The Book of Extraordinary Historical Mystery Stories by Maxim Jakubowski

Author:Maxim Jakubowski [Jakubowski, Maxim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781633539693
Publisher: Mango Media
Published: 2019-05-07T23:27:15+00:00

A Pinch of Pure Cunning

Jane Finnis

It was a perfect day for travelers, which made it a perfect day for innkeepers. I’m an innkeeper, and I love it when the summer sunshine brings half the empire out onto the roads. On this cloudless July morning, a steady stream of traffic came trotting along our particular road, stopping at the Oak Tree for a change of horses, a beaker of wine, and a bite to eat.

By noon the paved forecourt was packed with carriages, carts, horses, and mules of every shape and size. The barroom was overflowing, and some customers were choosing to drink outside in the sun. I wandered among them, having a word here and there and making sure nobody was dying of thirst. If Caesar himself dropped in for a jug of wine today, I thought, we’d have trouble making room for him. I daresay we’d manage somehow. But then again, being Caesar, he’d presumably expect all his drinks on the house. So maybe it’s just as well he’s in Rome and we’re far away in Britannia, on the very northern edge of his empire.

I was saved from further disloyal thoughts by the arrival of a familiar blue-painted carriage, bringing a friend I hadn’t seen for a while. She called out, “Good morning, Aurelia!” as she stepped down, and I hurried over to greet her.

“Clarilla, what a lovely surprise! It’s really good to see you.” I smiled and gave her a big hug, but I couldn’t add, “You’re looking well,” because in all honesty she wasn’t.

She was smartly dressed as always, in matching russet tunic and sandals; her silver jewelry was striking without being flashy, and her hair was fashionably styled so the touches of gray hardly showed. But she was tense and very pale and had dark circles under her eyes.

She returned my hug, but with only the briefest of smiles. “It’s good to be here, Aurelia. I do hope you don’t mind my calling unannounced.”

“Of course not. You know you’re welcome any time. How are you? And how’s your brother?”

“He’s very well, thank you. Busy as ever, but he enjoys that.” He would, I knew. He was our chief town councilor, an important man in the area and an old friend. Clarilla, quite recently widowed, had come to keep house for him. “I’m fine too, in health anyway. But I’m worried, and in need of advice. I know you’re bound to be busy, which is why I’ve come to you rather than inviting you to our villa. I’m hoping you might spare a little time for a chat?”

I laughed. “No problem. You’ve given me an excellent excuse to escape the lunchtime rush. The staff can cope perfectly well without me for now, and there have to be some advantages to being the boss. You’ll stay for something to eat, won’t you?”

“I’d love to, if you’re sure it’s no trouble. Is there somewhere quiet where we can talk? It’s a bit, well, personal.”

I was intrigued. Clarilla was usually so self-possessed.

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