I handed her to Brutius. “Give her some cream. Give ‘em all some cream.” I yawned. How long had I been awake in the last three days?
Venutius poured me some wine, and pulled a large bowl of chicken soup out of his sleeve. Just what I wanted. The broth was thick and rich with barley and turnips, even a few carrots, while big pieces of chicken meat floated away from the bones as I stirred. I ate standing up, leaning against the larder. I could feel every bite. It was good to be home.
In the dining room, voices dropped to a conversational tone. I caught Gwyna’s voice, sometimes sharp, sometimes purring, like the kitten at my feet. I heard her send Hefin to bed. I guess she was using Coir’s room, and Coir was sleeping with Draco. Draco? Time to talk and find out what the hell was going on.
I wiped my mouth on my sleeve, and told Venutius to announce me. He lifted an eyebrow, and with all the brio typical of cooks, pulled two iron pots down from the wall and walked into the triclinium. He struck a theatrical pose, clanged the pots together loudly, and in a stentorian voice proclaimed: “The Master”-dramatic pause-“is in.”
I followed on his heels. Everyone reacted differently. Bilicho turned red, and avoided my eyes, Draco stood a little taller, Gwyna gave me a dazzling smile which turned to a frown when she saw my bruises. Coir retreated to Draco’s side, and grasped his hand. Stricta was nowhere to be seen.
The voices started up again, all at once, and I put out a hand to hold them off.
“I’m dead on my feet, and was nearly dead in Camulodunum.” Gwyna started toward me, but I waved her back, and she reddened.
“I’m all right. I got here as soon as I could. I found out I’d been an idiot, and Rhodri was in town all along. And Brutius told me about the bastard who tried to break in. Pyxis is all right, but I want Draco in the atrium every night.”
“Yes, sir.” Coir clutched him a little harder.
“Brutius said that Rhodri’s been caught and there’s a curfew. I don’t know why Gwyna, Hefin and Stricta are here, but I’m glad to see them, and glad they’re safe. That’s been my main worry.”
I held Gwyna’s eyes, and she allowed me a small smile.
“I’m sorry the house isn’t larger, and we’ve had to make some adjustments in the sleeping arrangements. I hope everything’s been satisfactory?”
I pointed the last remark at Bilicho, and he blushed a deeper shade of red, but this time looked at me.
“You’re all part of this household and this family. Forget the arguments and help one another, and explain to me what the hell’s been going on.” I grinned lopsidedly. “The dominus is at home.”
This time I didn’t stop Gwyna from running to me and brushing a warm hand against my cheek. Bilicho smiled and nearly split his face in two. Draco stood at attention. Coir let go of his hand, bit her lip and looked stubborn.
I sat on the couch, Gwyna next to me, and Bilicho took the basket chair. Draco and Coir stood, until I asked them to sit. They looked nervous. Slaves weren’t supposed to sleep together-at least without permission. I was only worried for Draco’s sake. I’d talk to Coir later, alone, and make sure she wasn’t just trying to make me jealous.
“Now-what happened? One at a time.”
Bilicho answered. “Mollius was here earlier. They caught Rhodri at a small shack across the river, by the grove and close to his house.”
“Was he hurt?”
He started to shake his head, thought better of it, and replied. “I don’t think so. They’re holding him for questioning.”
That meant they’d send a quaesitor in tomorrow to torture the poor bastard. I’d have to get there early. Gwyna squeezed my arm.
“Bilicho-how’s your head?”
“Hard and thick. Like always.”
I stared at him. “Maybe you’ve found a better doctor.”
He turned as red as a beet and said nothing. I laughed. “C’mon, out with it, how did Stricta get here?”
He studied the floor and was quiet. No one else said anything. Then the fire lit his face and I finally saw it, and I knew. Bilicho was in love. I looked at him like I’d never seen him before. The tough, thick skin glowed like a baby’s. Stricta had made him twenty years younger and three callouses softer. I wondered how long-and remembered his questions, his concern for her, and knew it had been awhile.
I bit my lip to keep from smiling too much. “I’m glad she’s here. I’ve been worried about her.”
“It was the only decision to make. After that son-of-a-bitch tried to break in here, and after Caelius threatened to send the vigiles after Draco-”
“Caelius threatened Draco?”
The big man spoke up. “That’s why the-the Mistress”-he only stumbled a little-Coir looked sour-“is here. When I was watching her house as you ordered, Dominus, she sent word to me through little Hefin not to let Caelius in. So first I scared him off, and then the next day he brought Lupo with him, and we pretended to fight, and Lupo pretended to lose.” He pointed to a faint shadow over his left eye. “See? Just a light blow.”
Gwyna’s face fell. “My father, Ardur. He agreed to let Caelius have me. He was rambling, not in his right mind. He’s getting weaker by the day. And I-I left him.”
“You had to. Was it after the fight with Lupo that Caelius threatened to bring the vigiles?”
Draco nodded vigorously. “The day after the intruder. The mistress and Bilicho thought it would be safer for her and the little boy to come here. And I could make sure no one climbs the wall again.”
“And when did Stricta arrive?”
Gwyna looked pointedly at Bilicho, who looked at the floor again. Draco and Coir studied a cobweb on the wall.
“Bilicho?”
He cleared his throat. “After you left and someone tried to break in, I was worried. I slipped a message to Stricta when I was on my rounds, ferreting out things. Good information, too!” he added.
I nodded. “Go on.”
He pinched his face a little. “I didn’t tell anyone what I was doing.”
Gwyna interrupted him. “I didn’t even know the woman was in the house until this afternoon!”
I was beginning to see. “And?”
“There was a procession, part of Ra’s birthday today. So they had a little parade yesterday. Anyway, I told Stricta to break away and come here. It seemed like the only chance.”
Evidently Bilicho had been doing his Egyptian homework.
“Good idea.”
He looked at me gratefully.
“But I didn’t know about it until I found the woman coming out of his bedroom. If I’m staying in the same house as a whore, I’d at least like to know about it.”
The air between Gwyna and Bilicho was hot and curdled and full of resentment. I rubbed my cheek until I remembered it hurt.
“Bilicho didn’t tell you because you’ve got your own worries. And it’s dangerous: keeping Stricta here is a crime. He was trying to protect you, Gwyna.” I looked into her eyes. “She may’ve been forced to work for Caelius, but she’s not a whore.”
Her hand crept away. She was so damn proud. I turned to Draco.
“Draco-thank you for understanding that Gwyna is more than a guest here. She is to be treated as your mistress. What she asks you to do, you do without question.”
I aimed the last words at Coir, who looked guilty but not terribly sorry. Gwyna stared at Coir’s hand clutching Draco’s arm but kept her mouth shut. The full stories would come out later, but maybe in the meantime I could get some sleep.
“Bilicho, has Stricta-?”
A large bang on the door made everybody jump. Draco was up before I could lift an eyebrow. Which was about all I could lift. After what I’d heard and seen, nothing would shock me, except maybe Domitian walking in dressed as a Vestal.
Brutius trotted in from the entryway, and before he could announce who it was, Saturninus followed. He wasn’t anybody’s idea of a virgin.