The buildings of the city of seven hills already cast long shadows on the busy streets. Yet none of the inhabitants were ready to return home yet. In the streets there were gigantic tables with free food for the people, sponsored by the victorious triumphator, their princeps. The whole city was in the throes of victory, as if every single citizen had pacified the wild island alongside the first man.
The finer society lay together at sumptuous convivia, longing to be invited one day to the princeps' house. For in all Rome there was one convivium which outshone all others. Yet in the princeps' house there was neither different food and drink nor different music - on the contrary! While some of the convivia of the upper classes tended to get out of hand at this hour, in the triclinium of the successful Caesar of their time, people still lay together in a civilised manner and enjoyed being together. But there was one aspect that only the triumphator's supper could offer: Exclusivity. For only those who had reached the top of the upper class could hope for an invitation that evening. There were some senators who lay in their own villas with the realisation that they had not yet risen far enough.
In all Rome there was only one woman who could claim to be perfectly happy that evening. For she alone lay on a dining couch by the princeps' side, enjoying his closeness to the fullest. For far too long Aurelia had had to do without her husband and anyone who looked at the two people in the company of their state could see the love and pure happiness they radiated with every fibre of their bodies.
Every now and then Gaius would touch her by chance and each touch sent a comforting shiver through her body. When their eyes met, the same impatience flashed in his eyes as in hers. They couldn't wait to finally resume what they had secretly started the night before.
Radiant with happiness, Aurelia watched her husband and simply listened to the sound of his voice. How she had missed his voice. Every now and then she joined in the conversation, but she was too busy looking at her Gaius. Unlike most children, Tonilla and Julius were already in bed and asleep. The day had been too exciting for both of them, and Gaius had taken it upon himself to tuck them both into bed.
As soon as Gaius had finished eating, he washed his hands in a small bowl. After wiping his wet hands on a towel, he put an arm around Aurelia and pulled her closer to him. Surprised, his wife laughed and turned her head towards him. Their eyes crossed and she lost herself in the vastness of his sky-blue eyes. Gently, Gaius increased the pressure on her hip and Aurelia shook her head, laughing. The warmth of his skin radiated through the thin silk of her dress and Aurelia almost closed her eyes in pleasure. Her body was on fire.
Imperceptibly she sat up and when he tried to push her back onto the couch, she leaned forward smiling, making sure her breasts almost brushed his arm. The grip around her waist tightened and she enjoyed seeing him respond to her. Deeply she inhaled his familiar scent and watched his eyes darken with desire.
"We have guests," she reminded him teasingly and was about to pull away, but Gaius' arm held her captive.
"To Pluto with our guests," he murmured seductively in her ear. "Stop teasing me or I will lose control in the presence of all our guests, and I cannot bear the thought of even a single one of them ever catching sight of you as I prefer to see you."
With his other hand he gently brushed a loose strand of hair from her face and inconspicuously blew a small kiss behind her ear. Hot and cold at the same time she felt as he slid imperceptibly away from her.
Out of the corner of her eye, Aurelia noticed the amused looks of her relatives and took a deep breath. When she trusted herself sufficiently, she leaned her head against his shoulder and concentrated entirely on the conversation Julia wanted to have with her.

Well after sunset, Aurelia yawned theatrically and deliberately caught Gaius' gaze. His eyes twinkled with amusement.
"We will retire now, my friends," he announced, and immediately all conversation died. "Thank you for spending this evening with us. Stay as long as you like and enjoy the wine. Your rooms are already prepared for the night. Good night."
As Gaius rose from the couch, turned to her and offered his hand, Vespasian winked at her conspiratorially. With feigned weariness, Aurelia grasped her husband's hand and let him help her up and lead her out of the hall.
As soon as the door to their private chambers closed behind them, all self-control fell from them.

Just as Aurelia was about to drift off into a gentle sleep, she heard the familiar rustle of fabric and in the next instant felt its weight disappear from the mattress. Immediately she was wide awake. Jerkily she sat up in her bed and eyed her husband. She did not care that the blanket slid down her body. Caught off guard, Gaius wheeled around and devoured her body with a hungry gaze.
"What are you up to?" she asked him suspiciously and he ran a hand through his tousled hair. Impatiently, she raised her eyebrow and leaned forward slightly. Fascinated, he watched his wife, then in a soft voice asked her to close her eyes. Shaking her head, Aurelia closed her eyes and waited. If this was just to distract her so he could work undisturbed, he was mistaken. His footsteps told her that he was walking purposefully around the room and relief flooded through her.
Suddenly the mattress lowered behind her, and the warmth of his body hit her back. But she held still, and her eyelids did not flutter. When something cold touched her neck and slid over her skin, she sucked in a sharp breath. Behind her, Gaius chuckled softly, then there was a metallic click and the next moment she felt the weight of a chain around her neck.
Automatically she opened her eyes and turned to face him. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. He was so beautiful. Instantly the blue of his eyes held her captive.
Hesitantly, she put a hand to her neck and felt the smooth surface of each link of the necklace. Confused, she looked down at herself and eyed the perfect pearls nestled in three rows against her skin. She looked up at him in disbelief.
"Did you really think I'd come home without presents, my love?" he teased, burying his hand in her hair. Demandingly, he pulled her to him and pressed his lips to her mouth. But Aurelia gently held him back. Astonished, he pulled back, wanting to know if she didn't like the necklace. Dismayed, she put her hand on his cheek and snuggled closer.
"It's perfect," she whispered in an occupied voice. "But it's gift enough to me that you've come back to me in one piece."
Grinning, he pulled her into another kiss.
"Good," he murmured hoarsely. "I had another matching bracelet and earrings made. It would have been quite a waste otherwise."
"You've been spending too much time with Vespasian," she teased, giggling and pressing her mouth to his soft lips. Laughing, he pulled her closer and she mine burst with happiness.

A month after Gaius' triumphal procession, her life had returned to the daily grind. For days Gaius had sponsored elaborate games and meals for the people, securing their love. But even these were now long gone, and while Gaius had fully resumed his duties, Aurelia began to feel useless. She tried to push these strange feelings aside and spent most of her time with her children. But inside her a yawning emptiness spread inexorably, which wellness days, children's games and job interviews with teachers could not close.
As expected, Gaius had refused the epithet Britannicus. But this had not prevented the Senate from offering it to her son and now Aurelia had to live in the knowledge that her Julius was now called Britannicus. When Gaius had informed her of the Senate's decision, she had not even been able to freak out in horror. Perhaps it was better that she had barely reacted. That way, at least nothing could be interpreted from her reaction that had been detrimental to her family. She was still not thrilled about her son's epithet. But she was slowly getting used to his new name.
It was an unbearably hot June day and all the residents had taken refuge inside the villa. As long as Gaius was in the Senate and her children were having their afternoon nap, Aurelia had retreated into the depths of her library. But even the biting tips of Horace's satires could not cheer her up. Instead, a droning headache overcame her. Frustrated, she put the scroll aside, drew her knees to her chest and gazed out at the all-dominant city. How long she sat like that, she didn't know. She had lost all sense of time.
At some point, footsteps sounded, and someone sat down next to her on the windowsill. She did not take her eyes off the city for a second. She sensed that her silence made him uncomfortable. But she had no energy for one of their hour-long conversations about history. Maybe Claudius would leave her alone if she just ignored him. But he stayed silently beside her and after a while Aurelia realised how childish her behaviour was. Not even Julius, no, not even Britannicus would act like this.
"Did Gaius send you?" she wanted to know, turning her aching head towards him so that they could look each other in the eye. Caught off guard, Claudius scratched his nearly bald skull.
"He's worried about you," he began, and Aurelia silenced him with a look. More gently, Claudius continued, "We're all worried about you. But that's not why I'm here. We still lack someone to take over the professorship of contemporary history and I don't know anyone more suitable for the job than you. I would have asked you months ago if you hadn't been so busy filling in for my nephew. You have shown the world that you are ready for the job. So please accept my offer."
Wide-eyed, Aurelia returned Claudius' serene gaze. Her heart already knew the answer.