The Purple Shroud: A Novel of Empress Theodora Read Online Free PDF Page A

she said to Armeneus.
    ‘In the women’s quarters, Mistress?’
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘It’s not usual to invite strangers – and some of the petitioners will always be men – to the women’s quarters.’
    ‘It’s not usual for an Empress to hear the petitioners instead of the Emperor. It’s not usual for the Empress to be attended by an acrobat dwarf who still has a sideline as a madam…’
    Sophia interrupted her, ‘If you’re referring to me, you might at least use my name.’
    Theodora nodded at her old friend. A vital part of her entourage since she had moved to the Palace, Sophia was one of the few people who knew Theodora from her former life who still had the courage to speak up to the Empress.
    ‘Sophia,’ Theodora said.
    ‘Mistress.’ The dwarf grinned from her place a few pacesbehind Theodora and added, ‘And I need that sideline, as you call it – you think the pittance you pay me keeps me in comfort?’
    Theodora smiled coolly. ‘You understand it’s believed to be an honour to work for the Augusta?’
    ‘Apparently so. And you’ll understand you’re not meant to know about my sideline.’
    ‘Regardless,’ said Theodora, turning back to Armeneus, ‘if the Emperor’s staff are happy for me to take on my husband’s work when it suits them, we can at least see that it suits me too.’
    ‘I’ll speak to Narses, Mistress.’
    ‘No, I’ll speak to Narses, you’d end up agreeing some halfway idea with him that neither solves my problem nor creates a new solution.’
    ‘As you wish.’
    They swept on through Theodora’s favourite courtyard, where the old Empress Euphemia’s intricate mosaic fountains poured cool water against gold and blue. Theodora’s pleasure in their beauty dimmed as she remembered the malice of the old woman who had baited her for so long. Lovely though they were, she was planning to have these fountains made over, hoping to remove the pain of the old woman’s disdain as she did so.
    ‘As I wish, yes,’ she answered Armeneus, ‘but when it comes to getting funds for my own projects, it’s hardly as I wish, is it? The Cappadocian keeps the purse tight shut when it’s to do with anything I want.’
    Armeneus stopped himself saying there had already been an enormous list of changes, in particular the elevation of her position to enable the Empress to make any demands at all. He knew his mistress and he also knew that despite her hatred of her husband’s new treasurer, and she wasn’t alone in that feeling,much of her complaint was for show. Like many who worked in the Palace, Theodora was proud of the petitioners’ system. Those who came to court to plead their case might have a long wait, or need to come back several times before they were seen, but most were seen eventually, and their concerns given attention. Not that they always received an impartial hearing.
    Among that day’s claimants were the usual round of widows asking for support, refugees begging asylum, and several divorced women trying to reclaim dowries from ex-husbands. All were delighted to find Theodora was hearing them, given her reputation for clemency towards women in distress.
    Then a much more assertive petitioner pushed forward to state his case.
    The patrician asking for financial aid was fat, sweating, and furious at having to wait on a long line of women before he was required to bow and kiss the Empress’s foot. Theodora had learned the old form of obeisance from Menander when she was a child in his classes, and had instituted it as Palace protocol as soon as she and Justinian came to power. She also insisted they were called Master and Mistress; the new term of address had caused concern in the Senate, and was obviously something this patrician was not comfortable with either.
    He barely touched her proffered foot with his lips and then heaved his bulk to stand unsteadily in front of Theodora. ‘Augusta…’ he began.
    Theodora frowned and, not hearing the correct term, turned to