Aries Fire Read Online Free Page A

said.  “Did you see his face?”
    “Whose face?  Oh, your handsome lover?  No, but…” she paused to fabricate a story.
    “Will he think I’m beautiful?”  Marina appeared uneasy.
    Large brown eyes fringed with long lashes blinked at Seira.
    “I’m sure you’ll do well with that body,” laughed Seira.
    Marina blushed.
    “Now if I had those huge breasts,” Seira said, cradling her own and sizing them up, “I’d use them for wiser purposes.  You’ve got to use what you have to make life work for you, Marina.”
    “Oh, your grandfather would beat you if he heard you talk like this,” she said, peeking nervously toward the door.
    “Who do you think gave me the idea?”  she asked.
    Marina appeared dumbfounded. Seira believed her servant’s head was filled with feathers.
    “You, too, will marry a handsome, rich nobleman and have lots of children,” said Marina, dreamily. “We’re both past the age of marriage, you know.”
    Marina nodded her head repeatedly, like a teacher giving a lesson to a bored class.
    “Marina, it’s not my duty to wed and populate the earth. I’ll make no man my benefactor while the planets revolve in the universe.  I’ve got greater things in mind.”
    “But you’ll need a man to keep you fertile and to give you purpose,” she implored.
    “I didn’t say I wouldn’t have a man to warm my sheets. I said I didn’t plan to marry.”  Before the look of shock could disappear from the maid’s face, Seira continued. “Hurry up now, you’ve got to get my bags ready for Lem.”
    She obeyed diligently. Seira surveyed the room, her memories, and her journal.  All were in order.
    Marina dawdled with Seira’s things for a moment. She looked at Seira and opened her mouth to speak but no words came forth so she closed it. Then she opened it again.
    “I can’t hold it any longer, Mistress.”  She fumbled with her pockets and revealed a small, crumpled papyrus.  “Your grandfather would have me flogged if he found out.”
    “What is it?  Give it here.” Seira snatched the scrap from Marina’s hands.
    “The thought of keeping it from you…” she said, letting her voice trail off.
    “It’s a letter from my grandfather addressed to the Bishops of Palestine.  Where did you come by this?”  The maid’s mouth fell open to reply.  “Wait. Guard the door while I read it,” Seira commanded.  Marina scurried to the door. Seira perused the letter.
    “It’s written in Greek. Come here and tell me where you got this. You can’t read, can you?”  Marina flew on tiptoes and slid across the room toward Seira’s imperious voice.
    “Will you stop that,” she blurted, losing her temper.  “You don’t work at the circus. Answer me, Marina.  Where did you get this?”
    A light rap on the door startled them and Marina yelped.
    “I told you to guard the door,” Seira hissed.  Marina looked from side to side not knowing what to do.
    “Well, answer it,” she pleaded. “Please,” added Seira calmly before resting her hand on Marina’s shoulder.  The poor thing had the look of a worried midwife. “It’s all right.  Take a moment and compose yourself.  It’s probably Lem.  Tell him I’ll be down momentarily.”
    Once at the door, Marina poked her head into the hallway and whispered to Lem. 
    I shouldn’t have been so corporal with her, she thought.
    Seira felt badly but after tonight, she knew it wouldn’t matter anymore. She quickly hid the letter in her shoulder sack and waited for her maid’s return. She became impatient.  Seira had to know what was in the letter.
    Marina giggled before closing the door. Seira frowned that Marina lost the importance of the moment to a silly, girlish flirtation. 
    Marina’s dress caught the breeze as she slid past the terrace window.  She also caught Seira’s cold stare. Marina became so self-conscious that she tripped over her airborne tunic and careened into the pillar. A vase filled with flowers crashed