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.”
“You hope.” She smiled. “And I hope too.”
“I’ll manage somehow. I’m determined to go, and if I can’t make him see sense and I have to leave before the party, at least I’ll have done my best for Jovina.”
“Is Vitellia going with you, or does she want to come back to the farm with me? She’s welcome, if she’d rather do that. She seems a nice girl, a bit young, but no harm in her, and if she’s going to be one of the family I’d like to get to know her better.”
“Thanks, she’d probably much prefer to be with you, but I haven’t actually broached the subject yet.”
“Nor told her you’ve quarrelled with Lucius, presumably?”
“I didn’t want to upset her. You won’t say anything, will you?”
“What do you think? And maybe the thought of seeing Lucius very soon will make her want to tag along with you to Isurium.”
“I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll ask her tonight.”
Dinner was an excellent meal, roast kid in a damson sauce with cabbage, and some baked custard to follow. Vitellia was full of what she’d seen on her walk, and we all chatted happily about tomorrow’s shopping. Afterwards when we were finishing the last of the good Gaulish red wine I’d brought from the Oak Tree, I raised the subject of Jovina’s party and my trip to Isurium.
Vitellia took it in her stride. “Baca said you were planning to go to a party, and I saw the size of your travelling chest.” She smiled. “Would your cousin mind if I came with you? I’ve brought a tunic that I can wear to a party.”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t. But are you certain? I mean it’s a long way, and you won’t know anyone there.”
“I’ll know Lucius, and he must be there by now, mustn’t he? He was hoping he’d only be kept for a
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.”
“You hope.” She smiled. “And I hope too.”
“I’ll manage somehow. I’m determined to go, and if I can’t make him see sense and I have to leave before the party, at least I’ll have done my best for Jovina.”
“Is Vitellia going with you, or does she want to come back to the farm with me? She’s welcome, if she’d rather do that. She seems a nice girl, a bit young, but no harm in her, and if she’s going to be one of the family I’d like to get to know her better.”
“Thanks, she’d probably much prefer to be with you, but I haven’t actually broached the subject yet.”
“Nor told her you’ve quarrelled with Lucius, presumably?”
“I didn’t want to upset her. You won’t say anything, will you?”
“What do you think? And maybe the thought of seeing Lucius very soon will make her want to tag along with you to Isurium.”
“I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll ask her tonight.”
Dinner was an excellent meal, roast kid in a damson sauce with cabbage, and some baked custard to follow. Vitellia was full of what she’d seen on her walk, and we all chatted happily about tomorrow’s shopping. Afterwards when we were finishing the last of the good Gaulish red wine I’d brought from the Oak Tree, I raised the subject of Jovina’s party and my trip to Isurium.
Vitellia took it in her stride. “Baca said you were planning to go to a party, and I saw the size of your travelling chest.” She smiled. “Would your cousin mind if I came with you? I’ve brought a tunic that I can wear to a party.”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t. But are you certain? I mean it’s a long way, and you won’t know anyone there.”
“I’ll know Lucius, and he must be there by now, mustn’t he? He was hoping he’d only be kept for a
Similar Books
