First there was the typical exchange of pleasantries. Then Apicius suggested they go to his library. I was not invited to attend my former master for the discussion but Sotas nodded at me, signaling that he would tell me of the exchange later.
Sejanus stayed for an hour but immediately after, Apicius left with Sotas to attend an assembly in the Forum. I departed at the same time to go to the school to teach classes, hoping I could walk with Sotas. Unfortunately, Apicius had Sotas join him in the litter as he sometimes did when he wanted to talk to someone as he traveled. As I walked to the school, I plotted in my head all the ways I could end Sejanus.
The day’s courses dragged as the salutatio had. I taught a class on sauces, one on banquet preparations, and lectured on the importance of spices in modern cuisine. I was so distracted I even burned my hand on a pot—thank the gods it was minor. A snicker from the back of the class pained my ego more than the fire pained my skin.
That night for dinner, I discovered that Apicius had invited Antius Piso and his wife, Lucasta. I thought it odd. We were supposed to dine with them on the following night, so seeing them there was unexpected.
My elevated freedman status allowed me to dine with the family, but when I saw them there, I hesitated until Apicius waved a hand at me to sit. I took up my spot on the opposite couch, thinking it was odd that Casca and Apicata were not present.
For gustatio, the slaves brought out an endive salad with honey and vinegar dressing, a platter of spicy fried pheasant meatballs, and sliced blood and womb sausages. I was pleased to see Timon had already mastered my recipes. Over the meal we made small talk about the Lex Sumptuaria. It was polite that Apicius talk of the engagement first but he seemed reluctant to do so. So instead we ate and talked politics. The guests reveled in the tastes, and while Aelia and I were pleased with their response to the food, Apicius appeared distracted.
His glass even shook when he talked, a fact it seemed I was the only one to notice. He also ate little, which was unlike him.
Finally, Apicius spoke. “Sotas, please clear the room and pour us some wine.” The rest of us watched with some measure of alarm as he ushered the slaves out and shut the doors to the triclinium. Whatever Apicius intended to say, it seemed he didn’t want the slaves gossiping about it. I wondered about the wine—it was unusual to serve wine during a meal unless the discussion was grave. Sotas poured out a measure of wine for each of us, watered it down, and returned to his post near the door.
Apicius raised his glass. “Piso, I have delighted in your company over the years and it’s my hope our friendship will continue to strengthen over the years ahead.”
Piso smiled and his wife patted him on the shoulder from her position on the couch next to him. “This union pleases us too,” he said, clasping his wife’s hand and squeezing it.
For a brief moment I saw a familiar look in my former master’s eyes—the look he had when the haruspex had given him his fortune all those years past, and when Livia intended to purchase me. It was a mixture of nervousness, anxiety, and determination. Apicius took a long swallow of wine.
“The union between you and me is one I plan to make strong. Hear me out, for while that is my intention, I regret to tell you I have changed my mind about the marriage between your son and my daughter.”
Aelia looked like she might die of embarrassment. The color rose in Piso’s cheeks as he considered the weight of Apicius’s words. Piso’s wife stared downward in openmouthed shock. My appetite transformed into a ball of anger when I realized who Apicius had promised our little bird to—the very man who would, I knew deep in the core of me, destroy her soul.
Piso’s jowls shook when he spoke. “Explain yourself. Why send word to us last night that you had chosen my son, then bring us here today to rescind your offer?”
Apicius fiddled with the purple edges of his toga. I was glad he was nervous. I hoped this decision gave him pause.
But when Apicius spoke he didn’t seem nervous. Quite the opposite. I hated how he was able to rally under pressure. “I won’t lie to you, Piso, or make excuses. I have been offered a more advantageous match.”
“You dishonor us!” Piso’s wife sat up, tears flowing down her cheeks, creating thin tracks in her pale leaden makeup. She jumped off the couch and stood there, balling up her fists in anger. Piso pulled himself off the couch and gathered his wife into his arms.
Apicius stood as well. “Please, I assure you my intent is not to dishonor anyone. By dishonoring you I dishonor myself. I have a proposal for you, to make up for my lack of decorum.”
For a moment, I thought that Piso might reach across the couch and strangle Apicius. “I’m not sure what you can do to fix this,” he snarled.
Apicius looked pained. “Please, my friend, hear me out.”
“Speak and be quick. I have no desire to dine with you tonight.”
“I’m sorry for that, but let me make this up to you. We have not yet shared the news of the engagement, so we can both avoid public embarrassment. However, I know that does not ease the pain of my actions. To compensate you, I will still honor Casca with a sum equal to Apicata’s dowry. Additionally, as a gift to you, I’d like to give you my villa in the mountains near Alba. I’ll even leave you a retinue of slaves to further show my goodwill. I do not desire an end to our friendship, Piso.”
There was silence for a time. Piso’s wife leaned over and said something indiscernible.
“We’d like a moment to discuss this,” Piso said.
“Stay here, of course,” Apicius said. “Sotas will be right outside the door and can attend to any desire you might have. We’ll wait in the atrium.”
? ? ?
I followed Aelia and Apicius out of the room and Sotas closed the door behind us. Aelia whirled on her husband.
“How dare you break the heart of your daughter?”
Apicius stared at her, his ears reddening with every word she said.
“Excuse me, wife? Were you questioning me?”
Aelia was not going to play the dutiful matron. “I am. I want to know why you broke off the engagement. Who are you planning to marry Apicata to?”
My mouth went dry when I realized that Aelia must not have known about Sejanus’s visit the day before.
“Your cousin, Sejanus.”
Her mouth dropped open in horror. For a moment it seemed that she was going to say something but then she began to sway. Helene caught her just as she fainted.
Apicius signaled one of the other slaves at the door to assist Helene. “Take her back to her rooms, let her sleep.”
? ? ?
After they had departed, I could not keep my tongue still.
“Did I understand you? You plan to marry Apicata to Sejanus?”
Behind Apicius, Sotas nodded, his face grave.
Apicius knotted his brow, seemingly surprised I would question him, then softened. “Yes. Sejanus has better long-term prospects than Casca.” He touched my shoulder, propelling me down the hall toward the atrium.