He confirmed it – and he had been on the premises with them, just as he was here today. Even though Polycarpus was in overall charge, Gratus never let their slaves go out to another house without being in attendance too. ‘Just in case.’
I drew him aside, to another portico. No one could overhear. I had a bowl in one hand and kept nibbling, so it looked as if our conversation was casual. ‘I wish I had asked you before. Will you tell me anything you remember about that evening?’
Gratus kept an eye on his staff, but he was nevertheless accommodating to me. He was taller and more refined in looks than Polycarpus, with a tanned Italian face: deep cheek creases, eyebrows that crooked in an upturned ‘v’, and a small gap between his front teeth. The slaves were in the usual plain material and neutral colours, but he wore a finer white tunic, with narrow over-the-shoulder braid in red.
He told me it had been a normal early supper. His master Simplicius had attended, together with the other man Aviola had chosen as an executor.
‘Galla would not have been invited,’ I speculated. ‘Even when couples have been divorced on what they claim are “amicable terms”, that’s fake. It is a rare second marriage where the new bride plays hostess to her predecessor – well, not unless the new one wants to gloat that she is already expecting triplets and has really superb wedding presents to show off … Galla was in Campania anyway, tightening her grip on that splendid villa.’
I was watching Galla’s daughter, Simplicia. She had been indoors and found a box of old toys, with which she was amusing Graecina’s children, kneeling down on the ground with them like a friendly aunt. I heard her say they could play with all the toys now, and choose one thing each to keep. This worked magically. Each child grabbed its favourite at once, though the boy looked as if he might risk trying for two.
Gratus saw me looking. ‘Nice girl. The best of the family.’
‘Close to her father?’ After her brother had prayed at the tomb, I had seen this one touch the urn surreptitiously, as if she could not bear it but wanted to show Aviola her remembrance.
‘More than the other two. She was only a toddler at the time of the divorce; he seemed to want to make up to her, and always favoured her a little.’
‘Gratus, I have the impression Aviola’s children stayed in Campania with their mother. Were they not invited to their father’s wedding?’
‘I believe they were invited, but Galla was difficult. Aviola wanted her out of the villa, so she punished him by withholding his son. Valerius did not come. Aviola kept grumbling about it bitterly. Even the day he died he was still upset. Mucia Lucilia was trying to look understanding, but it had made her twitchy.’
I scoffed. ‘If Galla really was anxious about Aviola changing towards the children, this was surely a bad move on her part. What about the girls?’
‘The daughters, being married women, were in Rome. They did come to the wedding ceremony, bringing their husbands, and also attended the feast immediately afterwards. The farewell party on the second night was a meal for special friends.’
‘Aviola’s friends? What about Mucia’s?’
‘In fact they had most of their friends in common. They were both part of a circle of people who had known each other and socialised for a long time.’
‘I’m guessing Mucia did not invite her own executor, the freedman Hermes?’
‘Oh no.’
‘Because he was a freedman?’ I asked. Gratus gazed at me with unspoken reproach, as if it were bad-mannered of me to raise such an issue of class. ‘Well, Mucia Lucilia must have been close to him,’ I insisted. ‘To put him in charge of her will.’
‘She did not expect to die,’ replied Gratus, a succinct correction.
‘You think she would have changed it later?’
He nodded. I waited. ‘Flavia Albia, there were things going on here, I mean actions being planned, that nobody wanted to speak about openly.’
‘Were you aware of tensions?’
‘Sometimes.’
‘Tell me.’
‘Well, even the absence of Galla Simplicia – who was a forceful member of their group – left a gap and made all the guests wonder how things would be in future. Would Galla never be invited now? Had the marriage busted up their group? Talking about friendships,’ Gratus said, ‘you should be aware that Galla Simplicia had for many years been a close friend of Mucia Lucilia.’
‘That is certainly not the impression she gives now!’ I commented.
‘The wedding came as a shock to her,’ Gratus confided.
‘That was why she took it badly? To the point that people accused her of wanting Aviola dead?’
‘Telling Galla Simplicia about the marriage was handled badly. Aviola and Mucia were embarrassed to broach the subject, so Galla only found out by accident.’
I pulled a face. ‘I suppose for Galla, having the news kept secret like that increased her anxiety, and her bad reaction?’
‘I imagine so,’ answered Gratus with the good steward’s long-matured knack of seeming non-committal.
‘And are you saying there were other issues in the household?’
‘I gained that impression.’
Screwing information out of this upright domestic was hard work but this might be my only chance; I was determined to pick his brains as much as I could. ‘So, Gratus, what was causing tension? And who was involved?’ He looked wary. I pleaded, ‘Oh, come on! This is a murder case. Sextus Simplicius is selling you on, despite your immaculate service and loyalty, so you have nothing to lose – why hang back?’
I saw his loyalty fade out at last. Reminded of the unfairness of his situation, Gratus finally overcame his reluctance and let rip. ‘Well, for a start, Polycarpus was grumpy, because his master was going off to be flattered by his rival Onesimus; he was distant with me too, because it was already in the wind that my master had an eye on him for my post. He may have thought I did not know – or if I did, he was afraid how I would treat him. So he was being funny with me. Then some of the slaves were on edge for their own reasons.’
‘The slaves who are now fugitives?’
‘I noticed it all,’ confirmed Gratus, ‘because every time any of them went off into a corner muttering, it left more work for my own people.’
‘What were they muttering about?’
‘Oh …’ Gratus had not quite lost his reticence, though he did not hesitate long. ‘Daphnus was in a right bate. He had his eye on Amaranta, and someone had told him she had been up to no good with Onesimus. Apparently there had been bad feeling before, and even fights. Property was broken. That was partly why Onesimus had been sent away early, after a serious row with the master and mistress. Daphnus thought if Amaranta went down to Campania, anything could happen between her and Onesimus in the fresh country air … He was nagging her and she was giving him the elbow.’
‘This is good – anything else, Gratus?’
‘Plenty! The two porters had never got on—’
‘Phaedrus told me they were best pals!’ I exclaimed.
‘Phaedrus lied through his teeth then. He and Nicostratus couldn’t stand one another. They were exchanging insults all night. I heard Aviola wanted to split them up; he had said he would sell them both unless they patched up their differences. I suspect Phaedrus was actually having it away with Amaranta – he’s hefty, good-looking and blond, and from little signs between them that night, I am pretty sure he had struck lucky.’ So much for Amaranta being a girl who kept aloof. Onesimus, Daphnus, Phaedrus – and Gratus had more on that topic: ‘Amethystus, the horrid old has-been, kept eyeing up Amaranta as well, though she can’t stand him; he cornered her in a mop cupboard on the wedding day, and she gave him a black eye.’
‘With a mop?’ I was laughing.
‘I believe so,’ Gratus replied gravely. ‘You may think Amethystus was giving himself airs, but he was verna, house-born, so he believed that gave him precedence over Daphnus and Phaedrus who came from the slave market.’
; ‘Even though he’s hideous, while they are both younger and more presentable, they ought to queue up behind him for Amaranta’s favours?’ I chortled. ‘Does this kind of rumpus go on at your house?’
‘It does not,’ stated Gratus coldly. ‘I see to that!’ He let go a little. ‘In my house it is understood the steward has first pickings.’ I was supposed to see this as a joke.
‘Go on – you are not promiscuous!’
‘No, I’m too busy.’
I pulled myself together. ‘What else?’
‘Olympe had tried to run away, but her own people brought her back, frightened they would be arrested for harbouring her. She was supposed to trill a few rounds in the dining room, but after a couple of off-tune flute melodies, Mucia Lucilia reprimanded her, so she burst into tears, threw her instrument at the wall, then ran off weeping. Even the lapdog—’
‘The adorable Puff?’
‘So lovely! During the party, Puff was attacked by that other hound, the rough one from Polycarpus’ house.’
‘Panther.’
‘You seem very familiar with the pets here, Albia.’
‘I think I like the pets more than the people … Don’t say Panther was shagging Puff, or making an attempt?’
‘No, he seemed bad-tempered because Puff had nadgered him.’
‘Well, if Puff came up and sniffed his rear too intimately, Panther would growl a warning, which Puff would not hear because Puff is stone deaf …’
‘Cue dogfight.’ Gratus sighed wearily. ‘Luckily I had spied out the fire-buckets. There were lamps everywhere. I don’t know what dangerous fool had decorated the place. If the master and mistress had been discovered in bed burnt to a smoking cinder, that would have been more likely than what really happened – not to speak disrespectfully … Anyway, I flung open the well in the courtyard, cast a bucket of water over the fighting pooches, then they sat down together, all bedraggled and licking up the puddles.’
‘What was Panther doing down here?’
‘That boy had him. The boy was supposed to help wash up. He was useless.’
‘I could have guessed. Why wasn’t Chrysodorus looking after Puff, as he is meant to?’
‘He sloped off when the dogfight started.’
‘All right. Anyone else sniff someone a little too closely?’
‘No, that is all I noticed. It was quite enough.’
‘Yes, poor you!’
Once Gratus set off rolling, he was good value and enjoyed himself. One vital thing he now told me was that apart from Amaranta and Libycus who had intimate duties that nobody else was trusted with, several slaves kept in Rome believed they were about to be sent to the slave market for their past behaviour. The household was to be rationalised as Aviola and Mucia merged their staffs. Trouble-makers were for it. So far, no one had named the ones to go, which caused more uncertainty and stroppiness. But it was known that when the transport for Campania came next morning, Polycarpus had orders to keep some here and send them off to a big sale later this week.
‘He made no mention of that to me,’ I said.
‘He didn’t like having to do it,’ replied Gratus. ‘Polycarpus had a lot of loyalty to his staff. He would never show any annoyance with his master, but I know he thought it was his job to knock them into better shape and he ought to have been given a chance to do it.’
‘Do you agree with that?’
‘Yes. Yes, I do.’
‘So was there bad feeling between Polycarpus and his master?’
‘I wouldn’t go that far.’
‘But he was siding with the disgruntled slaves?’
‘It was his own fault they were disgruntled. He should never have let them find out in advance that some were to go,’ said Gratus. ‘He needed them that evening. He thought he was being kind and honest, giving them a warning.’
‘But it made no sense to have them all stirred up?’
‘No.’ Gratus shook his head. ‘You can imagine the rumours. The ones who thought themselves safe were gloating, and others were very distressed.’
Unnoticed by us at first, Gratus and I were being closely observed by another difficult slave. Myla had been hovering near us, in that nosy way of hers. As soon as she saw me looking at her, she edged away.
To my surprise, she then suddenly marched across the courtyard. I had never seen her move with so much determination. She went straight to where Galla Simplicia, her cousin and son were talking in a small group, interrupting them in such a rude way that Gratus sucked his breath sharply through his teeth. ‘That’s not acceptable!’
Myla addressed Sextus Simplicius. ‘Am I to be sent to that sale next week?’ she demanded loudly.
Simplicius looked flustered but he answered coolly, ‘It will be sooner than next week. As Valerius Aviola’s executor I can say that all the slaves whose freedom has not been specifically given in his will by their kind master will be going to market, yes indeed.’
Myla had gone red. Her next target was Aviola’s son: ‘You know that’s wrong! You know that was not what your father wanted!’
‘A decision had been made,’ Valerius said quickly, more positive than I had ever seen him.
‘I deserve better than this!’
‘You have always had good treatment.’
‘I was made promises.’
‘I think not. You must accept what has to be.’
‘Oh, young master, you have a kind heart – save me!’
‘No,’ said Valerius. Unable to bear her begging, he turned and walked away.
‘I have a child! What about the child?’ wailed Myla.
‘Do not worry about your offspring!’ Galla Simplicia blocked Myla from following her son. Her voice, normally so light in timbre, became hard: ‘It is not wanted in this household. You shall go together, mother and baby − “Buy one, get one free”.’
Beside me, Gratus gulped. I cringed too. ‘Galla was winning me over today, but that was a cruel put down!’
Gratus turned to me with an odd look. ‘Has anybody told you about her?’
‘Galla Simplicia?’
‘No, the slave woman.’
I mimicked the regular comment around here: ‘Oh, she’s just Myla!’
There was a moment of stillness. I gazed at the steward. He raised his eyebrows expressively, then also shrugged his shoulders in that elegant way he had.
‘I see there is a story. Please tell me?’
‘I could not possibly comment,’ replied Gratus.
‘Oh no! You cannot leave it there, Gratus. I know how things work. There is nothing to single out that slave as special, certainly not diligence at work. Yet normal household management is never applied to her. She herself implies she is untouchable. She does what she likes – normally very little. Polycarpus, though a good steward, use to let her get away with it.’
‘So what does that tell you?’ Gratus whispered secretively.
‘She had a protector. One who cannot protect her any longer.’ I gave Gratus a long look, then put a theory to him. ‘Try this: was Polycarpus the father of Myla’s children?’
41
‘Oh, strip me naked and whip me round the Forum of the Romans, Flavia Albia! Where did you get that from?’ I was slandering a fellow-steward and Gratus was raring to set me straight. Anyone would think stewards had a guild (not legal, since so many were not free). ‘I had reason to dislike the man but I had known him for years and Polycarpus would never have touched that dangerous piece of mischief.’
‘The man was too savvy?’
‘He had a decent wife and children—’
‘That never stops some people, Gratus.’
‘Not in his case. He was faithful – more or less – and, give him his due, he had far better taste!’
I let a slow grin creep across my face. ‘Well. Settle down, my friend. I was just testing. Part of my job. I saw Polycarpus’ attitude towards Myla for myself. He looked irritated by her, and annoyed at having to put up with her in his well-run est
ablishment. I thought little of it at the time.’
Gratus reluctantly came down from his agitation. He would not demean himself by asking who I really thought Myla’s lover was, though I believed he wanted me to know.
I put him out of his misery. ‘Once you think about it, it’s obvious. She has been here for years. She has borne several children. Nobody ever enquires who their father is. Simplicius views her with distaste. Galla and Valerius Junior are vicious to her. Valerius will not hear Myla’s pleas; he absolutely wants her gone. Anyone but Myla herself would know it was stupid to ask him. Can there be any doubt, Gratus – Myla sees herself as special because she was singled out by the one person nobody else could question? It was Valerius Aviola who slept with her.’
‘Flavia Albia, I bow to your powers of conjecture!’ replied Gratus. He was pretending he had known nothing about it. But that was only because he was a very good steward, and very good stewards are impervious to gossip.
42
After seeing that those who held power over her had now all ganged up against her, Myla stomped off, heading towards the kitchen.
Gratus left me, needing to be among his staff. I waited a moment, gathering my thoughts, then I followed Myla.
I would have liked to corner her alone, but Galla’s younger daughter was there ahead of me − Simplicia, a thin young woman in decorous dark funeral clothes. Her mother’s daughter, she also had several pieces of gold jewellery and such immaculate face colours I wondered where she had her makeup done. She was probably painted by a slave at home, so I did not bother to ask.
When I came in, she had only just arrived and was addressing Myla. ‘I heard a baby crying.’
‘He’s watching her,’ replied Myla gruffly, nodding at the youth Cosmus who was with her. ‘Supposed to be.’ He was peering into food stores like any ravenous young boy. Unlike the sharp knives in my family, he had no notion of stopping and looking innocent on the approach of adults.
Simplicia was indignant, though not because the baby had been left to cry. She pointed to the child, who was no longer lying in the basket I had seen before, but in an elderly wooden cradle. Despite its age, it was well-made, perhaps by the family’s estate carpenter. ‘I have been searching for that!’ Simplicia exclaimed indignantly. ‘It was ours – we all had it, my sister and brother and me. It is now wanted for my sister’s baby. You have no right to it; please remove your child at once.’
Enemies at Home: Falco: The New Generation - Flavia Albia 2 Page 22