The Furies of Rome by Robert Fabbri Page B

looked at Vespasian as if he were an idiot of the highest standing. ‘His mother, of course. He feels that it’s high time that he and Agrippina sorted out the differences between them, permanently.’
    ‘Very admirable. I wonder what she would have made of his performance just now?’
    Seneca winced at the memory of Nero’s antics. ‘I’m hoping that if a reconciliation can be reached then Burrus and I will have an ally in Agrippina to prevent that sort of thing getting out of hand.’
    ‘I’d say it was out of hand already,’ Gaius remarked, seeming to forget that he had praised and encouraged the Emperor in a self-seeking, sycophantic frenzy. ‘As are his attacks on respectable citizens; what are you going to do about them?’
    ‘As pharos I can see, there’s nothing I can do.’
    Gaius’ jowls wobbled with indignation at the pun.
    Vespasian had to restrain himself from chuckling. ‘So what do you want me to do, Seneca?’
    ‘I would like you to act as the intermediary between Nero and Agrippina.’ He paused and looked at Vespasian with his eyebrows raised meaningfully. ‘Seeing as you’re invited down to her estate at Bauli after the ides of March next year.’
    ‘You’re invited down to that Fury’s nest?’ Gaius spurted, his previous indignation quickly forgotten. ‘And you’ve agreed to go?’
    ‘I’ll explain later, Uncle; I haven’t had time to tell you because it only happened last night.’ He returned Seneca’s meaningful look. ‘Well?’
    Seneca shrugged as if his knowledge of a secret meeting so soon after it was arranged were nothing out of the ordinary. ‘I keep abreast of such matters.’
    ‘But only Agrippina, Pallas, Caenis and I were present when the arrangement was …’ He paused for a moment’s reflection; his stomach churned as he felt the full force of betrayal. Neither Agrippina nor Pallas would ever share their plans with Seneca. ‘Of course. Caenis is now your secretary.’
    Seneca smiled, neither confirming nor denying Vespasian’s supposition. ‘The Emperor was speaking to me only yesterday about looking for a suitable way of conveying the invitation to Agrippina in a manner that she would not find suspicious and it occurred to me, as I watched Nero fall for your flattery, that you were the perfect man for the job seeing as you are already invited to Agrippina’s estate in just under four months’ time, by which point the Emperor would have had as long as he needs to make the preparations. Although, I have to say that I think that Pallas and Agrippina are acting a little too precipitously – yes, that’s the perfect word in this case – they are acting precipitously in trying to sell their property in Britannia back to Cogidubnus; there’s still a lot of money to be made in that province yet. Wouldn’t you agree?’
    Vespasian was too mentally winded to answer; the thought of Caenis’ possible betrayal was all consuming.
    Seneca pressed on regardless. ‘The invitation will be for Agrippina to come to a dinner of reconciliation with Nero at his seaside villa at Baiae, just along the coast from hers. He wants to treat her with all the courtesy and consideration with which a son should. In fact, he even plans to send his own ship for her equipped with every luxury to make her journey as pleasant and convenient as possible. The ship will, obviously, be at her disposal to take her home again at the end of the dinner. So will you do it?’
    Vespasian had barely heard a word that Seneca had said, so strong was the image of his lover whispering his secrets in Seneca’s ear.
    ‘Will you do it?’ Seneca repeated.
    ‘Dear boy,’ Gaius said, ‘you’re being asked a question.’
    Vespasian frowned. ‘What was that, Uncle?’
    ‘Seneca is giving you a way to ingratiate yourself with the Emperor and his mother, albeit some time hence; will you do it?’
    Unfocused, his eyes gazed around the room before alighting on Seneca. ‘Yes, I’ll do it; of course I