Classic," I said, handing him a dish of prawns to pick apart for Julia and Favonia. He was a devoted grandfather. Like many, he probably had more enjoyment from the younger generation than he had allowed himself with his own children. You are a traditional Roman, devoting yourself to city politics as a duty, while yearning for the simple life when our ancestors were robust farmers."
And if they had stayed farmers, Marcus, we would all be tenants under the thumb of some Sabine elite!"
Working all hours to pay the rent to our heartless masters."
I thought you were a republican, lad." I wondered who had told him that. It's easy to be a republican when you live in a thriving empire," I admitted. I'm not sure that I really fancy the hard old days of ploughing and porridge." Decimus posted a peeled prawn into little Favonia's mouth, while she sat on the stone bench beside him, looking up patiently for the next morsel. Gone soft!" he said, grinning. When I first knew you, you were as cynical as Diogenes, a moody loner with a black soul."
Now I'm staid? Your daughter's mellowing influence." On the other side of the courtyard, Helena and her noble matron mother, who were unpacking vegetables, appeared to be tossing radishes at one another, in fits of laughter. The senator and I thought best to ignore it. Men dislike too much uncharacteristic behaviour. Women should stick to the rules we have learned.
Now you are rather sensible," said Decimus. You still do good in the community, but you don't resent yourself for it. On a night like this, Marcus Didius, I think you manage to be happy with life."
True. As I said, thanks to Helena." I always gave him credit for the way he had brought her up. He was a fair man, but secretly Helena was his favourite. He liked her willingness to rebel; he may have felt proud of it. I wouldn't give Favonia any more shellfish, not until we've got some plain bread into her." Favonia saw the game was up. Without a backward glance of thanks to her grandpapa, she wriggled off the bench. She toddled straight over to Aulus, steadying herself against his knee with sticky fingers; she had spotted that he was peeling the really big crayfish. Favonia only liked the best. Aulus, always a stand-offish uncle in his own mind, would be entirely at the mercy of those big pleading eyes. Nux saw the scrounging in progress, and squirmed in alongside Favonia, adding her own silent pressure. The senator gave another prawn to Julia, who snuggled up to him, pretending to be much better behaved than her little sister. I know you don't want to talk about work tonight, but make sure you speak to Quintus at some point. A man came to see him. Quintus will tell you." It could wait. It would have to. There was a sudden flare-up of the bonfire. I had a crisis with my fish. Later, when stars were lighting our goodbyes, I did snatch a moment with Justinus. The senator was supervising packing up with his carriage driver. Helena was soothing a sleepy, whining child. Aulus had to calm his mother who had definitely supped too much of the red wine, so she had become weepy about losing him tomorrow.
Quintus! I hear you have things to tell me." Camillus Justinus was leaner and cleaner-cut than his elder brother, a quiet and thoroughly stable young man on the surface, though I knew he had another side to him. He lived at home with his parents, his serious wife and his new son, but he had adventures abroad behind him. Too many, in my opinion. He leaned on my shoulder; to save carrying empties, he had helped ensure the amphora was empty. A good night! A wonderful send-off for Aulus. Oof!" He puffed out his cheeks, sobering up quickly. I should have brought Claudia."