Maria placed her basket of tools on a bench near the fountain and began to pace slowly as she considered her husband's question.

"I believe the Egyptian whore will quit the City as soon as may be." Maria turned to Arminius. "The New Isis most assuredly has not endeared herself to the people who matter in Rome. The Head Count adored Caesar, but they love Calpurnia too. She is a gracious lady who donates money to provide dowries for girls who otherwise could not marry. This is well known in the City, although the transactions are handled through the Shrine of Bona Dea. Cleopatra could not be bothered even to sponsor refreshments for her neighbors as is customary at Saturnalia and other festive times. So, the wealthy queen is viewed as both a harlot and a miser, while the virtuous but relatively poor wife is demonstrably a faithful daughter of Rome."

Arminius smiled. "All that may be true, but it will hardly push Cleopatra to return to Egypt."

"Oh, I think it will. The mob will blame her for Caesar's death as much as it blames the assassins. After all, there was none of this golden throne nonsense from him before he met the New Isis!" Maria sniffed derisively. "Who would ever have imagined that a Roman would claim to be a god on earth?" She clicked her tongue. "The man ought to have kept his toga more tightly wrapped!"

Maria absently-mindedly hummed a few bars of "Home we bring the bald whoremonger…" as she set out the tools and prepared to mess about in the meticulously trimmed garden. "Besides, now that Caesar isn't here to sponsor her, what will dear Cleo do with her days? Nobody will invite her to parties and nobody of importance will go out to her villa to pay their respects. And her position in Egypt will no longer be protected by Caesar's legions." Maria shook her head. "If the queen wants to retain her throne, avoid humiliating snubs and preserve her skin from the mob, she'll get out of Italia with all due speed."

"Your reasoning seems sound. Especially if, as I suspect, Caesar cut the Egyptian and her son out of his will." Arminius watched in mild amusement as his wife accidentally decapitated a netantha that was just coming into bloom. He decided that the better part of valor was to ignore the mishap. "Any news from Susannah as of yet?"

"Yes. She's laid in a huge stock of food, including a turbot! Apparently she's decided Marcus is to have his party after all." Maria pointed at Arminius with the silver trowel. "What do you think of that?"

"Who am I to dispute with Susannah? If she thinks a party is safe, then undoubtedly that's the right way to go." He smiled crookedly. "Besides, it occurs to me that we can use this family occasion to invite a few people I'd like to talk to without making it seem--"

"Like political scheming?" Maria finished his sentence on an intake of breath. "What a good idea. We can invite all the most disreputable members of the Senate over for wine and crackers. An excellent strategy!" She waved the trowel dramatically. "The women can gossip while the children play pin the tail on the barbarian and musical couches!"

"Now, mel, that's not what I said--or intended." He extracted the dangerous gardening tool from her hand and placed it in the basket. "I would very much like to speak privately with Justinus and a few others. Justina Justa is a friend of Luscinea is she not? I've seen them playing with their dolls here by the fountain at any rate. What would be more natural than that he and his wife and daughter come to our little party along with a very few other friends?"

Maria cocked her head and regarded Arminius. "The girls gave up dolls awhile back. And Marcus and Justina loathe one another." She raised an eyebrow. "The two squabble incessantly, which is odd since he totally ignores Luscinea's other guests. I've wondered if we might not make a match between the two one of these days." She flushed suddenly. "Oh. And that reminds me. You--you need to have a… um… talk with Marcus."

"A talk? About what?"

"Well--I found Marcus and Yorick… well… they were… that is Marcus was…" Maria fell silent under Arminius's understanding smile.

"Are you saying that I need to speak to our son about the responsibilities of an owner with regard to his slaves?" he queried blandly.

Maria nodded. "And perhaps you could add some comments on the necessity of discretion? A man's reputation can be diminished if--well… if--oh, look at Caesar and what his enemies said about him all these years! 'Every man's woman and each woman's man…'!" She shook her head emphatically. "I'd not like to hear any such talk about Marcus. So… perhaps we need to provide a… um.…" She searched for the right word as Arminius suppressed a smile. "A companion! One Marcus and Yorick can share? Not a virgin, of course, she needs to be able to show the boys how to go on. But not too old either. I was thinking of a nice little Syrian. Or perhaps an Egyptian? Something exotic and--"

"Mel!" Arminius clasped her hands in his own to still her restlessness. "I don't know whether I should be shocked at you or fall down laughing at this!"

"What?" Maria looked confused. "I don't want Marcus to be deprived of educational opportunities!"

"Is that what you call it?" Arminius grinned. "Educational opportunities?"

"Well, it's what mama called it when she got a girl for Gaius. Uncle Tiberias went to the slave market with her, because tata was away in Gallia. But then mama didn't want the girl in the house when tata was due home… so Tiberias kept her and Gaius spent a lot of time over there and then -- oh dear." She fell silent, consternation writ large on her face as she considered the possible impact of a nubile slave girl on her husband. "A-arminius, I'm not so sure this is a good idea after all. Perhaps we ought not to get a--"

Arminius collapsed in helpless and unholy laughter.

When he had recovered slightly, he took her hands and pressed them to his lips. "I'd not have missed this conversation for all the fabled gold of Tolosa, mel." Still laughing, he pulled her into his arms. "I'll have that talk with Marcus. And then I think that perhaps he and I will go to the forum tomorrow--quite on our own--and pick out a girl to his taste."

She tilted her head to look up at her husband. "And what of your taste?"

"Maria--" He shook his head slightly at her. "My dear, it would go against the mos maiorum and constitute a serious lapse of good manners to affront you so in your own home." He regarded her gravely. "Moreover, such behavior would insult Marcus and would stir resentment in the household." His eyes lit suddenly in amusement. "Besides, Susannah probably would kill one of us, and I doubt it would be Marcus or the new slave girl."

Maria sighed and rested her head against his shoulder. It was such a comfort to be married to a man who understood sound ethics and proper behavior.