Page 52

I was momentarily taken aback. It was easy for me to forget that, despite her easy manner in private, Klaudia was also a member of the highest nobility, having inherited the small villa nearby and a vast country estate when her father died.

Don brought cups of wine into the garden and distributed them to the guests. He passed one to me with a wink.

“You keep a small staff,” Sophia said.

“I don’t need much, as a man living alone,” Sebastianus replied.

Maria, the youngest daughter, giggled nervously. I suspected that she was trying not to stare at his eye.

Georgios raised his cup. “To the Imperator’s health.”

We all lifted ours in return, although Sebastianus lowered his quickly.

Sophia peered through the doorway to the courtyard. She beckoned to her oldest daughter. “Agatha, come out here with me and look more closely at this garden.” To Sebastianus she said, “Your Grace, Agatha has such a great appreciation for flowers. She’s always walking outside at home.”

Agatha lifted the hem of her dress as though the thought of dirt frightened her and stepped delicately out to join her mother. Sebastianus followed them into the garden.

The middle daughter sat at my side. She looked to be about fifteen, with a cheerful, dimpled face. “My name is Helena. I understand you’re a scholar? I’m so envious. It must be wonderful living here, right in the Imperial District. So much going on every day. What are you studying? And you traveled here all by yourself? Were you frightened?” She took a deep breath. “Sorry. I ask too many questions.”

I suspected Helena lived in the shadow of her older sister, who was the obvious beauty of the family. “I ask too many questions too, so I don’t mind at all.” I could not help but smile. “Let me see. I do like living here, and what I’ve seen of the Imperial District has been fascinating. I’ve mostly been focused on my studies. I am learning Kish and also astronomy, which is the movement of the stars. The Archidux’s servingman, who is right over there with the tray, and his cousin, the Comitissa Klaudia, traveled with me, so I wasn’t afraid.”

“Your dress is beautiful. Mother wouldn’t let us wear anything like that.” She sighed. “Or study those things. We have a tutor, but we learn about Gurgexenes and read passages from the Book of the Deep.” She leaned a little closer. “You’re not afraid of him? The Archidux?”

I looked at her in surprise. “Why would I be afraid of him?”

The Archidux had picked a pink rose from one of the bushes and was showing Sophia and Agatha something about the petals.

“For one thing, he’s missing an eye, and his leg doesn’t work properly. Also, Mother says he’s rough and debauched. That doesn’t bother you?”

“No. To be honest, I never think about it.” I realized I had not given a moment’s thought to his missing eye or wounded leg in weeks.

Sebastianus led us into the triclinium, his rarely used formal dining room. This room had a balcony as well, and the doors were open, letting in the sea air. The low table was set with glazed pottery and thick candles of varying heights, their wicks flickering in the breeze. Soft couches surrounded it. One wall was entirely covered by a detailed fresco of women and men reclining on a tree-studded lawn, eating and playing instruments. Their revealing togas and dresses clung to their bodies. I heard Sophia sniff as we entered.

Sebastianus reclined on a couch with Georgios to his right. I was placed between the two older daughters, while Maria, her mother, and Klaudia shared the settee opposite us. Agatha did not seem as friendly as her sister, but as the two men immediately began discussing the conflict in the east, I turned to her.

“Are you enjoying the city?” I asked.

“We don’t go out in the city. It’s not proper. But from what I can see from our windows, it’s very crowded.” Agatha inclined her head slightly toward Sebastianus. “You’re not afraid, living alone with him?”

“Not at all.”

She seemed to consider this. “How old are you?”

“I’m twenty.”

“Why, you’re a year younger than Agatha!” Maria exclaimed from across the table. “But she doesn’t have any suitors yet.”

“Oh, shut up, Maria,” Agatha said.

“I don’t have any suitors yet either.” I thought of Klaudia’s remark that Sebastianus could not stop looking at me. I snuck a quick glance at him, but his attention was focused on his cousin.

“But you’re so pretty!” Maria tried to pick up a heavy pitcher with both hands, nearly spilling the water.

“Don’t be in a rush, ladies,” Klaudia said. “We’re only young once.”

The candles flickered in the breeze.

“Georgie,” Sophia said, interrupting her husband, “enough talk about war. I want to ask His Grace about his fascinating travels. Agatha, listen to this. Is it true that you’ve been all the way to Mys? I hear you went there and barely escaped with your life.”