Read Online Claudia, Wife of Pontius Pilate: A Novel by Diana Wallis Taylor - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Diana Wallis Taylor
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descended from Gaius Pontius, a fine general. His name is Lucius Pontius Pilate.”
14
C laudia returned to her room anxious to share the news with Hotep. In the three years together, they had become close. They talked long hours into the night and Hotep shared all the news that was whispered by the staff of the palace. Claudia always marveled at the vast network among the slaves of Rome—little happened in any household that wasn’t soon known across the city.
“Your dinner with the emperor went well?”
“The prefect has picked out a husband for me,” she answered petulantly. “The emperor wished to let me know.” She waved a hand. “I don’t know what he looks like—tall, fat, bald, over forty?” She remembered some of the young brides at the baths talking about their husbands—men that had been chosen by their fathers to seal an agreement or combine two important families. The young women emphasized how well their fathers had chosen for them, but the reality was what they didn’t say. Claudia wondered what it had been like to share the wedding couch with a man the age of their fathers. The wife would be expected to produce children as soon as possible, especially a son, to carry on the family name. She shuddered. Was that to be her fate?
Hotep broke into her thoughts. “But Dominilla, that is good news. Do you not wish to be married? You are sixteen. Many of the young noblewomen are married by now.”
Claudia sank down in a chair. “I don’t know if it is good or bad.The meal was gloomy, Hotep. The empress and Levilla hardly spoke a word to each other or to me. They ate and ran. I think Levilla is angry with the emperor for not allowing her to marry Sejanus.”
Hotep shook her head slowly. “I do not know why any woman would like to marry that man.”
“I agree. Levilla is an unhappy woman. Why would he divorce Apicata, who was so nice, to marry her, unless . . .”
Claudia sat thinking of the rumors she’d heard through the staff. It was whispered that Levilla was responsible for the death of her husband. Why would they think that had Tiberius known, it would be the end of Sejanus. If Drusus succeeded his father, Levilla would have been empress of Rome. Why would she do anything to change that? She was sure it had to do with Sejanus.
Claudia contemplated what she’d seen. Now that Apicata was no longer with them at the emperor’s dinners, Levilla looked longingly at Sejanus. Life in the palace was full of intrigue.
She sighed as Hotep helped her undress. “Sejanus has chosen a husband for me and the emperor said he would make a decision. No doubt he will go along with this man the prefect recommends. So this Lucius Pontius Pilate will be my husband.”
Hotep unwound the silver strands of Claudia’s hair and began to take down the curls, brushing her hair until it gleamed softly, cascading down her shoulders.
“You will be a beautiful bride, Dominilla. Your husband will be pleased with you.”
Claudia stifled a wave of resentment. But would she be pleased with her husband?
The two days passed more quickly than Claudia desired, and she longed to talk with her grandmother. That very afternoon, to her surprise and relief, a slave knocked on her door with a wax stylus containing a message from her grandmother, written in Latin:
Word has come that Sejanus returns to the city with a member of the amici Caesaris, friends of Caesar. His name is Lucius Pontius Pilate. Sejanus has chosen him for you. I believe you will be pleasantly surprised. Take heart.
The seal from Scribonia’s ring was pressed into the wax.
When the summons came to join the emperor for dinner and meet a guest, Claudia dressed with care, but her mind turned with all the possibilities of the evening. Her tunic was a soft white. She wore a lavender scarf with gold threads woven throughout. A gold belt took up the length of her garment. She slipped her feet into gold jeweled sandals while Hotep swept her hair up
14
C laudia returned to her room anxious to share the news with Hotep. In the three years together, they had become close. They talked long hours into the night and Hotep shared all the news that was whispered by the staff of the palace. Claudia always marveled at the vast network among the slaves of Rome—little happened in any household that wasn’t soon known across the city.
“Your dinner with the emperor went well?”
“The prefect has picked out a husband for me,” she answered petulantly. “The emperor wished to let me know.” She waved a hand. “I don’t know what he looks like—tall, fat, bald, over forty?” She remembered some of the young brides at the baths talking about their husbands—men that had been chosen by their fathers to seal an agreement or combine two important families. The young women emphasized how well their fathers had chosen for them, but the reality was what they didn’t say. Claudia wondered what it had been like to share the wedding couch with a man the age of their fathers. The wife would be expected to produce children as soon as possible, especially a son, to carry on the family name. She shuddered. Was that to be her fate?
Hotep broke into her thoughts. “But Dominilla, that is good news. Do you not wish to be married? You are sixteen. Many of the young noblewomen are married by now.”
Claudia sank down in a chair. “I don’t know if it is good or bad.The meal was gloomy, Hotep. The empress and Levilla hardly spoke a word to each other or to me. They ate and ran. I think Levilla is angry with the emperor for not allowing her to marry Sejanus.”
Hotep shook her head slowly. “I do not know why any woman would like to marry that man.”
“I agree. Levilla is an unhappy woman. Why would he divorce Apicata, who was so nice, to marry her, unless . . .”
Claudia sat thinking of the rumors she’d heard through the staff. It was whispered that Levilla was responsible for the death of her husband. Why would they think that had Tiberius known, it would be the end of Sejanus. If Drusus succeeded his father, Levilla would have been empress of Rome. Why would she do anything to change that? She was sure it had to do with Sejanus.
Claudia contemplated what she’d seen. Now that Apicata was no longer with them at the emperor’s dinners, Levilla looked longingly at Sejanus. Life in the palace was full of intrigue.
She sighed as Hotep helped her undress. “Sejanus has chosen a husband for me and the emperor said he would make a decision. No doubt he will go along with this man the prefect recommends. So this Lucius Pontius Pilate will be my husband.”
Hotep unwound the silver strands of Claudia’s hair and began to take down the curls, brushing her hair until it gleamed softly, cascading down her shoulders.
“You will be a beautiful bride, Dominilla. Your husband will be pleased with you.”
Claudia stifled a wave of resentment. But would she be pleased with her husband?
The two days passed more quickly than Claudia desired, and she longed to talk with her grandmother. That very afternoon, to her surprise and relief, a slave knocked on her door with a wax stylus containing a message from her grandmother, written in Latin:
Word has come that Sejanus returns to the city with a member of the amici Caesaris, friends of Caesar. His name is Lucius Pontius Pilate. Sejanus has chosen him for you. I believe you will be pleasantly surprised. Take heart.
The seal from Scribonia’s ring was pressed into the wax.
When the summons came to join the emperor for dinner and meet a guest, Claudia dressed with care, but her mind turned with all the possibilities of the evening. Her tunic was a soft white. She wore a lavender scarf with gold threads woven throughout. A gold belt took up the length of her garment. She slipped her feet into gold jeweled sandals while Hotep swept her hair up
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