Deceptive Lord (Lords of Bondage) (37 page)

“I know you do,” Lavinia said. “I envy myself sometimes! My life is so sweet. Everyone says I have the best of luck, which is strange because Fortuna should be the lucky one.”

Fortuna was Lavinia’s sister. Despite her name, Fortuna tended to court misfortune. However, none were as unlucky as Cassia. She had expected so much more from her life. It had seemed so full of promise at first. Cassia had been born into a wealthy Roman family. When her mother died, her father, Maxim Maximus, had married Lucine. Maxim had adopted Lucine’s children from her previous marriage to give them the name of Maximus. Cassia had never formed any sisterly bonds with Lavinia or Fortuna, nor had she
formed any close relationships with her step-brothers Flavian and Lucius. Even though they treated her well enough, she had felt like an outsider. When Maxim died, Lucine started treating Cassia differently. She had made it clear that Cassia was an inconvenience and was unwanted. Lucine cut short her grieving for Maxim so she could resume her social activities. She enjoyed throwing parties for important Roman citizens and she was never one to waste an opportunity to climb the social ladder. She began to consort with a string of Roman men, so many that she was referred to as the Whore of New Babylon. Cassia had been unhappy living under Lucine’s roof and she had been thrilled when Janus began to
court her. She had felt so special when New Babylon’s most sought after bachelor had chosen to pursue her. The euphoria began to dull when Janus began to express interest in other women, and her heart broke when he started conducting affairs. When he set his sights on her own step-sister, she had known their marriage was over. She had agreed to grant him the divorce he wanted so he could court Lavinia. Any love she had felt for Janus was gone, but the hurt remained and continued to eat at her. She didn’t wish to see his face or hear his voice any longer, but she would never be free of his presence once he married Lavinia. If only she could leave New Babylon and start a new life, then maybe things would get
better. However, she had no way to support herself. She had no choice but to remain in Lucine’s household.

“Although I will not share Adonis, you may wish a night with Brutus. He is one of our gladiators,” Lavinia said.

“I wish a night with Carpaticus, as he is the legendary warrior I see in my dreams at night,” Calpurnia said.

“I cannot arrange a night with Carpaticus,” Lavinia said. “The Maximus’s do not own
all
the gladiators, Calpurnia!”

“For shame!”
Calpurnia said.

Cassia sighed. She couldn’t stand inside the vestibulum all day. She would have to make her presence known. She left the entrance hall and
stepped inside the atrium to face her step-sister.
“Greetings.”

Lavinia looked up from where she lay sprawled against a reclining couch. “Oh, my dear sister returns! I thought you were still out shopping in the market. I didn’t realize you were here.”

“There wasn’t much to see,” Cassia said. With her limited funds, there wasn’t much point in shopping. She had only gone to the market to fetch some things for Lucine.

Lavinia stretched across the couch and fingered one of her russet colored spiral curls. “Mother wishes to speak with you. She’s in her office.”

Cassia turned and walked toward her step-mother’s office while Lavinia continued to chat with her friend. Mere seconds after turning her back to them, she could hear Calpurnia tell Lavinia that it was no wonder that Janus had tired of marriage so quickly with such a mouse of a wife. Her face heated in shame and embarrassment and she quickened her steps, desperate to distance herself from the two women. She was too far away to clearly hear her step-sister’s words, but she couldn’t escape the sounds of her laughter. They were talking about her, making fun of her.
Again.
It was too much to bear. She opened her step-mother’s office door and stepped inside.

Lucine sat at a large desk. She lifted her gaze to her step-daughter. “I want you to know that Janus will be arriving for a visit.”

Cassia collapsed in a chair across from Lucine’s desk. Just when she thought it couldn’t get much worse, she would have to deal with her ex-husband. She hadn’t seen him in six months. She hadn’t wanted to see him.

Lucine paused to allow Cassia to digest the information. “I know how difficult this must be for you, but you need to accept the fact that your marriage to Janus is over. He has developed
an affection
for your step-sister and they will no doubt marry. It will be a good union. You know as
well as I that you and Janus were not a good match.”

Cassia inhaled sharply.
They were not a good match.
That was rather harsh coming from her step-mother.

“You and Janus were not a good match, and you cannot disagree with the notion,” Lucine said. “Janus is the most eligible bachelor in New Babylon and you are–you.”

Really, no further elaboration was needed. She got that Janus had been too good for the likes of her. He was much too handsome, rich, powerful, and socially desirable to be wasted on someone who was just–ordinary.

“You could never hope to hold the attention of one such as Janus. Now, Lavinia, on the other hand, is more his equal. Lavinia is beloved in all of Rome. She has thousands of worthy suitors vying for her hand. She is so very popular with the Roman elite and she is adept at any kind of social situation. Janus needs a wife who can help increase his status and social standing, especially as he has political aspirations.”

Cassia’s self-esteem would never recover from this. She wasn’t worthy of Janus, that was what everyone kept telling her. What a load of bullshit! The man was a bastard, discarding one wife in order to acquire a younger, more attractive one. At some point, he would tire of Lavinia and
would dump her too. It would serve the woman right.

“When Janus arrives, I need you to comport yourself in a civil manner. I do not want any conflict within my household. And please, no more of those unsightly tears. It would only make everyone uncomfortable.”

She hadn’t shed any tears in months. She refused to shed any more for that despicable bastard she had made the mistake in marrying.

“There will be other men for you, Cassia. You will no doubt have other suitors. When the time is right, I will arrange another marriage for you.”

“I’m not interested in marrying again.”
Certainly not to anyone chosen by the Whore of New
Babylon.
She detested most of Lucine’s friends.

“That’s a wise decision. After all, I chose not to marry after your father died, and I have done well for myself. And I do not lack for male company when I desire it.”

Cassia grimaced. Everyone in New Babylon knew of Lucine’s conquests. Lucine believed she was adored and respected, but it wasn’t quite the case. The citizens of New Babylon sometimes referred to Cassia as the Whore’s step-daughter.

“I have need of you here. When Lavinia marries, she will be unable to assist me. Although I still have Fortuna, she doesn’t have a head for business.”

Cassia was aware of Lucine’s business interests, although she had not had any involvement in them. Lucine operated a ludus that housed both male and female gladiators, but the bulk of her coin came from her pharmaceutical business.
Maximus Drugs
was the most popular drugstore in New Babylon because it was the only place that sold
Hydra
, Lucine’s special ingredient. Hydra was included in virtually every medicine and potion sold in the store and it was supposed to miraculously cure most diseases, heal wounds, and prevent wrinkled skin. It was also used as an aphrodisiac when combined with other ingredients. Few people knew how hydra was produced. It was a well-kept secret, but Cassia knew
enough to know it involved hybrid semen. Lucine was a known purchaser of hybrid slaves. Most people assumed she used them for her ludus or for her bedchamber. While she did use some hybrids as gladiators, she primarily used them to manufacture hydra.

“Cassia, you seem a bit lost in space. I need you to pay attention. My business is booming and I’m hoping to expand our operations further. I’ll be meeting with some potential partners to discuss opening a store in Eros. I’m going to be doing a good bit of traveling, and when I’m in New Babylon, I’ll be away much of the time on business. Lavinia is much too busy with wedding preparations to assist me, so it falls to you to do it.”

Cassia cringed. Lucine expected her to assume Lavinia’s job duties to allow the woman enough time to ready herself for marriage to Cassia’s own ex-husband. She wished she could tell Lucine where to stick it, but she held her tongue. “I expect compensation.”

“Compensation?
Isn’t a roof over your head compensation enough? I could cast you out into the streets, you ungrateful chit.”

Cassia stared at her intently. She wouldn’t back down from this. She had no intention of living off Lucine’s charity forever. She needed to sock away some coin so she could buy a small place of her own. “I need some funds. You know how it is, being a
woman without a husband. It is not an easy existence.”

Lucine’s expression softened. “I understand. I suppose it is not too much to ask to give you a salary.” She named a sum that Cassia agreed was adequate. “I need you to supervise the cows.”

The “cows” were the alien hybrid males that Lucine kept locked in a barn. They were “milked” three times per day. Cassia knew they were kept there because of Lucine’s pharmaceutical business, but she had never had reason to visit that particular place. “What will I need to do?”

“Well, you must see that the cows are milked on time. The
specimens must be collected and placed in sterile containers. I do not trust the slaves to do this correctly, so you must see to it that the vials are delivered to the lab.”

Lucine was probably worried that the slaves would steal some of the vials to sell on the underground black market. Hydra was one of the most valuable commodities in the civilized world. “Alright, so I will oversee the hybrids.”

“The cows.
Do not call them hybrids. They are cows to be milked. That is why we keep them in the barn. Do not forget that they are animals.”

Cassia nodded.
“The cows.
I’ve got it.”

Lucine stood from her desk. “I will give you a tour of the barn. You will follow me.”