Mask of the Gladiator

By Georgie Lee

Rome, 41 AD

Livia Duronius is driven to seek out a gladiator after watching him triumph in the Colosseum. His touch arouses a sense of hope she hasn't felt since Rome fell under the tyrannical rule of Caligulaand her late husband betrayed her. Though in danger of losing more than her heart, she vows to see him again, even after she learns her uncle has arranged her marriage to a senator.

Senator Titus Marius cannot resist indulging in a passionate encounter with the veiled woman who waits for him after the games, though he faces execution if his true identity is discovered. Bound by honor to wed another, and embroiled in a plot to free Rome from madness, he never expects to see the mystery woman again.

When the fates reunite them in the marriage bed, Titus vows to protect Livia at all costseven from the lecherous eyes of the emperor...

17,000 words

• Language: English
• Publisher: Carina Press
• Release date: Jan 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781426893124

Georgie Lee

Georgie Lee loves combining her passion for history and storytelling through romantic fiction. She began writing professionally at a local TV station before moving to Hollywood to work in the entertainment industry.  When not writing, Georgie enjoys reading non-fiction history and watching any movie with a costume and an accent. Please visit  www.georgie-lee.com for more information about Georgie and her books.  

Book preview

Chapter One

Titus drove the sword deep into the man’s flesh, twisting it slightly to render the fatal blow. He pulled out the blade and held it over his head, allowing the blood to drip into the sand. Thunderous applause echoed through the amphitheater, the plebeians and patricians of Rome hailing him as a hero. Titus breathed hard from the exertion of the fight and the thrill of this dangerous victory, his chest pushing against the heavy leather cuirass. A slight sneer curled the edges of his lips as he basked in the glory of having defeated the best gladiator in Rome and the feared leader of Caligula’s German Guard.

Turning to face each section of the massive amphitheater, he raised his sword higher, eliciting more cheers. Through his metal helmet, he watched the flowers float down from the high seats to the blood-soaked sand of the arena. The city would fall at this gladiator’s feet. The women would flock to him and gold would pour in too. Tomorrow, all the glory would be another man’s but for the moment it belonged to Titus.

Livia rose to her feet with the crowd, swept up in their excitement and for a brief moment, shaking off the palla of fear constantly surrounding her. Slaves hurried out from the side of the arena to carry off the dead man but Livia barely noticed. Her attention was fixed on the triumphant gladiator. The sun glinted off the pectoral covering his wide chest, emphasizing his sweaty, muscular arms. Tight calves strained against the leather straps of his sandals, leading up to where his taut thighs disappeared under the dusty tunic. Something in the sheer strength of him called to her in a primitive way she could not ignore, and on a level deeper than pure lust. His victory spoke of hope and courage, and she longed to share in it, to let it surround her like a finely woven tunic and drive away the uncertainty plaguing the back of her mind.

Trumpets blared and the fighter sheathed his sword and left the arena. Livia sat down, barely aware of the excited chatter of the other matrons swirling around her. The image of the gladiator stayed with her, accompanied by another emotion humming just beneath the surface, one she barely dared to entertain. Touching her lips, she wondered what it would be like to lose herself in his power and strength, feel the force of life flowing through her and know again the joy of living as she had before Caligula, before the traitor trials.

No, it is a ridiculous daydream, she thought, pulling back her black veil and adjusting the gold stephane holding it in place over her hair. Unlike other matrons who eagerly sought the services of gladiators, she’d never indulged in such a forbidden dalliance. It was too dangerous to risk her reputation on so base a pleasure, especially with many already wondering why a widow of her status had not yet remarried.

Caligula. The whisper of shock raced through the matrons and all thoughts of pleasure vanished. Across the arena, led by a parade of female slaves strewing flowers at his feet, Emperor Caligula entered his box, waving to the now-reserved crowd.

What’s he doing here? a woman behind Livia hissed. I thought he was at the Palatine Games.

We all did or none of us would have dared come today, another matron answered, a noticeable quaver in her voice. We should leave.

No, you’ll only draw his attention, her friend warned.

Anger cursed through Livia as she recalled the horror her friend Thuria had endured when the emperor’s lecherous gaze fell on her. Her husband had done nothing to protect her, and she’d taken her life shortly afterward, unable to bear the shame.

If only Roman men possessed half the gladiator’s courage, then we’d be free of Caligula’s tyranny. Livia sighed, knowing gold would fall from the sky before highborn husbands showed such fortitude.

Caligula raised his hands and the few obligatory cheers drifting down from the high seats faded away.

Citizens of Rome, he called out to the silence. We have a traitor in our midst, an enemy of the Republic.

The German Guards surrounding the emperor hissed and booed, joined by a few plebeians, the ones who ignored Caligula’s many faults in exchange for the continued distraction of the games.

Do you know who this man is? Caligula demanded.

No, they shouted in reply.

Do you, Senator Grauchus? He pointed at the nervous old senator who vigorously shook his head.

No, my lord. His shaky voice barely carried across the arena.

Caligula swung around to face the matrons who gasped as his angry finger pointed at them.

Do you, Livia Duronius, know who he is?

His eyes met hers and Livia, her throat dry, her heart racing in panic, shivered as if the scissors of fate were poised to cut her string of life. Why had he singled her out? Did he intend to debase her as he had Thuria?

No, my lord, I do not, she answered demurely, hoping he’d continue with his tirade and forget her.

His response left her tense with worry as his thin

[bookpurring · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was somewhat underwhelmed by this story, I saw the 17,000 words line in the description but I guess I didn't grasp the idea. It's a very, very short story, only 54 pages. Personally, I was craving something while I waited for Spartacus: Blood and Sand and this title seem like it would cut it. The author does a great job at making the Rome setting real for the reader, the descriptions and the word usage felt very on spot. The story was entertaining to a degree, but while I am used to this genre having an insta-love-just-add-water situation, I felt like the story dedicated almost equal amount of time to Caligula than it did to the main pairing. While in another book I wouldn't have minded, it's just didn't feel like it was enough for me to be interested and root for Titus and Livia.