The
year is 45 BCE. Lucius, a wealthy equestrian, has created quite a life for
himself. Born a pleb, Lucius spent many hard working years becoming the
businessman he is today. Once attaining his equestrian status, Lucius gathered
the courage to ask Carisia to marry him and together, they had a beautiful
daughter Aemilia. It is Aemilia’s tenth birthday and Lucius buys a Greek slave,
Nicander, to tutor her. Lucius is determined to raise a bright and intelligent
daughter.
Carisia
comes home on her daughter’s birthday to find Nicander. Lucius did not tell her
of his plans to purchase a new slave and she is surprised to find a stranger in
their home. Carisia observes and admires Nicander’s large build and secretly is
pleased there will be someone new in the house.
Nicander,
a prisoner of war, has just been bought at the Roman Forum and informed he will
be a tutor for a rich equestrian family. He is relived that his scholarly
background has outweighed his large stature and that he will not be working in
the fields for the remainder of his life. Nicander meets his new pupil,
Aemilia, and suddenly regrets his initial relief. He can tell that she has been
raised in a pampered, spoiled environment and that it will be difficult to tear
her away from her dolls to obtain concentration. Suddenly, Nicander sees the
woman of the household, Carisia, and is struck by her beauty.
Lucius
informs his wife that he will be away from the home for a month due to a business
deal he must attend to in Sicily. Carisia agrees to attend to the business in
Rome while Lucius is gone and tells Lucius she will be fine alone, as she must
comfort her best friend Terentia in her time of need. Cicero, a long time
family friend, has just divorced Terentia. Lucius is comforted by the fact that
Carisia will be busy both socially and domestically while he is away.
Lucius
is quite unaware of the fact that Carisia and Nicander have noticed each other
so intently. A month is a quite a long time to be left alone…
