were somber enough, though nothing to the new panel planned for the grandson. We were shown a maquette, though the real thing would provide half a year's work for the stonemason. The text began,
Everyone was there. Well, everyone who owned half a million upwards, plus Marius Optatus and myself. For the rich, it was just an extra social occasion. They were arranging dinner-party dates in undertones.
Only one notable person was missing: the new quaestor Quinctius Quadratus. His sprained back must be still inconveniencing him. Absenting himself looked amiss, however, since he had been the dead young man's close friend.
The proconsul had deigned to be brought over in a litter from his praetorium. As we all stumped around trying to fill in time while the corpse heated up in the cemetery oven, his honor found time for a muttered word with me. I had been looking for someone to share a joke about whether they used the embers in the oven to warm hot pies for the mourners afterwards-but with him I confined myself to a reverent salute.
'What do you make of this, Falco?'
'Officially-a young lad who foolishly attempted a job for which he was unqualified while trying to please his grandfather.' And between ourselves?'
What was the point of condemning Constans now? Oh… just a regrettable accident.' The proconsul surveyed me. 'I believe he tried to see me, when I had gone out to Astigi… This was not an invitation to speculate on the reason. 'A statue is to be erected in the civic forum, I believe.'
'It's all work for the stonemasons, sir.'
We did not discuss my mission; well, I never expected to.
The women had clustered in a huddle. I was in a mood for avoiding them. I expressed my formal sympathy to Licinius in the routine handshake line. Optatus made himself more agreeable; I saw him among the Annaei at one point. Then he came back and whispered, 'Aelia Annaea asked me to tell you that Claudia wishes to speak to you privately. Licinius must not know.'
'Maybe her friend can arrange something-'
I might have given more precise instructions but just at that moment a hurried messenger came from Helena, asking me to return to her at once.
It was a false alarm.
I sat with Helena, holding her hand, and we both said nothing. The pains which had frightened her seemed to be coming to nothing, but the next occasion could well be different. We were safe today, but seriously alarmed. We had run out of time.
A couple of hours passed. As we began to relax again, we pretended we were both sitting silent in the garden purely in order to enjoy each other's company.
Marcus, nothing is happening. You can leave me if you want.'
I stayed where I was. 'This could be my last chance for the next twenty years to enjoy an afternoon in the sun completely alone with you. Savor it, my love. Children make it their sole ambition to interrupt.'
Helena sighed gently. The earlier excitement had left her subdued and shocked.
After a while she murmured, 'Don't pretend to be dozing under the fig tree. You're planning things in your head.'
I was in fact mentally packing bags, consulting maps, debating the virtues of sea against land travel-and trying to reconcile myself to absconding from Baetica with my task only half done. 'You know what I think. There's no time to waste. I want to go home now.'
'You think it's too late already! It's my fault,' she shrugged. 'It was my idea to come to Baetica.' 'Everything will be all right.'
'You know how to lie!'
'And you know how to joke- It's time to leave. Good time, I hope. Anyway, I'm coming with you.'
'You're wonderful!' Helena said. Sometimes she almost sounded as though she trusted me. 'I love you, Didius Falco. One of the reasons is that you pursue a cause relentlessly.'
'Well! And I thought it was because I had momentous brown eyes and a body you want to grab… So you really think I'm looking for a chance to bunk off after some villain and let you down.'
'No,' she retorted, with her old spirit. 'I think you're lusting after a set-to with some half-naked female spy!'
'Oh discovery! No; let's be honest. You're bound to be annoyed to find I've ended up tangling with devious female agents-but you can count the peas in a pod. You know it's not my fault there seem to be women everywhere-but you think I'm spinning out the job in Hispania purely because I want an excuse to avoid being with you when you start producing the child. I'm famous for breaking promises. I know that.'
'No,' said Helena patiently. 'You're famous for finishing what you start.'
'Thanks! Now I've started on fatherhood- So we are going home?'
The fight seemed to go out of her. 'I'll do what you decide, Marcus.'
That settled it. If Helena Justina was being meek, the poor girl must be terrified. I took a manly decision: I was not up to reassuring a woman in the last stage of her pregnancy. I needed my mother; I needed Helena's mother too. We were going home.
Marius Optatus came riding back shortly, and I told him of my decision. He had the grace to look sad at losing us. Immediately afterwards a carriage appeared, bearing Aelia Annaea and young Claudia. There were some sturdy outriders who made themselves at home in our kitchen; Licinius Rufius must have heeded my advice about protecting the girl.
'Marius told us Helena might be having the baby. We said we were coming to help-'
'Just a twinge,' said Helena. 'I'm sorry to be such trouble-'
They looked disappointed. My feelings were more mixed. I wished it was all over, though I was dreading the event. Helena's eyes met mine, full of tolerance. The requirement to be sociable with our visitors would be good for both of us. But our afternoon together had brought us very close. Those moments of deep, private affection stayed with us as powerfully as if we had spent the time making love in bed. In fact our mood may have communicated itself, for both Marius and Aelia Annaea looked at us rather quizzically.
Since the others had just come from a funeral they needed space to settle their own emotions. They had the customary mixture of anticlimax and revival. The dead young man had been sent to his ancestors; the living could pursue daily routines again. They were tired after the ceremony, but the immediate pressure of grief had been eased, even for Claudia.
Helena ordered mint tea. That's always good for covering any awkwardness. No one has time for anything but finding space to put the strainer and making sure they don't slurp from their beaker or drop crumbs from their almond cake.
I was still sitting close to Helena; Claudia was placed at my other hand so she could tell me whatever she had come about. Marius Optatus seated himself with Aelia, all set to pretend to admire the lily tubs if anything too scandalous was being discussed.
We progressed through the necessary ritual. I apologized for rushing off. Fuss was made of Helena. There was a swift review of the funeral, including the size of the turnout, the quantity of the garlands, the affecting style of the eulogy, and the comfort of knowing that the departed was in peace. I thought Constans had left behind a little too much unfinished business for that, but in the hope that his sister might be intending to right some of it, I was prepared to extend some charity to the lad.
Claudia reached the point where she felt she could talk to me. She squirmed. She blushed. I tried to look encouraging. 'Marcus Didius, I have something to tell you,' she finally blurted out. 'I have to confess that I have not been telling the truth!'
I was leaning forwards, trying to look happy drinking from a dainty terracotta bowl. I stirred my mint tea with
