Scandal takes a Holiday

Now I'm all wet from the damned dog. That bumboat swine lured her in on purpose… We may have to abandon you, Aulus."

I never asked anyone to come," grumbled Aulus. That was true, but of course he was touchy at the thought that we might dump him. Now he felt lonely, and he had not even left the country.

Oh Julia Justa will make us stay. Your mother still loves you."

Well, thanks, Falco." I was surprised to find that the customs desk on the arrivals wharf was ma

What happened to permanent sick leave after your beating?" The clerks he supervised all stared curiously. Gaius looked shifty.

I'm still in agony, Marcus. Some days I can hardly move for the pain…"

Skip it, Gaius."

You have no idea what my suffering is like I could imagine the diatribe if he got started. I said if Gaius really wanted to make a complaint, he could find Cratidas at the Aquarius, though I warned him not to go alone. Hearing my short sharp tale of knives and uplifted benches, Gaius thought he might instead hire a lawyer and sue for damages. A good move, I thought. It would be very neat if a vicious ransom gang was broken up because their leading man had to flee legal action from a malingering civil servant.

And how is darling Junia?"

Back home in Rome. I was not aware you were so fond of her, Marcus." Nor was I. I had slipped up by even mentioning her.

On the quay nothing much was happening. The first officer sauntered aboard. We took that for a good sign. The first mate arrived, bringing some sailors. They were typical mariners. I saw Julia Justa stiffen as she noted their farmyard accents, their missing eyes and their limps, their rough tunics and bare feet. She wanted her boy to be safe in the hands of elegant master mariners with boots, cloaks and Phrygian caps. Nothing less than Jason and all his Argonauts would be good enough to row Aelianus. We soothed her. Julia Justa knew we were being insincere. The captain, Antemon, arrived. He turned up at the quay with the ship's guard, carefully escorting his owners, Ba

Can you describe him?" Ba

Does Aline remember anything?" She had been sure she was drugged, and was kept lying on a bed in a small room where she thought there was a woman, with children. Or might it have been a single boy, Ba

He's gone!" Aulus had his good points. Even I would miss him.

XXXV

The senator had told his carriage driver to wait at our apartment. If the Camilli drove back to Rome straight away, they would hit the wheeled vehicle ban and be stopped at the city gate, so we delayed their journey by having a very late lunch. Helena went to fetch Albia, who had chosen not to come with us to Portus. She was not a slave; she had the right to free time, and apparently Aulus was no great draw for her. Helena herself enjoyed time alone, so had always allowed the young girl moments with her own thoughts. I settled everyone else in one of the courtyards at the Aquarius. Nowhere else was so convenient and I would not be deterred by an anti-social Cilician. The place was big enough to cope with a large influx, and had a pleasant, respectable atmosphere. If you overlooked the fact that armed pirates accumulated there sometimes, it made an ideal family restaurant. Anyway, there was no sign of Cratidas. We had a good, if slightly subdued meal, which with rather slow service took most of the afternoon. However much we reassured ourselves that Aulus was doing the right thing, and that his ship was sound and well managed, a sea voyage is always dangerous. It would be several weeks before he landed and could send a letter to confirm his safe arrival, then weeks more before the letter found its way to Rome. If Aulus remembered to write. His mother said he had a bad record in that sphere. When we finished, the senator and I wrangled over the bill, but in the end he paid it. I had things to do, but it was only polite to return to the apartment for farewells.

Don't worry, Mama darling Helena was feeling mischievous.

The Daily Gazette says that rumours of pirates operating again are untrue…" As Julia Justa stared in horror, I quickly signalled the driver to start off. After we had watched the carriage disappear, a sense of anticlimax downed us. While the children scampered off, looking for toys they had abandoned the night before, Helena, Albia and I all walked back slowly into the courtyard. It seemed forlorn after our great family banquet. Helena wiped away a tear. I hugged her. Aulus will be all right."

Of course." She became more brisk. Now we are alone, Albia and I have something to show you. While she was here this morning, we had a visitor."

Entertaining a follower?" I teased Albia. She looked hot.

Don't," warned Helena. It was just as well that I came home to fetch her; Albia found him a handful." Now I was a furious head of household. I'll sort him! Who was the bastard?"

A slave called Titus." Titus? That chirpy extrovert who worked for the landlady at the Marine Gate rental, the slave who cleaned Diocles" room. I could imagine how the pushy tyke would be too flirtatious with Albia if he found her alone. He would take her for a slave or freedwoman, for one thing. I looked across at Albia, who was kicking her heels. Helena had interrupted the unwanted advances; there was no harm done. He brought you some things, Marcus Didius." Albia had already learned that I needed efficient reports. First, his excuse was that there were two good tunics Diocles had left at the laundry. These have come to light unexpectedly, so Titus says."

Wrong size for him!" I gri

I said this was not enough to earn him a tip."

Excellent. The last girl I kept in the office to take messages was a soft touch."