is seeking permission for us to marry, but I have this unnamed dread inside me that disaster will befall if I go to Rome.”
“I won’t let anyone harm you, Lady Diana,” Tor vowed.
“I am a Christian but I prefer to keep that hidden while I am in Rome. The Romans do terrible things to Christians. Marcus doesn’t want it known I was a slave in his household, either.”
“I am a Briton, like you, Lady Diana. Your secrets are sacred to me.”
“Thank you, Tor. There is a delicate matter I must confide to you that no one else knows. My husband’s brother, Petrius, was here recently for training. He left with Paullinus’ army, but he has returned and will accompany us to Rome.” Diana’s lashes swept her cheeks. “He tried to rape me in the temple.”
Tor’s hand flew to the handle of the gladius sword Marcus had given him. “I will protect you from Roman slime, lady,” he swore intensely. “I am strong. I can lift a horse. My muscles are iron—feel them!” He flexed enormous biceps and Diana placed her hand upon one in amazement.
A sound made her look up at that moment, and there stood Petrius, watching her lay hands on the handsome, half-naked young man who was her personal body slave.
Chapter 24
The two young men glared daggers at each other. “You overstep yourself, slave.”
“No, he does not, Petrius,” Diana said firmly. “He was chosen by Marcus and acts on his orders. He is sworn to protect me from any and all danger.”
Petrius changed his tune immediately. He adjusted the sling about his neck, setting his right arm in a more comfortable position, and gave her a disarming smile. “Marcus has shared the knowledge of his good fortune with me. Let me be the first to welcome you to our family.” He took her hand to his lips so gallantly, she could not believe this was the same man who had behaved like a drunken lout or a bestial ravisher.
“Thank you, Petrius. I am sorry you have been injured.”
“These things happen. Marcus told me to ask for Kell. I haven’t a stitch to my back other than my armor.”
“Of course. I’ll show you where you may find him.” She refrained from pointing out that Marcus was taller and broader than he was. She believed Petrius was well aware of his shortcomings when compared with Marcus. She turned to Tor with a conspiratorial smile. “I’ll see you at dawn.”
“I will be ready, Lady Diana.”
* * *
The barge that left Aquae Sulis at dawn was overcrowded with people and baggage, but when they reached the Bristol Channel and boarded the Roman sailing ship, everything was stowed below and Marcus took Diana to the tiny cabin where they would sleep, which was sandwiched between a similar one for the procurator and a cubbyhole for Petrius. Marcus’ legionary guards and the two dozen who traveled with Julius slung hammocks belowdecks and Tor stationed himself outside Diana’s door, deciding instantly that was where he would sleep.
The wind was bitter cold and Diana was thankful for her fur-lined cloaks with their warm hoods. When the ship reached the Bay of Biscay, however, it was far too rough for her to be up on deck. Unfortunately, when she retreated below to the small cabin, she experienced seasickness.
Marcus tucked her into the bunk, cleansed her, and ministered to all her needs as tenderly as a mother would a babe. He held her and comforted her as well, and coaxed her gently to put something on her stomach each and every time she retched and emptied it.
She did not begin to feel better until they were well down the coast of Spain, but she managed to recover completely by the time they approached Gibraltar. She stood at the rail with Marcus’ arm about her as they sailed through the strait, basking beneath the warm Mediterranean sun. Though she had not thought it possible, she loved Marcus more every day.
