Nine for the Devil

Chapter Fifty-seven

John was used to being out in the city at night. It held no fears for him. This night felt different. There was a sinister aspect to the shadows. He had the feeling if the sun were to suddenly rise dark forms would be revealed as something other than the familiar buildings and colonnades and monuments he knew during the daytime.

Where in this strange place could Kuria have gone?

When she spoke to John in the palace gardens she was terrified of being thrown out into the streets. Clearly she did not have a plan. If she finally had decided on a destination, who at court would know? What friends would she have had at the palace?

Vesta, John thought. The young women had served Theodora together. Perhaps Kuria had confided in Vesta.

John’s house was all but on his way to the womens’ quarters. He couldn’t pass nearby without checking on Peter, although there was nothing he could do for him, nor, he remembered with a pang, was there anything he could do about finding Cornelia at present.

As he came around the side of the barracks opposite the house he passed a portly, youngish man dressed in the elaborate robes of the clergy.

Why would he be out at this hour unless…

A haggard-looking Hypatia greeted John at the door. “The physician said there was nothing to do but send for a clergyman,” she said. Her voice sounded strained but calm. Resigned. Her shoulders were slumped, her normally lively eyes dull.

“Peter is still alive?”

“He woke before the physician got here. It seems it is only a matter of time. He’s asleep now. The physician said when he slept again, he would not wake up.”

John made no effort to step inside. “I am likely to be away all night, Hypatia. Anatolius is under suspicion. He’s taken sanctuary in the Great Church.”

“No,” Hypatia said “Oh, no.” Her words came out in a choked whisper, as if she had found her ability to express grief exhausted.

“You understand, I would stay with Peter but Anatolius needs my help.”

“If you want to save Anatolius, why don’t you accuse Antonina of the murder? She’s an evil woman. How many poisonings has she got away with? Or you could accuse someone else who has escaped justice.”

“I could not lie,” John said stiffly. “Especially with a person’s life at stake.”

“But what about Anatolius? Isn’t his life at stake?”

Her vehemence surprised John. Did she harbor some affection for Anatolius so long after he had been trying to attract her without apparent success?

“I will see that Anatolius comes to no harm without making a liar of myself, Hypatia.”

Her eyes suddenly came alive. “Better that Anatolius die than you should say something that isn’t true. For that matter, you would see an old man go to his grave agonizing over your soul-berating himself that he could not save you from the fires of hell-rather than uttering a few comforting words that would make you a liar.”

“You were eavesdropping on our conversation!”

“Not intentionally. I simply waited outside Peter’s door. I couldn’t help hearing what he said. You could have pretended to agree to his final request. After his lifetime of loyalty, what would it have cost you? But, no. You have to adhere to your principles. You always have to be superior, better than other men. And why is that, because you know you aren’t really-”

“That’s enough! I know you are distraught, Hypatia, but you have forgotten your position. I regret I will not be able to employ you after this outburst.”

Hypatia drew herself up and looked John in the face. A smile trembled on her lips. “Would you have me depart immediately then and leave my dying husband unattended?”

“Husband?”

“Yes. The clergyman who visited Peter married us.”