Antonia?” Cailin inquired politely, bracing for the flood of words to come, for Antonia Porcius could not answer the simplest query without going into great detail.
“I have divorced Sextus,” Antonia announced dramatically.
“What?” Cailin was astounded. This was the first she had heard of it.
Antonia put her arm through Cailin’s and said in confidential tones, “Well, actually, he ran away with that little Egyptian slave girl of mine. Father was furious. He said I must not remain married to Sextus Scipio under those circumstances. Then he granted me a divorce!” She giggled. “Sometimes having the chief magistrate of Corinium for a father isn’t such a bad thing. I got everything, of course, because Sextus wronged me publicly. Father says no honest magistrate would allow a good wife and her children to suffer under those circumstances. If Sextus ever comes back, he will find he has come back to nothing, but I hear they took flight for Gaul. Imagine! He said he was in love with her! How silly of him.”
Her blue eyes narrowed a moment. “I hear your cousin has come from Rome, and that your father has given him the old Agricola estate. I hear that he is divinely handsome. My estates match those lands, you know. My father wanted to buy them for me, but your father got to the heirs in Glevum first. What is his name? Your cousin’s, I mean. Will you introduce me, Cailin? The gossip is that he is looking for a wife. A rich woman such as myself would not be a bad match now, would it?” She giggled again. “Wouldn’t it be nice if we were cousins, Cailin? I’ve always liked you, you know. You don’t say cruel things about me to the other girls behind my back. I think you must be the only friend I have, Cailin Drusus!”
Cailin was astounded. They were hardly friends; at seventeen, Antonia was her senior, and had rarely given her the time of day. Until today.
Why, the silly cow, Cailin thought. She really wants to meet Quintus! I suppose snatching him from beneath the noses of the others would give her a double victory of sorts. She would best those who spoke unkindly of her, and she would prove to the world that she was still a very desirable woman; that Sextus Scipio was a cad, and a fool.
“How kind you are, dear Antonia,” Cailin heard herself saying as her mind raced with delicious possibilities. Antonia might be plump, but she was more than just pretty. By marrying her, Quintus would gain a wife rich in both lands and money. She was her father’s only child, and she would inherit everything he owned one day.
She was also foolish, and selfish. Sextus Scipio must have been absolutely miserable with her to have left everything his family had built up over the last few hundred years. Antonia Porcius certainly deserved her cousin, and most assuredly Quintus Drusus deserved the daughter of the chief magistrate of Corinium.
“Of course I will introduce you to my cousin Quintus, Antonia. You must promise me, however, that you will not swoon,” Cailin teased her companion. “He is as handsome as a god, I vow! I only wish he found me attractive, but alas, he does not. It would be exciting indeed if you and I became cousins.” She pulled Antonia about and said, “Come along now! My mother has already begun introducing him to every eligible girl in the province. You do not want them to steal a march on you. But I think, mayhap, when Quintus sees you, dear Antonia, both your lives will change. Ohh, wouldn’t it be wonderful!”
Quintus Drusus was very much in his element, surrounded by attractive, nubile girls who were all fawning over him. He saw Cailin’s approach with a plump little blond, but he waited until she spoke to him before acknowledging her.
“Cousin Quintus, this is my good friend, Antonia Porcius.” Cailin pulled the simpering woman forward. “Antonia, this is my big cousin from Rome. I’m certain that you two have much in common. Antonia is the only child of the chief magistrate in Corinium, Quintus.”
Well, well, well, he thought. Little cousin Cailin is being most helpful indeed. I wonder what mischief she is up to now? Yet, he was curious. She had quite clearly signaled him that the blond girl was the daughter of a powerful man, and an heiress to boot. He couldn’t understand why Cailin would want to do him a favor. She had