by Jane Finnis
“I’ve no choice. My cousin is in trouble, but not because the place isn’t safe. She’s got some personal problem, and she’s asked me to help. I‘m making arrangements to go without involving anyone here. Clarilla is lending me transport, and I’ll stay with Albia on the way. I’m hoping you’ll help too. But if you feel uncomfortable about disobeying Lucius, I’ll understand.”
“Of course I’ll help you. After what you did for me and Spurius, I haven’t got a choice either.”
“Thank you. That’s a tremendous relief.”
“Did you really doubt it?” She smiled at me. “Just tell me what you need me to do.”
“Clarilla is providing drivers and guards, so I’ll only need to take one maid, I haven’t decided who yet. That won’t leave you too short-handed, will it?”
“No. Anything else?”
“Just not to mention what Lucius said to the rest of the staff.”
She nodded. “Secundus knows, and he’s prepared to turn a blind eye. It’ll stay between the three of us.”
“Thank you. That’s excellent.”
“If you think of anything else, you only have to say. Will Vitellia be going with you?”
“I haven’t mentioned it to her yet, but I’m intending to take her as far as Albia’s in Eburacum. After that, we’ll see. She doesn’t know Lucius has forbidden the trip, and it’s better to keep it that way.”
“There’s just one thing that worries me then. What happens if you get to Isurium and Lucius is there already? He said he might be sent to the fort. When he sees you…”
“I’ll make it very clear that you didn’t give me any help at all.”
“That’s not what I mean. He’ll be pretty angry when he realises what you’ve done. Won’t he just send you straight home again with your tail between your legs?”
She’d touched on the one weak link in my chain, but I didn’t want to admit its weakness even to myself. “I’ll just have to brazen it out. He won’t want a big family row in public, admitting to the world that he can’t control his own sister. He’ll have to make the best of things, and let me stay there at least one night to see Jovina. But I can talk him round, I’m sure of it.”
“You’re taking quite a chance all the same.” She smiled at me as she got to her feet. “But you’ve obviously thought it all out. I’m sure you’re doing the right thing, and you can be sure I’ll take good care of everything here.”
She went back to the kitchen, and I looked again at my list of jobs. They all seemed quite simple, now that I’d tackled the hardest.
I sorted out the clothes and sandals I’d need with me, and organised some presents for Albia—wine, and some of Cook’s famous honey cakes. I discussed the farm work with Ursulus, who had everything well in hand. Brutus came round with Silvanius’ two letters, and said he was bringing our vehicles, drivers and guards over to the mansio that night, so we could make an early start in the morning.
The only sad tasks in the otherwise cheerful rush were sending Terentius’ body off to Eburacum, and arranging a pyre for his servant’s remains.
About midmorning I realised I hadn’t set eyes on Vitellia since her tearful outburst early on. I ought to see how she was bearing up, and tell her about the trip to Albia’s. None of the kitchen-girls had seen her either, and she’d eaten no breakfast, which probably meant she’d gone back to her room.
Whatever I thought of her, I didn’t like the idea of her moping alone all day, so I went to our private wing to see. As I walked along the passage, I heard voices, and stopped to listen. Probably a gossip session among the maids. Yes, I recognised Baca’s voice, but to my surprise, I realised the other voice was Vitellia’s.
“I can’t bear it,” she was sobbing. “How will I manage without him?”
“Don’t be too sad, Miss,” Baca said. “I know what it’s like when your boyfriend is away. It feels like you’ve got a big hole inside you. But he won’t be gone for long, I’m sure he won’t.”
“I don’t know what to do with myself. I can’t think of anything but him. I feel so alone here. Everyone’s trying to be kind, but you’re all so busy, nobody has time for me really. I miss Sosia, my maid. Lucius said there was no need for me to bring her up here because he’d be with me all the time, she’d just be sitting about with nothing to do. And now he’s gone away.”
“Perhaps I could be your maid,” Baca suggested, “just while you’re here. I could look after you, do your hair and that. You’ve got lovely hair. And I could do your sewing. I noticed the blue tunic you had on yesterday has a little bit of a tear in the hem. I can fix that for you if you like.”
“Oh, thank you, Baca. But you’ve got your own work to do.”
“I’m in the kitchen mostly. I’d much rather be looking after you.” I heard her give a little giggle. “Believe me, sewing ladies’ clothes is a lot nicer than chopping onions and pounding herbs. And maybe I could even come with you when you all go on your little holiday.”
“Holiday? I don’t know anything about a holiday.”
Curse the girl, I thought, I was hoping to break that bit of news to Vitellia myself. Well, I suppose she had to find out sooner or later.
“Perhaps I’ve got it wrong then,” Baca was saying. “Maybe it’s just the mistress who’s going. So how about if I look after you while you’re at the Oak Tree? Of course if it doesn’t suit you…”
“Oh, but it does, Baca. Only…would Aurelia let you, do you think?”
“I’m sure she would. Ask her.”
“I don’t like to. To tell the truth she frightens me. I don’t think she likes me, and with Lucius not here to stand up for me…”
“Of course she does. And she likes that brother of hers too, she’d do anything for him. Don’t you fret. She can be a bit sharp sometimes, but she’s all right, is the Mistress. Her bark’s much worse than her bite.”
Thanks, Baca, I suppose that’s a compliment of sorts. I crept back to the door that led in from the hall, opened it noisily, and strode down the corridor calling out “Vitellia! Vitellia, are you here?”
She answered from her room. I went in and managed to sound surprised and pleased when she shyly asked me whether Baca could serve as her maid.
“That’s an excellent idea. I’m going to have to be busy for the next day or two, and you’re bound to feel lonely without Lucius. The only thing is, Baca’s not really very experienced as a lady’s maid. Can you teach her what her duties will be?”
“Oh, yes. I know what Sosia does for me at home.”
“Fine. And if you’ve any sewing to do, Baca’s a good neat hand with a needle.”
“Thank you.” Vitellia smiled at me. “I know you’re busy. I’ll try not to be too much of a nuisance.”
“You’re not a nuisance at all. And I’ve got a treat lined up for you—for both of us. You know my sister Albia has a town house in Eburacum?”
“Yes, Lucius and I stayed in it on our way up from Londinium. Albia wasn’t there herself though.”
“She’s there now, and she’s invited us to go and join her for a couple of days. I think it would be fun. What do you say?”
Her face lit up. “That would be really nice.”
“Good. We’ll leave tomorrow first thing.”
“And we may see Lucius there too. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
Oh, wonderful! But I could hardly tell her my brother was about the last person I’d wish to meet in Eburacum. “I shouldn’t count on it. My guess is he’ll be sent up north to check on the soldier that was killed here yesterday.”
“Won’t he call in to see Albia on his way?”
“It’s unlikely. He makes it a rule not to visit her if he’s on an assignment, in case it might be dangerous for her if he’s seen at her house. Anyhow, you and I and Albia can have a good time without him. We can all go shopping together. Baca, we’ll need to take a maid with us. You can come if you like.”
“Ooh, yes please, Mistress. I’ve never been to Eburacum.”
&n
bsp; As I left them, I caught the words, “Told you it’d be all right!” and some girlish giggling. I felt relieved. I’d expected to have trouble finding something for Vitellia to do, but now she had a companion she liked. When we got to Eburacum there’d be time enough to tell her I wasn’t travelling straight back to the mansio, and give her the choice of coming with me to Jovina’s or staying at my sister’s. With a bit of luck she’d stay with Albia.
Next I decided I must go and have a look at Moon-cloud, who had finally produced a lovely ink-black foal in the night. As I leaned over the fence, Hawk stepped up beside me.
He nodded towards the horses. “That’s a pleasant sight, isn’t it? The foal looks a fine little fellow.”
“Good morning, Hawk. Yes, he does. Did you have a quiet night?”
“Reasonably. I even managed to get some sleep after our friend with the bandages settled down in the woods. And I’ve brought you good news. He’s gone this morning.”
“Thank the gods for that.”
“But I found tracks leading back here, fresh ones made in the night or early this morning, not left from yesterday afternoon. I think he was prowling around here before he left.”
“He was, fairly early in the night.” I told him about Taurus, and he was horrified.
“Gods, I’m sorry. I only went home for a couple of hours to catch up on some sleep, after he’d made himself a fire in the woods and apparently gone to sleep too. I was sure he’d stay put till morning.” He frowned. “He’s cleverer than I gave him credit for.”
“He couldn’t know you were following him, surely?”
“No, but he wasn’t taking any chances. Military training, I suppose. Tell Taurus I’m sorry, won’t you?”
“I will, but it can’t be helped, Hawk, you can’t stay up all night every night looking after us all; I know that. And the fellow has gone now, you say?”
“Yes, and before he went he had a wash in the river, and I noticed something unusual about him, something that might help you recognise him if you ever see him again.”
“I don’t think I want to see him again. But go on, tell me.”
“He took off the bandages from round his head, had a good wash, then put them on again. There was no sign at all of a head wound. But he’d a sizeable chunk missing from his right ear, an old cut that’s healed up but still visible.”
“So the bandages weren’t just to hide his face, but to make sure nobody saw his distinguishing mark. Interesting. And when he’d washed, he rode off straight away?”
“More or less. He hung about in the trees just off the road till Lucius left, and then he went back to fetch his horse, presumably to follow. Only it had mysteriously vanished.” He smiled briefly. “My son took it and hid it out of the way. We thought it might be safer for Lucius. Bandage-man wasn’t at all pleased when he realised he had no transport.”
“Oh, brilliant! What happened then?”
“He tried looking around for tracks, but that got him nowhere, so he set off to walk westward, the same direction as Lucius. My son followed him at a safe distance until well past the Oak Bridges turning, and then saw him stop a farm cart going further west and get a lift. We’ll be keeping an eye open in case he comes back, but I think he’s gone for good.”
“I agree, but I’ll make sure everyone stays on the alert. And thanks, Hawk, you and your son have done just the right thing. Let’s hope we’ve really seen the last of Portius now.”
“You’re on your way tomorrow, all being well?”
“That’s right, first thing.”
“Good. Take care then. And enjoy your trip.” With a brief wave, he turned on his heel and melted into the trees.
Chapter VIII
Eburacum was looking its best in the afternoon sunshine. The trees were in full leaf, the wider roads were busy and cheerful, and the little unpaved alleyways were mostly free of mud. The rivers flowed peacefully and hadn’t yet started to smell.
It isn’t large like Londinium, though it always seems big to me compared with Oak Bridges. Nor is it one of those beautifully planned places with regular streets and decorative temples. It’s a soldiers’ town, dominated by the solid bulk of the legionary fortress. The higgledy-piggledy streets around it are home to the men’s families and the civilians who provide for them. There’s a regular market, so the forum is a reasonable size, and more and more shops are springing up. From bootmakers to brothel-keepers, from coppersmiths to cloth-sellers, they’re all there trying to turn a more or less honest denarius.
Albia’s house was among a group of pleasant civilian town-houses, quite central, not far from the larger of the two rivers. It was well built and roomy, with a lovely little courtyard-garden at its centre. As Brutus led our two carriages through the streets, Vitellia was gazing out like an excited child, and I was in no position to mock, because so was I.
Albia was at the door to greet us as we pulled up. We jumped down, not waiting for the carriage steps to be unfolded for a more dignified descent, and she gathered me and Vitellia into her arms and hugged us.
“Welcome to you both! Relia, how lovely to see you looking so well. And Vitellia, I’ve been longing to meet the girl who’s finally going to persuade our brother to settle down.”
My sister is one of those people who makes everyone feel at home straight away, and settling in didn’t take us long. She gave Brutus directions about stabling for the horses and accommodation for the drivers and guards. He himself was staying overnight with an old army comrade at the fort. Then she led Vitellia and me out to the courtyard. Her steward Crotus brought us a jug of cool white wine, while his wife showed Baca where to unpack our things and we sat and relaxed. Really, I thought as I sank onto a cushioned couch, I don’t understand why travelling makes one so tired, when all that’s involved in sitting in a carriage and letting horses and men do the work. But it felt wonderful to be at rest now.
Vitellia, having stayed at the house already, was immediately at ease, calling the servants by name and needing no help to find her way around. As we chatted she grew livelier than she’d been since she came to the Oak Tree. That was my sister’s doing. Albia always brings out the best in people.
Of course she asked whether Albia had heard from our brother, but she hadn’t. “Lucius doesn’t stay here when he’s on an investigation, and often if he’s very busy he doesn’t even send me a note.” Seeing the child’s disappointment, she hastened to change the subject. “I hope you’ve got your shopping lists ready. Tomorrow’s a market day.”
Vitellia brightened at once. “Oh, that’s lucky. Is it a big market?”
“Quite big, yes, though I don’t suppose it’s as grand as in Londinium. The country people bring in their produce from round about, but there’s plenty to see from further afield as well. Traders come up from the south, and boats bring goods all the way up the river from the German Ocean.”
“I love markets,” Vitellia said. “And my papa gave me some money for my holiday. I haven’t been able to spend any of it yet.”
“I’m sure we can put that right,” Albia smiled. “You’ll find lots of things to buy. And you could get a present for your papa, perhaps?”
“Oh, yes, and Mama too. And something for Lucius. And then there’s my little brother…” She chattered on for a while, and I was pleased to see her so animated. But I wanted to talk to Albia privately, and my sister must have realised it.
“You don’t have to wait till the morning to see a little of the town,” she said to Vitellia. “Aurelia and I have some family business to discuss that you’ll find extremely boring. Would you like to take a short walk by the river before dinner?”
“How lovely! Can I really? And can I take Baca? She’s never been here before.”
“Good idea. And you’ll also take a man along, of course. Respectable women don’t go out unescorted in a garrison town. Crotus’ son will go with you.”
We gave the three of them stern instructions about not venturing into the poorer areas
and on no account going into wine shops. They all agreed solemnly, and set off in high spirits.
Albia and I sat down again in the courtyard. “Now, Relia, I could tell you’ve got all sorts of news, and I’m dying to know what’s been happening to you.”
“It’s amazing. I’ve been busier these last three days than in the whole of the last three months. I don’t know where to start.”
“With Arpinum, of course. You mentioned it in your letter, and I remember well enough that it meant trouble. So what’s been going wrong?”
I told her about Terentius’ death and his alarming locked box, the runaway slave’s murder, Portius and his lies. Finally I showed her Jovina’s letter and told her about Lucius’ refusal to let me accept the party invitation. As I’d hoped, she agreed with me that I must ignore Lucius’ wishes if I was convinced Jovina really needed help.
“But you must promise to take care, Relia. Whatever mess Jovina’s landed herself in, don’t you get too involved. And come straight back here if things get nasty, or if it turns out to be a wild goose chase.”
“Thanks, Albia. I knew I could count on you.”
“Of course you can. If there’s anything you need, just tell me. There’s only one problem that I can see. Lucius is presumably in Isurium already. He’s going to be extremely angry when you arrive there. What if he sends you straight back to Oak Bridges?”
“I know. That’s the one major weakness in my plan. I’m relying on the fact that he won’t want a big public row, so whatever he does say to me will be in private. I’ll try to change his mind so he’ll let me stay, but even if I can’t, I’ll make sure he can’t send me home there and then, because there won’t be time for me to travel back here.”
She nodded. “You’ll aim to arrive late in the afternoon, too late to set off on the return journey? He won’t want you travelling the roads at night.”
“Exactly. So I’ll be able to stay at least one night at Jovina’s, which will give me time to find out what’s bothering her. I’ll go round telling everyone I’ve come specially for her party, and Lucius won’t want to send me home early because it’ll make him look bad in front of Jovina and Marcus and all the other officers.”