“You need to shave.” Porcia, still wiping the sleep out of her eyes, commented. She stood closer to him and drew in a big whiff, her nose wrinkling in horror. “And go to the baths. Yuck. I’m not traveling with your stinky self.”

He didn’t reply. Porcia was a bit disturbed; he had been awful broody since coming out of the senate. She had hoped his birthday celebration yesterday would’ve helped, but it didn’t. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she made him look her straight in the eye.

“Look, this trip is going to be enough with everyone else on board,” she said, referring to Marcus, who was to aid her husband, Marsius Minor, who was to start his studies in Athens, and Secunda, who would be sitting for them until Cornelia made a complete recovery. “Now smile.” The smaller woman tilted her head, her lips curving, in order to elicit some response. Reaching up on her toes slightly to kiss him, she whispered in his ear. “Smile…”

He finally gave in, his eyes laughing. “Now go have a shave and a bath. Remember we’ll be leaving as soon you hand over your fasces, so don’t be late!” Nodding as he did, he reminded her of a teenage boy as he made a quick exit.