Of course I was curious to know what the tricks might be, but she refused to tell me, despite my pleading. “A girl has to have one or two secrets,” she laughed, “even from her best friend. And if I tell you what they are, I shall no longer be the only one who can provide him with such pleasures.”
I thought it likely that in due course Griselda might inherit my position as concubine to the emperor, and this would give her influence with him. So all was not lost. From there things moved quickly. Two days later I was introduced by Claudius to my prospective husband, Marcus. He was really quite old, more so than I expected, though still upright in his stance and with a fine head of white hair. I liked his face; lined with experience, but with smile-lines too. We had a brief conversation, thou
