Free Widow's Pique by Marilyn Todd Page B

come across and check you over.'
    'Tell you what. Why don't I visit her?'
    'If . . . if that's what the Lady Claudia wishes.'
    'It is.' Anything to get out of here. Anything. But the mention of Salome had jolted a memory. 'Wasn't she on her way to tend the boat builder's niece yesterday evening? The child
    who was traumatized after seeing Nosferatu about his grisly business?'
    Mazares turned an amused glance on Pavan.
    'Good heavens, Claudia's cracked it,' he chuckled. 'Nosferatu! The beast that dares not speak its name!'
    'It would explain why the legend's so widespread,' Pavan rumbled back. 'And why he only comes out at night.'
    'Yes, but we can console ourselves, General, that our reviled monster remains a creature of superstition.'
    'How so?'
    'Oh, Pavan, don't tell me you, of all people, actually believe in fairies?' Mazares forced his expression to become serious. 'I'll arrange transport to Amazonia, My Lady.'
    Together the two men strode out of the room, hardly waiting until the door was shut before resurrecting the fairy joke.
    Alone once again, Claudia could not control the shakes that gripped her. Raspor had come to her for help and she had dismissed him, an act of disdain that had cost him his life.
    Too many, how you say - innocents? - have died, and the King, he is too trusting. He thinks only good of people, but there are bad people around him. Very bad.
    She saw again his terrified eyes scanning the crowd.
    Just say you 'll meet me. Then I give you names of people who was killed and dates when these so-called accidents happen, but not here, not now. Is too open, too dangerous. I am dead man, if I am seen talking to you.
    Paranoia, she'd thought at the time. Like Pavan and Mazares, she'd put it down to 'all in the mind'.
    Please. You have King's ear. He will listen. When you give him detail of murders, he have no choice but to listen, because Mazares, he will stop at nothing to —
    Those were Raspor's last words. Mazares will stop at nothing . . .
    Claudia pulled on a gown of soft apricot cotton, fixed her girdle in place. She didn't know why she'd been lured to Histria, only that if Mazares wished her dead, he could have finished the job off last night and no one would have been any the wiser. From that point of view, at least, she was safe. But who else might not be? And how long would her life be protected, once Mazares realized that she was on to him . . . ?
    Nosferatu laughed.

Nine
    ' Oh, there you are, Marcus.'
    His aunt breezed along the portico, two slaves trotting at her heels like hunting hounds, as sunlight bounced off the gold-filigree tiara in her hair and dazzled the sapphires dripping from her neck.
    'I wanted to thank you, darling, for sorting out that awful business with Horatio. You have no idea what a strain it put on your poor uncle's heart when he heard those rumours. Wicked, absolutely wicked, and frankly, Marcus, I think the people who start them ought to be tied to a post in the Forum and whipped for the anguish it causes.'
    'Well, it's settled now,' Orbilio said, mentally crossing his fingers. 'You can both rest easily.'
    'D'you know, I can't help thinking that someone must have heard about those unfortunate incidents in the boy's past. I mean, how else could the rumour have started? Between you and I, dear, part of me wondered whether they mightn't have been true, leopards and spots and all that, because, heavens to Hera, I'll never forget the first time I saw my son dressed in women's clothes. Never! The boy was only eleven, but thank goodness, it was just a passing phase that he grew out of. Are you sure I can't persuade you to stay another few days? Your uncle has so enjoyed having you here.'
    'I've enjoyed my visit, too,' he lied.
    Through a pair of tall double doors opening on to the colonnade, he glimpsed the aftermath of last night's banquet, the Trojan theme mosaic littered with the broken shells of
    lobsters, mussels, crabs and oysters, and scattered with date, peach and