It was only when she was changing her stola that Claudia realized she’d forgotten to ask the whereabouts of Liggy’s tavern. No matter. When she blurted out her offer to call it was genuine, though in the cold light of day she realized it was folly to even think about it. Oh, he’d get over it. Hell, he might not even remember it, because she had a suspicion he’d been drinking his profits of late. The main thing was, his loyalty was firm, he wouldn’t give her away. Of course, it had come as a real shock, seeing him at the games-and his shadowing of her this afternoon didn’t bear thinking about. But no, she was satisfied Ligarius wouldn’t spoil it for her. Unless… Unless…
‘Your cousin to see you, madam.’
‘Melissa, how many times do I have to tell you, girl? They’re Gaius’s cousins-’
‘No, madam. Your cousin, he said. Marcus Cornelius Orbilio.’
Minerva, how could you do this to me? How could you! Otho, Ligarius and now…this! Well, Orbilio, you can’t say I didn’t give you fair warning. This time I’ll suck you in then blow you out in tinksy winksy bubbles, so help me I will.
He was standing in the atrium, admiring the newly painted frieze which Gaius had commissioned to celebrate all things Egyptian. Unfortunately, this afternoon he wasn’t alone.
‘Good grief, you and the oik? What a frightful combination.’
‘I’ve missed you, too, Claudia.’
‘Difficult to recognize him without the headlice. What do you want?’
‘I heard you were in a spot of trouble this morning.’
‘You heard wrong. Goodbye.’
He ran after her as she flounced towards the garden. ‘No, I heard right, Claudia.’
She paused. ‘Oh, don’t tell me. That scruffy little tike is your chief witness? Again.’
‘It doesn’t matter who the witness-’
‘Yep!’ Rufus had run up to join them. ‘I saw you. You was fighting with this real big geezer-umph!’
A hand clamped itself over the boy’s mouth. ‘Listen to me, you spiteful little monster. One more lie from your duplicitous lips and I’ll rip your skinny liver out and serve it up for breakfast. Is that clear?’
The boy’s eyes swivelled round to Orbilio, but Orbilio was giving intense study to the capital of the column beside him.
‘Oi, don’t get shirty, missus. Can I help if it’s the truth?’
‘Truth?’ Claudia pinched his earlobe and dragged him into a secluded corner of the garden. ‘You wouldn’t know the truth if it landed on your face and pecked your nose off. Now if I hear one more-’
‘Leave him alone, Claudia.’
‘You keep out of this.’
‘I said that’s enough. Let him go.’
She gave the earlobe a sharp tweak before releasing it. The ghastly child seemed more interested in the two adults than his wretched ear. Well, she hoped it turned black and dropped off in the night.
‘The gaffer’s in a bad mood,’ Rufus said cheerfully. ‘Callisunus raked him over the coals a couple of hours ago and, boy,’ he let his breath out in a whistle, ‘were them coals hot!’
‘Splendid.’ Claudia smiled radiantly at Orbilio. ‘Now you can run along and chase criminals-and leave me in peace. Toodle-oo.’
‘For heaven’s sake, woman, I’m trying to catch a murderer.’
‘So who’s stopping you?’
‘Tell me about this morning.’
She scowled at the boy, then she scowled at Orbilio. ‘Very well. Claudia-on her way to the baths. Claudia-tipped out of her litter. Wee bit of a scrap. Junius-vital organs rearranged. Claudia-came home.’ She held her hands out, palms upwards, and arranged her face in a smile. ‘End of story.’
‘Tell me about the Thracian.’
‘Good heavens, man. You don’t think we stopped to exchange pleasantries with them, do you? Oh, what a charming riot, but tell me, didn’t we meet in Thrace a year or two back? Don’t be ridiculous.’
Orbilio settled himself against the trunk of an apple tree. ‘I’m a patient man, Claudia. I can wait.’
She turned to Rufus. ‘You.’ She jabbed him with her finger. ‘Kitchen.’
He looked over at Orbilio and opened his mouth to speak.
‘Now!’
The boy ran off so fast that had the floor been made of wood it might well have caught fire.
‘And you.’ A slave came running. ‘Follow that urchin. Make sure he doesn’t steal anything.’ She clapped her hands and sent the rest of the slaves packing.
‘Wine?’ she asked pleasantly.
His eyes narrowed in suspicion, but finding nothing except ingenuousness, Orbilio slowly nodded acceptance.
‘You’re derisive about Rufus, but his testimony is reliable, I’m afraid, and since-Claudia, are you listening to me?’
‘Try the figs. Come along, they’re not poisoned!’ She busied herself with pouring wine and settling herself on the bench, then patted the marble beside her in invitation. Seeing the scepticism on his face, she added, ‘I don’t bite.’
He glanced under the shrubs, but didn’t sit.
‘And Drusilla’s indoors.’
He sat.
‘Now you seem very tense today, Orbilio,’ she said, patting his thigh. ‘Something the matter?’ She was met by a look of undisguised distrust, and she shrugged. ‘Suit yourself.’
She leant backwards, picked up her lyre and began to strum. From the corner of her eye she could see he was as stiff as a ramrod.
‘Tell me about the Thracian,’ he said quietly. ‘Who was he?’
‘Have you adopted that guttersnipe?’
‘What?’
‘Simple question. I’m asking you whether you’ve adopted that little arab out there.’
‘No, of course I haven’t. Oh, come on, you can’t believe I’m bribing the boy.’
Claudia smiled. ‘As if I would. No, no. I merely wondered why he’s trailing round with you. I presume you’re the one responsible for cleaning him up and giving him a proper tunic?’
Orbilio’s back lost some of its starch. ‘I felt sorry for him. Living off scraps, sleeping in doorways. That’s no life for a lad of his age.’
‘And what do you propose to do with him now?’
He shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Give him some money, I suppose.’
‘You’ve picked him up, washed him down, filled his belly, filled his pocket-and that absolves you of any further responsibility? Orbilio, you’re a fool. You should have left him where he was.’
‘I couldn’t.’
‘Yes, you could. It would have been kinder for the boy. Now you’ve given him a taste of what he can never have, how do you think he’ll feel after that?’
She placed the lyre on the seat, stood up, smoothed her tunic and smiled. ‘As I said, Orbilio. You really are a fool.’
With that, she opened her mouth and let out a bloodcurdling scream. Orbilio sprang to his feet. ‘What the-’
‘Aaaargh!’
‘Claudia, for pity’s sake!’
‘I’m sorry, Orbilio. I did warn you that if you came back, there’d be trouble. There’s only one rock, you see, and we can’t both be cock of it. Aaaargh!’
In two quick strides, Orbilio was across the garden, covering her mouth with his hand. She bit it and he let go. ‘Aaaargh!’
‘Claudia, for pity’s sake, what are you doing?’
He lunged towards her, but the move had been anticipated. Claudia sidestepped him. Unfortunately, she’d under-estimated his athleticism and on the next move he’d overpowered her. Terrific, she thought. Better than I’d hoped. There can be little doubt about Cousin Markie’s intentions now. Squirming free, Claudia opened her mouth to scream again. Bloody slaves. Always earwigging when they’re not supposed to, never around when you need them!
From behind, Orbilio’s hand suddenly clamped over her mouth to stifle the scream, and this time he’d preempted the bite. She tried to elbow him in the ribs, but his free arm lashed her shoulders tight against his body. Entwined, they fought and writhed until the backs of his knees collided with the seat, toppling them both backwards into a bed of lavender and parsley. And when help did finally come, it was to find Marcus Cornelius Orbilio spreadeagled on his back with Claudia’s head grasped firmly underneath his arm.