Selene of Alexandria Read Free Page B

if we can soak out that grime, but I can at least smooth those ragged edges."
    Selene stripped and kicked her dirty garments to a corner while Rebecca poured warm water into the wash bowl and laid a thick reed mat on the stone floor. Selene closed her eyes and sighed as Rebecca gently sponged the dust away, wrapped her in a linen towel and started to comb her tangled hair. "Rebecca, what's the gossip about our new Prefect?"
    "My friends say their masters are apprehensive. He is unknown. They speculate on whom he will support in the disputes among the Christians, much less the other factions. He is also unmarried and there is much talk about which of the local maidens might be a suitable match." She stopped to separate a particularly bad tangle. "Selene, what do you do to your hair, let birds make nests in it?"
    "Ouch! If you can't be more careful, I'll comb my own hair." Selene reached up to grab the tortoise shell comb from Rebecca. The servant girl slapped her hands away.
    Rebecca took a blue glass bottle from a pouch tied to her belt and poured the contents into a shallow bowl. "Here. If you need something to do with your hands, soak them in this oil."
    Selene obediently put her fingertips in the bowl. The oil smelled faintly of roses. "Where was the Prefect posted before Alexandria?"
    Rebecca finished combing and started to smooth Selene's nails with a flexible piece of horn. "He served in the army, but left to take provincial posts. For the past several years he has served in the Emperor's court under the sponsorship of Anthemius, the Regent."
    "I suppose he worships Mithras, like most of the army?" Selene dried her hands on the linen towel and dropped it to the floor.
    Rebecca shrugged. "Come, Mistress, time grows short. Let me see what I can do with your hair."
    "Something simple, Rebecca, I don't want to be pushing curls off my face all day. If I had my way, I'd cut it short like the holy women."
    Rebecca gasped. "Cut your hair? Oh, no, Mistress! It's so beautiful." She pulled the hair back from Selene's face and secured it with bone pins, then twisted it into a compact bun. Silver combs held it in place. Rebecca teased two small tendrils into curling in front of Selene's ears, then handed her a polished bronze mirror. "Here, this is a simple style."
    Selene looked at herself critically. "Nicely done. Go as lightly on the cosmetics and I will be most satisfied."
    Rebecca smoothed lotion on Selene's face and neck. "You really should stay out of the sun. You're scandalously brown. Before you know it, your skin will look like cracked boots."
    "I like being scandalous. Besides, some powder should make me suitably pale."
    Rebecca applied a light dusting of powder and shaped Selene's eyes with kohl. A thin red paste for the lips finished the picture.
    Rebecca laid out her clothes: a long-sleeved, full-length linen undergarment to be covered by a lightweight, cream-colored wool dalmatica. The voluminous dalmatica was cut in the simple style of the day – a wide, straight sheath for the body with generous sleeves that came to the wrist. This one had green and blue embroidered strips depicting fanciful sea creatures bordering the sleeves and appliquéd from both shoulders to the hem. The crowing touch, a filmy blue-green silk wrap for shoulders and hair. Rebecca draped Selene in her various layers and stood back to judge the effect.
    Selene fussed with the swaths of material belted with a silk cord just under her budding breasts.
    "Stop trying to improve on perfection, Mistress. The stripes are aligned." Rebecca settled the silk wrap in wispy folds over Selene's hair and shoulders.
    "With all this cloth, I feel like I'm wearing a merchant's tent," Selene complained.
    Rebecca smiled, showing small, irregular teeth. "Would you wear less and be taken for an actress or acrobat, men vying for your favors?"
    Selene blushed at the thought, mumbling, "At least they're comfortable."
    "The tent looks quite elegant with your