Destined for a Deity (Mark of Mars) Read online

  On seeing Marcus’ arm firmly around Jenna, Benedictus took the wise option of escorting Ariana through. The younger people were shown down to the far end of the hall. Jenna thought it amusing that people were hesitating, watching where Marcus was going to sit. He was a rare and very sought after dinner companion.

  “Are you joining us young ones?” Jenna teased.

  “No. I’m going to escort you to your seat then leave you to be romanced by Benedictus,” he responded sarcastically.

  Jenna chuckled. “I meant everyone is expecting you to sit close to Trajan.”

  “They would find it even stranger if my betrothed sat at the opposite end of the banquet hall to me.” He tightened his hold on her waist. “Besides, I’m not that old.”

  “If you remove those few grey hair, it would take years off,” Jenna giggled.

  “I’m not above slapping your butt in public,” he grunted.

  “Ooh,” Jenna murmured, “foreplay.”

  They all took their places on elongated couches as the slaves started to fill the wine goblets. Jenna used the interruption to look around the hall. The couches were draped in a deep purple colour, the low tables were made from marble, and the platters all of gold.

  “How did you meet Emperor Trajan?” Benedictus was sitting next to Jenna.

  “He knew my father many years ago,” Jenna responded half truthfully. It was what Trajan had told her to say should she be asked.

  “In Rome?”

  “No. My father was similar to an Envoi. It was during one of his trips that our paths crossed.”

  “Do you remember him?”

  “I was a baby at the time.”

  “And your parents, they are still in Arula?”

  “They passed away a few years ago.” Jenna sipped on her wine.

  “It must be very exciting running your own life,” Florentina sighed wistfully.

  “It is good to have the freedom, but I do miss the security sometimes of having someone to look out for me. I own a profitable estate and it is making sure I have the right people to manage it whilst I am away. Also I have rather greedy relatives I need to keep an eye on.”

  “You mean they would try to harm you?”

  “My cousin doesn’t have the guts. He was such a coward, even chickens would chase him. But my aunt wouldn’t miss the opportunity to leave a puddle of water at the top of the stairs.”

  “It is good then that you are in the safety of Rome.”

  “Yes, such a safe city,” she glanced sideways at Marcus.

  He ignored her, he was deep in conversation with some senior centurions. Jenna figured it must be such an honour for them to find themselves next to the Marshall of Peace. Under normal circumstances, Marcus would be very close to the Emperor.

  Jenna decided it was time to turn the conversation around, she wanted to find out more about Britannia in 100AD. “I am curious, what did you do for entertainment in Britannia?”

  “We would spend most mornings at the Baths, then at home for the afternoon,” Florentina sounded less than impressed.

  “Was your father away much?”

  “Yes. Pushing the legion north.”

  “How about you, Antonia?”

  “Oh, yes,” the young girl flustered. Jenna realised she had just interrupted a moment of intense flirting with Hector. “Pretty much the same. Although with father being Governor, we were regularly entertaining officials from Rome.”

  “I guess you had more freedom, Benedictus?”

  “Yes. Acquae Sulis had its diversions, but Rome is where we all longed to be. For one thing, it’s warm.”

  Jenna laughed. “If you thought the south of Britannia was cold, you really should have experienced the north.”

  “Could it get any colder?” he groaned.

  “Oh yes. In fact there are many counties far north of Germania that are covered in snow for at least half of the year. Now that’s cold.”

  The platters of food started to be filled. A slave appeared behind Jenna. “The Emperor asked that I give this one to you and the Marshall.” She passed the golden dish to Jenna.

  “Thank you,” she smiled. Their own uncontaminated food. “So what do you plan to do first, now you are back in Rome?” she asked the two girls.

  “The markets and the Trajan Baths,” Florentina announced.

  “I want to go to the Circus Maximus,” Antonia sighed.

  “Really? You will have to let me take you then,” Hector jumped in.

  “Is it as exciting as everyone says?” the young girl’s eyes shone.

  “Very much so,” Arianna piped up. “I saw one race where the top rider lost his chariot to a wild Arulian.”

  Jenna snorted in her wine.

  “Luke?” Florentina asked.

  “No, Jenna.”

  “You rode at the Circus?” Benedictus asked incredulously.

  “Trajan challenged me to close the race in style. The rider was too busy prancing around enjoying the adulation of the crowd, so I took his chariot for a ride.”

  “I’m surprised the Emperor hasn’t had you deported for bringing chaos to the streets of Rome,” Benedictus chuckled.

  “That is Marcus’ area, and he’s threatened me many a time.”

  Marcus dropped some fish into her mouth. “The only way to silence her, I’m afraid.”

  Jenna gave him a dark look before feeding him some type of fowl.

  “I notice you both eat from the same platter. Does the Marshall share your sickness to crustacean?” Florentina didn’t miss much.

  “No. But he can still pass on the toxins if he eats them.”

  It took a second for two for Florentina to understand. “Oh,” she giggled. “Yes, I hadn’t thought of that.”

  “Neither had I when I received my first kiss,” Jenna winced. “I wasn’t that impressed at spending my sixteenth birthday having a team of physicians trying to stop my throat from closing up.”

  “That must have terrible.”

  “Put it this way, it certainly wasn’t a kiss worth dying for,” Jenna pulled a face.

  As the platters were cleared away, the first part of the evening’s entertainment began. The master of ceremonies announced that the guests were going to be treated to a flavour of different cultures that made up the Roman Empire.

  They were treated to a good acrobatics display, followed by some eastern dancers. Jenna was wondering what, if anything, would represent Britannia. Luckily Morris dancing hadn’t yet been invented. And if she could change history, she’d make sure it never was!

  “What spectacle entertains you, Jenna?” Florentina asked.

  “I like most things, especially equestrian spectacles.”

  “Like what?”

  “Have you ever seen acrobatics on a horse?”

  Florentina shook her head. “No.”

  Jenna wracked her brains to remember the Roman territories for the time zone she was in. “The best equestrian acrobats from territories that lie to the east. They are truly amazing to watch and I still hold my breath every time I see them perform.”

  “What else?”

  “Dance too. We see a whole range from across the continents, all every different.”

  “Is there anything in Rome you haven’t done yet?”

  “I would dearly like to visit the library attached to the Trajan Baths.”

  Benedictus choked on his wine.

  “We really must get you something for that cough,” Jenna teased. “I hope it’s not contagious.”

  “Women are not allowed inside a library,” he spluttered.

  “I’m sure you wouldn’t let such a ridiculous rule keep you out,” Florentina joined in baiting Benedictus.

  “Yes. I guess I could always wear a male disguise.” Jenna eyed up Marcus’ tunic a few times then shook her head. “No, someone would think he was lost.”

  “You are quite wicked,” Florentina laughed.

  “You will pay for that slur later, my dearest,” Marcus murmured wi
thout even turning his head. Jenna had forgotten he had hearing like a bat.

  They had long lost Antonia and Hector, they were engrossed in conversation with each other. Arianna was happily chatting away to a minor official and everyone appeared to be very relaxed. The next course came and was even more sumptuous than the first. It would have been helpful if each foodstuff had been labelled; she did not want to appear ignorant by asking. At least she knew she could eat everything on her plate, whether or not it was to her liking.

  “What is it like working in a temple?” Benedictus continued his questioning.

  “Very strenuous. There are three of us who have to manage the monumental task of sweeping the floor every now and then, distributing some food to the poor and keeping Apollo sparkling.”

  “How do you manage it?”

  “We rise to the task admirably. It is the best place to be for travellers like myself. In temple dress, we can move around the city unobstructed.”

  “Who introduced you to the temple?”

  “A fellow countryman from Mars’ temple. He is like a tutor and guardian for us all whilst we are in Rome.”

  “Do you know many nobles here?” Florentina asked.

  “Just Senator Aurelius and Senator Laurentius, and their families.”

  Benedictus smiled. “Who needs anyone else when you have the favour of the four highest ranked people in Rome. You’d best watch yourself, my parents will be knocking down your door.”

  “Which is why I avoid engagements of any kind, unless the Emperor has requested my presence. Luckily Marcus does not favour them either.”

  “I imagine that makes you even more in demand,” Benedictus responded.

  The next few spectacles got under way and were reasonably interesting. With everyone watching the entertainment, Marcus used the opportunity to talk to Jenna.

  “You appear a little more relaxed than earlier,” he stroked the back of her hand.

  “I do believe I am enjoying myself,” she smiled.

  “So mixing with the nobility is not as bad as you thought?”

  “These are young nobles, they’ve not yet got drawn into the social climbing and backstabbing of their parents.”

  “Perhaps you can influence the next generation.”

  “You’re starting to talk about the future again.”

  “Because you will be sharing it with me,” Marcus dropped some meat into her mouth.

  “This is not a conversation we will have right now.”

  “No. But soon.”

  The evening was passing by far too quickly. Reclining on the couch, chattering merrily away to the young Romans, Jenna had virtually forgotten she was in Rome. She was as relaxed as she would have been back home in Bath.

  With the banquet dinner all but over, people were starting to get back up and mill about. Jenna used it as a good opportunity to step out onto the terrace and enjoy the cooler night air. The gardens of the Palace were beautifully lit up, making it look so romantic.

  “Take a stroll with me,” Marcus’ arm slipped around her waist as he propelled her down the pathway.

  “That sounded very much like an order, Marshall,” Jenna retorted.

  “It was merely a request.”

  Jenna let herself be led through the immaculate gardens, admiring the statues as she went. “Trajan does have a fabulous collection. Sadly not one of Mars though.”

  “He does, but it is on the other side of the garden. And no, I’m not going to show it to you. If you want to run your hands over something hard, you can use me.”

  He pulled her into an alcove and held her tight as he kissed her rather intensely. Jenna felt extremely hot and bothered. Marcus’ black armour and tunic usually shielded her from the heat from his own body, but wearing just his toga, she could feel exactly what lay underneath. It did her blood pressure no good at all.

  “I’m sorry,” he murmured in her ear. “You look far too beautiful in this dress, so much so that I’ve been wanting to rid you of it all night.”

  “I think the other guests might object,” she brushed her mouth down his neck.

  “Perhaps I should ask Trajan if we can borrow one of his many rooms.”

  “Certainly not. Do you think my father would let you have your evil way with his own daughter?”

  “He is keen for us to marry.”

  “There is a great difference between marriage and sex.”

  “It is the latter that is the forefront of my mind.”

  “And another part of your body,” Jenna giggled, pulling away. “I’m not sure you can re-enter the banquet hall in such a state.”

  “What are you going to do about it?” he pulled her back to him.

  “I am just a virginal temple handmaiden. You will need to sort out your own affliction.”

  Marcus’ kiss almost changed her mind about asking for that room. He really could ooze the sex appeal when he wanted to.

  “Are you still turning me down?” he breathed in her ear.

  “Yes,” she squeaked. “And we should get back inside before people really do think the worst.”

  “I will follow you in,” he groaned. “As you rightly said, I need to get a certain part of my anatomy under control first.”

  Trajan called her over as soon as she appeared back in the banquet hall. “There you are, my dear. I thought you’d been spirited away.”

  “I was just admiring your garden with Marcus,” she smiled guiltily.

  “Is that what they call it now,” he chuckled, making Jenna blush. “Am I to make another announcement tonight?”

  “About?” she queried.

  “A wedding ceremony.”

  “No. That will not be happening for many years yet.”

  “You can’t turn down an Imperial decree if I wish it to be so.”

  “They only apply to Romans or citizens of the territories.”

  “You are Roman,” he reminded her.

  “Says who?” she grinned.

  “I can‘t think where you get your stubbornness from,” he sighed. “Now humour me for a moment. We’ll head back over to Florentina and Benedictus. I want to see how long it will take either General Tiberius or Governor Marcellus to join us.”

  “I can understand the Governor’s desire to get close to you, but I am surprised by the General. I would have thought social climbing would not bother him.”

  “I think he has been out of Rome too long and is eager not to get overlooked. I also imagine his wife will chew his ear off if he does not.”

  Jenna noticed all eyes on them as they headed over to the far end of the hall. It must be so irritating to have your every move scrutinised.

  Benedictus nearly jumped out his skin when Trajan flopped down beside him. “How did you find your first Imperial banquet?”

  “It was spectacular, Emperor Trajan,” Florentina spoke first. “Although I do not have anything to compare it to, I know nothing else will come close.”

  “I imagine you are keen to see a race at the Circus Maximus.”

  “Rather,” Benedictus found his voice. “There is no other arena like it.”

  Trajan turned to Jenna. “Remind me to issue an invitation to you all for the next race.”

  “As long as you don’t expect me to be on the starting line up,” Jenna’s eyes twinkled as she looked at Trajan.

  “What are your plans now you re back in Rome, Benedictus. Is it to be the Senate or another line?”

  “I imagine I will follow my father into the Senate.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Twenty one, Sir.”

  Trajan paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. “You might have heard that I am clearing the Curia Julia of a lot of dead wood at the moment. That will leave space for a new, fresh breed of Senators to come through. Ones that have the interest of Rome at their hearts and not their own pockets. Perhaps we might discuss this further when my plans are nearer fruition.”

  “I would be honoured,” Benedictus was stunned.
No-one had ever been appointed a senator at such an age.

  Trajan glanced over at Florentina. “And you, my dear. Any designs on a Senate career?”