Danger in the Wind

by Jane Finnis

  “I think,” I answered, “that it’s extremely serious. If Philippus is even slightly connected with Venutius, he could be in real trouble. Have you asked him about it?”

  “Yes. He admitted it was his, but he swore he didn’t know what it meant, but had taken it in part-payment for a gambling debt.”

  “Did you believe him?”

  “No. And I didn’t know what to do. That’s what made me write to you. I thought you might, or your brother…you’ve always been good at sorting out problems. I panicked. And you came, and I’m so grateful. Now that you’re here, perhaps I can find out more about what’s going on, and put a stop to it.” She looked up at me. “You don’t mind, do you? I assume you don’t, otherwise you wouldn’t have come.”

  “I don’t mind helping, but if I’m to do anything useful I need to know all of it. You really have no idea what Philippus is up to?”

  “No more than I’ve told you.”

  “Why in the gods’ name have you hung on to the wretched brooch? Throw it out, that’s my advice.”

  “I will, but I can’t get rid of it in the house, someone would be bound to see it. I’ll take it with me to the party tomorrow and throw it into the river. Oh, it’s all such a mess! But when you’re a mother, you never stop caring about your children, whatever they’ve done.” She wiped her eyes. “He’s such a dear boy really.”

  “And all these family problems are what’s been making you ill?”

  “No, that wasn’t it. I found I was with child. And not by Marcus.”

  So now we were getting to the truth at last. “I see. Wouldn’t he have accepted it as his? Even been pleased to think he’d fathered a child?”

  She shook her head. “He and I haven’t shared a bed for months. I’m afraid that’s common knowledge.”

  “He might still be prepared to let people think it’s his.”

  “I couldn’t take the risk, he’s so unpredictable now. He already suspects I haven’t been faithful to him, and he’s jealous, even though he himself has had a string of native women. Men are so unfair, aren’t they? They’re allowed to have any girl that takes their fancy, but if a woman looks for a bit of comfort and affection, that’s quite another matter.”

  More tears followed, and when she was calm again she said, “I’m sorry, Aurelia. It’s just such a relief to have someone I can talk to, someone who understands.”

  “Your illness. Are you still with child now?”

  She gave a little shiver. “I got rid of it three days ago. The local wise-woman helped me. It was just like a miscarriage, painful and upsetting. Not the first one I’ve had. But it’s the first one I’ve ever welcomed. Oh well, it’s over now.”

  “I’m so sorry. What a horrible thing to have to do. No wonder you were ill.”

  “It didn’t last long, and I’m all right now, just a bit tired. And a little sad. Well, life goes on.” She gave me an over-bright smile. “I’m fit for my party, anyway.”

  “Does Trebonius know what you’ve done?”

  “Trebonius? Gods, I hope not.”

  “But if he was the father…”

  “He wasn’t. It was none of his doing.”

  I stared at her blankly. “Then who…?”

  “Nikias, of course.”

  “The doctor?”

  “Don’t look at me like that, please don’t. You’re thinking I’ve behaved like a common tart.”

  “No,” I lied. “But I’m thinking you’ve got yourself in a very messy situation.”

  “I can’t argue with that.”

  “Your letter spoke of ‘danger in the wind.’ I didn’t realise the danger was of your own making.”

  “Not all of it,” she answered.

  “And the doctor is ‘the Greek bearing gifts’?”

  She nodded. “We had an affair over several months. It started when I was his patient in the winter, I twisted my ankle, and he found me some herbs for the pain. He’s been so sweet, so gentle, he really loves me. He knows what Marcus is like; he can see what I have to go through.”

  “But you say you finished with him?”

  “He finished with me. He asked me to leave home and run away with him. He said we could make a new start somewhere far away, even if it meant leaving Britannia. I was tempted, but in the end I couldn’t. Marcus doesn’t need me, but Philo and Chloe both do, in their different ways. When I finally said no, he lost his temper, and we had a most awful row and stopped seeing one another. Then I discovered I was pregnant. I couldn’t ask Niki to help me destroy his own baby, could I? Selena found the village wise-woman, and she gave me native medicine. That solved the problem.”

  Solved the problem? What an appalling way of describing it. “And now you think everything will go back to normal?”

  “Why not? Men come and go. I haven’t got Marcus and I can’t have Niki, but Trebonius has been letting me know he’s interested. I’m sure he can help mend my broken heart.”

  I winced at the scorn in her voice, because I realised it was herself she despised, more than the men in her life.

  “Doesn’t the risk you’re taking with all this bother you? Having affairs with other people at the fort…it’s a small community, and presumably everybody knows everyone else’s business. Can you be sure of keeping secrets?”

  “Oh, yes, I’m very careful.”

  There was a tap at the door, and Selena came in.

  “I told you I don’t want to be disturbed,” Jovina snapped.

  “I know, Mistress, but the master’s on his way, insisting on visiting you.”

  “Marcus? Why?”

  “I want to see you, and I won’t take no for an answer,” came Mallius’ voice from the corridor outside, and he brushed roughly past Selena and strode in. He was sober as far as I could tell, and he was angry. “I’ve had enough of being kept out of my own wife’s rooms. Why have you been refusing to see me, Jovina?”

  Jovina had the presence of mind to stand up and smile at him. “Marcus, don’t be so silly. I haven’t wanted to see anyone lately, I’ve been so ill. But I’m feeling very much better today. I think I’ve turned the corner.”

  “Better? Really? I’m glad to hear it. Because if you let me down over this party, after all the trouble I’ve been to…”

  “All the trouble you’ve been to? It’s Trebonius who’s done all the real organising, you’ve been too sodden with drink to make any sensible contribution. Oh, yes, don’t think I don’t know how you behave at the fort. Well, listen to this, Marcus, and don’t forget it. I’m going to enjoy this party, and I won’t have you spoiling it. I expect you to be there for appearance’s sake. But don’t you dare bring along any of your native girls. It’s bad enough the whole fort knowing you don’t live as my husband nowadays, but I won’t have you making a display of it. Understand?”

  “Perfectly. I wouldn’t dream of it. I can’t think any of them would want to come anyway. And as for keeping up appearances, that goes for you too, Jovina. If I see any inappropriate behaviour, if I see you encouraging advances by anyone, I won’t be responsible for my actions.” He turned on his heel and left, his boots echoing as he strode down the corridor.

  Jovina flung herself onto the couch and wept stormily. I sat watching her and feeling helpless, not sure whether to stay or go. Eventually I got up and started to move towards the door, but Selena shook her head. She went to a table by the far wall and poured out a small beaker of what looked like red wine from a squat black flask.

  “Here now, Mistress, have a drop of your special medicine. Mistress Aurelia will sit by you for a while till you feel better. We’ve got to get you ready for your trip to see the commander at the fort, haven’t we?”

  Jovina sat up and sipped the drink. “I’m sorry, Aurelia. He’s impossible! ”

  “I know. Never mind. Just drink your medicine and I’ll sit quietly here.”

  She finished the wine, and whatever it contained must have done her good. She handed Selena her empty beaker and turned to m
e. “Now you see why this party scares me, Aurelia. Marcus is jealous, but he’s not sure who to be jealous of and thinks it may be Trebonius, and he hates his guts anyway. Nikias is sulking because I wouldn’t run away with him, and he’s still trying to persuade me. Last night he tried again. I don’t know if it might not be the answer. Leave Isurium, leave Britannia even.”

  “You’d seriously think of throwing everything up to be with him?”

  “Yes. No. I don’t know. And what if they all drink too much, and start boasting, or throwing insults at each other? What if they come to blows?”

  “At a party, with the whole base watching? I don’t think so. They’re all grown men. They’ll know how to behave properly in public.”

  “I hope you’re right. But gods, I’ll be glad when it’s over. I wish I’d never said I’d like a big party. I’ve never done anything like this for my birthday before. But when Trebonius suggested we make it a really lavish affair, for the fort as well as for me, it seemed a wonderful idea. I was flattered, I won’t deny. But I should have said no, I’d prefer to invite a few family and friends to dinner here.”

  “It’s not too late to change your plans. Nobody would blame you, with all the tension in the village. Nobody can force you to hold it, if you don’t want to.”

  “No. I must go ahead with it now. For everyone’s sake.”

  “It’s your sake we need to be concerned with. If a smaller celebration is what you want, then that’s what you shall have.”

  “It’s too late to worry about what I want. Trebonius has staked his reputation on this party, inviting all sorts of important people, including some of the leading natives. ‘Showing the eagle,’ he calls it.”

  “I remember Father using that expression. Making a good Roman spectacle to impress the barbarians.”

  “Exactly. And having decided to show the eagle, there’s no question of changing our minds.” She stood erect, like a tragic figure in a play contemplating death or glory. “We must all do our duty when it’s required. We’ll get through it somehow. Rome expects it. Even at the cost of our lives.”

  This was just the sort of pose she used to strike when we were children. She loved dramatic scenes where she could make mountains out of molehills, huge crises out of tiny inconveniences. As youngsters we were all used to this, and we either ignored it or one of us would tease her out of it. Though there was nothing childish about her present situation, there was about her reaction to it, and I took a chance.

  “As the Divine Julius nearly said, we’ll come, we’ll see, and we’ll conquer.”

  Suddenly she smiled, her mask of tragedy forgotten, “Oh, Aurelia, you’re such a comfort, you always did know how to cheer me up. And you’re right, there’s no point in being melodramatic.”

  “I’m always right. It’s a well known fact.”

  “Of course you are. Now, I must change into something suitable for visiting Trebonius. Then we’ll have a bite to eat. Perhaps your Quintus will be here by then, and he can join us. Afterwards we’ll go up to the fort. I shan’t take long.”

  “Good. I’ll leave you to it. I’ll go and join Vitellia for now. Where is she, Selena, do you know?”

  “She’s in the garden. I think Master Philo is with her.” She walked with me towards the door, and we paused just outside it.

  “She seems to be very up-and-down in her moods,” I said softly.

  “She is, but you’re doing her good. I can’t talk now, I must get back to her. May I come and see you later?”

  “Of course, any time. And try not to worry too much. We’ll get through this somehow.”

  One of my particular talents, for good or ill, is sounding confident even when I don’t feel it.

  Chapter XV

  Vitellia was in the garden, but not with Philippus. She was sitting on a small terrace some distance from the house, deep in conversation with another young girl, who was slight and fair-haired and so like my cousin in looks that I knew she must be Chloe. I paused to watch her for a few heartbeats, my mind calling up memories of myself and Jovina as youngsters. I wasn’t intending to eavesdrop, but as I hesitated, Chloe’s words floated over to me.

  “And so they had a fight. Of course it was quite illegal, they’d have been thrown out if anyone had caught them. They each took along a friend as witness. Philo took Fabianus, and Terentius took…oh, I can’t remember now. Philo won, but they were never friends after that, and then Terentius got sent to Londinium to be in the governor’s guard. Shame, really, he was always good fun.”

  “But fighting!” Vitellia sounded shocked. “How horrid. Suppose Philo had got hurt?”

  Chloe laughed. “Not much danger of that, he’s one of the best swordsmen in the unit. And boys like showing off, especially doing something that’s not allowed. He’s always been a bit of a rebel, has our Philo.”

  So Philippus’ transgressions included fighting. And it was interesting that Chloe said he’d quarrelled with Terentius. They must have patched things up, because Philippus had told me he was saddened by Terentius’ death. Unless he was lying, but I couldn’t think why he would.

  Still, he was one of the men Quintus wanted me to keep an eye on, and I must learn all I could. I stood hesitating there, waiting for more revelations, but the conversation turned to Philippus’ long hair, and how he refused to adopt a standard short military haircut.

  I couldn’t decide what to do. The girls still hadn’t seen me, so I could simply walk across to them and pretend I’d only just arrived, and then later find a way of getting Chloe to talk about her brother’s fight in more detail.

  Shrill childish laughter broke into my thoughts, and I looked round. To my surprise, out from behind a small summer-house ran Philippus, pursued by a gaggle of tiny children, no more than three or four years old. He lumbered along quite slowly while they chased him with delighted yells. “Lion! Catch the lion!” they squealed, brandishing invisible spears as they ran.

  Suddenly he spun round and dropped to all fours, making a fearsome roaring noise. “Yes, I’m a lion,” he growled, “a big bad hungry lion, and I’m going to eat you for my dinner.”

  The children scrambled all over him, squeaking louder than ever as he gently pushed them away, continuing his growling threats to make a meal of them. Chloe and Vitellia turned towards the game, and everyone dissolved into laughter. Philippus got up and began to lumber towards the summer-house, with the children in pursuit.

  “Aurelia, there you are!” Chloe called. “Come and join us.” She stood up, and both girls beckoned. There was nothing for it but to go across to them.

  “How good to see you again, Chloe. And how like your mother you are! I’d have known you anywhere.”

  “Yes, everyone says we’re more like sisters than mother and daughter. At least I haven’t turned out like Father.”

  I sat down and declined a drink, looking round the pleasant secluded spot. “This is a nice garden for enjoying the sun. I thought I heard children playing as I came outside. And was that Philippus with them?”

  Chloe shrugged. “He was having a game with some of the slaves. And his own two, of course. If it wasn’t for his size, you’d think he was four years old himself sometimes.”

  Vitellia was startled. “You mean two of them…Philippus is their father?”

  “That’s right. Their mother is a peasant girl from the village. She looks after them at her father’s roundhouse mostly, but Philo likes to bring them here sometimes. Do you want to speak to him? I can call him back if you like.”

  “There’ll be plenty of time later. I wanted to tell you both that I’ve just come from seeing your mother. She says she’s feeling better and she’ll come and join us all for a bite to eat. Then she’s planning to go to the fort to see the commander…something about preparations for her birthday party.”

  “That’s good. It’s several days since she’s been out of her room. I knew it would cheer her up, seeing you. How did she seem to you?”

  “Frankly I�
��m rather worried about her. Her moods seem to change in the blink of an eye, don’t they? I began to think my being there had cheered her a little, and she said she felt better…and then suddenly she was in tears, telling me she was dreading the party. To crown it all, your father came in, they had words, and she was quite upset.”

  “Don’t talk to me about that bastard. He’d upset anybody.”

  “I’m sure that deep down he cares about your mother, you know.”

  Her pretty face twisted into a sour grimace. “I’m not. He doesn’t care for any of us these days.”

  I could guess where this was leading. “Oh dear. That sounds familiar. You’re growing up to be a woman, and he still thinks you’re his little girl?”

  “He’s trying to make me marry a dreadful old man, ancient enough to be my grandfather. He wanted to announce the betrothal at Mother’s party, but I told him if he did I’d run away to Londinium. He says now he’ll postpone the announcement till my birthday, which is in September. By then,” she added in a lower voice, “it’ll be too late.”

  “Some older men are wonderful,” Vitellia pointed out.

  Could she mean Lucius? Speaking as Lucius’ twin, that shook me, and Chloe’s reply didn’t help.

  “Your Lucius isn’t all that old. Not like Statius, who’s all grey and wrinkled like a horrible monkey. Ugh! No, Gambax is the boy for me.”

  “Is Statius coming to the party?” Vitellia asked.

  “He is. He’ll arrive here later today, unless the gods give me a break and his carriage goes off the road and falls into a ditch.” She looked at me defiantly, but if that was a challenge, I wasn’t responding. “He needn’t expect me to be all lovey-dovey over him. I’ve promised Mother I’ll be civil, because I don’t want to spoil her day. Beyond that, I’m promising nothing.”

  “I don’t blame you,” Vitellia agreed.