<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/d/dc/Caris.jpg)</div>Caris smiled kindly as the male servant indicated to another to take the garments to be cleaned. When she turned to thank him however his words stung bitterly, she was not sure what had warranted his rebuke of her for she certainly had no intention of supervising anything. She blushed crimson, casting her gaze low as she stood back not daring even to reply with a thank you for assisting her. It had been her mistresses orders to take care of her garments, it had not been her plan to overstep any protocol in the Ludus and she was sure they were more than well equipped with taking care of cleaning expensive fabrics but she had after all simply been given an order and had been following it through.Now she felt bereft that she was unable to do so. Standing back from view slightly behind the other servants she kept her poise as she stared ahead of her. It was simply a few hours and nothing more, they would then return to their own Ludus and not have to put up with these barbarians any longer. Caris refused even to glance in the direction of Patrocles, convinced he would be smirking if he was aware of how she had been verbally dressed down by the male house servant.<br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/36/Livia.jpg)</div><br/>Livia noted the nod that Manius Atellus gave her and smiled softly as she turned her gaze momentarily to the scene before them again. The heat of the days sun was doing no favours to the corpse and soon a bevy of flies would crave an audience with it. As he spoke she turned to gaze at him, her keen eyes took in the changes instantly, something was amiss but she was not sure as yet what. She had obviously done wrong in her suggestion and she hastened to recall in her own mind what it was she had said to broker such a change. Weighing his words carefully she felt suddenly the light brush of his finger against her palm, the gentle tickle was to appease her somehow and she had quickly to compose the warm smile that threatened to light her features yet again.<br/><br/>She had no time to speak again, for her choice of words had indeed been foolish and she had every intention of correcting them when the woman before them spoke. It was not so much speaking as being blatantly hysterical and Livia could understand why. There was so much slander being flung upon her friends head that Livia felt compelled to speak but did not want to say the wrong thing yet again. Gently squeezing Manius' hand in her own as if to give her the calm required to deal with the crazed woman, Livia's voice when she did speak was filled with sympathy and kindness, a calm that was so at odds with the sobbing Matriana.<br/><br/><strong>"Please forgive me I had not known this man was your husband, I did not mean to insinuate that his body be simply disposed of in an untimely fashion"</strong>she glanced to Manius with affection,<strong>" I meant only .. that it be moved from this chamber to somewhere cooler. You my dear lady must be taken care of as well."</strong><br/>She felt the slightest tremor in herself at the very idea that the magistrates of Rome would become embroiled in this situation.<br/><br/><strong>"A soothing bath, wine to steady your nerves ...." </strong>the door opened and in entered a servant she had seen back at the study. She watched the interaction closely, as he covered the woman's naked form and was utterly grateful to the man for doing so.<br/><strong>"Perhaps the room should be cleaned and aired"</strong>she looked to Manius,<strong>"the lady"</strong>though she said the word with a degree of amusement for it was plain as day that the woman was no lady,<strong>"should be treated with reverence, perhaps a soothing draught until we have sent for the magistrate."</strong><br/><br/>Now it was her own turn to caress her finger against Manius' palm, they could not discuss anything with the hysterical woman and her servant over hearing it all and something truly had to be done about removing the body before it began to stink. She also wanted to speak with him about these other murders but wondered if he would even countenance listening to her further. The slave would have to be punished publically for the murder of Bastian but the scandal would have serious repercussions for Manius' Ludus and his good name and mud stuck no matter how many years and good deeds passed inbetween. People simply did not forget. Perhaps it was time to leave and have Manius deal with this situation personally and with his wife instead of with her. The thought of relinquishing his hand again was too much however and Livia's slender soft fingers curled all the more about his.