Messalina lives under the care of her guardian Sister Flacilla, whose Refuge for the Wayward is Sister Flacilla's personal charity to former prostitutes wanting to be saved and reconstituted as good women, mirroring the same efforts of Empress Theodora. Though not really a sister of any order, Sister Flacilla has appropriated the title while doing much good work for the women and the poor, who she gives medicine, food and encouragement. Her deceased husband, who made a fortune as a provincial governor and is rumored to have died in a brothel, leaves her a fine home and lots of money. But she appears determined to use it all to help her girls and the poor.

 

Sister Flacilla runs a tight ship, and has a particularly keen eye on Gaius Galen, who knows he must win Flacilla to win Messalina, Here is an excerpt from Chapter 27, Kicked by a Donkey, when she steps in to overrule the eunuch Herulian’s treatment for Gaius’ mania attack…

 

Flacilla examined my tongue, then took my hands in hers and squeezed them like I was her beloved son, a pleasant thought that warmed me.

 

“My bag is in the carriage, it will take her a moment to go get it,” she said, her eyes dancing, her face sly and knowing. “You love her, Gaius Galen, don’t you?”

 

“Yes. Completely.”

 

“How could you not? She adores you, has been sick with worry since these friends of yours,” she nodded to Tedius and Monaxius, “told us of your predicament.” She put her fingers to the sides of my throat and felt for my humors throbbing along.

 

“Descent, also more accurately called Donkey Kick, is what you took,” she said, a quick glare to Tedius, “rather, that’s what they forced into you.” I silently agreed as she examined inside my mouth. “My word, did they stab it into you with a knife? The important thing is to get it out of you. Eunuch fools, no wonder half the court is always sick. Tedius, this man is to drink as much water as possible. After three hours, you can begin to add weak wine.”

 

Messalina returned with a tattered leather bag.

 

“Give me the pearl balm, Dear, and come assist,” Flacilla instructed. She dabbed a greasy substance onto her index fingertips and began to massage this into my temples. It burned pleasantly.

 

“Messalina is what you need, Gaius Galen,” Sister said. “We have discussed it this evening at our temporary home during this rioting: Scorpus’ estate away from these destroyers – yourself included.” Her touch lightened even as she scolded.

 

“Scorpus?” I looked quickly at Messalina. “Staying with Scorpus? Can you trust that man with your waywards?”

 

“Quiet,” Sister Flacilla snapped. “He’s a gentleman, a kitten really, and a fine host. Do you want your mob to pull Messalina out into the street? We are much safer in the suburbs across the Golden Horn – with Scorpus.”

 

I leaned into her circling touch, nodding agreement. Sister rose and indicated Messalina take her place. “You two can hold each other, you both need it – just holding.”

 

Messalina demurely sat down and nestled into my arms.

 

Sister Flacilla looked around the room, moving to the lounge in the sitting area. “Tonight, I will stay here, we will stay here,” she pronounced. “Messalina at your side the rest of the night will do you wonders, Gaius Galen. In the morning we will travel back with the 10 riders Scorpus has sent with us.”

 

My mind considered quiet sex in the dark, but Sister was there first.

 

“There will be nothing sexual, if indeed your crushed psyche could muster such in your weakened state. Messalina will allow only hugging and kissing, and not too much of that.”

 

She stepped closer to the other side of the bed and pushed down on it a couple of times.

 

“Oh yes, I could sleep on this bed with you fine – and I will if you show any sign of not behaving, Gaius Galen. Messalina, I trust completely.” At this Messalina gave my side a pinch. Flacilla saw me flinch.

 

“Gaius Galen, this is medicine, even that pinch. I will observe you and give you potions and balms, like the powdered pearl cream to coax your thoughts back to order,” she said. “Messalina is love for you, the physical and emotional embodiment of love. And there is no stronger medicine than that. This is medicine we bring to your scattered brain. We are here to pull it together, so you can save that man’s family, that man’s wife, Messalina’s sister and her own chance at happiness. And that will take a strong man, a sharp man, which you are not at the moment.”

 

She pulled pins out of her hair and it fell as a gray-white curtain over her shoulders, a signal that she was comfortable with me, a step of intimacy she must have thought I needed. Flacilla was a beautiful woman and perhaps my Godsend. She laid down on the lounge and pulled a knitted cover over her.

 

“I sleep with both eyes open, just ask my girls. Tedius, bring the pitcher of water. Monaxius, leave just one candle lit. Awaken us before dawn,” ordered Flacilla, though with a bedtime sweetness to her commands. “And see to it that Scorpus’ men are well settled and fed.”

 

“Already done, our Sister,” said Tedius. “I am eternally grateful for your help, eternally,” and he nodded to Flacilla, then to Messalina and gave me a big grin.

 

“Gaius Galen, get under your covers,” said Flacilla, closing her eyes. “Messalina, on top of the covers. Tedius, a blanket for her.”

 

I didn’t hear another word from Sister Flacilla the rest of the night. In the spirit of her mission, I only held Messalina, with a few kisses. It was what I needed, what I wanted to have from here on. But later in the night, Messalina’s softness backed into me, her sleeping breaths a whispered pace, my spirits did rise. Quite well. And when I could finally get them to pass and I began to drift off, I felt healthy, a young man with a beautiful woman in his bed, my one thought as I fell asleep.