“You’re saying he’s wearing Behan’s ring?”
“Not necessarily, Arcadia. I guess I’m looking for anyone who could be one of the accomplices whom ben Zadok suspects might be involved.”
“I thought of that, too.” Arcadia looked away at a spider exploring the ceiling before saying, “Getorius…the senator has invited me to his villa for a few days next week.”
“Oh, fine, fine,” he snapped, stepping back and sitting down on the bed. “I’m confined here, and you go off to the private estate of a man who may be part of a conspiracy to instigate civil war. Maximin has access to the palace, and he’s no stranger to acquiring power. The Gothic Queen may be right…perhaps Aetius is in this with him.”
“Getorius—”
“No, hear me out. What better way to declare a crisis, then turn the government into a military dictatorship? Meanwhile, as accidental witnesses to the plot’s basis, I die here like Sigisvult, and you’re never seen again after going to the villa of the fighting cockerels. Everyone who knew where the papyri were hidden is eliminated.”
Arcadia was silent for a moment after her husband’s outburst, than said firmly, “Then that’s exactly why I’m going. Perhaps I’ll find something out.” She came to him, knelt down, put her arms around his neck, and nuzzled his cheek with her face. “If Rabbi Zadok is right about the Nativity being the date for the will’s release, then there’s still a month before we…ah…need to be eliminated. I promise to tell Childibert where I’m going, and I’ll take Silvia and Primus with me.”
“A woman and a child? I’d feel better if Nathaniel went along.”
“I can’t risk insulting the senator. Or making him suspicious, if he is involved.”
“I’m just tense, cara. Worried.” Getorius kissed Arcadia’s forehead and buried his face in her hair. “Come and tell me about Maximin’s place next…Monandag.”
She laughed and pulled free. “I promise. And you eat only what Brisios brings you.”
Arcadia walked back to her villa disturbed at the inexplicable fact that one of her husband’s medical instruments had been found inside the dead monk’s shroud.
Even Maximin’s best lawyer would have trouble defending Getorius on a charge made by two clergymen as witnesses. It’s conceivable that a patient could have stolen the scalpel, but I can’t think of any who might have a reason to be that vindictive. Who else would go to so much trouble to falsely accuse him?
What could be good news is that someone is coming from Behan’s monastery. Perhaps Galla Placidia could question the monk and find out if he knows anything about the hidden documents…or about a plan to release them.
Meanwhile, I’d better select the clothes I’m going to take with me to the senator’s villa.
Chapter sixteen
December the first was foggy and drizzling at the fourth hour, when an elegant two-wheeled black carriage with a leather top pulled up to the Via Caesar entrance of Arcadia’s home. Arcadia was waiting, yet, despite what she had told Getorius, she had decided not to bring Silvia or her son to the senator’s country villa.
Brisios put Arcadia’s travel case behind the seats and helped her up to sit alongside the driver. “Agrica is preparing a pan of rissoles,” she told her gateman. “Take it to the Surgeon at the sixth hour and remind him he’s to eat nothing except what you bring.”
“I will, Mistress.”
As the carriage pulled away from the curbstones, Arcadia eased the hood of her cloak higher over her head. She had had Silvia draw her hair into a bun in back, a less attractive style Arcadia felt made her look older. She had put on a tunic that was unadorned with embroidery and had not worn earrings.
It’s not the time to look attractive, she thought, rubbing at her gold wedding band. On his visit Maximin had groped for her hand at every opportunity; the band would be a reminder for him not to get too interested.
“How far is the senator’s villa?” Arcadia asked the driver, after he had guided the mare left, onto the Via Honorius. When he did not reply, she tugged at his sleeve. “How far are we going?”
The man, whose face had been concealed by a leather hood, turned to her, revealing a pudgy, unshaven face.
“How far away is the villa?” Arcadia repeated, a bit frightened at his appearance.
The driver’s grin was almost a leer as he pulled aside his cloak and pointed to a silver plaque dangling around his neck. Arcadia saw that it was engraved with the words MVTVS SVRDVS. Mute and deaf…Maximin doesn’t want his driver questioned, and the man can’t tell anyone about what he sees. Clever.
At the intersection with the Via Theodosius the mute guided the horse straight ahead. Arcadia knew that beyond the Porta Aurea, where the Via Popilia angled to meet the Aemilia, an unpaved road led to Forum Livii, some fifteen miles to the southwest. It was probably impassable because of the rain, and Maximin had said that his villa was about a mile from the city.
Arcadia wanted to ask about their route, but realized that even if the driver read lips, he couldn’t respond to her question. She felt a moment of helpless panic, recalling Getorius’ comment about her never being seen again after going to the Villa of the Red Rooster.
At the end of the Honorius the carriage passed through one of the graceful double arches of the Aurea Gate. Beyond, only a few farmers were on the Via Popilia, hunched over and protecting themselves from the rain with leather cloaks and wide-brimmed straw hats, as they sloshed along next to oxen pulling carts of firewood to town.
An abandoned shrine to Mercurius marked the angle of the Popilia. When the carriage lurched into the ruts of an unpaved road, mud from the wheel spattered Arcadia’s cape. After going on about half a mile, the driver turned
