The Furies of Rome (13 page)

Nero, however, had not brought his mother to Baiae just so that she could indulge in the pleasures that it offered; far from it: he had brought her here to woo her before witnesses. His objective was that by the end of the evening she would feel completely relaxed and at ease in his company and he went about this mission with an extraordinary energy. It was he who served her the first cup of wine, making a point of tasting it first to show that whatever she may have thought him guilty of in the past he was not trying to poison her this evening. It was Nero who deferred to her on the choice of music that the ensemble of musicians, placed discreetly behind intricately carved wooden and ivory screens, should play. Nero himself chastised a slave who had been clumsy enough to brush against Agrippina’s arm as he served her water for her second cup of wine; and to show his filial concern for the presumption of one so far beneath his mother, Nero ordered the hapless man to be flogged then and there until the whiteness of his ribs could be seen through the tattered flesh and streaming blood. Yes, Nero was the model son trying to make every effort to ensure that his mother had the most relaxing and carefree of evenings.

And Vespasian observed all this along with a couple of dozen other senators, summoned to bear witness to the joyous occasion. He watched the solemnity with which mother and son said prayers and made sacrifices to the goddess Minerva; and he, along with his colleagues, stood with a fold of his toga covering his head, partaking in the ceremony, as the would-be murderer performed the rites sacred to the virgin goddess of music and poetry alongside his intended victim. He partook of a meal of such extravagance that even Caligula might have felt a twinge of envy, joining in the toasts and savouring recipes of Nero’s own concoction as they were entertained by troupes of dancers and acrobats from all over the Empire. He listened intently as Nero praised his mother, calling her the best of mothers and affirming that any good son should tolerate outbursts from their parents and try to soothe their behaviour. He and the rest of the witnesses pretended not to notice the salacious kisses exchanged by the reconciled couple and they feigned not to see the lingering caresses that also passed between them; but they applauded wholeheartedly when Nero raised Agrippina to her feet and announced that they would leave the company for a short while so that they could walk and talk in private around the gardens. When the imperial couple returned, not long later, Vespasian and the others welcomed them back with equal enthusiasm and tried not to think about how the grass stains came to be on Agrippina’s stola around the height of her knees and why her hair on either side of her head was ruffled as if it had been subject to a fierce grip.

Soon it was time for the parting and Nero spilled many tears at the thought of being separated from his mother but extracted a solemn promise from her that she would allow him to return the visit the following evening. ‘Mother, you have made me the happiest of sons,’ Nero declared looking to the heavens, his left arm raised.

Agrippina played her part and cradled Nero’s chin in the palm of her hand and, pulling him close, kissed him full on the mouth. ‘To be reunited with her son after an estrangement is a mother’s dream.’

This sentiment was commended by all present and joy seemed unconfined.

‘Anicetus!’ Nero called, once he was able to master the emotion of the moment. ‘Where are you? Is it here?’

A man stepped out of the shadows, a man whom Vespasian was sure had not been there before. He wore the uniform of a prefect and Vespasian knew him to be a freedman of Nero’s and recently appointed the commander of the fleet at Misenum a few miles north up the coast.

‘Well?’ Nero enquired.

‘Princeps, it has arrived and it is splendid.’

Nero clapped his hands together like an excited child. ‘Excellent!’ He turned to Agrippina. ‘Mother, I have had a beautiful thing created for myself but, despite its beauty, it cannot please me nearly as much as you responding so favourably to my overtures of peace; it makes me so happy to know that there is nothing but love between us now. So therefore, Mother, come and see what I’ve had crafted for my pleasure that I now, spontaneously, give to you in celebration of our peaceful accord.’ He took Agrippina by the hand and led her from the hall; Vespasian and the other senators followed in close attendance.

Through the villa Nero led them and then on out into a night chilled by a freshening wind. Across the lawns they went, down towards the sea. And there at the jetty, on the opposite side to the trireme upon which they had arrived, was moored another vessel. Even in the light of the two torches still flaming at the jetty’s end, Vespasian could see that it was painted white and its metal fittings were gilded. And he could see why this evening had been almost four months in the preparation: it was magnificent. At its prow was a swan’s neck and head, elegantly carved and covered with white feathers each individually attached. Amidships were two wings, one on either side; again these were feathered. Protruding from the stern and forming a covered seating area was the tail of the bird so that the whole vessel resembled a swan swimming.

Cries of wonder and disbelief that such a thing could have been conceived, let alone built, erupted from the senators, and Vespasian did not hold his contribution back even though he knew that this was not what it appeared to be. However, one glance at the genuinely pleased smile written all over Agrippina’s face told him that she suspected nothing; she evidently thought that Nero had been sincere and her desirable femininity had truly secured their relationship and this gift was the proof of it: how could something so extravagant, so beautiful, so elegant be anything other than what it seemed: a gift from an Emperor to his mother? It did not cross her mind that this was to be the instrument of her death. She flung her arms around Nero’s neck and kissed his cheeks and he, in turn, cupped her breasts in his hands and bent to nuzzle them. Mother and son parted on the best of terms as all present would be able to bear witness to.

‘You should have seen it arrive,’ Magnus said, appearing next to Vespasian. ‘I really thought it was a monstrous swan at first, until I saw the oars sticking out.’

Vespasian looked at the vessel, impressed at the effort that Nero had gone to in order to hide his true intentions. ‘He must be very keen for people not to suspect him one bit over her death.’

‘He’s going to kill her in that? How?’

‘I imagine he’ll sink it.’

Gallus, Agrippina’s freedman, helped her aboard and Acerronia, her slave, went ahead to plump up the cushions on the couch beneath the swan’s tail. As Agrippina stepped onto the deck she turned. ‘Where is Vespasian? He and his man are meant to be accompanying me.’

Vespasian jolted; he had no intention of getting on that ship. He stepped further back into the shadows.

‘Where’re Vespasian and his man?’ Agrippina repeated with more truculence.

‘Shit!’ Magnus whispered. ‘Are we going to have to go too?’

Nero looked around. ‘Vespasian?’

Vespasian was unable to hide any longer, not with the Emperor calling for him. ‘I’m here, Princeps,’ he said stepping out from the crowd.

Nero beamed at him. ‘There you are; you and your man will accompany my mother.’

Vespasian swallowed. ‘As you wish, Princeps.’ He began to walk forward.

‘Princeps,’ Seneca said, putting a restraining hand on Vespasian’s shoulder. ‘I was very much hoping to keep Senator Vespasian here with me for the rest of the evening, as I was hoping to … er … what’s the best way of putting it?’

‘Just put it anyway you like,’ Nero snapped, evidently irritated, ‘but put it quickly as my mother is waiting.’

‘Borrow him, Princeps; yes, that’s exactly it. Borrow him.’

‘Borrow him? What do you mean by that?’

‘I was hoping that he could give me some insight into the mind of the Parthian King, Vologases, seeing as he is the only senator to have met him and we are thinking of sending an embassy to him to discuss the Armenian question very soon in light of Corbulo’s recent successes with our legions out there and to demand that he refutes his younger brother Tiridates’ claim to the throne.’

Nero thought for a few moments. ‘Why now?’

‘What better time than the present, Princeps? It’ll give us more time to draft a speech for the ambassador to read out.’

This made sense to Nero and he acquiesced. ‘Very well, you can
borrow
Vespasian, but his man has no need to stay; he can accompany my mother to ensure her safety.’

Seneca inclined his head. ‘Indeed he can, Princeps.’ He looked at Magnus and gestured him towards the ship.

‘I guess I don’t have a choice,’ Magnus muttered to Vespasian under his breath.

‘I’m afraid you don’t, old friend.’

‘Well, there’s always a first time to learn how to swim.’ Magnus patted Vespasian’s shoulder and walked towards the ship.

Vespasian watched his friend ascend the gangplank, which was drawn up after him. With a series of nautical orders ropes were cast off and the ship was pushed clear of the jetty. Oars appeared from within the vessel and the stroke-master’s shrill pipe got them beating in slow time. The graceful vessel rowed off into the night as the wind freshened even more and the waves got up so that the white swan swam on white horses. Soon it was but a shadow out to sea and then Vespasian could see it no more.

Once Agrippina had gone, Nero’s creatures came out: the people with whom he enjoyed amusing himself but whom he would rather hide from his mother lest they sway her mood and spoil his deception. Vespasian entered the atrium and sat in a corner with Seneca, watching them emerge from wherever they had been secreted: battered charioteers, actors and the more raucous sort of musician as well as deformed things of either sex who were there to be enjoyed by whoever felt the need. Of Nero, however, there was no sign, which presented a difficulty to the senators, who did not know whether they had been dismissed or were required to wait for the Emperor to return. They milled around the atrium in small groups drinking wine, which was circulated by slaves, and talking in hushed tones as Burrus walked amongst them laughing and joking with each group and assuring them that the Emperor would be down soon.

Now that he and Seneca were relatively secluded, Vespasian felt free to talk. ‘Why did you do it?’

Seneca was a picture of innocence. ‘Do what, my dear fellow?’

‘Prevent me from getting on a doomed ship while I have to watch my friend walk to his possible death.’

‘Doomed? Who said anything about it being doomed?’

‘Oh come on, Seneca; don’t think that I don’t know just what has been going on. How you did nothing to stop me from believing that Caenis had betrayed me to you so that your real motive for getting Agrippina here and your co-operation with Pallas for doing so could be kept hidden.’ He waved a hand towards the senators. ‘Assembling a load of witnesses to watch the happy reunion and then see the tears and anguish of the Emperor when he receives the news that his darling mother has gone the way of the Ferryman so that no one can accuse Nero of such a disgusting crime. You and Pallas have formed an alliance to get rid of Agrippina for your mutual benefit and the Emperor’s convenience; you used me as your tool, and yet rather than discard me when Agrippina unexpectedly gave you the chance to be rid of someone who may well have seen through the plot, you save me. Why?’

Seneca chuckled, genuinely amused. ‘Well, well; I did question Pallas when he assured me that you would never suspect the real motive for the reconciliation. He evidently underestimated you. But I didn’t. I was sure that you wouldn’t be able to believe that Caenis spied on you for me so it was a certainty, in my opinion, that you would realise the true nature of the plot—’

‘It was my brother, actually.’

‘Whoever; but don’t worry, Titus will still get his posting in Germania. The point was that I wanted you implicated so that I would have a certain amount of, what’s the best way to describe it? Leverage! Yes, leverage; I needed to get a certain amount of leverage over you.’ Seneca beamed broadly at Vespasian, a picture of contentment. ‘Which I now have.’

‘You’re even more involved than I am in Nero’s matricide, should the crime become public.’

‘Perhaps so, but that would take a lot of proving; and yet there are plenty of people who can swear that it was you who, how shall we put it? Enticed, yes, there are plenty of people who can swear that it was you who enticed Agrippina to her death. And of course the crime will become public knowledge; it’s a stupid plan that Nero and Anicetus have come up with but I couldn’t dissuade Nero from it because I had to pretend to him that I had no notion of the scheme. A lead-weighted, collapsing awning in the form of a swan’s tail, on a ship that is designed to fall apart at probably around about now; ridiculous! Of all the fifty or so crew aboard only twenty are in on the plan; but what about the others? Some of them will survive and the whole foolish affair will be revealed, and then what?’ Two raised eyebrows. ‘Hmmm?’

Vespasian did not need to think for too long to have the answer. ‘Nero will be looking for scapegoats.’

‘Yes, anybody who can be used to divert attention away from him will be in danger. You see, Vespasian, I’ve known Nero a long time and I know that at heart he does have some form of a conscience, in that he doesn’t like people to think badly of him, which is a burden in someone becoming so prone to … what should I call them … despicable, yes, that will do nicely, despicable deeds; although, he does seem to have stopped his rampages through the city since that business with Terpnus.’ Seneca scrutinised him intently, giving Vespasian the impression that he knew more about the incident than he, Vespasian, would wish. ‘So, apart from Anicetus, who Nero finds very useful for the more hideous of his crimes, everybody involved in the plot’s days are numbered, as are the men’s on the ship, should any of them survive, and then of course, if that doesn’t satisfy Nero, I could point out to him that there is you.’

‘Not you or Burrus?’

‘My dear fellow, as I said: I, like Burrus, had no notion of the scheme and Nero knows that. Now, I can use my influence with Nero to save you and that’s the leverage, I think we decided that was the right word, that’s the leverage that I now have on you.’