helplessly at Augusta. “I don’t know…” Her words drifted off.
A question popped into her head; she’d been so rocked by all that had happened that it hadn’t occurred to her to wonder before. “How do we understand each other? I can’t speak Latin, and you don’t speak English.”
Augusta, apparently much more sanguine about the whole situation, responded with a shrug and an arch of her eyebrow,
“The Gods.”
“Hmm,” Janney’s lips compressed in a line. These gods seemed to be very important and powerful. Of course, she had read about them, but now she was getting a firsthand look at their significance in the lives of these people. At the villa, Augusta had shown Janney the altar to Vesta, the Goddess of Home and Hearth. She was finally beginning to understand that they weren’t just interesting, colorful stories. The gods were very real, almost alive, to these Romans.
“I wish I had something to offer the gods.”
Augusta handed her some coins from the purse strapped to her waist. “Here, Janney dear, I hope your prayers are answered.”
Meeting Augusta’s warm and motherly gaze, she took the offered coins. “I hardly know at this point what to pray for.”
As they finally reached the front of the line, she looked at the floating, spectral statues and thought she should pray that fate, or the gods, or her own God, knew how this adventure was all supposed to turn out. Because she sure didn’t have a clue.
Janney tossed the coins and heard their plop into the water.
The mad whirl in her brain halted for a few seconds and merged
into the image of a man. Marek—strong arms tight around her, he’d held her safe from the fear and panic. She’d laid her hand on his chest over his thumping heart. It had sped up as things got hot and heavy between them last night. He had been as affected as she’d been by their kisses. For those few moments, she hadn’t been alone. She was secure in his arms. Warm and safe.
Oh, God, I’m in trouble. He’s anything but safe.
“Come, dear.” Augusta led Janney away from the sacred spring and into the massive compound of the baths.
Dressed in Roman garb, Janney fit right in with the incredible throng of bathers, slaves, and entertainers. Servants bustled around with trays of wine, cheeses, and fruits. Men, and even some women, crouched in corners throwing something that looked like dice. Augusta noticing Janney’s interest explained that they were gambling with sheep anklebones. They passed into the women’s undressing room, where she and Augusta were divested of their long tunics and stolas. Now came the awkward part. They were to remain nude.
Automatically sucking in her tummy, Janney tried to keep her shoulders up and look comfortable at the same time. She’d never felt at ease naked, even in front of other women at the gym. Cold fingers of unease crawled through her stomach. Did men and women bathe together or separately?
Please, God, let it be separate . She finally threw a pleading look in Augusta’s direction and asked the question.
“Men and women bathe together here. You needn’t be shy.
It’s the normal custom.” Janney’s discomfort was so obvious that Augusta assured her that she could wear a shift. Augusta indicated to a servant to give her a thin, white gown. “Many years ago, the Emperor Hadrian decreed that men and women are not to bathe in the nude, but many still do here on the fringes of the empire. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
Clutching the fine cloth around her, Janney followed Augusta deeper into the maze of hallways and bathing chambers.
“We’ll bathe in the tepidarium first for a while, then have our massages. This is out of the order we usually do things but…”
Janney interrupted Augusta. “I want to do it right, in the correct order. I want to experience it all.”
Augusta raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Are you sure?
Because normally we start with the
A question popped into her head; she’d been so rocked by all that had happened that it hadn’t occurred to her to wonder before. “How do we understand each other? I can’t speak Latin, and you don’t speak English.”
Augusta, apparently much more sanguine about the whole situation, responded with a shrug and an arch of her eyebrow,
“The Gods.”
“Hmm,” Janney’s lips compressed in a line. These gods seemed to be very important and powerful. Of course, she had read about them, but now she was getting a firsthand look at their significance in the lives of these people. At the villa, Augusta had shown Janney the altar to Vesta, the Goddess of Home and Hearth. She was finally beginning to understand that they weren’t just interesting, colorful stories. The gods were very real, almost alive, to these Romans.
“I wish I had something to offer the gods.”
Augusta handed her some coins from the purse strapped to her waist. “Here, Janney dear, I hope your prayers are answered.”
Meeting Augusta’s warm and motherly gaze, she took the offered coins. “I hardly know at this point what to pray for.”
As they finally reached the front of the line, she looked at the floating, spectral statues and thought she should pray that fate, or the gods, or her own God, knew how this adventure was all supposed to turn out. Because she sure didn’t have a clue.
Janney tossed the coins and heard their plop into the water.
The mad whirl in her brain halted for a few seconds and merged
into the image of a man. Marek—strong arms tight around her, he’d held her safe from the fear and panic. She’d laid her hand on his chest over his thumping heart. It had sped up as things got hot and heavy between them last night. He had been as affected as she’d been by their kisses. For those few moments, she hadn’t been alone. She was secure in his arms. Warm and safe.
Oh, God, I’m in trouble. He’s anything but safe.
“Come, dear.” Augusta led Janney away from the sacred spring and into the massive compound of the baths.
Dressed in Roman garb, Janney fit right in with the incredible throng of bathers, slaves, and entertainers. Servants bustled around with trays of wine, cheeses, and fruits. Men, and even some women, crouched in corners throwing something that looked like dice. Augusta noticing Janney’s interest explained that they were gambling with sheep anklebones. They passed into the women’s undressing room, where she and Augusta were divested of their long tunics and stolas. Now came the awkward part. They were to remain nude.
Automatically sucking in her tummy, Janney tried to keep her shoulders up and look comfortable at the same time. She’d never felt at ease naked, even in front of other women at the gym. Cold fingers of unease crawled through her stomach. Did men and women bathe together or separately?
Please, God, let it be separate . She finally threw a pleading look in Augusta’s direction and asked the question.
“Men and women bathe together here. You needn’t be shy.
It’s the normal custom.” Janney’s discomfort was so obvious that Augusta assured her that she could wear a shift. Augusta indicated to a servant to give her a thin, white gown. “Many years ago, the Emperor Hadrian decreed that men and women are not to bathe in the nude, but many still do here on the fringes of the empire. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
Clutching the fine cloth around her, Janney followed Augusta deeper into the maze of hallways and bathing chambers.
“We’ll bathe in the tepidarium first for a while, then have our massages. This is out of the order we usually do things but…”
Janney interrupted Augusta. “I want to do it right, in the correct order. I want to experience it all.”
Augusta raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Are you sure?
Because normally we start with the
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