A Dreadful Destiny by Rosemary Rowe

Author:Rosemary Rowe [Rosemary Rowe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2021-06-14T00:00:00+00:00

FIFTEEN

‘Patron, have I offended you, somehow?’ I ventured, when Servus had withdrawn.

Marcus gave me another scathing look. ‘You mean, apart from sharing secrets with Hortius, behind my back? And don’t look so surprised. Junio let the information out.’

I gaped at him. I was absolutely stunned. ‘E-excellence,’ I stammered, ‘the Senator must have threatened him with some dreadful punishment – to make him break a confidence.’ Marcus’s expression did not thaw one bit. ‘Patron, I cannot apologize enough – he was explicitly instructed not to tell anyone but you that Druscilla had—’

Marcus waved my words impatiently aside. ‘That is not at issue. We had already heard. Hortius’s guard brought us the news when they arrived this morning from the garrison.’

I was struggling to make sense of this. And then a thought occurred to me. ‘Most of them are still billeted there, I expect? So the lady came to the gates of Glevum – as I feared she might – and was the source of gossip afterwards! I am surprised that a single traveller caused so much remark – except that she asked directions to your villa, I suppose.’

My patron leant back on the narrow bench, folded his arms across his chest and let out an exasperated sigh. ‘Spoke to the sentry on duty, it appears – and in such a rude, imperious way that it’s become the talk of the garrison. The bodyguards must have heard last night and brought the news to Hortius as soon as possible. It seems that he had offered a reward to whoever brought him the first news of her – though he has found a reason not to pay, since they had not discovered anything themselves. So be warned, Libertus!’ He slammed the goblet on the tabletop. ‘Do not trust the man.’

I did not answer; I was too perplexed. Trust him about what? What could it be that Junio had said? Described exactly where the villa was perhaps? ‘It’s to be hoped he does not go over to your house, and get his bodyguards to drag her out to him. It’s not impossible. Your gates and gatekeeper could not oppose them long. And,’ I added, slyly, ‘that courier knows the way.’

Marcus gave me an unfriendly look. ‘Exactly so, Libertus. And on that subject, we need to talk, I think.’

I was beginning to wish I hadn’t jettisoned my wine. ‘The messenger? I do not understand.’

‘Oh, I think you do.’ Marcus was gazing into his empty cup, as though it fascinated him. (If this was a signal that he wanted some more wine, it was in his own hands, I was powerless to help.) ‘Hortius seemed to think the courier should have told him that Druscilla had arrived, though how he could have known that was a mystery to me.’ He looked up, but refused to meet my eyes. ‘Though not, perhaps, to you?’

It was clearly a rebuke, but I could not see the force of it. ‘Of course he could not possibly have known. Druscilla did not come till yesterday, when you weren’t there yourself.

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