and she will understand by this token that I have pledged you my protection.”
Gigi gazed at the ring and worried at his words, suddenly fearful of being left alone.
He enclosed her palm around it, his hand lingering on hers. “I shall carry the sound of your music with me,” he released her, placing his hand over his heart, “here, but will you remember what I have told you? Will you promise to do it?”
Gigi swallowed hard, not wanting to entrust her safety to a ring and a sister, hoping she would never have to take that step. “But I don’t trust … can’t trust anyone like I trust you,” she blurted out. “Take me with you, or buy my freedom. I will pay you back.”
She stopped speaking when he touched his finger to her lips. There were so many things he could say, so many words she longed to hear: Do not worry … I won’t leave you … come away with me …
He withdrew his hand, but continued to gaze into her eyes. “I cannot stay. Neither can I take you with me, however appealing it might be. Besides, Honorius will never willingly let you go, so you must be very careful not to remind him of your presence. I have a duty to the Empire that surpasses all else. But someday, if the Fates should will it, we may meet here again, and then we might — with your permission — use this garden as it was meant to be used. I believe Great Venus herself,” he nodded toward the statue, “will be pleased with the honor we bring to it, for she has never seen its destiny fulfilled, so far as I know.”
Venus? Goddess of love? Gigi glanced at the statue and blushed deeply.
She was painfully aware of his nearness, his skin’s delicious scent: the warmth of incense and spiced wine.
Magnus touched her arm, the contact pure electricity, and she hoped — no, she knew — he was about to kiss her.
She closed her eyes, the sweet, searing pain of anticipation tightening around her heart.
“ Vale , Gigiperrin.” His voice was husky and low.
Her eyes flew open. Vale? Farewell?
Stepping back, he bowed and she wanted to reach out to stop him. He gave her a last look, then turned and walked away.
“No,” she whispered, shivering, suddenly feeling empty, and she longed for the promise of his warm embrace. She watched him until he was out of sight, then continued to watch, hoping for his return, until dusk gave way to night. She swallowed the bitter taste of the aborted kiss, trying to convince herself he was right — now was not the time — but someday, maybe someday.
And she remembered her first impression after his visit to her cell; he was truly the antithesis of the one who’d put her there — he was a man of honor.
She sank onto the bench, her body aching, longing for what hadn’t happened. “ Vade in pace ,” she whispered to the air. Go in peace.
But she felt no peace. Gripping the ring, she looked up at the first stars winking through the trees. What had just happened? What exactly did he want?
What do I want?
With a ragged sigh, she rose and left the garden, thinking of Magnus, barely remembering Yves, excited, guilty, her emotions a jumble. She could see their faces, but Yves was indistinct, unfocused, whereas Magnus was all too clear, etched into her mind, and she recalled the way he walked, imagined his body, gleaming skin and all muscle.
Gigi sighed again, thinking of how disturbing her dreams were going to be that night.
Chapter 6
Awake before dawn, Honorius paced, naked, along his eastern balcony. He looked out over the glimmer of earliest light dancing off the Adriaticum. With his most troublesome senators sent on a mission to the north and his riddlesome sister locked up in her villa, the month had been blissfully peaceful.
Damn them all to fiery hell! he thought sourly. With the calends of Julius fast approaching, the senators were sure to return any day, spoiling his fun.
How bothersome was this Alaric, who fancied himself king of the Visigoths. Brutes and barbarians, they were
Gigi gazed at the ring and worried at his words, suddenly fearful of being left alone.
He enclosed her palm around it, his hand lingering on hers. “I shall carry the sound of your music with me,” he released her, placing his hand over his heart, “here, but will you remember what I have told you? Will you promise to do it?”
Gigi swallowed hard, not wanting to entrust her safety to a ring and a sister, hoping she would never have to take that step. “But I don’t trust … can’t trust anyone like I trust you,” she blurted out. “Take me with you, or buy my freedom. I will pay you back.”
She stopped speaking when he touched his finger to her lips. There were so many things he could say, so many words she longed to hear: Do not worry … I won’t leave you … come away with me …
He withdrew his hand, but continued to gaze into her eyes. “I cannot stay. Neither can I take you with me, however appealing it might be. Besides, Honorius will never willingly let you go, so you must be very careful not to remind him of your presence. I have a duty to the Empire that surpasses all else. But someday, if the Fates should will it, we may meet here again, and then we might — with your permission — use this garden as it was meant to be used. I believe Great Venus herself,” he nodded toward the statue, “will be pleased with the honor we bring to it, for she has never seen its destiny fulfilled, so far as I know.”
Venus? Goddess of love? Gigi glanced at the statue and blushed deeply.
She was painfully aware of his nearness, his skin’s delicious scent: the warmth of incense and spiced wine.
Magnus touched her arm, the contact pure electricity, and she hoped — no, she knew — he was about to kiss her.
She closed her eyes, the sweet, searing pain of anticipation tightening around her heart.
“ Vale , Gigiperrin.” His voice was husky and low.
Her eyes flew open. Vale? Farewell?
Stepping back, he bowed and she wanted to reach out to stop him. He gave her a last look, then turned and walked away.
“No,” she whispered, shivering, suddenly feeling empty, and she longed for the promise of his warm embrace. She watched him until he was out of sight, then continued to watch, hoping for his return, until dusk gave way to night. She swallowed the bitter taste of the aborted kiss, trying to convince herself he was right — now was not the time — but someday, maybe someday.
And she remembered her first impression after his visit to her cell; he was truly the antithesis of the one who’d put her there — he was a man of honor.
She sank onto the bench, her body aching, longing for what hadn’t happened. “ Vade in pace ,” she whispered to the air. Go in peace.
But she felt no peace. Gripping the ring, she looked up at the first stars winking through the trees. What had just happened? What exactly did he want?
What do I want?
With a ragged sigh, she rose and left the garden, thinking of Magnus, barely remembering Yves, excited, guilty, her emotions a jumble. She could see their faces, but Yves was indistinct, unfocused, whereas Magnus was all too clear, etched into her mind, and she recalled the way he walked, imagined his body, gleaming skin and all muscle.
Gigi sighed again, thinking of how disturbing her dreams were going to be that night.
Chapter 6
Awake before dawn, Honorius paced, naked, along his eastern balcony. He looked out over the glimmer of earliest light dancing off the Adriaticum. With his most troublesome senators sent on a mission to the north and his riddlesome sister locked up in her villa, the month had been blissfully peaceful.
Damn them all to fiery hell! he thought sourly. With the calends of Julius fast approaching, the senators were sure to return any day, spoiling his fun.
How bothersome was this Alaric, who fancied himself king of the Visigoths. Brutes and barbarians, they were
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