I gave an inward sigh. I had not meant to get involved in this. But in for a quadrans, in for a denarius! I dropped one eyelid in a knowing wink. ‘Give those lovely mittens to His Excellence,’ I said. ‘Tell him they’re a thank-you present for his wife, and leave the rest to me.’
So saying, I led the way outside, blinking in the sudden brightness of the day.
TWENTY-FIVE
Marcus was standing on the quayside by his horse, clearly impatient at the short delay. It was unusual for him to have to wait for anyone and he’d obviously made no secret of the fact; the captain and Alfredus Allius were fussing round him like a pair of anxious ants. My patron was in his winter finery, a blue fur-lined cape and purple leather boots, and had become the centre of a small admiring crowd: dock slaves, street-hawkers, boat crew, customers, even a Roman soldier in full uniform — presumably sent here to protect the quay in case of any repetition of last night’s disturbances — all of them edging closer to get a better look. Normally this sort of thing would flatter him, but today he was tapping his baton on his thigh in a way that I recognized as dangerous.
I made my best obeisance, dropping to one knee despite the uneven kerbstones, which were bitter cold. ‘Patron!’ I murmured, taking his hand and pressing my lips against his ring. ‘Forgive me for not being here to welcome you at once. The news is so distressing; it has taken us some time to come to terms with it. Though you must be pleased that Genialis has been found; it ratifies your role as guardian of Silvia, after all.’
Marcus said ‘Humph!’ but did not withdraw his hand.
That was a good sign and I scrambled to my feet and greeted the lady in question with a distant bow. She was standing apart on the outskirts of the crowd, where she had just been helped gently to the ground by a rumpled Adonisius and a mounted page. She had clearly been a passenger on the page’s horse — although I knew quite well that she could ride herself, at need. She was still dressed in deepest mourning, as she had been throughout, though she had abandoned her attractive Grecian fashion for a more sober black cape and stola now — but as she saw me she pulled aside her veil, and her face was as lively and beautiful as it had always been. There was not the slightest evidence or pretence at grief.
‘Citizen Libertus!’ She flashed her charming smile. ‘I am glad to find you here. And Lucius as well. I am doubly favoured.’
‘Madam, I offer you condolences,’ I said warningly. ‘It must be alarming for you, learning of the state in which your former guardian was found.’
I saw the look that she exchanged with Lucius and realized that she’d already known. I wondered when she’d had the opportunity to talk to him alone — but, since he had accompanied her to Marcus’s villa a day or two ago, I decided that he must have told her then.
But my tone had reminded her of the role she had to play. ‘It was a shock,’ she answered, soberly. ‘Though I’m certain that my friends will do the best they can for me, and ensure that his body gets the treatment it deserves.’
That was ambiguous, and she’d intended it to be. I remembered suddenly the first time that we’d met — Lucius had spoken of Genialis then as though he was already certain he was dead, and she’d corrected him. The lady had a considerable wit and intellect. Lucius would have his hands full if he married her.
But my patron was addressing me. ‘Bernadus is arranging the funeral, I believe. He was the one who told us that we would find you here. He said you’d come for hyssop to purify the corpse — though apparently the funeral women have arrived and they said to tell you they have all the herbs they need.’
Lucius bustled forward. ‘Then I’ll let my steward know. He is searching the warehouse records for it, as we speak.’ He turned to Marcus. ‘Mine is a humble household, Excellence, but what there is I place at your command. Would you care to enter and take some wine perhaps?’
‘You are courteous, trader, but we won’t impose on you.’ Marcus contrived to sound at once polite and yet appalled. ‘I came to find Libertus and tell him of my plans — and to bring Silvia back to my apartment in the town, since I understand the funeral will be held in Glevum now. I’m sure that she will want to oversee things for herself. I’ll make arrangements for her to stay here for a while — her attendant nurse is already on the way. I myself propose to go to Rome within a day or two. It will mean a journey in ill-starred Februarius, but that’s unavoidable.’ He gave me a proud smile. ‘I presume, Libertus, you’ve heard the news that my old friend and patron is confirmed as Emperor?’
There was a ragged cry from somewhere in the crowd — ‘Hail Pertinax!’ — and it was taken up by others instantly until the quayside echoed with the chant. I had almost forgotten that there were people listening in. ‘I don’t think you need worry that he lacks support. The town is full of banners and garlands praising him,’ I said to Marcus under cover of the din. ‘And images of Commodus have been torn down and burned.’
He shook his head and frowned. ‘Honour is due to the title of Emperor itself, irrespective of the person holding it,’ he said. ‘This kind of thing is actually dangerous. Mobs are volatile and can change their minds. This makes it still more urgent that I get to Rome.’
I was likely to lose him as my patron very soon, I thought. He was already talking like a chief advisor to the Imperial throne — a role in which he doubtless saw himself. But I had seen an opening and I seized it with both hands. ‘And your lady wife? She will accompany you? Because Gwellia thinks …’ I moved a little closer and whispered in his ear.
He gazed at me in genuine surprise. ‘Julia! But surely …’ His face was flushed with sudden joy. ‘It’s true, she has wanted to talk to me in private for some days, but with Silvia there and Lucius it has not been practical — and I’ve not disturbed her in the evening because she’s not been well … Oh, great gods! I do see what you mean. Why by great Olympus did I not think of it?’ He reached out and took my arm — a friendly gesture I had almost never known him make before. ‘Libertus, my old friend, I have misjudged you, I’m afraid. I thought you’d grown too old for solving mysteries — this one appears to have defeated you. But I see that you’re still your old observant self. Remind me to reward you for your perspicacity.’
I was about to protest that it was not my perspicacity at all, and that I was only guessing even now, but some instinct for self-preservation stopped me just in time. In any case Marcus would not have heeded me. ‘But that makes things very difficult,’ he was exclaiming now. ‘If she’s in that condition, what am I to do? I can’t take her with me all the way to Rome, especially at this season of the year — and I don’t like to leave her on her own. And yet I am convinced that it’s imperative I go. Just listen to this crowd.’ There was still sporadic cheering and much waving of wool caps. ‘If this sort of thing is also happening in Rome, you mark my words there will be riots very soon.’
I did not point out that there had been riots here already. Instead I murmured gently, ‘What you need is the services of an experienced nurse and midwife to stay with Julia. You still have that Nutricia, haven’t you? She attended Julia last time, at Marcellinus’s birth. I know that you’ve given her on loan to Silvia — but I imagine any handmaiden would serve as well for that. Come to think of it, I know Bernadus has a girl slave at his house in town. He might be persuaded to part with her, I think.’
Marcus clapped me on the back. ‘Well thought of, my old friend. I’ll go and talk to him. If you don’t think that Silvia would mind such an exchange.’
‘I’m certain that she won’t.’ In fact, she’d be delighted, I thought privately. No one else would keep so close an eye on her. ‘And meanwhile I’ll accompany Silvia to your flat. Or let Lucius do that — he’ll look after her and she’ll have Adonisius to attend her, too. I will go and speak to Bernadus about the slave. That way you can get straight back to Julia — and maybe intercept Nutricia on the way. Don’t concern yourself about the funeral here — there are other people to take care of it, and you can pay them later out of Genialis’s estate.’