<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/36/Livia.jpg)</div>She sincerely hoped that once the woman heard the mention of the magistrate that she would see how seriously they thought of the situation and would deign to have the matter resolved far swifter than what it would be if some pompous dignitary were to become involved. It was a relief to hear Manius agree with her and it almost felt as if she were beside Lulia and had his strong support to lean on. She realised in that moment how very much she missed having someone other than herself to discuss matters with. Her Doctore and champion were not of the same ilk and in her eyes they were not worthy to discuss much other than the purchase of new recruits to the Ludus. The woman seemed appeased indeed and Manius keeping his hand in Livia's took her away from prying ears.<br/><br/>She turned to face him, allowing her gaze to move from their hands to his face slowly.<br/><strong>"There is no need to apologise, it is I who should be sorry for fumbling in the first instance"</strong>she wanted to ask why he did not ask for Valeria to assist him but could not bring herself to mention his wives name. They were standing close enough that she could feel his breath upon her face. The gentle brush of his fingers across her face to push some hair behind her ear caused her to blush. Her cheeks heating with more than a simple embarrassment at his tender intimacy.<br/><br/>Livia could not move her gaze from his, trapped in the dark pools of his own eyes. Why did being called his dear make her heart beat far too rapidly. Her full lips opened to speak again, her hands still held in his own.<br/><strong>"I would stay for as long as you have need of me."</strong><br/><br/>Her own gaze finally tore from his as the slave was called upon and dragged to the floor with a resounding crack. It was only in that moment that Livia noted the distinct difference to how her servants were treated in comparison to here but she rationalised that this was a murderer and Manius was doing the best he could in regard damage control. Stunned that he as yet had to release her hand, she walked with him to the hallway. All the while he issued his orders she was very aware of standing at his side as his wife should have been and pushed that thought aside. She was at his side as friend, a confidante, a support.<br/><br/>Into the chamber entered three slaves and as they did so, Manius turned his attention to Livia once again. She considered the options he gave her as he began to move closer. When next he spoke the slightest gasp escaped her full lips. Was he sincerely suggesting a more intimate moment between them? She was not an innocent but she had never trespassed upon another womans man before, no matter how she would very much like too with Manius. Slowly lifting her free hand to his heart she looked at it there for a moment before looking up in to his strong handsome face.<br/><br/><strong>"I would join you on the sands Manius"</strong>she paused a moment,<strong>"I would be honoured to join you <em>any where</em> but that is not what the fates have decided for us. Servants and slaves talk, as much as we would order them not too."</strong><br/>Her hand moved to lay her palm upon his cheek.<br/><br/><strong>"I would not have both our names sullied for a single indiscretion. You meant far too much to my husband ... and to me for me to allow that to happen."</strong><br/>The tender hand moved slowly from its resting place upon his face and she stepped back a piece as if needing vital air to breath again. The man disturbed her equilibrium far too easily, it would take a mere moment on his part to thwart her attempts at bravado. At keeping them both on the straight and narrow. At least on the sands they would be surrounded by others and she would not fear being left alone with him, for it was not necessarily Manius that she did not trust in this matter but herself.