The Ides of April by Lindsey Davis

Author:Lindsey Davis
Language: eng
Format: mobi, azw3, epub
ISBN: 9781250023698
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Published: 2013-06-10T22:00:00+00:00

"How did you know the widow is young?" I asked abruptly, though in fact it stood to reason.

"She came to our house when Viator had dinner with Tullius."

"Did she?" Tiberius had not mentioned that detail. I supposed he called himself a man's man. All he said was that he met Julius Viator. An accompanying wife was beneath his notice. "You saw her?"

"Pretty thing, not exactly stupid, but out of her depth when the men got talking. I discovered her moping in the peristyle, all dressed up in her rich clothes and fancy jewellery, dabbling her fingers in a fountain, bored to tears. You know—the men discuss contracts interminably, she's eyed up the pretty serving boys for long enough, she makes an excuse to use the facilities, then lingers in the garden for as long as she can."

"Oh I know that scene!" I, too, had enjoyed a breath of cold night air in a scented colonnade, on occasions when I wanted to go home, but had to stay at some grim dinner for what passes as politeness. I would amuse myself thinking up hideous ways to cause other guests' downfall—though in my assessment, Viator's wife lacked that much imagination.

"Luckily, along comes a handsome, debonair archivist to take pity and have a chat with her."

It was my turn to be jealous, though I was better than him at hiding it. "You think such a lot of yourself, Andronicus! Did you meet Viator too? Tiberius says he didn't care for him. What was your verdict?"

"Thick neck, even thicker brain. Big thighs, big biceps, even bigger opinion of himself. A bully."

"What makes you say that? Did he bully her?"

"No, I wouldn't say that. But he roared out from the dining room to see what was keeping her."

"Was she frightened of him? That was not the impression she gave me."

"Your judgement is ever perfect," Andronicus flattered me. I basked in his admiration, all too easily perhaps. I was used to people who gave compliments more teasingly, and who shaded them with irony. "She was definitely not scared. She returned happily enough to the dining room with him. He slung his hairy arm around her shoulders, she slipped hers round his waist." I nodded, reassured. After a moment Andronicus added, "Faustus then sent for the flute-player to lighten the mood at the party. Viator and wifey did not stay late. He'd had a drink, he'd concluded some matters with Tullius. I expect he dragged her home for a good shagging."

"You can be very crude!"

"I know these people," replied Andronicus. He made it plain he intended it as no compliment.

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