The Governor's Man by Jacquie Rogers (best beach reads TXT) 📕

‘What does that mean? I’ve never heard of that rank.’ She was still listening, and he saw the base of her spine soften against the bench as she relaxed.

‘It means promotion as Governor’s Man, reporting only to Aradius Rufinus. I’d be a senior officer, with staff of my own. The Governor has explained he wants me to represent him in a roving role across the Province and beyond, so my base at Aquae Sulis would be notional. I will have his full authority to investigate all serious and sensitive crimes that warrant his intervention.’

‘What’s that got to do with Rome?’

‘He wants me to go there first, to witness Trebonius’s trial. And to assess how his new Governorship is being seen in Rome. The times are tricky, with such a young Emperor on the throne.’

‘I see,’ she said. ‘Well, I must congratulate you, Beneficarius. You’ll certainly be mixing with influential people. Sounds like quite a boost to your career.’

He felt irritated. Is that what she thought, that he was pushing his career? Then he remembered what Demetrios had said, and saw the apprehension on her face. Her defences were back up, he realised. He had to make her understand that Britannia was where he wanted to be now.

‘Why not come with me, Julia? A holiday trip. You could meet my family. See Rome, where I grew up.’

She moved impatiently.

‘How? I can’t just drop everything. I have responsibilities. Aurelia. The estate. My work with Anicius …’ He studied her. Looked past the lovely grown woman to the child inside, the one who had hidden her wounds for so long. As he had too, he suddenly thought. He held his hand out again, palm flat.

‘I have something else to ask you, Julia. Give me the ring again, the bronze owl ring. And let me give you a ring too. Let’s go together to Rome as man and wife. We should have done this years ago. Please?’ He kept his hand extended.

‘If this gesture is for Aurelia, it’s not needed. She’s told me she knows that we are her real mother and father, and she doesn’t care. She doesn’t need us to marry for her sake. She has high status among our people as Marcus’s adopted daughter. This isn’t Rome, Quintus. We do things differently here.’

He tried one last time.

‘It’s not just for Aurelia. She’s already making her own way in the world, and always will. I’m asking you to marry me because I love you. I’ve always loved you, but I was too young and stupid to realise what really mattered.’

She fixed her eyes on him as if she hadn’t seen him properly until now.

‘I will come to Rome with you, Quintus. But I won’t marry you. If I meet your Roman family, it must be as Julia Aureliana, of a British family and tribe as proud and honourable as any in the Empire.’

He had his answer, but was it enough?

He felt almost resentful, as if she had just pushed him away. He thrust down the resentment, lifting her face to kiss. She returned the kiss, pressing her lips generously against his. She felt like the Julia of old; and yet, not. Was she holding something back?  And then she did pull away, looking intently at him.

‘Quintus, I’m not the same girl you left in Eboracum.’

He opened his mouth to speak, but she put her finger to his lips. He waited in agony. He had offered his heart as well as his hand and name. This was his way, the honourable Roman way. But Julia clearly had different ideas.

‘You might wonder why I have never married. Marriage, even back then when we were so young, never seemed to me just another stage on life’s path, predictable and expected. To me, it has to be so much more. I already have my daughter, my work, my own property, and my status as a tribeswoman.’

Quintus tried to understand, but he was unsure what she was telling him. Didn’t she want him? Perhaps she couldn’t see how their lives could resume smoothly from the point where they had been interrupted fourteen years ago. How arrogant he had been. Thinking he could heal all that was damaged between them simply by wanting to. What a fool he was!

Then she reached for him, and kissed him again, long and lingering. It felt like farewell. Or possibly a greeting, the first one of a new love. He pulled her tightly into his arms.

’I think I understand you now. I was naive to think we could go back to the people we were, that summer.’ He felt a tear, and then another, on his fingers. The young girl was indeed gone, replaced by a mature complex woman. A stranger; one he loved and longed to learn about.

She stirred in his arms. ’Yes, I think you do understand. Those two young people are gone forever, torn apart by long years and hurt. I think we should let them go. But, maybe, the man and woman we have become could have a different, better future together?’ He took her hand, and raised it to kiss.

‘Lady Julia Aureliana of the Durotriges, it would be my great honour to get to know you better. And to know our daughter.’

He smiled, feeling a great relief. ‘I would still love to show you the splendours of Rome, and introduce my family to you.’

‘Beneficiarius Consularis Quintus Valerius, I would be delighted to come to Rome with you. Without the company of our darling daughter, this time. ‘

She pulled the bronze owl ring out of her pocket, and placed it on his finger. He laughed and folded her into another kiss.

All too soon Aurelia returned, demanding to know if they were ever coming in for