Cornelia allowed dinner to continue untill she hade made her offer clear;money from both the deep coffers of Pompeius and Metellus Scipio. In exchange her father would be extracted from his situation, and supported as Governor for the rest of his 5 year term as Governor. At the end, Cassius would be of an age to run for consul, and would receive backing there was well.

All that remained was for Cassius to decide, as he willed. Knowing the answer wouldn't come she closed dinner pleasantly. The she directly went to her husband, and found her step-son in
deep conversation, but a better mood.

"Ah my black wart, come and sit down next to me, if you please," Magnus said jovially to his wife.

"And you next to my hot-tempered son, Porcia. If you please, that is." Cornelia and Porcia both obeyed,settling their stolas comfortably before conversation continued.

"Now ladies, what did our friend Cassius say?"

"He said nothing. No answer," Cornelia spoke first." I didn't really expect it. It's a lot to ask, and it will affect him politically for many years to come, if not become his legacy. He might even be weighing the possibility of another Triumvirate, taking the place of my first father in law, Crassus."

Magnus frowned. " I am not sure that is an experience I care to repeat."

Cornelia settled her grey eyes on her husband. "You were very successfull in the triumvirate, in spite of the acrimony you shared with Crassus. Cassius is a very different man than my father in law was, I can assure you."

"Crassus should have married his son to Junia Tertia instead, the Caepie are such money grubbers themselves."

"No, a Junia was never my equal in combination of blood and money, and Crassus was never so controlled by money that he would throw birthto the winds." Sextus snorted at the statement. "Fortunately my father had a different opinion when it came time for me to remarry. "

Porcia grimaced, knowing full well that Scipio, like Cato, had had a very different opinion of Pompeius Magnus at one point.

"So do you think he will bite?" Magnus pushed on.

" I honestly don't know. I am not sure power or money really motivates Cassius at all.He seems to have let his career come to a
standstill. His dignitas matters, but not like it does to most Patricians."

"And of course you know exactly what matters to Patricians, don't you step-mother?" Sextus whispered.

"Sextus,I wish...."

".....His main motivation is hating Caesar," Porcia interrupted Cornelia, hoping to keep things moving forward. She was tired,
and she wanted some peace before bedtime.

All eyes turned and regarded her.

"I just mean that...um..."

"Go on. You know him better than all of us," Magnus prompted.