He was getting progressively worse. Last night he actually tried to kiss her in the garden, and his hand slid over her breast as she passed him in the dining room. Both sent shudders of revulsion through her body every time she thought about them.
The charioteers were on the final straight now, and this is where the Libyan knew his stuff. With a toss of the head he straightened his knees, cracked his whip with a flourish and his steeds surged forward. By the time they’d passed the finishing marker Red was declared the winner by three and a half lengths. What a bloody waste, she thought. That could have been another hundred for Lucan.
The thought of that little bloodsucker left a nasty taste in her mouth. Not only had Gaius come home rolling drunk, he’d brought that ferreting investigator back for dinner. It was supposed to be a quiet family affair to discuss the finer points of the wedding and suddenly Gaius, in his cups, starts banging on about extortion and brings up that wretched Otho business.
‘I’m determined to get to the root of this, you know.’ He was slurring his words badly. ‘This is the second time in a month someone’s tried to extort money from my wife.’
Unbelievably Orbilio turns round and says, ‘Oh, I checked Otho’s story out. Pack of lies, old chap. Not one copper quadran owed, according to Lucan.’
Claudia wondered what she owed the miserable little ferret for covering up. It was patently obvious he’d believed Otho’s story, even at this time, and then he’d let the Thracian escape to what? Spare her blushes? Or maybe spare Gaius, because these two seemed to have grown close of late. Damn you to hell, Marcus Cornelius Orbilio. Now you’re off this case, I hope I never see you again. Do you know that for one minute yesterday you actually struck a chord? There I was at the household shrine and you were betting I’d missed you every single hour you’d been away. Well, I’ll admit that maybe, just for a little while, the house had seemed depressingly quiet, but after your magnificent performance last night I can put my hand on my heart and say the emptiness had nothing to do with you. Nothing whatsoever so you can get that idea out of your arrogant head for a start.
‘Funny business last night, wasn’t it?’
Claudia pretended not to hear-though funny wasn’t the word she’d have chosen.
‘About Flavia and your cousin, I mean.’
Dammit, Marcellus, I know what you mean.
The second teams came into the ring, the Rhodian by far the smallest of the lot. This time there were a dozen chariots in the race, three from each faction, and he almost disappeared under his helmet, his white tunic like a handkerchief compared to the massive tunics worn by the others. Her pulse was racing. No one else would have put money on him, it would have been a walkover! With a yelp, the rope went up and they were off.
Marcellus leaned across. ‘I suppose it’s because he was drunk.’
The pair of them were drunk, the very worst kind of drunk, too. They were maudlin.
By the time the sixth circuit had been completed, the wiry white rider was way out in front and Claudia was gnashing her teeth. When the seventh lap marker signalled the finish, he was streaking home to riotous cheers and whistles and Claudia hated every inch of his little Rhodian body. Mulberrychops finally got the message that she wanted to neither lend him money nor discuss Orbilio and Flavia, because, come the interval, he stood up and excused himself. He had to get back to the house, he said, and by ‘house’, she knew he was referring to her house. Julia and Flavia had got into a terrible argument last night which had boiled over into this morning and now Scaevola was round adding his two asses’ worth. Someone ought to be there to keep the peace, Marcellus was saying, because Gaius certainly wasn’t up to it.
She refrained from suggesting that if they’d done the decent thing and gone home last night instead of staying over and getting under everybody’s skin, life would have been a whole lot more pleasant for all concerned.
‘I mean, have you seen Gaius today? Pissed out of his skull, he is, crying like a baby. It’s pathetic. Well, love,’ he managed to plant a wet kiss on her cheek, his hand skimming the inside of her thigh, ‘I’ll see you later.’
Wiping her cheek with the back of her hand, Claudia watched him fight his way towards the exit. Obnoxious little toad, she’d get him for that, he could bet his balls she would. She signalled to the young Gaul.
‘Go home, Junius. The master’s not well, apparently, and from what I gather of events there, it might well bring on another seizure.’
‘I’m not sure I’d be much help, madam.’
‘Probably not, but at least you can run like the wind for a doctor.’
He seemed a little nonplussed at the oddity of the request, and hesitated, his mouth open slightly.
‘Well, go on, then. Shoo.’
Junius glanced over his shoulder. ‘I don’t like to leave you, madam. Not when…not when that thug Otho’s hovering.’
‘Otho? Here?’ Juno, Jupiter and Mars! ‘Where is he?’
‘Right behind you, Claudia.’
The thick accent startled them both.
‘Otho, I’m warning you, start anything here and I’ll kill you.’
She teased a dagger out of her tunic just sufficiently to show him she meant business. Junius stepped forward, his eyes betraying the anger his face was masking. The Thracian held up a hand and smiled. She was right. He had lost a couple of front teeth the other night. Perhaps Orbilio had some uses, after all.
‘Claudia, Claudia. Is no need for violence. I bring message from Master Lucan.’ His face was criss-crossed with livid lacerations.
‘I’ve already had two of his messages, thank you very much. Tell him to send a letter next time.’
‘Is good message, Claudia. I deliver it personally, though. And’-his sibilant voice hardened as he turned to Junius-‘in private.’
She shrugged and the Gaul backed out of earshot. What the hell? Otho was hardly going to beat her up here and-incredibly-she was becoming inured to his threats. Surprising what you get used to, really.
His eyes lingered on the fullness of her breasts. ‘Master Lucan say you very lucky, Claudia. Your debt, it has been settled, yes?’
What did he mean, it had been settled? Who by? She glanced over at Junius, whose teeth were bared. Whether in fear, anger or pleasure it was impossible to tell.
‘Of course it’s been settled, you big oaf. Ages ago.’ Dear Diana, nobody knew about the problem but her. Why should another person cough up two grand? Claudia’s chin went up a fraction higher. She’d die rather than ask this pig who was responsible.
‘Then is pity we can’t get together Claudia. Maybe some day, yes?’
Claudia smiled sweetly. ‘Go fuck your mother Otho.’ His eyes flashed and his lips went white, but all he said was, ‘Nice tits,’ before melting into the crowd. Junius came bounding over. Either his hearing was above average or maybe he could lipread, but he’d certainly caught the gist of Otho’s message. The relief on his rugged face was undisguised.
‘You’ll be all right on your own, now.’
‘Of course I will, Junius. Now sod off home, will you?’
XXII
A blast of silver trumpets signalled the end of the interval, but Claudia barely noticed the twelve chariots that came thundering out of the stables kicking up a cloud of yellow sand in their wake. Even when Blue lost a wheel on the third bend she didn’t turn a hair. Who knew about her and Lucan? Nobody, she thought. Nobody, nobody, nobody! Which is obviously baloney, a small voice answered. Somebody obviously does, so think.
Well, there was Junius. But Junius was a slave and slaves don’t have money. Hang on a mo, what about that grand Gaius gave him? Oh, come on, Claudia, why should the boy settle your account, it doesn’t add up. Who else knows? Larentia, of course. Her spies had reported back about the debt, almost to the last quadran, but of all people in this world, her mother-in-law was the last person with a desire to make life easy for Claudia Seferius!