by Jane Finnis
“Enjoy yourself.”
“I wish I could be more positive,” Philippus said. “I know Mother’s longing to see you, Aurelia, but we really must be careful not to over-tax her strength. I think I should be on my way back to her now.”
“Well then, give her my love, tell her I’m longing to see her, too. And let’s hope for better news in the morning.”
“I’ll drink to that. Ah, now here’s Gambax. I wonder what he wants, as if I didn’t know?”
A good-looking soldier was making his way over to our table. Lean, sunburned, fair-haired, almost as handsome as Philippus, but younger and with a certain hesitancy about his manner. And presumably junior, because he saluted as he approached.
Philippus acknowledged the salute. “Well, Gambax, what can I do for you?”
The boy frowned. “I was hoping you’d have a message for me.”
“Really? Who from, I wonder? Not my mother, she’s too ill. Not Father, he’s resting. Not one of these lovely ladies, surely?”
“You know who. Hasn’t she written? She promised.”
“Girls’ promises, Gambax, are as reliable as wax javelins.”
“Oh, well, I expect she’s been busy. Never mind. Could you take a message to her from me then, please?” He produced a note-tablet from his pouch and passed it over to Philippus. “It’s to tell her I’ve got myself assigned to the work detail that’s preparing everything for your mother’s birthday party, and I’m on guard duty during the party itself. So I ought to be able to see her then. Isn’t that good?”
“My, my, love’s a wonderful thing. Yes, leave it to me, I’ll see she gets it.” Suddenly he smiled. “And now I think about it, there is a message for you. Not a note, but she says she’ll be at the usual spot at the usual time tomorrow. All right?”
“Wonderful! Thank you. Tell her I’ll be there too.”
“And the usual messenger’s fee?”
“Of course. Your jug of Felernian’s waiting at the bar.”
He hurried off, and Philippus went to the bar and brought back a wine-jug. “Try this, ladies, it’s good stuff. Brought to us courtesy of my sister’s latest lover-boy. There’s a lot to be said for acting as a go-between. So here’s a health to all young lovers. On one condition though: not a word of any of this to the parents, all right?”
“Our lips are sealed. Except for drinking of course.” I sipped the Falernian, and found it considerably better than what we’d had already.
Philippus drank with relish. “I really must get home, so you ladies enjoy the rest of the jug. It’s the most drinkable wine in this place, and I’ve developed quite a taste for it. Long may their romance continue.” He set down his beaker. “I’ll say good-night then. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
I pretended not to notice this last remark was addressed to Vitellia. But the young lady herself noticed all right, and gazed after Philippus with interest.
“Isn’t he nice? You didn’t tell me your cousin had such a good-looking son.”
“Didn’t I? It’s ages since I saw him, I was still thinking of him as a boy. I suppose he is quite handsome now. A bit of a lad, though, I’d say, wouldn’t you? ”
“Perhaps. But definitely fanciable.” That made me smile. “Fanciable” used to be a favourite word of Albia’s, in the days before she was married, when she seemed to be forever in and out of love. She’d been susceptible to a charming smile or flattering male attention, until she met Candidus and decided he was the one she really wanted. Perhaps Lucius wasn’t, after all, going to be Vitellia’s one-and-only love? Being surrounded by admiring soldiers might make her realise that.
Our meal was adequate, a thick stew supposed to have pork in it but in fact consisting mainly of onions and turnips, and insipid gravy that could have done with more pepper. It was followed with some raisin cakes. The Falernian helped to wash it down. All in all, it could have been a lot worse, but I kept thinking that if we’d been at the Oak Tree it would have been a lot better.
“Aurelia!” I looked up at the sound of my name, and saw Quintus striding to our table. He bowed formally to us, but I caught the look in his eyes, and it made me glad.
“What a pleasant surprise to find you here, Aurelia. I thought you’d be at your cousin’s house.”
“We should be, but she’s unwell, so her son managed to get us accommodation here.”
“It looks busy. I hope they’ve room for me and Titch.”
“If you haven’t got a room booked, you may be sleeping in the stables. Most of Eurytus’ retinue are here.”
He shrugged. “I’m sure the innkeeper can find us somewhere for tonight. After that we’ll be staying in the fort I expect. I’ll have a word with him, and then bring some more wine. What are you drinking?”
“The Felernian’s not bad.”
“Praise from an innkeeper! It must be the nectar of the gods.” He walked over to the bar, and I watched him talking to Nonius. I couldn’t hear what they said above the customers’ chatter, but the course of the conversation was clear enough. Nonius shook his head several times, but Quintus persisted, until Nonius began to show signs of impatience.
Then Quintus produced a small piece of papyrus from his belt-pouch, and I whispered to Vitellia, “He’s showing his travel pass from the Emperor. It’s a very high-powered one, it’ll get him in all right. Yes, look, Nonius has just remembered he has a spare room after all.”
Sure enough, the innkeeper was nodding now. I almost felt sorry for the poor fellow: he already had an inundation of Eurytus’ entourage, and now here was another Imperial officer whom he dared not refuse.
Quintus laid a couple of silver pieces on the bar, glancing towards our table, and Nonius nodded again and led him out of the room. He came back almost immediately and brought a jug of wine over to us himself.
“You found our friend a room, then?” I asked.
“He’s having my youngest sons’ room for tonight, the boys can bed down on the floor somewhere.” He spread his hands. “I don’t see many travel passes like that one. He’s got friends in high places, hasn’t he?”
“He has,” I agreed. “But don’t worry, he’s cast in a different mould from…from other Imperial visitors in this part of the province.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Ah, here he is. Everything satisfactory, sir?”
“Very, thanks, Nonius.” He pulled up a stool. “Now, I hear good things of this Falernian.”
We drank and chatted for a while. Quintus took trouble to make himself agreeable to Vitellia, and she answered politely, but I noticed she was tired, and in the end she gave way to a huge yawn.
“I’m sleepy,” she announced. “Please forgive me, Quintus Antonius. I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m tired after all the travelling and excitement.”
“We’ve had a busy time these last few days,” I said. “Don’t stand on ceremony, we’ll excuse you if you feel like an early night.”
“Thank you, I think I do. Will you be coming soon?”
Quintus smiled at her. “I’m afraid I’m going to keep Aurelia talking a bit longer. As you gathered yesterday, we haven’t seen one another for a long time.”
I summoned Baca from the corner table where the servants had finished their meal, and wished Vitellia good-night.
“I shan’t wait up,” she answered, with her dazzling smile.
“That child is developing a sense of humour,” I said as she disappeared.
“Perhaps she was being serious. Lucius must have told her about you and me. She seems a nice enough girl, and she’s quite a looker. Lucius always goes for the very pretty empty-headed ones, doesn’t he?”
“Does he? I never get to meet his girl-friends.”
“She’s a typical example, and he must be really hooked, to be offering to marry her. He presumably thinks an alliance with her father will help his career, and he’s right. I know him slightly, he’s quite influential in the governor’s circle, and very rich—his estates cover about half
the countryside between Londinium and the south coast.”
I didn’t get the chance to suggest what he could do with his estates, because a servant came hurrying between the tables and stopped at ours. “Mistress Aurelia Marcella?”
“Yes, I’m Aurelia Marcella.”
“I’ve brought a message for you. From my mistress, Jovina Lepida.”
“Ah, good. Is she feeling better now?”
“A little, I think. She asked me to say welcome to Isurium, and to give you this.” She held out a note-tablet. “And she told me to wait for your answer, if you please.”
This is odd, I thought as I untied the cord. Why has she written to me when she’s already sent Philippus to look after us?
The note gave me the answer.
“Aurelia from Jovina, greetings. Please come to visit me tomorrow. They are trying to stop me seeing you.”
I managed to keep my face impassive as I looked up at the girl. She returned my gaze, and I saw the anxiety in her face.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Selena, the mistress’ confidential maid.”
There was a very slight emphasis on the word “confidential”. I decided that if Jovina trusted this servant, then I could too.
“You know what’s in the message, Selena?”
She nodded.
“Who does she mean?”
“Someone close to her. Someone she should be able to trust. He’s being far too protective, and it’s making her worse, not better.”
“I’m not going to make her ill if I visit her?”
“Gods, no, Mistress, quite the opposite. She wants to see you very much.”
“Then tell her the answer is yes. Come what may, I’ll be there.”
“That’s good.” She smiled, looking relieved. “Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow then. Good-night now.”
When she’d gone, Quintus stood up. “Why don’t we take our drinks into the garden? Where it’s cooler.”
And a little more private. “Why not? It’s a lovely night.”
It was pleasant to be away from the noisy, stuffy barroom, in the fading light with the first stars showing. We found a secluded bench near a laurel hedge, with nobody in earshot. I showed him Jovina’s note. “I’ll go and see her tomorrow first thing. I’ve got to find out what’s wrong there. I suppose if she’s really ill, her party will be cancelled, and we’ll have to go home again. But it sounds as if she’s better than we’ve been told.”
“I hope so. I’m relying on you to get firmly established in her house.”
“I haven’t done too badly so far. I’ve seen two members of her family already. Mallius at the fort, and Philippus here.”
“Good. Your first impressions?”
”Mallius was very drunk and probably won’t even remember the meeting. From the way the men reacted, it wasn’t unusual to see him like that. Philippus is charming, entertaining, in fact a likeable young man, though a scamp. He’s based at Cataractonium, but he’s staying in Isurium till after the party.”
“What made you say he’s a scamp?”
“He’s got landed with some sort of punishment duty up at Cataractonium, supervising the tannery. And when we were chatting earlier, it came out that he’d recently been absent without leave. He’d told everyone he was in Cataractonium, but he wasn’t, and he admitted he’d been down to Eburacum. A friend was teasing him about it, and he said he was seeing a woman, but then afterwards he told Vitellia and me he was doing ‘secret work’ as an investigator. Is he?”
Quintus laughed. “What do you think? But you didn’t challenge him about it?”
“No, I assumed he was just showing off for Vitellia’s benefit. But if he was in Eburacum—and of course we only have his word for it—I’d like to know what he was doing there.”
“Have you found any Greeks yet?”
“I have.” I told him about Nikias and his assistant. “And Philippus said there’d been an affair between the doctor and his mother, but it’s finished now.”
“Good, you’ve done well. I’ll make a point of getting to know him at the fort. And if I call on you at Jovina’s tomorrow, you can introduce me to the family. Assuming you can manage to get her to put you up, that is. And do you think she’d invite me and Titch to her party, as we’re such old friends of yours? That would be a perfect opportunity to meet your family, and presumably some of Mallius’ fellow officers.”
“Not to mention a good excuse for free wine and party food. But I’ll see what I can do.”
“Titch and I have several jobs lined up for tomorrow. We must pay a courtesy call on the fort commander sometime, and then be seen to go through the motions of looking at the bridge. That’ll give us a chance to get the lie of the land. But I’m sure I can make time to visit you. Maybe about noon…I’ll do my best.”
“Another busy day,” I said, trying to suppress a yawn. “Sorry, Quintus. Don’t take it personally.”
“I’ll try not to. But the jug’s not empty. I don’t want to say goodnight quite yet.”
Neither did I, so we sat together for a while longer, till it was full dark with stars blazing down from a cloudless sky. I remember how peaceful it all was, and how I wished we could stay there undisturbed forever. But we both knew it was simply the calm before a storm.
Chapter XIII
Breakfast was nothing special, yesterday’s bread with hard over-salty cheese. But I barely tasted it. I was anxious to get it over and visit my cousin. Quintus and Titch were nowhere to be seen, and the innkeeper’s wife told me they’d eaten earlier still and gone out.
When Brutus appeared I almost laughed aloud. He was making a valiant effort to look like a man who hasn’t got a serious hangover, and failing miserably.
“Enjoyable evening at the fort, Brutus?” I asked.
“Aye, not bad at all, what I remember.” He rubbed a hand across his eyes. “Have you had news of your cousin?”
“Yes, and I want to drive to her house straight away. I think we’ll be moving over there today. She’s feeling better.”
He grinned ruefully. “I wish I was. I’ll get ready now. And I’ll bring the other driver and both guards along as escort. My pals at the fort tell me the village isn’t too peaceful just now. There are extra patrols out, though, so we should be all right.”
The soldiers were plainly in evidence as soon as we crossed the road and entered the civilian area. There were some natives too, haymakers, milkmaids, and the shepherd lad we’d seen yesterday, and they were all hurrying and looking uneasily around them as they went. We passed no less than four VVV signs on walls, and two gangs of slaves with pails and brushes, urged on by soldiers to clean the graffiti off. I was glad when we reached Jovina’s.
It was a large single-storey house on the edge of the village, on an unpaved road. Its front door faced the street so it presumably had a garden at the back. The door-keeper answered Brutus’ knock promptly and appeared to recognise my name. He politely ushered us into a small sitting-room overlooking the garden, and directed Brutus to the kitchen entrance at the rear.
“Your mistress is expecting us,” I told him. “Her maid Selena brought me a note from her yesterday evening.”
“Very good,” he said. “I’ll tell my lady you’re here.”
So far so good. We’d hardly had time to sit down when Philippus walked in, and stopped in surprise when he saw us.
“Why, good morning, Aurelia…Vitellia. You’re up with the lark today. I was about to come over to the mansio to see you.”
“Good morning, Philippus. That’s kind of you, but I’m sure you must be busy, so I thought I’d save you the trouble. How’s your mother today? I’m hoping she’s feeling better, at least well enough to see me for a little while.”
He shook his head. “I’m afraid she’s no better this morning. She had a restless night, and she’s still very unwell. I’ve sent for the wise-woman to come as soon as she can, and until she’s been, I honestly don’t think she’s up to see
ing anyone. These women’s troubles, you know…”
I gave him my most reassuring smile. “Yes, I do know. I wouldn’t tire her; I’d just look in quickly to say hello. It might do her good, a visit from another woman. It would certainly do me good. I mean I’m really quite worried about her.”
“We all are. But I promise she’s getting the best possible care.”
“Did the Greek doctor see her last night? What did he say?”
He shrugged. “Briefly, but she wouldn’t take any of the medicine he suggested, she said she preferred the herbs the wise-woman brings her. She saw the woman again just before she went to sleep, which is better than nothing I suppose. Well, I hope it is.” He sighed. “I’m sorry you’ve had a wasted journey. Let me offer you some refreshment, and then I’ll escort you back to the mansio for now. You’ll be more comfortable waiting there, and I’ll send you a message later to let you know when she’s feeling more sociable.”
Escort us back to the mansio? Oh, no you don’t, sunshine. I don’t give up so easily. “Couldn’t you just tell her I’m here, Philippus? I know she’s been thinking about me. She sent me a note last night.”
“A note?” For a heartbeat he looked worried, but then he smiled. “I hadn’t realised she had written to you. She really should be resting. But I suppose it’s a good sign.”
“I’m sure it is. It was just a line welcoming me to Isurium and saying she hoped I’d look in today.”
He sighed again. “Well, in that case I’ll ask her, of course. I’ll send for some refreshments for you while you wait.”
Vitellia and I sat and sipped our drinks, and I found myself listening to the noises of the house. There were the usual busy morning sounds, maids’ voices, somebody whistling, a clatter of dishes from the kitchen, the swish of a broom over a tiled floor. And then I heard a louder voice, a young woman’s, angry and strident and coming nearer.
“I tell you I’m going, Philo, and you’re not stopping me. Honestly, anyone would think I was a slave in this house.” A male voice answered something, but too softly for us to hear, then the woman’s tirade continued: “I’ve said I’ll meet him, and I will. Stop trying to tell me what to do. It’s my life, and I’ll do what I please with it. You’re in no position to give me lectures about how to behave. Demoted to running a tannery, with gambling debts big enough to pay for a cohort of cavalry. So just leave me alone.” There was the sound of running feet, and a heavy door slammed.
