A Bitter Chill by Jane Finnis

managed a smile, but it was an effort. Fleas indeed!
    “Well, please do tell me if there’s anything you need.”
    I turned to go, but she barked, “Wait, will you? Don’t go rushing off!”
    I waited while she spread more honey, took a couple of mouthfuls of bread, and had a sip of wine. Finally she deigned to transfer her attention to me.
    “You said yesterday that your sister’s young man intends to visit her here today?”
    Here we go, I thought—I must say as little as possible, without actually lying. “That’s right. Candidus, the man she’s engaged to. But with the weather being so bad, we’re not sure when he’ll arrive.”
    “If he hasn’t reached here by noon, I shall visit him at his house. I don’t propose to waste all day doing nothing.”
    Gods alive, that’s all we need! Horatius, predictably, objected. “Really, Sempronia, in this weather? Are you mad? Why in Hades can’t you just show a little patience?”
    Just as inevitably, she ignored him. “Our carriages are big enough to cope with a few flakes of snow.” (There was about half a foot of the stuff outside, but I let it go.) “You and your sister can accompany me to show me the way there. She will probably want to visit her intended if he doesn’t reach here, and I shall need you to come with me in any case.”
    “Me? Why? I mean what use can I possibly be?”
    She sighed irritably. “If this young man gives us any useful information, I may be forced to travel further afield perhaps, to make more visits, and I shall need somebody who’s familiar with the area.” She gave another sigh. “Do you approve of your sister’s choice of husband?”
    “Yes, I do.”
    “Then you’re fortunate. I only wish Decimus…ah well, never mind. If your sister’s fiancé can lead me to my son, I’ll be glad to show my appreciation by giving the pair of them a wedding present.” She stared at me for a few heartbeats, a token pause only—we all knew I wouldn’t refuse to make the journey. “Good, that’s settled. Mustela, order two carriages and the guards to be ready to set off at noon. We can always change the order later if necessary. You’ll come, Aulus, and you of course, Horatius. Margarita, there’s not much point in you and Gaius travelling with us, you can stay here for the day, and for the gods’ sake try to keep the boy out of mischief.” She glanced round, challenging us to demur. None of us did.
    But I decided to assert a small measure of independence. “We won’t need to take up space in one of your carriages, my lady. Albia and I will be riding on horseback. We enjoy the exercise, and the horses need it.”
    She shrugged her bony shoulders. “As you wish. We shall only need one carriage then, Mustela.”
    Suddenly I thought about Silvanius Clarus, who would be sure to want to help. “May I suggest something else that might help your search?”
    “Well?”
    “I think I mentioned that the Chief Town Councillor of Oak Bridges is a good friend of ours. I’m sure he’ll wish to pay his respects to you when he finds out you’re in the district. Shall I send him a message, letting him know that you’re here, and asking for his help?”
    She thought about it. “I don’t know. These native politicians can be a trial. I don’t want to waste time being entertained, and having to be gracious to the locals.”
    The idea of Sempronia being gracious to anyone made me want to laugh, but instead I nodded and said, “I realise you’re busy, but Clarus can provide entertainment fit for a consul. He has the best chef north of Londinium.”
    “Really? But he is a Brigantian native, I presume?”
    “Born here, yes, but Roman educated, and prides himself on being a citizen and living a thoroughly Roman life.”
    “H’m. What sort of establishment does he have? Two roundhouses and a herd of pigs?”
    “He has a large villa just outside Oak Bridges. It was designed by a Roman architect, and it’s very fine. His rooms have