Julia, knowing that Domitilla was related to the Emperor, was beside herself with excitement and anxiety that the evening should go well. The household would not have been more disturbed if a hurricane had hit it. Demosthenes, who had sowed the seed, retreated, and it was the rest who bore the brunt of her conflicting orders, her frantic efforts to have everything cleaned and cleaned again; furniture moved and moved again; menu changed and changed again. Aulus, on Julia’s instructions, invited Decius Brutus, and was then berated for it.
The greatly anticipated moment came at last. The boatman deposited the two ladies and their attendants at the small landing stage. They were greeted politely by Lucius and shown to the house. Lavernia, who had not known about the new villa Aulus had recent
