<div class="floatright">(http://www.film.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/39358397-39358402-large.jpg)</div><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">Livia and Manius</span> - in the bedchamber</em><br/><br/>The smile that came unbidden to her lips lit her face and warmed it considerably, the startling hue of her eyes seemed to sparkle as she turned the full beauty of that smile upon him. It was not a conscious move, she had no idea herself how devastating such a simple altercation in her features could have on someone. Unaware who this Canis was she hoped he referred to a girl for a scream like that surely could not have come from any male.<br/><br/><strong>"Then let us hope this is a simple over reaction"</strong>yet somehow when his hand touched the door she could feel the apprehension within her, again she simply blamed it on her being so close to Manius and the guilt that mounted on her head and heart for daring to feel anything towards the man. The door opened and out ran a young man, a boy if anything and virtually colliding with the wall of a man that was Manius he fell backwards. Livia watched the blond youth fall to the floor and wondered at the fear and shock that seemed etched on his features.<br/><br/>Her demeanour switched to calm for the handling of many a disturbed house servant had been her lot on plenty of occasions. Whatever troubled the boy was surely something that could be taken care of swiftly. However his words were not to be expected and wondering exactly what had occurred within these walls Livia listened and watched as Manius took control of the situation. She was not prepared for him to turn to her and take her hand in his again and wished she could still the fervent beat of her heart when he did so. He was looking to her for that experience and knowledge she had mentioned only moments ago but this was out of her league. She had never had someone murdered in her own home before, especially someone of repute as the retired primus but something had to be done. Her eyes moved from their joined hands to Manius' face, quelling the over-riding yearning to feel his hands upon her, his arms about her and his body pressed to hers she inhaled deeply and gently with an air of reassurance squeezed his hand before releasing it.<br/><br/>Closing the door behind the youth she stepped further into the room, seeing Matriana for the first time. The voluptuous woman's naked form gave Livia the cold slap to her passionate thoughts that she had needed.<br/><strong>"No I fear this is a first for me but I will do what I can to help you. Is the woman in shock or hysterical?"</strong>she glanced to Manius before moving closer to the bed. She had seen plenty of dead bodies, being a Domina and a regular attendant at the games and having turned her thumb to thwart the life of quite a few gladiators, she was not moved to hysterics over the carcass of the little Roman.<br/><br/><strong>"Why the slave did it is of little consequence for now, disposing of the body so that your house does not become tainted with his death is what is vital" </strong>was she truly suggesting to him that they should simply toss the man's body where it could not be traced back to Manius? Was she doing this for the sake of an old friendship or for something more? She gave no heed to these musings, knowing she would do so at length in the privacy of her own chambers later, for now even her own presence here made her an accessory to the fact if she did not report the body. They were in this, whatever this was ... together.