Colleen McCullough - 4. Caesar's Women

* * *

On the Ides of March the ladies of the Domus Publica held an afternoon dinner party. The six Vestal Virgins, Aurelia, Servilia, Calpurnia and Julia gathered in the dining room prepared to have a very pleasant time. Acting as the hostess (Calpurnia would never have dreamed of usurping that role), Aurelia served every kind of delicacy she thought might appeal, including treats sticky with honey and laden with nuts for the children. After the meal was over Quinctilia, Junia and Cornelia Merula were sent outside to play in the peristyle, while the ladies drew their chairs together cozily and relaxed now that there were no avid little ears listening. "Caesar has been on the Campus Martius now for over two months," said Fabia, who looked tired and careworn. "More importantly, Fabia, how is Terentia bearing up?" asked Servilia. "It's been several days since Cicero fled." "Oh well, she's sensible as always, though I do think she suffers more than she lets on." "Cicero was wrong to go," said Julia. "I know Clodius passed the nonspecific law prohibiting the execution of Roman citizens without a trial, but my li Magnus says it was a mistake for Cicero to go into exile voluntarily. He thinks that if Cicero had only stayed, Clodius wouldn't have drummed up the courage to pass a specific law naming Cicero. But with Cicero not there, it was easy. Magnus couldn't manage to talk Clodius out of it." Aurelia looked skeptical, but said nothing; Julia's opinion of Pompey and her own were rather too different to bear inspection by a besotted young woman. "Fancy looting and burning his beautiful house!" said Arruntia. "That's Clodius, especially with all those peculiar people he seems to have running after him these days," said Popillia. "He's so so crazy!" Servilia spoke. "I hear Clodius is going to erect a temple in the spot where Cicero's house used to be." "With Clodius as High Priest, no doubt! Pah!" spat Fabia. "Cicero's exile can't last," said Julia positively. "Magnus is working for his pardon already." Stifling a sigh, Servilia let her gaze meet Aurelia's. They looked at each other in complete understanding, though neither of them was imprudent enough to smile the smile she wore inside. Why is Caesar still on the Campus Martius?'' asked Popillia, easing the great tiara of wool off her brow and revealing that its pressure left a red mark on fragile skin. "He'll be there for quite some time yet," Aurelia answered. "He has to make sure his laws stay on the tablets." "Tata says Ahenobarbus and Memmius are flattened," Calpurnia contributed, smoothing Felix's orange fur as he lay snoozing in her lap. She was remembering how kind Caesar had been, asking her to stay with him on the Campus Martius regularly. Though she was too well brought up and too aware what sort of man her husband was to be jealous, it still pleased her enormously that he had not invited Servilia to the Campus Martius once. All he had given Servilia was a silly pearl. Whereas Felix was alive; Felix could love back. Perfectly aware what Calpurnia was thinking, Servilia made sure her own face remained enigmatic. I am far older and far wiser, I know the pain in parting. My farewells are said. I won't see him for years. But that poor little sow will never matter to him the way I do. Oh, Caesar, why? Does dignitas mean so much? Cardixa marched in unceremoniously. "He's gone," she said baldly, huge fists on huge hips. The room stilled. "Why?" asked Calpurnia, paling. "Word from Further Gaul. The Helvetii are emigrating. He's off to Genava with Burgundus, and traveling like the wind." "I didn't say goodbye!" cried Julia, tears spilling over. "He will be away so long! What if I never see him again? The danger!" "Caesar," said Aurelia, poking one misshapen finger into fat Felix's side, "is like him. A hundred lives." Fabia turned her head to where the three little white clad girls giggled and chased each other outside. "He promised to let them come and say farewell. Oh, they'll cry so!" "Why shouldn't they cry?" asked Servilia. "Like us, they're Caesar's women. Doomed to stay behind and wait for our lord and master to come home." "Yes, that is the way of things," said Aurelia steadily, and rose to lift the flagon of sweet wine. "As the senior among Caesar's women, I propose that tomorrow we all go to dig in Bona Dea's garden."

FINIS