To Love Again - Bertrice Small [103]
“Even if you were allowed to divorce Flacilla Strabo,” Basilicus observed, “you would never be allowed to marry a woman who had begun her life in Constantinople as performer in the city’s most notorious brothel. Surely you realize that, Aspar. You must realize it!”
“Cailin is a patrician, born into one of Rome’s oldest and most distinguished families,” Aspar argued. “Her tenure at Villa Maxima was not of her own making. She was not used as a common whore, and she only performed in that obscene playlet less than a dozen times. My God, Basilicus, there were women in the audience the night I first saw her who were coupling with slave boys, and all were of good family.”
The prince sighed. “I cannot argue with your logic, but neither can you argue with the plain facts. Yes, there were women of distinguished families seeking illicit entertainment, but they were not performing for the delectation of several hundred people twice weekly. Even my sister could be moved by Cailin’s story, but she would still not approve a marriage between you. Besides, the girl is a pagan.”
“She could be baptized, Basilicus, by the patriarch himself, ensuring that I would have an Orthodox wife and children,” Aspar said.
“You are living in a fool’s paradise, my old friend,” the prince told him. “You are too important to Byzantium to be allowed this romantic folly, and you will not be, I assure you. Keep the girl as your mistress, and continue to be discreet. It is all you will be allowed, but at least you will be together, Aspar. I will not tell my sister of your other desires. They would frighten her, for they are so unlike you.”
“I am the most powerful man in Byzantium, the kingmaker, they say, and yet I cannot have my own happiness,” Aspar said bitterly. He swallowed several gulps of wine. “I must remain married to a highborn bitch who whores among the lower classes, but I must not marry my highborn mistress because for a short time she was forced into carnal slavery.”
“Have you freed her?” Basilicus asked.
“Of course,” Aspar answered. “I told Cailin she would be freed legally upon my death, but actually she is free now. I feared she might leave me if she knew the truth, although she is really quite helpless. She wants to return to her native Britain to avenge herself upon the woman who sent her into slavery, but how could she do it without help? And who would help her? Only those seeking to take advantage of her.”
“And besides,” Basilicus said gently, “you love her. Do not regret what you cannot have, Aspar. Take what you can have. You have Cailin, and she is yours for as long as you desire her. No one will deny you your mistress, even if Flacilla protests to the heavens over it. The court knows your wife for what she really is, and no one would seek to see you unhappy. Do you understand what I am saying to you, Aspar?”
The general nodded bleakly. “I understand. What will you tell your sister, Basilicus? It must be enough to keep her content.”
He laughed. “Yes, Verina is more curious than a cat. Well, I shall tell her that you have taken a charming, beautiful mistress to your bed, and are living quite contentedly with her at Villa Mare in order to avoid any scandal, or public argument with Flacilla. She will think you justified despite her friendship with your wife, and that will be the end of it, I suspect. Verina thinks I do not lie to her, although I find I must sometimes in order to protect her, or to protect myself.” The prince chuckled. “Besides, I shall not be lying. I shall simply not be telling her the entire truth. But then she really does not need to know the whole story, does she?” He grinned at Aspar.
“I do not know why Leo does not use you in the diplomatic service,” Aspar said, his gray eyes twinkling.
“My brother-in-law does not trust me,” Basilicus replied. “He also does not like me, I fear. His high office has turned him from a dull little man into a dull little