Marc Antony’s Woman
By Misha
Disclaimer- Not mine.
Author’s Notes- Here we are at the events of chapter 20, the end is within sight! I tweaked the dialogue and added some stuff here, which is easier for me to do now that the book is over and I know that nothing I will add will affect the outcome. The next chapter will cover the Antony diamond scene, I split it for pacing and length.
Paring- Marc Antony/MC, slight Cassius/MC
Rating- PG-13
Summary- Portia joins the plot to kill Caesar, but she has ulterior motives.
Chapter Twelve- Plots Afoot
The night after I won my freedom, I slipped through the dark streets of Rome to meet Cassius and Brutus at the Temple of Nemesis and plan the death of our mutual enemy.
We discussed the various details, like the necessary distraction and how to recruit others to our side, and my brother’s place as one of Caesar’s guards, everything come together at last.
There was just one thing….
“What about Antony?” I asked, keeping my face neutral. This was the most important part of the plan because this was where my agenda did not match up with theirs.
Cassius frowned. “That may be the most difficult part. Antony’s only power stems from Caesar. He will be loyal to the death.”
I shrugged my shoulders delicately. “Perhaps not.”
I thought of what Antony had told me in the cell, “If there is anyone with the power to turn me from Caesar, it is you.” It looked like it was time to test the truth of those words, though I knew I would have to act carefully.
Cassius frowned. “Portia, I know Antony has shown you favor in the past, but he will not choose you over Caesar.”
I heard what he didn’t say: that he was here with me, plotting at my side while Antony was loyal to Caesar. And maybe that should matter, maybe in a fair would I would love Cassius, he had given me every reason too, but as I knew better than anyone, this wasn’t a fair world. People didn’t get what they deserved and there was no controlling where Cupid’s arrows landed.
“I can handle Antony,” I told him firmly, “I promise you, he will not interfere with our plans.”
A rare look of anger crossed Cassius’s face. “You cannot risk everyone on your trust for a man who’s never earned that trust.”
There was no denying his jealousy or his anger. I could only imagine how he would react if I told him the truth, that Antony was the man I loved, and that I would choose him over Cassius, if it came to that (and I knew eventually it would). Of course, I wouldn’t say that, not yet. Not when I still needed Cassius on my side.
“I’m not a fool, Cassius,” I said instead, “I don’t expect Antony to join us.” And I didn’t, I knew that would be asking too much, the best I could hope for was that he would not intervene, “I’m only asking you to trust me to keep him away.”
I had been working on this for months, since the day at the Vulcanalia, when I had convinced the crowd to cheer for Antony instead of Caesar, sowing the seeds of what Antony could be without Caesar and what we could have together. Caesar was all that stood between us now, I knew it and so did Antony… What I was gambling on was how much that obstacle mattered to him.
Brutus looked between Cassius and I uncertainly. “It seems a fair role for a woman like Portia,” I forced myself to keep my expression neutral at the implied insult in his words, “does it not, Cassius? What troubles you about her and Antony?”
Cassius was silent for a moment and I knew he would not confess his jealousy to Brutus. Instead, he let out an angry sigh. “Nothing. You’re both right.” He turned to me, his expression harsher than I’d ever seen it. “So long as you don’t let your feelings for him interfere.”
“Never,” I promised. And it was the truth, no matter how much I cared for Antony, I would not let that stop me from seeing my revenge through.
“Antony cannot be in the Senate on the day it happens,” Brutus warned, “Too many would rally to him if stepped up to defend Caesar.”
They would, not just the wavering members of the Senate, but also the crowds. Antony would be able to sway the crowds to his cause, something I was banking on. It was what I wanted, not for him to save Caesar, but I was counting on his ability to sway the people in the aftermath, assuming everything else went to plan.
But that was something I would keep to myself for now.
I kept my expression neutral as I laid my palms on the cold, stained stone of the atler. “Nemesis as my witness, Antony will not come between us and Caesar.”
**
I spent the next days taking engagements and charming patrons, gathering support for our cause. I saw Antony only briefly in that time, Caesar was keeping him busy. I also suspect that being seen with me was not the best way for Antony to show Caesar how loyal he was.
So I was surprised when he arranged for me to meet him at the Basilica one afternoon.
He greeted me with a familiar kiss, pulling me tightly against him.
“You are a vision,” he told me approvingly, “the most beautiful woman in Rome and she is on my arm.”
“There is no place I would rather be,” I assured him when he released me, “but aren’t you worried what Caesar will say?”
I had been pardoned by the crowds and by Caesar, but I was sure he still held enmity towards me. I had been foolish to tell him my motives, too eager to claim the victory for Gaul and to have him know why. I would not be so reckless next time.
“I’ll deal with Caesar,” Antony told me, looking unconcerned, “besides, he has more pressing concerns than the company I keep in my spare time.”
“Yes, I am sure ruling is quite taxing,” I commented, “and he has a lot to consider.”
“He does,” Antony agreed, “I’ve been talking to him about writing his will.”
“A wise precaution,” I said.
If Antony heard the irony in my voice, he chose to ignore it, his voice dropping as a group of senators walked by. “He actually told me he was sorry that there was nothing he could leave to Caesarion because he isn’t a citizen of Rome.”
I let my surprise show, “He’s leaving Caesarion out,” I paused deliberately, “does that make you his heir?”
Antony stopped walking suddenly, pulling me into him for a kiss, his lips moving across my jaw and lingering along my ear before he spoke, “who else? Caesarion is the only son of his blood. If Caesar is fool enough to reject him because of his mother, then who else could he possibly choose to succeed him except the man who already ruled in his name?”
It was a logical leap, especially since Antony shared Caesar’s blood, albeit distantly. However, it was something else he’d said that caught my attention.
“You think he is foolish to disinherit Caesarion?” I asked lightly as we drew apart, trying not to read more into his words than he likely meant.
Antony cupped my face. “A son is a son, wherever he is born,” his lips trailed across my jaw, “or where his mother was born.” His eyes met mine, dark and intense, and there was no mistaking his meaning.
“You are less concerned with rules than Caesar,” I said lightly, not wanting to linger on the subject. Was I willing to give Antony a son? Did he wish one from me? It was an interesting thought… But not one I could pursue just yet, so I changed the subject. “So now only one thing stands in the way of you being the most powerful man in Rome.”
“Somehow, when you say it that way, it sounds more like a threat than a compliment,” Antony said wryly.
“It’s not a threat to you,” I assured him, drawing him towards me for a brief kiss, letting my adoration show as I looked up at him. “Besides… You are already the first man of Rome in my eyes.”
I cupped his cheek with one hand, the other toying with his crown of laurel leaves. I was never sure what to make of Antony, like this, dressed up like a proper Roman citizen. In some ways, I preferred his armor, but if I wanted Antony, I would have to take all of him. And besides, I wanted Rome, and this was part of that.
“An excellent start,” Antony assured me, nipping at my fingers playfully.
After a moment, we pulled apart and began to walk once more. Antony led me past the basilica and across the forum.
“And where are we going today?” I asked curiously. “Lena didn’t say.”
I was sure Antony hadn’t sent for me just so we could walk. If he had just wanted to see me, he would have sent for me to come to him privately or come to the scholae, meaning that there was another purpose to this afternoon.
Antony grimaced. “There is a play Caesar has asked me to watch. Apparently, the content is rather… Subversive.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Worse than the last play you took me too?”
Antony chuckled and our eyes met, a warm look passing between us as we both remembered that night and our first steps towards physical intimacy, also the first time he’d let me see the real Antony, which was what had started my slow descent into falling in love with the man I’d wanted so badly to hate. “Far worse. It’s a drama. No nudity whatsoever.”
It was my turn to chuckle. “Then this will be a first for you.”
“Caesar suspects the show is inciting rebellion,” Antony continued, “Which I trust means Brutus or Cassius wrote it and it’s full of long speeches about the Republic.” He rolled his eyes, “It will be terribly dull, but I hoped that your presence would make it bearable.”
“I am flattered,” I assured him, running my hand up his arm, “Perhaps we can figure out a way to… enliven the material.”
Antony grinned, his arm wrapping around my waist and pulling me so close our hips bumped, “I’d be happy with just adding some nudity,” he said suggestively, his eyes running up and down my body.
“I’m sure we can work something out,” I assured him, reaching up to meet his kiss. After a moment, we pulled apart, “shouldn’t we be going then?”
Antony sighed, “Unfortunately.”
**
