The Patrician's Fortune- A Historical Romance Read Free Page B

birthday.
    But she had gained another year, and Octavian had not returned.
    Julia stared at the darkened road. Two weeks, then three, until finally four weeks had passed and still her father had not returned. At first she had been certain the weather had delayed him. The summer had been unusually stormy and even as advanced as the Empire’s road system was, it was not uncommon to have a route obliterated by floods.
    She had spent another two months convincing herself that her father had gone off on one of his famous tangents. An extremely curious man, Octavian had been known to forget time, purpose and family in the pursuit of new adventures. A different pottery technique, the discovery of a medicinal plant or a new design for a ship prow all were reason enough to delay his normal duties as a Senator. But he always came home.
    Then she’d received the message.
    Julia tamped down the swell of hurt lodged in her chest. The letter, closed with Octavian’s own seal, had been brief and to the point. Octavian would not be returning to Rome in the foreseeable future. Other interests required his attention. Other interests more important than his family.
    She pulled her cloak snug around her shoulders but could not shake the gripping chill that settled in her heart. Her father’s preoccupation with innovative theories, a trait that most spurned as a fool’s dreams, had been accepted with quiet dignity by her mother. While Octavian pursued his wild ideas, Eirenne Manulus had skillfully managed their affairs, while masking the extent of her husband’s wild schemes and maintaining the honor of the Manulus name. Not an easy task in the gossip—ridden world of Roman society.
    Julia had assumed the daunting task at her mother’s death two years before and until recently had done an admirable job of it. But Octavian’s long absence now had the scavengers converging on her doorstep and she’d been forced to push her grief aside. The situation was deteriorating rapidly, leading to her desperate decision.
    A hard jolt to the right caused Julia to grab her seat with both hands to avoid tumbling to the ground. Kaj swore at the single—axle cart overflowing with refuse that had veered into their path. The driver of the cart made a rude gesture and continued on his route.
    A fresh wave of doubt swept through her as she glanced over her shoulder at the wagon. The man—no, the criminal—trussed up in her carriage had almost caused her to abandon the whole idea. Bruised and beaten, a few breaths away from death, he had looked anything but defeated, returning her scrutiny with a flippant perusal that had sent warning chills down her spine.
    Julia pressed an icy palm to her cheek. Even now, she could see him regarding her with eyes the color of cold slate. Hard edged and challenging he’d scanned her from head to toe like a predator sizing up a succulent morsel. She swallowed hard at the memory. Suddenly, her conviction that a condemned man would be grateful and malleable seemed a bit shaky.
    Kaj interrupted her thoughts. “We’re entering the city.” He swept the hood of his cloak over his head. “Cover yourself, lest someone recognize us and make public our folly.”
    Julia nodded and fell silent as Kaj maneuvered the wagon through the traffic clogging the streets of one of the poorer sections of the city. It was dangerous traveling at night, especially along the circuitous route Kaj had chosen. But they could take no chances.
    From beneath her veil she peeked up at the four—story buildings rising up on either side of the street. Constructed with poor—quality timber and mud brick, she could see why they were prone to collapse and deadly fires. Her father loved the people of Rome and when a devastating blaze three years ago had obliterated a huge section of tenements killing more than one hundred citizens, he’d made it a personal crusade to see the structures made safe.
    Who would champion them now?
    “Please,