Atia did not deign to answer. ‘Aurelia!’ This time, Phanes made no move to stop her. His head half turned. ‘Achilles! Smiler!’
The two men whom Aurelia had spotted filled the doorway. They were unarmed, but their expressions were far from friendly. ‘Boss?’ asked the first one, a thug with curving scars that ran from the corners of his lips across both his cheeks.
Aurelia felt sick. That one had to be Smiler. She knew his type; had seen them before. The pair were ex-gladiators, now the Greek’s paid heavies.
‘No one is to leave the shop until I say so,’ announced Phanes.
‘Yes, boss.’ The pair moved to stand shoulder to shoulder, blocking the way to the street. There was a muted squawk from the wine merchant about damage to his goods being a crime before he vanished into the back of the shop.
Atia drew herself up to her full height. ‘What are you going to do? Order these creatures to lay hands on us?’
‘I hope it won’t come to that,’ replied Phanes mildly.
‘You dog! If I scream, people will come in here.’
‘They might, and they might not. If anyone is foolish enough to try, Achilles and Smiler will soon make them see the error of their ways.’
Phanes was right. From her mother’s silence, Aurelia knew that too. Even in daylight, few of Capua’s residents would intervene in a quarrel or a brawl. If blood was shed, the city guards might be called, but otherwise it was a case of dealing with one’s own problems. In a change of heart, she would have given anything for Agesandros to appear, but even he would have had his hands full dealing with two such large, determined-looking men.
‘As they can with anyone, should I give the order.’
‘You dare to threaten us?’ cried Atia.
‘Threat? What threat?’ Phanes’ smile did not reach his eyes. ‘I would merely like to talk about the money owed to me, a considerable sum that I would wager you are fully aware of.’
Atia’s lips tightened, but she did not reply, which told Aurelia that her mother had known of the money owed to Phanes. She must have been avoiding him, Aurelia thought. They had to get out of here, however. She scanned the room for anything that would serve as a weapon, but could see nothing. Panic flared in her chest. They won’t dare harm us, she told herself. Inside, though, she wasn’t so sure. She moved closer to her mother. It was time for solidarity. ‘Why are you detaining us? What do you want?’ Aurelia hoped that he heard the loathing in her words.
If he did, the Greek did not react. ‘The wolf cub speaks at last, and with a more civil tongue than its mother! I ask for an agreement, that’s all.’
‘What kind of agreement?’ demanded Atia.
‘Why, nothing more than I am entitled to. Regular payments towards the monies I am owed.’
‘And if I refuse?’ Atia’s eyes flickered over the heavies. ‘These two get sent in?’
‘Come now. You are a woman of high station. Despite your opinion, I am a civilised man,’ protested Phanes. ‘The courts would have to become involved.’ He locked eyes with Atia.
After a long moment, Atia sighed, and Aurelia knew that the Greek had won. She longed to throw herself at him, nails clawing at his face, but her fear of his men froze her feet to the spot. She listened as her mother said, ‘How often do you wish to be paid?’
‘Every month.’
‘Impossible!’
A predatory look. ‘Two-, or even three-monthly would also be acceptable, but I would have to increase the interest from two drachms in every hundred to four. That of course is in addition to the amounts that have accrued due to the lack of payments over the last year.’
‘You have the paperwork to prove what you say?’
‘Indeed. It is in my office, should you care to see it. Your husband’s signature was witnessed not just by me, but by my clerk.’
Aurelia could feel the helpless rage radiating from her mother. She felt it in her own belly, but if Phanes wasn’t lying — and her gut told her that he wasn’t — then he had them over a barrel. She would have given anything for her father to appear, to make everything right, but there was no hope of that. He was far away, fighting a war, and the gods only knew if he would ever return. Hopelessness mixed with her fear, drowning her anger.
‘Very well.’ Atia sounded older than Aurelia had ever heard her. ‘Where is your office?’
‘In the street that runs behind the courthouse, adjacent to a lawyer’s. You’ll see the sign.’
‘I will visit you there tomorrow morning to discuss. . terms.’
‘It will be my pleasure.’ Phanes bowed deeply. ‘Achilles, Smiler. Outside, both of you. The lady doesn’t need your ugly faces marring her view of the world any more.’
The knot in Aurelia’s belly eased as the two withdrew. Determined to act as if nothing untoward had happened, as if she were their master instead of the other way around, she followed them. Her breath caught in her throat, however, when Smiler saw her purpose. He cupped a hand over his groin and licked his lips. Achilles snickered. Aurelia acted as if she hadn’t seen — Show them no weakness! They will not dare touch me — and stepped past them into the street. She walked straight into a passer-by. Balance lost, the heavies’ laughter ringing in her ears, Aurelia stumbled backwards with flailing arms.
Strong hands prevented her from falling, brought her back up to a standing position. ‘In a hurry, young lady?’
Aurelia looked into a pair of amused blue eyes. They belonged to a young man with an open face and short hair, dressed in a crisp white toga. He was perhaps a few years older than Quintus, and quite handsome. ‘No. Yes. No,’ she said, feeling a rush of heat as her cheeks coloured.
‘You’re not quite sure.’ He chuckled, but then his gaze fell on Achilles and Smiler. His eyes turned hard. ‘Have these brutes been troubling you?’
Joy filled Aurelia as she saw the trio of strongly built slaves behind him. There was no doubt in her mind that if she said a single word, her rescuer would set his men upon Phanes’. She glanced into the shop. The Greek was watching her, his face closed. The tiny shake of Atia’s head spoke volumes, however. Don’t make things worse than they already are, it said. ‘No. I wasn’t looking where I was going, that’s all. My apologies.’
‘A beautiful young lady has no need to make apologies.’ Finally, he released her arms, and Aurelia coloured even more. ‘My name is Lucius Vibius Melito.’
Atia was by Aurelia’s side before she’d even realised. ‘Atia, wife of Gaius Fabricius. This is my daughter, Aurelia.’
‘Honoured to make your acquaintance.’ He bowed. ‘My compliments on your daughter. She is without doubt the fairest young woman I have seen in Capua. The scent of jasmine she uses is quite. . captivating.’
Aurelia’s eyes dropped. She was doubly embarrassed: firstly by his compliment, and secondly because there was only one place that she could have obtained the perfume. She would pay for it later.
‘You are too kind,’ Atia purred. ‘I have heard your name before. Doesn’t your family live to the south of Capua?’
‘Yes. My father and I are here visiting friends.’ Lucius’ gaze slid back to Aurelia, causing her to look away again.
‘As we are. Will you be here long?’
‘A couple of weeks at least.’
‘How nice. Perhaps we shall meet again, in the forum?’
‘It would be a pleasure,’ replied Lucius. His smile fell mostly on Aurelia.
‘Until then,’ said Atia. She tapped Aurelia lightly on the arm. ‘Come, daughter. We still have much to do.’
‘Goodbye,’ said Lucius.
‘Goodbye, and thank you,’ Aurelia managed before Atia led her away. She had a last glimpse of Achilles’ and Smiler’s scowls, Phanes’ slight frown and Lucius’ admiring look before the crowd swallowed them up. As she turned back, she found her mother watching her. She cringed inside, expecting a lecture about taking things that weren’t hers. But Atia didn’t mention the jasmine.