Marilyn Todd - Sour Grapes

'Kick and squirm away, my pretty one,' he crooned. 'But Uncle Terrence is a big man; he's strong and he's no novice at overpowering his struggling victims. In fact, he likes it.'

Dammit, the more she clawed and the harder she scratched, the more aroused he became until suddenly his mood changed. And dim as the light was in that corridor, it was more than adequate to see the knife point glinting an inch from her eye.

'Not so brave now, are we?' he whispered. As she froze, mesmerized by the tip, he pushed his thigh between her legs. 'Do you like that, my pretty one? Doesn't it make you feel good?'

First make them fight, so they can see how much more powerful you are than them. Then make them frightened, so they're ashamed of their cowardice.

'You call that little apology a penis?'

The grip on her throat tightened.

'Let me ask you again.' He thrust himself hard against her. 'Does it feel good?'

'Fuck you.'

Unhurriedly, the pressure on her windpipe increased until, gasping, gulping and choking, Claudia had no choice. 'Yes,' she gargled, and miracle of miracles, the grip lessened. 'Yes, it feels good.'

'How good?' Force was gently exerted on her throat again.

'Very good.'

'Then beg for it, you bitch.' The point of the knife moved half an inch closer. 'Pull down your tunic, tell me how much you want me, then take me inside you, like a good little bitch and maybe, just maybe, if you work really hard to pleasure me, maybe I won't have to blind you.'

He'd do it anyway. Terrence was a sadist through to his marrow. Claudia imagined the gratification he sustained from driving that blade into Lichas's stomach. Not his ribs. Not straight up and under into the heart, which, as a patrician who'd been taught military skills, he'd know would despatch a man swiftly. Terrence deliberately opted for slow. The most protracted and painful death he could inflict. Knowing the last thing Lichas would see was his pleasure.

'All right, all right,' Claudia whimpered. 'Please, Terrence. Not my sight. I'll do anything, anything you ask, I promise. Whatever you want.'

'Anything? Even…' He whispered things that made her gorge rise.

'Even that,' she whispered. Sick bastard.

'Then you'd better start begging, hadn't you, bitch? Take off your tunic and tell me how much you want all those things I've just said.'

Her trembling hands were not acting. As she fumbled to unfasten the brooch on her right shoulder, his gaze dropped to her exposed breast. Bunching her left hand into a fist, she jabbed her betrothal ring straight in his eye.

'Aaaargh!'

He reeled backwards, clutching his eye, but had enough composure to hang on to the knife.

'Bitch!' he roared. 'You're all bitches; I'll kill you for this!'

Claudia spun round and raced back up the corridor. Maddened by anger as much as the pain, Terrence was right behind, and as she swung into the chamber and grabbed for the torch, he punched out with his knife. But she was ready for this. She was diving downwards even as he lunged out, using the flaming brand as a weapon.

And there was only one part of his anatomy to aim for.

As he howled, writhed and roared, Claudia had the satisfaction of knowing Terrence would never rape another woman again.

This time she wasn't waiting for anyone's sodding approval. This time, as she marched towards the infirmary, Claudia Seferius would not take no for an answer. Too much time had slipped past already.

Having left Terrence thrashing in agony (and pray Jupiter the pain never lessened), she'd raced back to the chamber as fast as she could, swivelled the plinth and jammed the lever with one of the bronze chafing pans. Not that he'd follow. He'd crawl back to his room, tend to his wounds, then try to find a way to talk himself out of it. Save it for the lions, she thought. The first thing she did was rush straight to Tarchis, who'd mustered the temple guard almost before she'd finishing spilling her story, and there was no question of not taking the bastard alive. Terrence was too arrogant to take his own life. In fact, he'd still be trying to worm his way out of it as they lugged him off in chains, and though it was too late for Lichas, Tages and especially Vorda, there was satisfaction in knowing he faced the grimmest of executions. For a patrician, the public humiliation would be as bad as the agony and she smiled. When it came to rapists, Rome did have a penchant for sending out a clear message!

The worst part was the impact this scandal would have on Mercurium. Terrence had supported the cult of Fufluns for his own vile ends, and discord was growing among the conquering Romans. They'd already vandalized the temple of Juno, trying to blame it on locals. Now they could argue there was no justification for maintaining these pagan practices. The high priest was a zealot, the chief sponsor a predator, and since they couldn't shape up, then ship out. Let's put paid to it once and for all. Claudia glanced at the vibrant scenes on the walls, listened to the music that offered calm in a world of worry — strings, flute and tambour. Lars was probably the only person involved enough and passionate enough to fight his god's cause, but would he want to?

There were times, she thought, when she couldn't see wood for trees. Jumped at every daft shadow. Lars wasn't after Eunice's money! The light in Eunice's eyes stood proof to that. The man idolized her! No conman would be so attentive, so loving, so passionate, so compassionate without letting his guard slip at least once. Claudia thought about the insight into Roman life that Eunice had offered him, how he'd reciprocated by inviting her into his world, then been overwhelmed that she'd embraced it. No doubt both believed that what they enjoyed was ephemeral — and when one doesn't expect something to last, that's the time it usually does. With Lars fighting his corner, Fufluns was looking at a good few Bridal Dances yet.

'Ah, there you are,' a velvet voice drawled, and it seemed right at home in this subterranean cavern. 'Amanda said she saw you riding off in this direction.'

'Does anything escape that little monster's notice?'

'With time on her hands and no one to play with, she's had nothing else to do, but that situation is set to change.' Candace smiled, and this time it lit up her eyes. 'I want to thank you. I want to thank you for giving me my daughter back, or perhaps more accurately not taking her away from me.' She paused. 'You could have denounced me as a conspirator in Felix's sabotage, but instead you showed me what I'd lost sight of, and for this I thank you. We are moving on. Naturally. But next time we will put down roots and Indigo will fade like frost in the sun.'

'I'm glad,' Claudia said. The child deserved it.

'Before we go.' Candace bit down on her plum-painted lip. 'You accused me of giving Larentia happy pills, but don't you see? Did you really not see why, no matter how much I forced her hand through those walks on the wind, your mother-in-law wouldn't set a date for the wedding?'

Well, I'll be damned. It had been staring Claudia in the face all along! The old boot had nothing in common with Darius. He was too young for her for one thing, she'd never leave Tuscany for another, and it was far too hot in the south.

Don't you think old people get consumed by the same urges as you youngsters? Course we do, and when you see my Darius, you'll understand why. Quite the stud, if you pardon the pun.'

The wicked old trout had been leading everyone on — including the man she believed was a wealthy horse-breeder. It was exhilaration that took ten years off her. To be courted and pampered by a much younger man turned other elderly widows green with envy, and she loved rubbing their noses in it.

'Did you see the way people looked at her?' Candace said. 'That was the drug, and that's why she kept stringing him along.'