He took a delicacy from the tray. “Poor Julia. You’re still trying to plead your case to Marcus, aren’t you?”
She lifted her chin haughtily, her dark eyes flashing. “I needn’t plead my case to anyone. I don’t have to apologize for what I did.”
“Then why do you persist?” He ate the morsel.
“I don’t!”
“Ha. You’ve been begging and pleading for Marcus’ forgiveness ever since he left you at the arena. He returns every message you send.” He waved airily. “Just like that one, seal unbroken.”
She glared at him. “And how would you know what messages I send and to whom?”
Laughing softly, he selected a stuffed cow’s teat from the tray of rich delicacies. “I’ve always found it immensely entertaining to observe those around me.” He shifted his bulk to make himself more comfortable. “You, in particular, my sweet.”
“Did Eudemas tell you I wrote to him?”
“She didn’t have to. I could read the signs. You were drunk last night and maudlin. When you’re maudlin, you retire to your chamber early and write to your brother. It’s all too predictable, Julia. Predictable to the point of boring. You know very well he’ll never forgive you, yet you persist. I find his unrelenting hatred refreshing, but frankly, my dear, your relentless pursuit of his forgiveness has become pathetic.”
She didn’t speak for a moment, attempting to bring her heightened emotions under control. “He doesn’t hate me. He only thinks he does.”
“Oh, he hates you, Julia. He hates you absolutely. Never doubt that for a minute.”
His words lacerated her, and her eyes burned with the tears she held back. “I despise you,” she said with the dark wealth of her emotions.
He recognized her poor attempt at retaliation and mocked her openly. “Ah, I know, my dear, but then I’m all you have left, aren’t I? Calabah has left you and sailed away to Rome with pretty little Sapphira. Your friends avoid you because of your illness. You’ve received only one invitation in the last week, and I regret to inform you that Cretaneus was decidedly relieved when you sent your regrets. So, my dear, who but me do you have to keep you company?” He clicked his tongue. “Poor Julia. Everyone leaves you. Such a pity . . .”
“I can always count on your understanding, can’t I, Primus? By the way, did any of your hirelings ever find trace of your beloved Prometheus?” She tilted her head to one side, laying a fingertip against her chin, parodying a thoughtful muse. “Now why do you suppose it’s become more and more difficult for you to find lovers?” She spread her hands, her face opening with pretended realization. “Could it be your growing corpulence?”
Primus’ face darkened. “Your troubles and mine could’ve been avoided had you listened to Calabah and had that little Jewess of yours killed earlier.”
She grasped her wine goblet and hurled it at him, just missing his head. Breathing heavily with her frustration, she called him a foul name and rose from her couch, glaring across at him. “My troubles would’ve been avoided had I never made an alliance with you!”
He brushed the drops of wine from his face, his eyes glittering. “Blame me if you must, but everyone knows you made the choice.” He laughed darkly. “And now you must live with it. Or die . . .”
“You’re a despicable worm!”
“And you’re a stupid sow!”
“I should’ve listened to Marcus,” she said, struggling against tears. “He knew what you were.”
Primus smiled smugly, seeing he had almost succeeded in reducing her to hysteria. “He did, didn’t he? But then, so did you, Julia. You walked in with your eyes wide open, thinking everything would be exactly as you wanted it. And for a while, it was, wasn’t it, my sweet? Exactly as you wanted. Money, position, Atretes, Calabah . . . and me.”
She wanted to destroy him, to wipe that self-satisfied smirk from his face forever. But he was all she had left, and she knew it. Her eyes narrowed. “Perhaps I’ve changed my mind about what I want.”
“Oh, dear. Another empty threat. I’m trembling.”
“Someday you may find my threats not so empty.”
Primus knew how sick she was—so sick he doubted she would survive. His eyes narrowed coldly as he embraced his secret wrath and felt warmed by it. “By the time you change your mind, you’ll have gone through all your money and it’ll make no difference, will it?” he said with deceiving calm. “Have you ever wondered why I remain with you? Do you think it’s because I love you?” He saw the tiny flicker of fear in her eyes and was satisfied. He knew Julia’s greatest fear was being alone, and alone she would be when the time was right. He would have his vengeance for every insult, every slight he had suffered from her. He would have his vengeance for Prometheus’ defection.