Marcellus, a wealthy land owner in the city of Rome, has become unhappy in his marriage to his even wealthier wife, Helena. Helena is an average daughter of a magistrate, she expects everything and gives back very little to their relationship. Marcellus married as arranged by his parents and after ten years of hearing her complaints he has began to loathe the woman he was once infatuated with.
In the summer of 45 BC, Marcellus, well known due to his wealth of political sway from his wife, meets a merchants daughter named Sura in the Forum Boarium. Sura, much younger than he, is a beautiful and well spoken girl of seventeen who opens the eyes of Marcellus who has been robbed of love for years. Marcellus asks Sura to accompany him back his house on the Palatine Hill to help with the goods he purchased while his wife is away visiting her father.
Marcellus does this on a number of occasions while his wife is gone and even has dinner with the merchant girl. After Helena returns from her trip, Marcellus has decided he can no longer be in his marriage and wishes to get out any way possible. Marcellus considers breaking the marriage but realizes he would basically be signing a death wish as Helena’s father is a very traditional and vengeful man. Then, one night, Marcellus entertains the idea of having his wife killed as to look like either an accident or outside attack and that’s when he begins planning. The plot for murder and his love for Sura thickens as Marcellus’ life becomes one of secrecy and planning in order to become free of his stagnant marriage.
