He strode in and quietly closed the door, then began walking through the villa. He could hear sounds from the kitchen area, so he crept there and flung open the door. Two men, who he recognized from the previous year as Valerius Messala's slaves were cleaning the floor. One of them looked up and cheerfully waved at him.
Gaius thought for a moment, then asked, "Where's your master?"
"They've all gone back to Rome," came the cheerful response. "We're just cleaning up before we go back too."
"They?"
"Yes, there were about half a dozen of them, all the Master's acquaintances. Except for the governor, that is."
"The Governor?"
"Yes, Governor Scribonianus was here too. There was some sort of a meeting. Didn't you know?"
"As it happens, no," Gaius replied.
"I'm sorry. . I. ."
"It's not your fault," Gaius said. "What are your instructions now?"
"To clean up, and take the next ship back to Italy. The steward is just going to arrange it."
"Then perhaps I should have a word with him," Gaius nodded. "Where is he?"
"He just went out the back door. You should be able to catch him."
Gaius nodded, and went quickly to back door. This situation was puzzling. Why had Messala and a number of other Romans come all this way? The obvious answer was that they wanted to see Governor Scribonianus, but what for? And why in this villa? Why not at the Governor's villa? If they wanted to entertain the Governor, why not in Burnum itself? It was possible that there was nowhere better that was available, and it was possible that when the meeting was arranged, this was the one place Messala could count on, but. . Could he count on it? He had no idea whether Gaius was still renting it. It appeared that he had just assumed that would be the case, probably on no better grounds than Vipsania had not been told of any change.
But if he was relying on Vipsania, why hadn't he brought her with him? Had he done so, that would at least guarantee access. And more to the point, why hadn't Messala asked him if he could have the villa? He would always have said yes, although he might have added that Vipsania should come. Did he want to keep Vipsania away from him? If so, why?
Perhaps he wanted the villa because it was out of the way, but why did he need to be out of the way? The only reason would appear to be because they did not want anyone to know they were there. So, what was the secret? Then there was the question of why Messala did not wish to see his son in law? He had not even brought a message from Vipsania!
He soon found the steward about to mount a horse, so Gaius suggested they ride together to Burnum. The conversation was rather stilted, and the steward claimed that he had no idea why Messala had come. That could be true, Gaius realized. If Messala did not even wish to let his daughter's husband know why he was there, it would not be overly surprising if he also kept the information from his steward, who might well talk over wine when he was left behind.
They arrived at the port just as the ship to Italy was leaving, and the next one would not arrive until four days after the Saturnalia. On hearing this, Gaius turned to the steward, and asked what arrangement had Messala made for the rental. The steward was stunned, then a little horrified. As Gaius suspected, Messala had left his staff with little money.
"You have cooks with you?" Gaius asked. On hearing that he had, Gaius then added, "We can forget about the rent if you people will cook and clean for a little party I am throwing on the Saturnalia. There'll be plenty of food for you, and you can't leave for another few days anyway."
The steward was only too happy to agree.
* * *
Once again Gaius sent a cartload of venison to the villa, but this time he did not deliver it in person. This time, the celebrations did not include the great god Saturn, there was no lord of misrule, and everybody retained their usual status. However, the servants and slaves were very well fed, and as long as they stayed sober for the day, wine was available for them.
The Tribunes from the two legions mixed well, and the two legates knew that their performances would be compared. Accordingly, they made sure they approached groups of Tribunes openly, in full view, and reasonably noisily.
Eventually, the two decided to sit down together with some wine.
"To a successful new year!" Gaius proposed.
"To a successful new year!" came a rather limp response.
"You don't look very enthusiastic?"
"I'd be more enthusiastic if I knew what was going to happen."
"Wouldn't we all."
"Don't you?"
"Don't I what?" a slightly bemused Gaius asked.
"Know what the big move is planned for next year?"
"I didn't even know anything was planned for next year, let alone what," Gaius replied. "What makes you think I do?"
Cinna looked a little suspiciously at him, then shrugged and said, "Governor Scribonianus has ordered the seventh to be on full operational alert for May next year, only he hasn't offered a clue as to what and to where we're supposed to march."
"Well," Gaius smiled, "it looks like glory for the seventh, because I haven't heard a thing. As far as I know, it's back to Lussonium over the summer for us."
"I thought you were better connected," Cinna offered. "After all, you do get these personal letter from the Princeps."
"I've known Claudius from a way back," Gaius explained, "but I assure you, he's given me no information about your legion. All I know is that he's determined to do something about Mauretania in the coming year, but if the seventh were to be involved there, I would have expected you'd be marching now."
Cinna looked at Gaius with a touch of suspicion, then continued, "Governor Scribonianus apparently brought a delegation from Rome to this villa recently, and you seem to. ."
"Not exactly," Gaius interrupted. "Yes, there seems to have been a meeting here, but Scribonianus didn't invite the others here, or if he did, he had no right to. Me, I had no idea anyone was here."
"You didn't organize it?"
"I had no idea there was a meeting here until I came out to see if the place was fit for this Saturnalia party. All I know about the meeting was from the slaves left behind to clean up, and they know nothing about what was said, or at least that's what they tell me."
"That's odd," Cinna frowned.
"It's more than odd. It's annoying. As far as this villa's concerned, I rented it last year for my wife's family, and when I went campaigning, they went to Rome and I kept it on, just I case my wife wanted to come back over the winter, but as you can see, she didn't. As far as I'm concerned, this villa was supposed to be empty, but it appears that my wife's father must have invited Scribonianus and the others here, and I haven't a clue what for."
"And they didn't tell you anything?" Cinna was clearly surprised.
"No, and I'm a bit pissed off with that. He used my villa then shot back to Rome without saying a word and never even told me he was here."
"Then what's going on?"
"I don't even know anything is," Gaius replied, "and I rather doubt there is a major military venture about to be undertaken. One legion isn't enough for anything but a minor expedition, so my guess is the governor has some exercise in store for you."
"But not for you?"
"Probably not, because strictly speaking my operational areas are in the north, and then I'm controlled by Governor Plautius from Pannonia."