"Etruscilla, are you sure you wish to meet this man face to face? What if he attacks you again? I will not allow you to face him alone."

I take her into my arms and hold her tightly to me. The thought of Claudius coming near her makes my blood boil.

"Hadrian, he is my husband. But maybe, just maybe, I can convince him to leave me alone and return to Roma. He would never stay away from there long."

"And what if he insists upon you returning with him?"

"I will refuse him," she says. "Oh, I am sure he will go about bad mouthing me and my family once he gets back, but I do not care. It will only make him look bad. I will not subject myself to his brutality ever again."

"Very well. But I am not leaving your side. I have made arrangements to have clothes and other belongings brought here so that I may be on hand to help protect you and your cousin. I have also hired a few extra guards."

"Seems you have thought of everything."

"As soon as I learned of Claudius' presence here, I moved to take the necessary precautions. You and your cousin's well being is of the utmost importance to me."