Page 93 of Of Love and Treason
Iris found a bench in the women’s room and settled herself onto it, thoughts and fears whirling. Would she get to see her pater? Or would he be shipped off to a marble quarry without a goodbye? She fought back the tears that threatened to spill. If she let them go, she’d be completely undone and draw attention. The women around her chattered, voices echoing on the frescoed walls in a cacophony that rang in her ears. Wooden-soled bath shoes clacked across the floor. Bath soaps and scented oils of every variety stung her nose. Several women asked if she was all right and Iris mumbled an excuse of waiting for someone and feeling unwell.
It seemed ages before a pair of bare feet paused in front of her. “You are Iris?” A timid slave girl looked at her in question.
A sliver of fear prickled in her chest. “Who wants to know?”
The girl’s ears went red. “There is a very handsome soldier outside looking for you. He said his name was Titus.”
Iris lurched to her feet and bolted for the door, ignoring the questioning looks that followed her. Titus stood outside, arms crossed, eyes trained on the door of the women’s room, and looking as if he’d burst inside if she didn’t come out. His face collapsed in relief when he saw her.
She launched herself at him. “Why did they take Pater? Where is he? Can I see him? Will they let him go?”
He gripped her shoulders, hesitating. “Your father’s been arrested for treason. I’m sure it’s just a—”
“Treason?”
“Shhhh!”Titus took her hand and pulled her away from the crush of bathers toward the manicured gardens surrounding the bathcomplex. He stopped under an empty marble pergola at the collision of four paths.
“Iris, listen to me. Look at me.Look at me.” He waited for her to comply, his tone steely. “You cannot go home. Do you understand?” He gave her a little shake until her eyes connected with his. “The tribune has his hands in this and he’s looking for you too.”
Titus said words but they failed to make any sense. Treason? “Is this about the children?”
Confusion lined his forehead. “What children?”
Iris bit her lip and looked away. Her mind raced. Treason. Was this about Valentine’s arrest? The bribe? Their new faith? Or something else? But the reason wasn’t so important as the outcome. Her father had been accused of treason. What now? She shut her eyes, trying to block out the answer written on Titus’s face.
“Iris, look at me. Shhh, hey.” His tone went soft, and he pulled her against him as she began to sob. “Do you have friends you can go to? Friends the tribune will not know about?”
She had friends the tribune shouldn’t know about.
“Nowhere near the market or Cedar Street. The tribune has men looking for you.” Titus peeled her away from him and drilled her with his eyes. “Do you understand? Hecannotfind you.”
Iris nodded and shuddered, memories rising like bile. She understood very well.
“I have a little money.” His hand went to the pouch at his belt. “I can hide you at an inn for a few days. Come.”
“No, I—I have friends.”
“Will you be safe with them?”
She nodded, then hesitated, wondering if her friends would be safe with her.
“Go to them.” He glanced at the darkening sky. “Are they close? Can we get there before dark?”
She nodded.
“I’ll walk with you.”
Numb and reeling, Iris allowed Titus to lead her out of the gardens.
“Which way?”
She pointed. They started walking.
“I’ll bring you word as soon as I can.”
Iris stopped in the road. What was she doing? She couldn’t bring Titus to Marius and Martha’s. Not with Valentine there. “I don’t think you should know where I am.” She gripped her elbows and prepared to argue.
To her surprise, he agreed. “They’ll most likely question me anyway.” He paused. “Do you know the sculpture garden of Sallust? Between Pincian and Quirinal Hills? I took you there once.”
