b'20LISA E. BETZWhat did he think of her? Had he been expecting a beauty, or did he not care about her unremarkable looks so long as he got the generous dowry that came with her? (An entire apartment building, complete with rents.)His dark brown eyes didnt waver and finally Livia was forced to look away. Was that how he defeated his opponents in court, by intimidating them with his penetrating gaze?Havingwonthecontest,Avitusdeignedtospeak.Iam pleased to meet you, Livia. Who would have guessed so slight a man would have such a powerful baritone voice? She returned his greeting, her own voice shrill in comparison. Wearehonoredtowelcomeyoutoourhome,Advocate. Have you been enjoying the pleasant weather?Yes.Silence descended. No clever banter? No impressive rhetoric? Was he too proud to bother with polite conversation? It would be a very, very long evening.Livia spent the first course listening to Avitus discuss business with her father (tedious details regarding Fathers rental apart-ments), and the second listening to talk of Emperor Claudius and his building projects, including two new aqueducts to increase the citys water supply and a new harbor at the port of Ostia. Both projects were funded in part by the emperors conquest of far-away Britannia. Next the conversation moved to politics. Throughouttheconversationtheirguestkepthisfacebland. Polite. Inscrutable. He was the most emotionless man Livia had ever met. A use-ful trait in an advocate, one presumed, but not one particularly beneficial to matrimonial harmony. How could she live with a man devoid of emotion? If she was to wed this man, she must find some proof of humanity behind his impassive mask. She waited for a lull in the conversation then smiled sweetly. I have heard men call you the Lone Wolf. Why is that?'