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

level. ‘Is that a new hasta, sir?’ He looked impressed at the full-size intricately-carved lance lashed to the chestnut’s saddle.

‘Do you live at Bo Gwelt now, Drusus?’

‘Er, no, sir. Just — I just like to …er… ride out. And I’ve been helping Morcant and Demetrios with the workmen, y’know, supervising the rebuilding.’

Quintus smiled wryly, and the young boy looked embarrassed. ‘Well done, lad. I am sure Morcant and Demetrios are grateful. I’ll tell your father how useful you are here, if I see him on this trip.’

‘Oh, sir, umm, please don’t bother to say anything to Father. He — he rather thinks I am with my Greek tutor right now.’

‘I see. Your secret is safe with me.’

They passed the new tomb of Marcus Aurelianus with its beautiful engraved reliefs. Aurelia dismounted to stroke the stone, murmuring ‘Darling Father.’ Next to it were two stone memorials: one carved with an image of an adolescent boy. The inscription begged the Departed to accept the spirit of Catus, “son of this estate, who was much loved and died too young”. Alongside was a memorial to “Tertius, freedman and mines manager at Vebriacum, who was wise, courageous and kind”.

On arrival at the house Aurelia rushed into the kitchen, refurbished and re-equipped. Enica was cooking, her glorious hair hidden in a cloth. She looked round, and dropped a curtesy when she saw Quintus.

‘It’s good to see you, Enica. Are you settled at Bo Gwelt?’

‘Oh yes, sir. Lady Julia arranged to buy me from the widow Claudia.’ Quintus was puzzled.

Aurelia burst in, ’Oh, Claudia jumped at the chance to have Julia’s dresser instead. I never liked her dresser, so snooty. Neither did Julia, it turns out. So they swapped, and then Julia gave Enica her freedom. And lovely Enica, who cooks the most delicious food you will ever eat, decided to stay here with us as paid cook.’

‘I’m very happy for you, Enica, and I know Tertius and Catus would have been too.’  Enica turned away, hiding her face.

Aurelia impatiently steered Quintus through the house and into the courtyard, where they found Tiro. Not alone. He was leading a horse on the end of a long rein. She was a solid-looking mare with a mild eye, despite bearing perhaps the most nervous rider she had ever encountered.

Britta was leaning forward, clutching the reins, swaying at each step of the horse.  Narina was dashing around the courtyard not helping the lesson proceed, until Gwenn emerged from the laundry and removed her. The little girl could be heard complaining that she didn’t see why Aurelia could watch Britta fall off the horse if she couldn’t. Britta was also complaining, muttering a stream of British oaths.

‘Dearest one, you really must try harder to sit up straight,’ said Tiro in a patently patient voice.

‘No, I mustn’t! Bring the mounting block. I’ve had enough of this torture.’

Tiro complied, and helped Britta dismount. Quintus managed to swallow his laughter while Britta was in the saddle. Now he openly chuckled as she said tartly to Tiro, smoothing out her ruffled tunica, ‘It’s your turn for torture. Get your books out, my man.’ Tiro cast a despairing look at his boss, who shook his head.

‘Off you go to your reading lesson. I’ll catch up with you later.’ Turning to Aurelia, he asked where Lady Julia would be.

‘Oh, she’s around somewhere. She got back from Aquae Sulis yesterday. She’s been busy working with Anicius and the Sisterhood to train apprentices at the clinic, as she now comes to Bo Gwelt such a lot. I don’t know why she worries, there are plenty of people here already to keep an eye on me. And Drusus comes a lot, too, supervising the construction workers that kind Uncle Agrippa Sorio has lent us. Come and see what a good job they’re doing.’

She dragged Quintus off to inspect the new works. The main reception wing was almost rebuilt, raw amber stone and bright red tiles standing out in contrast to the remaining older parts. ‘The mosaicist in Corinium brought designs to show us. They’re gorgeous, lots of animals and gods and nymphs. Just what I wanted. But the plastering won’t happen yet, they were too busy and anyway Demetrios said we should get the floors done first…’ She chattered on as they walked through the quadrangle and into the garden behind. Quintus stemmed her stream of consciousness to ask her to let him to have a few quiet words with her aunt. She looked at him pertly and went away laughing, leaving him uneasy.

Julia was carrying a basket on one arm, hands gloved as she tended her bees. She wore a homespun wool dress, green-stained from gardening. Over her head was a fine veil to protect her from the bees. But they seemed to respect her intentions, and were quite content to carry on visiting the flowers along the back border. Julia turned, wiping sweat away from under her veil. She checked on seeing Quintus, and pulled the veil away.

‘Ah.’

‘Hello, Julia. I’m back from Londinium.’ He winced, realising how foolish that sounded.

‘So you are, Quintus.’ Her voice was cool. It was not a promising start.

‘How are you?’ he tried again. ‘How are things at the villa? I see a lot of work is going on.’

‘Yes, Quintus, some of us do have a lot of work.’ She added in a more mellow tone, ’Was your trip successful?’

‘Er, yes. I came to tell you about it. But first, how is Aurelia? She looks well. How is she getting on in her lessons?’

Julia’s face softened, as it always did when Aurelia was mentioned. Except, he supposed, when their impulsive daughter did something she disapproved of.

‘She attends her lessons when she thinks she’ll be caught truanting. Last week I had to tell her that she could not expect to run Bo Gwelt successfully when