Book I: No Greater Love. Prologue.
Book I: No Greater Love.
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We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. -- 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
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Prologue.
"I was afraid you wouldn't come," Caelia whispered as Sybylla slipped beside her.
"I was afraid myself," Sybylla whispered back.
"What was it that kept you?"
Before Sybylla could answer, Avilius, who was sitting beside them, leaned over. "Did the two of you come here to chat or listen?"
"Both," Caelia snapped at him. "Don't interrupt! Was it your mistress that kept you back so long?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes."
Annoyed, Avilius turned from the speaker to the girls. "What is it that the two of you are whispering about?"
"Why should you care?" Caelia retorted. Sybylla was more understanding.
"We're sorry, Avilius, we'll quiet down. It was only about the reason I was late.
Curiosity sparked in Avilius' dark eyes. "Was it something serious that kept you?"
"If you call my mistress's inability to make up her mind serious, then I guess it was serious."
Despite himself, Avilius was interested now. "I never actually heard much about your mistress," he stated in a hushed voice. No need to distract more people as it was."Is she someone of importance?"
"She thinks she is," Sybylla snorted.
"Oh?" Avilius lifted an eyebrow. "She's some noblewoman, right?"
Sybylla sighed. "Not just some noblewoman. She iCamilla Florentina."
"Who?"
"Come now, Avilius, even you must have heard of her, all the city has. My mistress Camilla Florentina, daughter to Tribune Marcus Junius Flavius, Rome's Favorite Flower." Sybylla took a deep breath. "And a tyrant in innocence's clothing."
