Danger in the Wind (18 page)

“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 seeing 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.

“Somebody’s not happy,” I said to Vitellia. “I bet that’s Chloe, Jovina’s daughter. She always had a temper.”

Just then Selena came in, and smiled to see us. “I’m pleased you’re here, Mistress Aurelia. My lady will be, too. I was afraid from what Master Philippus said that you weren’t staying.”

“I said I’d come. But Philippus tells us Jovina is still too ill for visitors. Is he right?”

“Jupiter’s balls, I wish he’d stop…” She paused and continued more calmly, “He gets so protective sometimes. She’s not too ill for you, Mistress, I promise. Master Philo just came to tell her you’d looked in, but you had to hurry away and would come back later. My lady was beside herself so I came straight here to ask you to change your mind.”

“Don’t worry. I’m going nowhere till I’ve seen my cousin.”

“Good, because she’s desperate to see you. She’s still unwell, and she needs her rest, but fretting over when you’ll be here is stopping her getting it. If you’ll come with me, I’ll take you to her straight away. The only thing is, if she finds she’s getting tired after a while…”

“We’re old friends, she’ll tell me quickly enough if I overstay my welcome. Vitellia, will you wait for me here?”

“May I keep you company?” Philippus was standing in the doorway smiling down at her. “I’ll show you round the garden if you like. There are some quite interesting statues.”

“Thank you, that would be very nice.”

I don’t know how I’d expected to find my cousin: lying flat out on her bed, or limply reclining, supported by a heap of pillows. It was a pleasant surprise to see her sitting on a reading-couch, fully dressed and with her hair properly arranged. She had lovely fine fair hair that I’d always envied. She was pale, presumably from being ill, but that only emphasised her large dark eyes and full lips. She hadn’t lost her beauty.

She got up, smiling, as Selena showed me in. “Aurelia dear, thank the gods! It’s so good to see you.”

“And you, Jovina.” I went to her and we embraced. “And I’m so glad to find you out of bed. From what your menfolk said about you, I wasn’t expecting that.”

She looked pleased, and then her expression became a little embarrassed. “No, well, I had to keep everyone at bay for a day or two, except Selena and the healing-woman from the village. But I’m better now. Come and sit here next to me, and I’ll tell you it all. Could you fetch us some fresh wine, Selena, please? Aurelia and I have a lot of catching-up to do. And I still don’t want any visitors. Absolutely nobody.”

“I understand, Mistress. Not even Nikias, if he tries again?”

“Well…no. Definitely not. I should never have allowed him to see me last night, only …never mind. I don’t want to see him again.”

“Very good.” Something odd about Selena’s tone caught my attention. Had the handsome medic helped or hindered Jovina’s quick recovery? Had she even been ill at all? You couldn’t read it in her face. You might have said she’d had a bad headache or an uncomfortable time of the month, but nothing serious enough to warrant her refusing to see anyone for days. Or had it been Philippus, not she herself, who’d been keeping visitors away? And if so, why?

“I don’t know what I’d have done without Selena these last few months,” Jovina said as the door closed. “She’s loyal, she’s efficient, and she’s one of the few people here I can really trust. Now, first things first. I’m so sorry you had to spend last night at that dreadful mansio.”

“It wasn’t too bad. Not the Oak Tree, but then I’ve always said I run the best mansio north of the Humber, so what could I expect? And I was grateful to Philippus for sorting out accommodation for us when the mansio was so busy.”

“He’s one of their regulars. He plays dice there most nights and makes a useful contribution to their bar takings.” She smiled. “Boys will be boys, you know. Anyhow, from today you must stay here…no, no arguments, I insist on it. Get your things brought over straight away. Selena will organise it all. How many servants have you?”

“Only one maid. My drivers and guards are wanted back at Oak Bridges so they’re going home today. And don’t forget there’s Vitellia, Lucius’ betrothed. You did get my note about her coming to the party?”

“She’s welcome—the more the merrier. I’ll need all the help I can get to keep things cheerful. And now that it’s been brought forward…”

“Brought forward? I thought it was on your birthday in two days’ time.”

“It was, but that’s Midsummer Day, and there’s some sort of panic on at the fort about it. We’ve had warning that the natives are up to something, and Trebonius, that’s the commander, wants everyone on high alert, not relaxing at a party.”

“I only just got here in time, then. I’m really looking forward to it. And of course we’d much rather stay here, if you’re sure.”

“Quite certain. It’s wonderful that you’ve managed to get here. It can’t have been easy at such short notice.”

“Of course I’ve come. Your message didn’t leave me much choice, talking about danger, and Greeks bearing gifts. What’s it all about?”

She spread out her hands. “Where to begin? I’ve got so much to tell you.”

“Begin with why you wrote me last night that someone was trying to stop me coming to see you. Whoever it was, they were presumably only doing what they thought was right for you.”

She smiled. “Oh, that? I think I was being a bit silly. Philo is so overprotective sometimes, but he means it for the best. He was worried when I was poorly, you know how men are about women’s complaints. I’m having trouble convincing him that I’m recovered now.”

“And are you really recovered? Selena says you’re not quite there yet. What’s been the trouble? Have you been ill for long?”

“I was only really sick for a day, but I didn’t want the menfolk asking all sorts of awkward questions. Marcus especially. So we told them all I was too ill to see any of them. Now we can say the village healing-woman has found a cure, and I’m myself again.”

“Good. But what was wrong with you?”

Again she evaded the question. “I’ll be fit for the birthday party, at any rate. But as to enjoying it… The nearer this so-called celebration comes, the more I’m dreading it.”