The Vestal Vanishes by Rosemary Rowe

Author:Rosemary Rowe [Rowe, Rosemary]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Mystery
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2011-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

FIFTEEN

Trullius looked at me. ‘I knew there would be trouble. Taking in Vestal Virgins – even retired and prospective ones – is not appropriate for the likes of us. I knew it was certain to offend the gods. I said so to my wife! But she wouldn’t listen. And now look what’s happened!’ Before I could stop him he had seized the jug and dashed the remainder of its contents in her face.

Priscilla stirred and moaned. He reached down and used his good hand to haul her to her feet. ‘Come on, wife, I will help you to your bed. You have had too much worry for one day as it is. Anyway there is nothing further we can do tonight.’ He hoisted her upright and would have hurried her away if it had been up to him.

But, she shook him off and sat down unsteadily on the stool again, resting her head between her hands. When she had come to herself a little more, she looked up breathlessly. ‘I may not be a Vestal, husband, but I am not a fool. I run this rest-house just as much as you, and this concerns us both.’

‘All this talk of Druids is not fit for women’s ears,’ he said. ‘Go to your bed – I’ll see to matters here.’

She shook a stubborn head. ‘I want to find out what’s been happening – and it’s obvious I can’t trust you to tell me what you know.’ She turned to me. ‘So, what befell Audelia, citizen? If it’s not so disturbing that it spoils your meal.’

I had eaten every morsel of the stew by now but she was still deathly pale and I really did not welcome telling her the details of that shocking corpse. I procrastinated, picking up a crust of bread. ‘I’m sorry that I caused you such distress,’ I said. ‘The news that Audelia had disappeared – as we supposed – was discovered this morning, before the games began. Knowing there had been an exchange of messengers between here and Glevum, I naturally assumed you knew at least as much as that . . .’ I tailed off, apologetically.

She cast a furious look at Trullius. ‘And so I would have done – if my husband had seen fit to tell me anything.’

Trullius spread his one good hand in outraged innocence. ‘And have you fainting at the news?’

‘I would have done nothing of the kind! Ignore him, citizen. A little while ago you told me that Audelia was dead, and did I faint at that? Of course I didn’t. But I thought we were talking about a robbery gone wrong. Attack by highway brigands I could have understood – though Mars knows that’s bad enough – but –’ she used one plump hand to fan herself – ‘if the Druids are involved it’s something else again.’

Trullius put out a warning hand, but she brushed him off.

‘Don’t interrupt me, Trullius! He will hear from others, if he doesn’t hear from us. Anyone in town will tell him what’s been happening.

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