Rosemary Rowe - The Legatus Mystery

But I missed the public spectacles that were held, at great expense, to celebrate the ambassador’s presence in the town. I had a celebration of my own that day. Scribonius — who had risen to be sevir overnight — and Marcus acted as witnesses in a quiet ceremony where I freed my slave and legally took her for my wife. We did it properly, with vows and sacrifice.

‘Ubi tu Gaius, ego Gaia.’ Where you are Gaius, I am Gaia.

She even wore the orange-coloured veil, and after exchanging rings before the altar I took her in a borrowed waggon, and carried her — for the first time — over the threshold of our little new-built home. It was no more than a single room by then, but Junio and Kurso had the central fire lit and rugs and clean straw bedding waiting on the floor. And we already had our plans.

So I was spared the spectacle of Meritus being thrown to the beasts, although I have heard it said that — being such a big man — he took a long time to die. Fabius Marcellus was impressed. He said afterwards that Glevum had turned on the best welcoming entertainments he had ever seen.