A picture of a siege engine floated across Ruso’s mind: a great tower lumbering relentlessly forward, its covering of animal hides impervious to all weapons hurled at it by the beleaguered defenders.
‘Actually,’ he said before Arria could start again, ‘money is what I wanted to talk to you about. I haven’t forgotten about the girls’ dowries — ’
‘Oh, the girls can wait.’
‘But we can’t make any decisions till — what did you say?’
‘The girls can wait, dear. Young women are too impatient these days.’
Ruso blinked. Arria had first started harassing him about the dowries over a year ago, and nothing Lucius said had hinted that she had changed her mind. ‘Well,’ he said, aware that his sisters would be furious, ‘I’m glad we’re agreed.’
‘I’ve had a much better idea about how to get you boys out of trouble.’
As usual, Arria was not put off by a wary silence. For some reason she was extolling the virtues of the amphora factory whose land adjoined their own. ‘It’s a marvellous business, you know,’ she said. ‘All the farms need them, and nobody ever brings the empties back.’ When Ruso failed to enthuse she added, ‘Do they?’
‘Not often,’ he said, careful not to show any interest until he knew where this was leading.
‘Well, he’s dead now, so it’s all hers.’
Ruso realized that something relevant must have drifted past him. ‘Who’s dead?’
‘Lollia Saturnina’s husband, dear. Do try and listen. At least a year and a half ago. Now here you are, a handsome young officer, single, just home from the Legions. What could be better?’
There were many things that could be better, but Ruso could not think how to explain what they were.
‘Don’t scowl, Gaius, please. You would be such a nice-looking boy if you tried to look more cheerful. It would be quite a reasonable house with a little care and attention, and it’s not far to move. I was thinking — ’
‘What about Tilla?’
‘The barbarian?’ Arria glanced around in alarm, as if Tilla were about to pounce on her from behind one of the legs of the pergola. ‘I know you didn’t want to be lonely over there, dear, but really — is it fair to bring people like that to a civilized place?’ Leaning closer, she added in a stage whisper, ‘And especially not home with you, Gaius! What were you thinking?’
‘I was thinking you’d make her welcome.’
The painted eyes widened in alarm. ‘Gaius, you haven’t done something very silly, have you?’
‘Frequently.’
‘Tell me you haven’t married her.’
‘She wouldn’t have me,’ he said. ‘She says I’m too foreign.’
‘Foreign? You? Well, thank goodness for that. Now then … I’m sure we can find a nice family to take her on if she doesn’t want to go home.’
‘She doesn’t need a nice family, Arria. She’s got me.’
Arria let out a long sigh that seemed to express weariness not only with her stepson’s present stance, but with past years of argument, obstinacy and mutual incomprehension. ‘Gaius, dear, please try and be sensible.’ She turned away and wiped at an invisible tear with her middle finger. ‘If only your poor father were here to talk to you!’
Ruso folded his arms. ‘Even Father couldn’t imagine that the widow next door is going to welcome the advances of a bankrupt.’
‘But you’re a war hero, dear!’
‘Of course I’m not! You haven’t gone round saying that to people, have you?’
‘Please try, Gaius. It’s for the sake of the family. Poor Lucius has got us all into a dreadful mess, and I can’t think what else we can do, can you? I suppose you could try talking to Claudia, but she doesn’t have much influence over him anyway.’
Ruso was not sure how or why his former wife had appeared in the conversation. Suspecting he was about to be scolded yet again for not listening, he asked, ‘Over who?’
‘That Severus, dear.’
When his face remained blank she said, ‘But surely Lucius told you?’
‘Told me what?’
‘Claudia is married to Severus now.’
Ruso’s astonishment was such that all he could say was, ‘Oh.’ He scratched his ear with his forefinger and pondered this unexpected complication. It was, of course, completely irrelevant. It was also … he was not sure what it was. His own former wife was married to an unscrupulous business agent who was related to the Gabinii. Surely even Claudia had more sense than that? Surely she had more taste?
Surprise was followed by a brief moment of smugness. He had demonstrated — according to Claudia — many faults and failings during their marriage, but wresting land from innocent families and doing deals for the fourteen-year-old sisters of men who owed him money were not amongst them.
‘Claudia was never the right girl for you anyway,’ continued Arria. ‘I always said so. But Lollia is a nice woman. She could run her business — everyone says she’s far better at it than he was — and you could still carry on with your doctoring. She has some very good connections, you know. People who could pay you properly for a change.’
Ruso recalled Valens once suggesting back in Britannia that what he needed was a rich widow. The thought was no less appalling now than it had been two years ago.
‘I’ve told her all about you,’ continued Arria.
‘I see. And have you told her I’m looking for a wife?’
She winced. ‘Oh, dear. I suppose this is what happens when you mix with soldiers all the time. You will have to learn to be more subtle, dear. Now, I’ve invited her for dinner tomorrow night, but when you meet her you mustn’t say a word about what we’ve discussed. We don’t want to frighten her off.’
‘I think it’s more likely to be the other way around.’
The paint on Arria’s lips stretched across a smile. ‘You’ll like her, Gaius. Trust me. I wouldn’t suggest it if I thought you weren’t suited. Now, before you disappear into the bath-house, you must help me choose a menu.’
You must help me choose a menu. Claudia had said that once, early in their marriage. He thought he had done rather well until she told him she would do it on her own next time.
‘I really don’t think this is the time to be holding dinner parties.’
Arria sighed. ‘Gaius, you’re not going to be awkward, are you?’
‘I’m not being awkward, I’m being practical. And I’m never any good at this social chit-chat business anyway.’
‘Never mind, dear. We’ll blame that on the Army. I’ll invite Diphilus; he’s good company. You can ask Lollia about her cough. And do try to look a little happier. She won’t be interested if she thinks you’re sulky. I’ll have your clothes brushed and pressed, and promise me you’ll have a shave and a haircut in the morning. You’re not in Britannia now, you know.’
‘I’m beginning to wish I was,’ said Ruso, remembering with fondness the little room at the top of the steps, with the pot of wild flowers on the windowsill and the mystery products of Tilla’s cooking on the table.
Arria was promising, ‘… chicken in dill sauce, of course, your favourite …’
Was it? Perhaps it had been, once. Doubtless she would be able to tell him exactly where and when he had expressed this rare burst of enthusiasm.
‘… and I’ll ask her to have her cook send over the recipe.’
‘Good,’ said Ruso, having no idea what else Arria had just proposed, and no interest in finding out.
‘You like them too? Lovely! You see, already you both have something in common.’
‘Do we?’
‘Oh, Gaius! Are you listening to anything I’m saying? Roast testicles!’
‘Roast testicles?’
‘With pepper and pine nuts.’
‘Ah,’ said Ruso.
12
Ruso lay back, feeling a faint breeze from the window cool his skin. This was the first night for weeks that he had gone to bed alone. Tilla had been sleeping when he checked her room an hour ago, but his resolve to let her rest was weakening.