I had made a mistake.

•

One of those moments. Two seconds, to destroy an entire relationship.

One stupid, wrong expression that shatters your life.

XLI

In the following few minutes I watched more doors close against me than I had ever even noticed were ajar.

'I have two pieces of information, Falco.' Her flat tone confirmed that assisting me had withered to a distasteful public duty. 'First, my father-in-law went to Nola because Aufidius Crispus had invited him as his personal guest at the Nola Games.' She looked as if she had just wasted an hour on a manicure for an important dinner party, then broken a nail against the doorlatch on her way out. 'Crispus was the host all round; he paid for the Games.'

'A good show?' I asked carefully. It was not the first time I had insulted a friend-or a woman-but I normally liked to minimize the damage this did to myself.

'Athletes, chariot races, thirty pairs of gladiators, a bullfight-'

'So can I expect to find Crispus at Nola?'

'No; it was a one-day spectacle.'

'Ah! Is he very public spirited-or standing as a magistrate?'

'Neither.'

'But he was courting support?'

Teasing information from Helena had never been harder. Luckily the chance of putting me in my place made her slightly more talkative: 'It's obvious, Falco. Campania, at the height of the holiday season. What better opportunity for an ambitious man to approach influential Romans-quite privately? Half the Senate will be here at some time this summer-'

'So Crispus can entertain, coerce, manipulate- all without attracting suspicion! In Rome if he gave public entertainments half the Forum would be taking bets on what he wanted-'

'Exactly.'

'Yet here he only looks like a great-hearted, gregarious type enjoying his holiday!' This time she merely nodded. 'Well! That explains why Crispus won't ingratiate himself with the new Emperor; the man is planning regal moves himself. Vespasian may not be the only voter in Rome who does not go along with it-'

'Oh, I wish I believed that-' Overcoming her reticence, Helena Justina beat one hand on the table. 'Why must people have so little faith in the Flavians?'

'Vespasian and Titus are a credit to Rome. There's no scandal; and that's no fun.'

'Don't be so fatuous!' She rounded on me bitterly. 'The only decent Emperor in our lifetime! But Vespasian will be pushed out of office, won't he? Before he has started, before anyone even gives him a chance to show what he can do-'

'Don't despair yet.' By nature Helena was a fighter and an optimist; I dropped my hand over the one she had smacked down. 'This is not like you!'

She broke away restlessly. 'Aufidius Crispus is wickedly powerful. He has far too many well-placed friends. Falco, you must stop him!'

'Helena, I can't even find him!'

'Because you're not trying.'

'Thanks for the flattery!'

'I don't need to boost your confidence; you have a high enough opinion of yourself!'

'Thanks again!'

'What have you achieved chasing Crispus? You're pottering in the sunshine on this lead-selling lark-you enjoy pretending to be an entrepreneur! I suppose you've been showing off to all the women who run wayside wineshops-'

'A man needs some pleasure!'

'Oh shut up, Falco! You must find out what Crispus intends and prevent it-'

'I will,' I said briefly, but she went storming on.

'If you won't do it for the Emperor, at least think of your own career-'

'That stinks! I'll do it for you.'

Too late I saw her flinch. 'I'm not your tribune's girlfriend making herself available to the new intake of recruits; Falco, spare me the cheap dialogue!'

'Cool down. I'm doing my best. What you call "pottering" is a methodical search-'

'Well have you found anything?'

'Aufidius Crispus goes nowhere and sees no one-according to them. There's a conspiracy of silence among the well-heeled seekers of sea air-' I watched her anxiously; women of her rank were well taken care of, yet her eyes had a heaviness which even discreet cosmetics had failed to disguise. Paint can be a cruel friend. I risked seizing her hand again. 'What's bothering you, treasure?' She escaped from me angrily. 'Helena-what's the matter?'

'Nothing.'

'Oh, cobnuts! Well, what was the other thing you had to say?'

'Never mind.'

'Nice girls don't quarrel with men who buy them langoustines!'

'There was no need for that!' Her face set, hating me for what she saw as false concern. 'You and your friends had shrimps; I don't expect special treatment-'

'If you did, you wouldn't get to eat with my friends-'

'I like shrimps-'

'That's why you like me… Lady, I thought we were talking about the peace of the Empire-tell me your story!'

She took a deep breath and abandoned our spat. 'When Aufidius Crispus left the villa rustica after seeing Marcellus, I happened to walk through the room where they had been, before it was cleared. The flagon was empty. And on the tray were three wine cups.'

'All used?'

'All used.'

I considered it. 'Maybe Crispus brought someone with him; his litter was closed-'

'I was on our roof garden when he left; he was alone.'

Sweet thought: a senator's daughter spying over balustrades and discreetly counting cups! 'Could this mean Barnabas?'

'I doubt it, Falco. My father-in-law never allowed Barnabas the run of his house. While I was married, staying with Marcellus was the only time I enjoyed normal family life; he excluded the freedman and allowed me my proper place-in fact he still does. He might grant Barnabas shelter, but he would never include him at a private meeting with a senator.'

'Don't discount the possibility,' I warned. 'Could Marcellus be entertaining some secretive house guest?' She shook her head. 'Helena Justina, I need access to explore the villa rustica-'

'First find Aufidius Crispus!' she interrupted fiercely. 'Find Crispus-do what Vespasian is paying you for!'

•

Scowling, I paid up; then we left the restaurant.

We walked slowly on the road by the shore while we waited for her bearers to reappear. The hard note remained in her voice: 'Do you want me to introduce you to Aemilius Rufus in Herculaneum?'

'No thanks.'

'So you won't go!'

'I'll go if I find I need to.' She exclaimed with annoyance as I tried to rally her. 'Look, let's not fight… Here are your chair men. Come on, fruit-'

'Fruit?' That got her, bursting into her rare, sweet, unexpected laugh.

'Did Pertinax have a pet name for you?'

'No.' Her laughter subsided instantly. No comment seemed necessary. Then she turned to me with a deliberate look. 'Will you tell me something? Was it when you were working at my ex-husband's house that you changed your mind about us?'

My face must have answered her.

I remembered the comfortable stylishness of that house on the Quirinal, which I knew had been a wedding gift from Marcellus to Helena and Pertinax. Only the gods could say what other sumptuous luxuries had been showered on the young couple by their relations and friends. Geminus and I must have catalogued some of it. Tortoiseshell bedheads. Mosaic glass serving bowls. Gold filigree plates. Exotic embroidered coverlets Queen Dido might have slept under. Polished maple table tops. Ivory chairs. Lampstands and candelabra. Camphorwood chests… and innumerable perfect sets of spoons.

'Marcus, surely even you could understand that if a house was all I wanted, I would never have arranged my own divorce from Pertinax?'