Chapter 9- Rebuilding Rome
Barbara knelt as she held the silver platter bearing Nero's golden goblet. She held it out to the fat monarch who was busy discussing plans to rebuild Rome with his ministers. He reached out and took the goblet without really looking at her and took a large mouth full while waving the other hand emphatically at his map.
"We shall do away with these areas, poor, dirty and infested with these followers of that Jewish prophet," Nero said, "Sweep away all those who do not belong in our glorious city and rebuild anew, a brighter, more magnificent Rome."
"Caesar, if these areas are cleared, there will be no where for the workers to live, and we still need them," one of the ministers said.
"Fool, traitor," Nero snarled, "You are in league with these Christians."
"I am loyal to Rome, Caesar," the minister said shakily, "Your wish is law."
"It is," Nero said, placated to a certain extent.
Barbara was about to retreat, but Nero grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him, wrapping his arm around her as he outlined his plans for whole scale demolition and rebuilding. She closed her eyes for a moment and tried not to cringe as she felt his arm encircling her waist. She tried to think of Ian, of the times he had held her in such a way, but every time she tried to picture their happier times, the images turned to that last moment when she had seen him- a bruised and bleeding prisoner. It hurt that she hadn't been able to see him yet, to see if he was all right. She had so much she needed to say to him, the main theme of which was 'sorry'.
Nero jostled her as made a particularly sweeping gesture. Barbara re-focussed on the fat monarch. His plans wouldn't work, Rome wouldn't be built as he envisaged, it would be rebuilt more or less as it was, but telling him that would be no good. She studied the plans. Unworkable. Expensive.
Someone tried to make a critical comment and Nero flew into a rage. Barbara was hurled aside as Nero shouted for the guards to come and take the unfortunate away, then chased the rest of the senators and advisors out of the room. She sighed and picked herself up, setting about collecting the dropped goblets and other debris of the 'discussion'.
Nero slid his arms around her from behind and pulled her into his lap. "My dove, they don't understand," he mourned, "I want to build a better and brighter future for everyone, but no one understands. All they worry about is trivialities. They have no vision." He lay his head on her shoulder and brooded.
I wouldn't call cost a triviality, Barbara thought, your plan would bankrupt the entire Empire. She wondered what the best course of action would be. She could wrap her arms around him, but the thought of actually embracing him was nauseating, and with the mood that he was in she could find herself watching Ian's execution if she annoyed him, with hers following close after.
"Would a bath make you feel better, Caesar?" she asked, "You must be tired, you've worked so hard to put your plan together."
"A bath, yes," Caesar said, "A bath and you can give me a massage to relax me." His head descended her shoulder again.
Like hell, Barbara thought, "And a nice glass of wine." A large glass of wine, or two, or three.
"My dove, you have the most wonderful ideas. Come, let's go."
Tomorrow, she thought as she walked with him to the extensive palace baths, tomorrow I can see Ian.
