The Eagles Conquest

'I had work to do.'

Flavia propped her head up on her hand. 'So important you couldn't see me first'

Vespasian nodded. 'Yes, that important, I'm afraid.' she stared at him a moment and then suddenly wrapped her arm round his neck and drew his head down towards her. Their lips met. Soft and tentative at first, and then with the comforting firmness of a long and loving relationship. Vespasian drew back and looked down at her closed eyes

'I needed that,' she whispered. 'Any more where that came from?'

'Later.'

'Later?'

'We must talk. It can't wait.'

'Talk?' Flavia smiled. 'Surely not.'

Sliding her hand to the hem of the silk sheet, she drew it down her naked body – like a sinuous serpent sloughing off its skin, thought Vespasian. The disturbing simile drew his mind back to what he must do. Now. Without further delay. He gently grasped her hand and drew the sheet back up over her breasts. His deliberate movements astonished Flavia. She was offended and her brows drew together in a frown.

'What's the matter? Darling, tell me.'

Vespasian stared down at her with cold eyes, not trusting himself to speak before he was in control of his emotions.

Flavia was alarmed now and quickly eased herself back and up so that she was sitting facing her husband. 'You don't love me. That's it. Isn't it?' Her almond-shaped eyes widened in panic and her lips trembled. She clenched her jaw to still them.

This was not what Vespasian had anticipated; that he would have to convince her of his love first before accusing her of treason. He shook his head.

'Then what? Why are you so cold to me, husband?'

There was fear in her face now, and a look that he was reluctant to interpret as dawning suspicion that her intrigues had been discovered. Fortunately, it wasn't.

'You bastard!' She slapped him hard. 'Who is she? What's the name of the little tart?'

'What are you talking about?' Vespasian grabbed her wrist as her hand came sweeping in to deliver another blow. 'There is no other woman! This is about you!'

'Me?' Flavia froze. 'What about me?'

'I have to know about you… and your relationship to the Liberators.'

'I don't know what you're talking about.' She dropped her hands to her chest and stared at him, returning his searching gaze with what seemed to be frankness.

'You've heard of the Liberators, Flavia?'

'Of course. There've been wild rumours circulating about them for months. But what has it got to do with me?'

Vespasian looked down into his lap and his voice had a hard quality to it when he continued. 'Flavia, I know about your involvement in the plot against the Emperor. I know that you were working with those who were trying to get the army to mutiny before the invasion began. You tried to keep it all from me, but I know everything now. To conspire with these so-called Liberators was bad enough, but how could you have involved Titus in your treachery? How could you? Your own son? I also know you tried to have Narcissus killed. And now what are you and your Liberator friends up to? Supplying our enemies with weapons! Conspiring to kill the Em-'

'This is preposterous!' Flavia spat at him. 'From what madness does all this poison come?'

'From you, my wife.'

'You're mad.'

'No, only blind,' Vespasian said softly. 'Until recently.'

Flavia sat bolt upright ready to renew her protests, but Vespasian stabbed a finger at her.

'No! Let me finish. I would never have suspected you, never. I'd thought we were as one mind, one purpose in life. I trusted you in every detail. Then, when your schemes were unveiled to me, I thought the accusations were laughable. But the moment I forced myself to piece the details together, your guilt was inescapable. Oh Flavia! If only you could know how hurt I feel.'

'Who told you this? Who accuses me?'

'It doesn't matter.'

'Of course it does. And are you so naive as to take one person's word for it? And would you believe another before your own wife?'

'I believe my own mind. I've had to think most of it through for myself.'

'Husband, did it not occur to you to question the motives of the person who caused you to question mine? Why would they want to plant such seeds of doubt in your mind? If you tell me the source of these false accusations, I might be able to explain their true purpose.'

The sincerity in her expression and voice caused Vespasian to pause.

Was this the sign of guiltlessness he sought? Could she truly be i

Might his deliberations on her treachery be so very misdirected after all

'the name?' she insisted.

Why was she so determined to have the name? Vespasian wondered.

Surely if she was i

'There's no need for you to know the name.'

'There is, husband. I told you why.'

'I' d have thought you'd be more concerned to convince me of your i

'I see.' Flavia leaned back, away from him, regarding her husband coldly as she considered her next move. 'You think I'm u

'That's enough, Flavia!' Vespasian was too weary to pursue such an argument. It was getting too far outside the range of the discussion he had intended. He had hoped that he knew his wife well enough to detect any falsehood. He had made his accusations and she had refuted them and still he was no clearer about whether or not she was involved with the Liberators.

'Look, I have to ask. I have to know what you are up to. If you are working with the enemies of the Emperor, however distantly, you must tell me. I will do my best to protect you from the consequences. I'm no fool, Flavia. If there's any way that we can keep this matter from Narcissus' agents then I'll do it. Better a guilty secret than a dangerous exposure. But you must swear to me to cut all co

Flavia reached for his hand and pulled it to her breast. 'Husband, I swear on my life that I am not involved with the Liberators. I swear it.' Vespasian wanted to believe her. Wanted it so desperately, and yet despite her promise some small reserve of doubt brooded darkly at the back of his mind and would not be satisfied.

'Very well. I will accept your word. And I'll do it gladly. But Flavia, if you are playing me for a fool and I ever discover it… '

No threats were necessary. He could see that she knew what the consequences of such a discovery would be. Flavia returned his probing stare for a moment before she nodded solemnly.

'We understand one another then.' Vespasian squeezed her hand in order to reassure her of his feelings, whatever else passed between them. 'Now, I'm tired, very tired. Is there room for two on that bed?'

'Of course, husband.'

'Good. I can't tell you how much I have missed sleeping in your arms.'

'I know,' Flavia whispered.

Vespasian slipped the tunic over his head and leaned down to undo the laces of his boots. While he undressed, Flavia tentatively placed her fingers on his back and traced them lightly across his skin in the way that she knew he liked. But there would be no passion tonight. Too much uncertainty and hurt had passed between them for that. Vespasian climbed under the sheet and kissed his wife gently on the forehead. She waited in case there was more but his eyes closed and very quickly his breathing fell into a deep, even rhythm.