The Barbarian's Mistress Read Online Free PDF

not , Ninia?’ he said, without looking up. She could see the perspiration on his receding brow as he leaned over his documents.
    ‘I… I have served my mistress to the best of my ability for as long as I can remember, Master.’ The use of the word friend was forbidden between master and slave. Why would Bibulus use it now?
    ‘Do you serve your mistress out of obligation or affection?’ His head came up and his sharp eyes pinned her to the wall.
    ‘Affection, sir. She inspires nothing less.’
    ‘Good. Then I need you to do something for me. For her. Her mother has plans for Anniana that would probably mean her death. I must stop that at any cost. So I am sending her away to be married. But her mother must not know of it.’
    ‘How…?’ The shock of his statement had her head spinning. Sending Anni away? But he couldn’t. The only thing that stood between her and madness was Anni. If her sweet friend wasn’t there to comfort her when the abyss opened again, she didn’t think she’d make it out another time. The darkness was too complete. The fear too jagged.
    ‘The how is not important, and the less you know the better, for the moment. You play the lyre, do you not?’
    ‘Yes… yes sir. Not as well as Anni, but well enough.’ She kept her tone cool, hiding her discomfort and uncertainty from the too observant eyes.
    ‘Anni? You call her Anni? That suits her.’ His tense face softened for an instant. Then he was all business again. ‘I need you to assist me in this subterfuge. I plan to send Anni, as you call her, away tonight when the house is asleep. But my wife must not know she is gone. We must act as if she’s still here, playing her lyre, abed with a headache, whatever it takes to convince Salvia that there is nothing amiss. From what I can gather, Salvia barely registers her ex istence, most of the time. It should be easy enough for her to remain ignorant of my lamb’s absence for a few days, at least.’
    ‘But what if she asks…’
    ‘How often does she ask for her daughter?’
    Ninia thought quickly. The more beautiful Anni had become, over the years, the less Salvia wanted to see her. The mother didn’t want to be reminded of what she had lost. Salvia never asked after her daughter. The only time she made the effort to see her was if she wanted something.
    ‘Rarely.’ She didn’t let her condemnation influence her neutral tone.
    ‘As I thought. So if we can create the illusion of my lamb’s continued presence in the household, then her absence might go unnoticed for some time. Can I entrust you with that task?’
    ‘Yes Master, of course. But shouldn’t I be going with your daughter? She will need a handmaiden…’ Stay calm, Nin, don’t let him see your panic.
    ‘Not for the time being. When she is settled in her new home I will send you to her, do not fear. But until then, your job is too important here.
    ‘I need you to take one of your tunics to Anniana’s room, and any other clothing she might need to pass as a reasonably well off pleb. But don’t tell her what you’re doing. Don’t let her know what’s happening. I will explain it all to her later this evening, just before she leaves.’
    ‘I can’t say goodbye?’ Keep cool. Don’t let him see how this devastates you. He doesn’t care.
    ‘No. It will distress her too much. Stay with your parents after you have settled her for the night. Claim your mother is sick, whatever you need to do so she is unaware of the real reason for your absence from her room. I know this will be hard for you, but it is a kindness to her.’
    ‘All right. I can do that. I’ll return to her room with breakfast as normal, and try to make it seem she is still here.’ Ninia drew back her shoulders, determined to do what she could to protect her mistress. It was selfish of her to think only of herself in this.
    For a moment Bibulus stared at Ninia, a frown forming on his high forehead. ‘You were always such a bubbly little thing. When