The Governor's Man by Jacquie Rogers (best beach reads TXT) 📕

by blood loss. She shifted one hand to his wrist, checking his pulse again. The hand was cold and clammy. If Anicius didn’t get here soon, Tertius would die on her doorstep.

He seemed to read her thoughts. ‘Tell the frumentarius —I was faithful. Trust—me. Help is coming.’ His voice was almost too faint to hear. His eyes fluttered again, and he groaned. More blood welled up out of her makeshift compress. She knew he was nearly gone. She lowered her head so she could hear him better.

‘Enica—’

‘Don’t worry about Enica. I will make sure she is looked after and has a happy home. Tertius, who did this to you?’

He seemed to be listening to someone else. He suddenly smiled, radiantly.

‘Tell Enica not be sad. Catus —is waiting for me.’

Then he turned his head with eyes closed, and she thought he was gone. Very faintly she heard, ‘Tell him to watch the —Londinium road.‘

There was no more.

She stood, straightening her stiff back, unaware of the tears rolling silently down her face or the bloody clout clutched in her hands. A horse clattered up the street from the bridge, and Medicus Piso threw himself off and came in to kneel by Tertius. Two orderlies and Rufus ran up behind, Britta following more slowly. Julia sobbed aloud, not hearing herself. The surgeon checked the Syrian’s body for breath and pulse, then stood slowly. He looked at Julia with affectionate concern, and put an arm round her in a respectful embrace.

‘I’m so sorry, Lady Julia. I supposed that Tertius had left Aquae Sulis with Marcellus and the cohort. I had no idea he had stayed alone in the city. Now I wonder why.’

Julia let herself weep a little on Piso’s shoulder. She lifted her head, trying to say something to the servants, to summon some vestige of control. Britta shook her head.

‘Julia, my lady, you must rest now. If you want to avenge our friends and your brother, you need to be strong. Let me look after you, just this once. Tell me which herbs will help you. I’ll fetch you some in warm milk. Then you must sleep. I’ll speak to Surgeon Piso, settle the servants, and check on Aurelia. The morning is soon enough to decide what’s next to do.’

Julia surrendered, letting Britta lead her up the stairs to her bedchamber and pull back the covers so Julia could climb into bed.

The Aquae Sulis baths were open to women from noon. Julia and Britta waited in the queue outside the Great Bath, both veiled and wearing the undyed tunics of working countrywomen. They watched carefully as the men emptied out after their morning of exercise, gossip and drinking. Soon Julia spotted a young auburn-haired woman swaying seductively along the departing line, catching the eye of every passing male.  She nudged Britta.

‘There she is!’

‘Wish me luck,’ muttered Britta. She left Julia, removing her head scarf and bustling off as if on a different trajectory. As she neared the departing bathers, she caught the young woman with an apparently inadvertent arm swing.

‘Many pardons, my lady!’

The girl swung round bridling. Then she smiled, apparently mollified by the respectful form of address.

‘Would you be going into the baths, my lady? I see you are quite a favourite with the local people. So beautiful and graceful you are, it’s no wonder. I wonder—‘ Britta said all this in a slow-drawling country voice, with downcast eyes, ‘—you see, I’m a visitor here, and feeling shy about going alone into these famous baths. I’m sure to get lost and make a fool of myself. May I come in with you, just till I find my way around? I am happy to pay for both of us, if you would let me come with you.’

Fulminata’s innate vanity needed little encouragement. She apparently decided the country bumpkin was comely enough to be an asset, and grateful enough to be a generous companion. There would still be young Dobunni tribesmen around, practising their martial skills in the exercise yard outside.

‘What’s your name?’

‘Veronica, my lady.’

‘Well, Veronica, you can call me Fulminata. Come on, I’ll show you the baths.’

Three hours later, Britta emerged, cleaner, poorer and having achieved her objective. She took a careful route home.

Julia was waiting impatiently. The two women changed into the long white hooded robes of the Sisterhood, and set off again into the city as the short spring afternoon faded. Britta paused to drop donatives of respect at the main altar to Sulis Minerva, while Julia made her way past the Sacred Spring. She slipped inside a hidden door and joined the elder Sisters of the Wise Women, who were gathered already in this holy and ancient temple. The place had been sacred to Sulis since long before Rome brought her twin goddess Minerva. Inside the room was tiered with steeply descending banks of wooden benches. Some dozen of the Sisterhood, the most senior healers, judges and teachers of the Aquae Sulis community were seated on wooden banks and chatting quietly when Britta entered a few minutes later. She was accompanied by a new supplicant for membership.

Fulminata looked smug. Britta had been both obsequious and disarming when she confided to her new friend that she was visiting the local Wise Women. She was sure they would be delighted to welcome Fulminata. The girl had the audacity to walk into the centre of the temple’s circular space and fling off her hood with a show of confident beauty. She looked round with practised poise.

A bell, high and silvered in tone, struck once. Silence fell on the group. Julia stood, still hooded, holding out her arm to support a very old woman. The Sisters at once rose, and bowed their heads in respect. Fulminata turned to look. Unease crossed her face. Still she held her head in the same arrogant pose.

‘Be