"He seems a good fellow to me," Titus agreed with his twin. "His manners are flawless, and he rides well. I think Father was correct when he told Quintus that you were too young for marriage."
"I am not too young for marriage should the right man come along," Cailin responded. "As for Quintus Drusus, there is something about him that my voice within warns me of, but I know not what it is. I simply think he is a danger to us all. The sooner he is gone to the river villa and settled with a wife, the happier I will be! Now, what girls do you feel would suit him? Think! You two know every eligible, respectable, and not so respectable maiden for miles around."
They laughed in unison, rolling their eyes at one another, for if there was one thing Cailin's brothers liked, it was the ladies-so much so that Gaius Drusus was declaring his sons men in order to find them wives and marry them off before they caused a scandal by impregnating some man's daughter or, worse, being caught debauching some man's wife.
"There is Barbara Julius," Flavius said thoughtfully. "She is a handsome girl with nice big breasts. Good for babies."
"And Elysia Octavius, or Nona Claudius," Titus volunteered.
Cailin nodded. "Yes, they would all be suitable. I like none of them so well that I would warn them off our cousin, Quintus."
The families from the surrounding estates were arriving. The twins made their suggestions to their mother, and Kyna dutifully made the proper introductions. Quintus Drusus's handsome face, coupled with his lands, made him more than eligible.
"He needs three arms," Cailin said dryly to her grandmother, "for Barbara, Nona, and Elysia will certainly end up in a cat fight trying to hold on to him. Will I have to simper like that to gain a man's attention and devotion? It's disgusting!"
Brenna chuckled. "They are simply flirting with Quintus," she said. "One of them must gain ascendancy over the others if they are to capture your cousin's heart. Men and women have flirted for centuries. Someday a man will come along who appeals to you so strongly that you will flirt with him, my Cailin. Trust me in that."
Perhaps, Cailin thought, but she still felt that the three girls being dangled before Quintus were silly creatures. She wandered through the crowd of her neighbors filling the gardens of the villa. No one was paying a great deal of attention to her, for this was not her day, but rather her brothers'. Cailin could smell spring in the air at long last. The ground was warm again, and the breeze mild, even if the day was not as bright as they might have wished. Then she saw Antonia Porcius, but before she might turn in another direction, Antonia was hailing her noisily, and there was no avoiding her.
"How are you, 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 Cai-lin'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 made no secret of her dislike of him since they had first laid eyes upon one another. Her candidate for his hand must have a flaw of some sorts. Then he gazed into Antonia's limpid blue eyes, and decided whatever that flaw was, he would certainly enjoy ferreting it out.
His hand went to his heart, and he said, "The sight of you, my lady Antonia, gives me comprehension at long last of why Britain's women are so famed for their beauty. I prostrate myself at your feet."
Antonia's mouth made a small round O of delight, while the other girls pressing in on Quintus Drusus gaped with surprise. Then the handsome young Roman took Antonia Porcius by the arm and requested that she show him the gardens. The couple walked slowly from the group, seemingly enraptured by each other's company, while those left behind stared in amazement.