Theodora by Stella Duffy Read Free Book Online

bound across the room and pull her from the floor. This little private performance had been intended as a way of placating him before the violence began, of distracting him from what was bound to come. His admission of less than perfect teaching sent her immediately off balance, she began to wobble, her muscles demonstrating the uncertainty that her mind could not contain, and then Menander was there, at her side, as he always had been, holding her into place, halfway above the ground, halfway to standing, pummelling her muscles, moulding bone and flesh into perfect position as he had done for almost every day of the past six years, since she’d first come to his class a frightened five-year-old, her father just dead and any older man a comfort. In the pain of this touch, this teaching, she knew his care. She tried to stand fully but he would not let her.
    ‘Stay. You listen better in pose anyway, it’s the only time I can be sure you’re fully concentrating.’
    Theodora stopped moving, allowed Menander to shift a finger ever so slightly, straighten her head by the merest angle, slap in her tiny stomach, flick a sharp finger at the eyebrow he insisted was out of place.
    ‘The City company leader has asked for you.’
    ‘I’m not twelve yet.’
    ‘Shut up.’
    Stunned, she did.
    ‘He saw you at that dinner, when you made Anastasia thebear. Elena, his comedy actress, is leaving, she’s decided to keep the child she is too damn full with already. He needs a comedian who can dance a little.’
    ‘I dance more than a little.’
    ‘On a good day. It doesn’t matter. For whatever reason, he liked what you did.’
    ‘I’m too young.’
    Menander nodded. ‘I said that. He likes your spirit, he was impressed by your behaviour the other night. I told him he’d be a damn sight less than impressed once he started working with you, but it’s his choice. It’ll be good for you, you need a higher standard.’
    ‘You are the highest standard. Everyone knows that.’
    ‘I don’t mean me. I mean those you work alongside.’
    Theodora began to turn her head, lower her hand, the better to make her point, ‘But I don’t want—’
    Menander simply whispered, ‘Don’t. You. Dare.’
    She shifted immediately into position, trying one more time ‘It’s just that—’
    ‘Dear God, do I have to gag you, girl?’
    He allowed her the barest shake of her head before continuing, all the while poking and prodding her into more difficult poses. ‘It’s really not up to you, is it? There’s money, quite a lot more. Your mother will agree, as will Basianus. You know they’ve been wanting to take Comito on, he approved of her showing at that dinner as well. He’ll take the two of you at once. Seems I gave you both a wonderful audition opportunity.’
    ‘You knew he was there?’
    ‘Of course I knew, it’s my job to know who comes to these things. To show you lot off.’ He saw she was about to speak again and pre-empted her. ‘Anastasia stays with me for the moment. She’s too young for them, and we don’t yet know what she can do, not really. We know what they’d like to dowith one as pretty as she is, but not yet – even a eunuch understands it’s too soon for that. So, there is no argument.’ He waited. ‘You may rest. Sit.’
    Theodora sank to the ground. She had always known this would come, but it was unusual for it to come so soon. The girls who joined the Hippodrome and Kynegion companies, as dancers and performers, also went in as whores. It was part of the job. The tears were just behind her eyes and she was praying Menander would release her before they fell, but he knew, and waited, standing over her, saying nothing, until her body could hold the flow no longer, and they came, a thin stream of bitter salt water, Theodora hating herself for showing weakness in front of him, hating him for forcing her here and, more than anything, hating him for sending her away. When the ground was wet with her crying he