Free Ten for Dying (John the Lord Chamberlain Mysteries) by Mary Reed, Eric Mayer Page A

guarding the Persian border.”
    “You did spend some time at the border, didn’t you?”
    “Yes, and during the middle of night, staring out over that desolate landscape, I remembered watching for wolves to emerge from the woods. The difference was, there really were Persians among the crags and ravines.”
    “You must have left home at an early age.”
    “As soon as I was old enough I walked into the local fort and joined the army. My mother cried. She had hoped I would be a farmer like my family had always been but my father had put other ideas into my head.”
    “Your father must have been happy. You certainly have led an exciting life.”
    “A farmer might think so. My mistake was excelling as a soldier. I was eventually sent to Constantinople and brought to the attention of Emperor Justin. I became one of his bodyguards.”
    “But soon you will be fighting in Italy.”
    “Provided the corpse in the bath doesn’t end up blocking my way.”
    “Everything will turn out all right. Tell me more about Germania.”
    “But I’ve already told you about all that.”
    Felix felt the weight of his predicament pressing in on him and grew silent.
    After a while Anastasia said, “I can’t bear it, sitting here, waiting and waiting. I have things to attend to at the palace. I’ll be missed. I’ll come back before dark.”
    Felix had taken hold of her arm, gently but firmly. “Stay. Please.”
    She stared at him. “Do you think I’d betray you to the City Prefect?”
    He looked away, ashamed. How could he doubt this woman who shared his bed? And yet a woman about whom he knew nothing? “Perhaps I should go for a stroll to calm my nerves.”
    She gave him a grim look. “No. I would prefer you didn’t. It feels like rain. The breeze has a chill in it. I wouldn’t want you to get wet. It’s best that we both stay here.”
    So, they understood each other. Both feared the other, and with reason, given both might be found equally guilty. Those who unthinkingly trusted others, those who were never afraid, did not survive long at the palace.
    Anastasia must have guessed what Felix was thinking. She grasped his hand and led him back to the bedroom.
    The day passed slowly. There was time for speculation. The corpse remained a mystery. In death the courier had been empty-handed. If he had carried a package to the house someone had taken it. Had the man been robbed and killed in the courtyard upon his arrival or had he been left there? There was no way to tell. Anastasia did not recognize the dead man as anyone she had seen at court. The discolored and contorted face bore little semblance of humanity and she could barely bring herself to glance at it.
    At some point Felix decided how to deal with his unwelcome visitor. He would not resort to lawyers or the authorities. Laws were unreliable allies. He would handle the matter himself.
    After an eternity, when a single invisible bird sang from the darkness pooled in the garden, Felix instructed Nikomachos to order the servants to remain in their quarters for the night.
    “I will summon you later to refresh the bath.”
    Nikomachos’ face exhibited its usual vaguely supercilious expression.
    How much had he observed apart from the obvious fact that two of the urban watch had searched the house? Had he seen the body? Had he overheard anything of their conversation?
    “And you will remain at the house until I give you further orders,” Felix added.
    Nikomachos offered one of his bows, little more than a peevish twitch, and departed.
    “He knows,” Anastasia said.
    “Why do you think so?”
    “He’s always hovering nearby, listening, peeping. And the other servants must know. They must have realized something illegal was going on, with this courier constantly arriving in the middle of the night.”
    “Not at all. I dropped hints to Nikomachos that I was buying silk at less than imperial prices. These days, who doesn’t?”
    He took the last fig, stuck it into his mouth,