Free Dark Omens by Rosemary Rowe

from his capital – and there’s something else he might invest in if this business takes too long.’
    ‘But does Genialis have the right to sell off Silvia’s share, in any case? I thought he only got the profits on her capital?’
    Lucius’s servant gave a knowing smile. ‘Only after they are married, citizen. Until then he can dispose of it if she agrees in front of witnesses, and – though I’m certain that she would fight him all the way – in the end he could compel her to do that. Though she’d gladly give consent for him to sell to my master, I am sure; she’s fond of him and knows that Ulpius trusted him.’
    ‘How do you know all this?’ I asked, but I knew the answer as I spoke. ‘You were there when the matter was discussed and you couldn’t help but overhear, I suppose?’ I’ve been a slave myself and understand these things – owners think that servants have no eyes or ears.
    ‘That’s right, citizen.’ He was unaware of any irony. ‘And this arrangement would be the answer for everyone, I’m sure. The trouble is, I don’t think Genialis knows about it yet – Lucius was hoping to talk him into it – and if he’s gone back to Dorn instead of coming here, it is almost certain that the arrangement will fall through.’
    ‘I wonder.’ It occurred to me, from what I knew of Genialis, that he might well have known – and gone to Dorn on purpose, to put pressure on Lucius and so increase the price he could demand. I turned to Junio. ‘I think we’d better go inside and see. Maximus and Minimus can come as well – they don’t have horses to look after, like you two, and I presume that Marcus has taken his attendants in.’
    The allusion to my patron seemed to do the trick. Adonisius and his friend had been standing right outside the entrance way – taking the place of the doorkeeper I suppose – but now they moved aside to let us pass. ‘You will be unannounced,’ Adonisius muttered, doubtfully. ‘Unless you would like one of us to go ahead of you and tell them you are here?’
    I shook my head. ‘We’ll take our chances, thank you very much. After all this is not a social call and the household is not currently equipped for visitors. You stay here with the horses.’ And so saying, I led the way into the house.

FIVE
    I found them gathered in the atrium. When I was there before it was devoid of furniture, but someone – perhaps the doorkeeper – had produced a pair of folding stools, and Marcus and the lady were sitting either side of a little table which was set up on the far side of the room, near the altar to the domestic gods, and which held three goblets and an empty jug. Obviously a minimal refreshment had been found. The third cup had evidently been used by a cheerful-looking fellow whom I didn’t recognize, who stood beside the table at the rear. This must be Lucius Tertius, I thought.
    He must have been twenty-five or thirty years of age and was obviously used to working out of doors. His face was tanned, his arms were muscular and (though clearly prosperous) he did not appear to be a citizen. A freeman, probably, because he sported a very un-Roman beard and side-whiskers – particularly striking in this environment because they were the same amber colour as his embroidered tunic and his hair. He looked up to greet us as our little group appeared.
    So did the rest of them. Marcus’s two scarlet-uniformed pages were ranged against the wall, and they came hasting forward to take our capes and cloaks – though only to add them to the armfuls they already held. Standing alone in the middle of the room, evidently the centre of a recent storm of questioning, even my gloomy friend the doorkeeper turned around to stare.
    ‘Longinus Flavius Libertus,’ I announced myself, before my slaves could say a word. ‘His Excellence is expecting me, I think.’
    Marcus nodded. ‘So I was.’ He flapped a hand at me. ‘Do you know Lucius Tertius?’
    I bowed towards my fellow