31st August 38 AD

They had been back in Tusculum for almost a month and this time Aurelia had no reason to be lonely. Of course, part of her would rather be by the sea than in the mountains, but everyone had assured her that the cooler climate was better for Julius. Besides, Gaius was against travelling so far with a new-born when they had a villa a day's journey from Rome with a similar recreational factor. Most of the senators had taken up their villas on the Gulf of Naples and very few had moved to travel to Tusculum when they noticed that the Julio-Claudian family was in the mountains that summer. Yet their suppers were rich with faces they knew from Rome, not least because their entire family had joined them. Even Vespasian had travelled from his estate in Cosa a few days ago.
Some days Gaius retreated to his study-to-study reports or answer letters and petitions. But most of the time he spent with Julius and her. Every afternoon they walked hand in hand through the meadows and gardens of the estate and Aurelia enjoyed not having to share her husband with all of Rome in those moments. They were just Gaius and Aurelia. Two new parents walking around their estates. Of course, their conversations revolved mostly around Julius. After three days, Aurelia was able to persuade Gaius to let her nurse her son from time to time. Before the birth of her child, she had successfully repressed the fact that breastfeeding mothers were not only unusual in the Roman upper class, but also frowned upon. It was not proper to breastfeed oneself if one could afford a wet nurse and Gaius had hired three wet nurses for her son. For days they had weighed all the pros and cons. Finally, they agreed that Aurelia would breastfeed Julius in secret, which allowed them to avoid unsavoury gossip. Nevertheless, it was infinitely difficult for her to hand Julius over to one of the wet nurses when he cried out with hunger as soon as they were surrounded by her friends or family. So, she increasingly withdrew from the others and spent most of her time with her son.
"What are you thinking about?", Gaius wanted to know, and she emerged from the world of her thoughts. Smiling, she blinked up at him and confessed that she had just been thinking about Julius and she couldn't wait to watch him grow up. To her surprise, Gaius became very quiet and stopped. Questioningly, she also paused and eyed him silently. The next moment he shook his head and smiled at her light-heartedly.
"Is this how you imagined your birthday?" she asked softly as he pulled her closer and buried his face in her hair. Gaius snorted in amusement.
"Honestly, I thought my birthdays would be a wee bit more exciting if I outlived Tiberius," he confessed, straightening up and resting his forehead against hers. Immediately she probed and he began to tell her about the games and day-long dinners he had planned to host in Rome. She frowned thoughtfully and his grin grew a shade wider. He had only meant to tease her. Indignantly, she slapped him gently on the upper arm and he laughed happily.
"I have everything I need," he assured her seriously and kissed her softly. The dull echo of hobnailed shoes caused them to reluctantly disengage. Gaius cast a quick glance over her shoulder and heaved a small sigh.
"What is it Suetonius?" he called out to the approaching man and Aurelia turned. While Clement had remained in Rome, not wanting to leave the city without protection, Suetonius had accompanied her to Tusculum. The praetorian prefect trudged towards them with firm steps. As soon as he reached her, he reported without mincing words, "A carriage has arrived at the gate with a woman who claims to have been invited by you, Aurelia."
Irritated, Aurelia frowned and quickly went through in her mind which of her friends were missing. But they had all arrived weeks ago. Thoughtfully, she inquired about the woman's name.
"She claims to be a relative of yours and her name is Flavia Domitilla," Suetonius quickly replied and completely taken aback, she exchanged a quick glance with Gaius. As they followed Suetonius back to the villa, Aurelia recalled everything she knew about this woman. It was frighteningly little. Probably the reason for her lack of knowledge was that Flavia Domitilla had died sometime before the year of the Four Emperors. With every step, her excitement and curiosity grew about this woman who had produced two emperors - one of whom had been murdered. Suetonius sent a slave ahead and instructed Flavia to put Domitilla up in one of the small guest rooms.

When they reached the villa, Flavia's luggage was just being carried up through the atrium by a couple of slaves. There was no sign of the owner of the chests. Interested, Aurelia stretched her neck as the estate's steward approached her, awaiting new instructions.
"Has she been offered refreshments yet?" inquired Aurelia quietly, and the steward quickly answered her question in the affirmative.
"Has anyone noticed her arrival?" asked Gaius next, and the steward shook his head.
"No, milord," the steward assured him. "Your sisters and grandmother have not yet returned from their walk through the garden. Lords Sabinus and Vespasian are hunting with the other men, and lady Clementina has retired to her chamber because of a headache"
"Good," Gaius murmured, squeezing Aurelia's hand. "Go and change into something else and meet her in my office. I'll check on our son in the meantime"
Smiling, she blew a kiss on her husband's cheek. Then she wished him well with their son and hurriedly made her way to her chambers.

A little later, she entered Gaius' study and sighed at the sight of the documents piled up on his desk. Just before she reached his desk, she hesitated and looked around the light-flooded room. There was plenty of other seating that made the meeting seem less business like and although she knew Gaius had no secrets from her, she felt uneasy at the thought of putting his documents aside. Thoughtfully, she stepped to the large window and looked out into the beautiful garden where Gaius sat with Julius on a blanket under an old tree, trying to make the child laugh with grimaces. When their eyes crossed, he gave her a quick wink, then conjured up a scroll and began to read it to Julius with a solemn expression on his face. Around Julius' neck dangled his golden bulla, an amulet for protection and one of those traditions she had been fascinated by as a teenager. Some days it seemed so surreal to her to be able to see these little things with her own eyes. Smiling, she rolled her eyes at herself. A clearing of the throat made her whirl around. The woman on the doorstep immediately gave her the impression of being underdressed. Although the stranger was almost three heads shorter than Aurelia, she exuded enormous confidence and a grace that any supermodel would instantly envy. The colour of her dress was such a deep green that her fair skin seemed to shimmer. Her black hair was pinned up in an elaborate updo and every stroke of her make-up was perfectly in place. Her jewellery was anything but subtle, but it didn't look overdone on her. A friendly smile spread across Aurelia's face.
"You must be Flavia Domitilla," she said and asked the little woman to sit down on one of the two armchairs. Flavia returned her smile uncertainly and complied with her request. Her bangles jingled with every movement. Quietly, Aurelia took a seat in the other armchair and just as she was about to say something, the words began to pour out of Flavia. Patiently, Aurelia listened to her little speech, emphasising again and again how flattered and honoured she was by Aurelia's invitation. Flavia's expensive perfume hit Aurelia's nose and immediately she was relieved that she had not met Flavia sooner. During her pregnancy with Julius, she probably wouldn't have been able to stand the intense scent and she didn't want to offend her guest.
"You must be wondering why I invited you," Aurelia asked as soon as Flavia finished her speech of gratitude. For the first time, Flavia looked uncertain and nervous. Unconsciously, she played with her earring. Aurelia's smile became a touch warmer, and Flavia relaxed. Aurelia said, "When I first heard your name and learned that you were living all alone in Africa without the rest of your family, I was already settled in my new family and married. I know how it feels to live completely alone in a world dominated by men who only look down on women"
At this point Aurelia shuddered slightly as she thought back to her first days in Capri and her encounter with Tiberius. Still smiling she continued, "You are now part of my family, and should you decide to stay in Rome you will have the best chance of marriage. I know that you are also a Roman citizen, but in Rome you will have to claim this right. If Africa does not hold you and you wish to remain in Rome, I will do everything in my power to help you obtain your right."
Completely flabbergasted, Flavia looked at her and for a second Aurelia wondered if she had said something wrong. Then Flavia suddenly threw her arms around her neck and Aurelia flinched in surprise. Flavia really hadn't skimped on perfume. Embarrassed, Flavia quickly pulled away and smoothed out her dress.
"Please excuse my little intrusion," Flavia murmured, her voice trembling with gratitude and awe. "It's just that I never expected all these things and part of me has resigned myself to the fact that I will never marry and spend my life in provinces. Your offer is very kind and..."
"No, please don't make up your mind right now," Aurelia interrupted them hastily. "Take time to really think about it."
But Flavia just shook her head and said: "There is nothing for me to think about. There is nothing to keep me in Africa. You offer me a future and I will take that chance."
Nodding understandingly, Aurelia leaned back in her chair and let her gaze wander out into the garden to Gaius. At that moment he lifted his head and looked at her happily. Her smile widened a touch, then she focused again on Flavia, who had followed her gaze and was staring open-mouthed at her two men.
"Is that the princeps?" she asked in surprise, and Aurelia answered quietly in the affirmative. Flavia frowned.
"This is the only place where we are a little freer," Aurelia murmured, avoiding Flavia's questioning gaze.
"Why don't you tell me a little about yourself?" inquired Aurelia quickly, and Flavia immediately complied with this request as well. Attentively she listened to the tales of this woman of whom she knew so little.

"Don't you think she's a little too dolled up for Vespasian?" asked Gaius and Aurelia slipped her beautiful earring from her fingers. Slowly she picked up the earring, ignoring Gaius' questioning look he was trying to give her with the help of his reflection. Calmly, she fastened her earring, then rose, stepped to him and placed her hand on his cheek.
"I don't think Flavia and Vespasian are looking for love," she replied softly. "Of course, I understand your concerns. She seems like she can't handle money and Vespasian is terribly stingy. But she's not as simple-minded as I expected and she's very nice. If anyone can accept that her husband has a mistress, it's her and you know as well as I do that Vespasian will never drop Caenis. In the end it is not our decision so let's enjoy the meal in your honour and watch what happens"
"As usual, you're absolutely right," he said, pressing a feather-light kiss to the tip of her nose. Surprised, she laughed. At that moment his lips moved from her nose to her mouth, and she lost herself in his gentle touch.
"I have a present for you," Gaius murmured in her ear and she looked at him indignantly.
"But it's your birthday!" she cried, rolling her eyes. Catulus snorted in agreement. But Gaius' just grinned at her and placed a small object in her hand. Fascinated, she turned the golden coin between her fingers and compared the image and model with a scrutinising expression. Gaius rolled his eyes and turned in profile so that she could compare better.
"Turn it over," he asked softly, and she complied with his request. Another face was emblazoned on the other side, and it took Aurelia a moment to realise that it was her own. Completely speechless, she blinked at him, and his grin grew more uncertain.
"Don't you like it?" he asked anxiously, and Aurelia quickly shook her head. Thoughtfully, she played with the coin in her hand, trying to sort out her thoughts. But she could not understand the meaning. The most important tool in Rome was staging. In public they had to play their parts and theirs, Antonia had made it clear to her again and again, was to act in the shadow of her husband - for that was the place Roman society expected a woman of her status to occupy and they were entirely dependent on the goodwill of the people and the upper classes.
"Will you circulate such coins as these?" she asked timidly. Gaius laughed softly and put his arms around her. Instantly a feeling of safety and security flooded through her. Then he said, "Admittedly, the thought seemed very tempting to me. But we will be able to find a better time for that sometime. This Aureus is unique - at least for the moment".
She enjoyed his closeness for a while, lost in thought, before she asked why he had had this coin made then.
"Because we are only one together" he whispered softly and when his lips were only a few millimetres from hers, the door was yanked open, and Agrippina rushed into the room. Gaius didn't even flinch, but simply pressed his lips to Aurelia's, expertly ignoring his sister as the blood immediately rushed to Aurelia's cheeks. Agrippina giggled softly, which increased Aurelia's discomfort. Annoyed, he broke away from her and gave his little sister a bitter look.
"Can't you see we're busy?" he snapped gruffly at Agrippina. Swiftly Aurelia rose and turned to her sister-in-law, her cheeks glowing. In a more conciliatory tone, she inquired as to the cause of Agrippina's intrusion.
"We've been waiting for you with dinner for an hour," Agrippina replied accusingly. "And we can't start without you. So please let yourselves be seen, the rest of us are hungry."
Beside her, Gaius groaned in frustration, to which Agrippina raised an eyebrow in amusement. Quickly Aurelia grabbed his hand and pulled him out of her bedroom with her.
"It's rude to keep your guests waiting," Agrippina was still muttering when they pushed past her and ran hand in hand to their waiting guests.
"We're never late," Gaius whispered in her ear, his warm breath gently brushing the back of her neck. "The others are just too early"
Giggling, she entered the dining room and immediately the mood in the room seemed to relax. Unobtrusively Agrippina slipped back onto her couch at her husband's side, Antonia and Julia nodded at them in relief, Sabinus gave Aurelia a questioning look while Vespasian barely looked up from his conversation with Flavia. As soon as they had made themselves comfortable on their couch, the first course was served, and the conversation began to focus on Gaius as usual. Vespasian's laughter reached her ear and out of the corner of her eye Aurelia watched Caenis quickly avert her gaze. Immediately, pity for the young slave flashed through her. It was not her fault that she was only a slave in Rome and all at once Aurelia wished she could do more Caenis than seek a wife for her cousin who would tolerate a mistress beside her. But Aurelia was only a woman herself and in the eyes of Roman society her own worth was only slightly higher than Caenis'. If not for Gaius, she might have met a fate similar to Caenis. If she were alive at all.