Ruso and the Root of All Evils

27

While Tilla slept beside him, Ruso lay staring into the darkness and wondering what he was supposed to do with the bitch has poisoned me. Despite consulting his medical textbooks and questioning most of the household, he was no further forward with finding out what had killed Severus, nor how it had been administered. Everyone had been going about their usual business, and hardly anyone had noticed the visitor before he drew attention to himself by dying. Arria had been having her hair done in her room and was only disturbed by the commotion in the study. Ruso could find only one additional sighting of the live Severus, but the laundrymaid had paid little attention as she passed through the hall and noticed him sitting on a stool. In reply to ‘How did he look?’ she said, ‘I think he was wearing a brown — ’

‘I mean, did he look well?’

The girl thought about this for some time before venturing the opinion that the visitor had been looking hot and cross.

‘But he didn’t look ill?’

‘No, sir. Just hot and cross, like you.’

The only person he had not yet questioned was Cass, who had arrived home late with the children, organized the farm slaves’ supper, dealt with a tantrum from Little Gaius and invited Tilla to join her in a late retreat to the bath-house. He would talk to her tomorrow.

The bitch has poisoned me.

At the time he had assumed that Severus was accusing either his wife or his sister, but now he realized those words could equally well have been directed at Cass. Of course, it was ridiculous to imagine that Cassiana would poison anybody, but …

‘I know you are not asleep,’ came a voice from the other side of the bed. ‘Are you angry with me about your sisters?’

‘Uh? No. It was obvious they were lying.’

‘You are thinking about the man who is dead,’ she guessed. ‘How everyone will think you killed him because you owe him money and he married your old wife.’

‘Everyone would be wrong.’

‘I know this.’

‘Good. Go to sleep, Tilla.’

‘I know, because killing him here would be very stupid.’

‘Killing him anywhere would be very stupid.’ He sighed, rolled over and reached a hand around her. ‘I’m glad someone married my old wife,’ he murmured in her ear. ‘Go to sleep.’

She shifted to get comfortable against him. ‘What sort of poison he is dead from?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Did you catch his last breath? What did he say?’

When he did not answer she said, ‘You are still not asleep. Are you?’

‘Yes.’

‘Tell me what he said.’

‘Did Cass say anything about it while you were in the baths?’

‘We talked about her brother. She does not know what to do. Her husband says she must make her mind up.’

He said, ‘I promised her I’d try to help, but I haven’t had time.’

‘She understands. What will happen about the money you owe, now the man is dead?’

He said, ‘While you were over at the baths I went through the chest in the study. There’s a stack of bills from traders in town that haven’t even been opened. And a tax assessment. None of them’s big enough to prompt a bankruptcy, but word gets round. Some of the bigger creditors might start calling their loans in.’

He felt the tremor of a giggle. ‘Not if they think you will poison them.’

‘It’s not funny, Tilla. Yesterday I was just threatened with disgrace. Now if the Gabinii turn nasty they could have me tried for murder.’

‘That is not funny,’ she agreed. ‘So, what did he say?’

‘Go to sleep, Tilla. It’s the middle of the night. I have to go and see Claudia tomorrow.’

‘Claudia, the old wife.’ Tilla kicked away a tangle of sheet and pulled it straight. ‘Will you tell her what he said?’

‘Yes. It’s only fair that she knows first.’

She fell silent.

He was drifting away from the worries of the day when he heard: ‘Cass says the rich widow next door is very pretty.’

‘Yes, she is. Go to sleep.’

‘If all those people want their money back, and you are not accused of murder, will you try to marry her?’

‘Go to sleep.’

A cool draught forced him back into consciousness as she flung back the bedding. ‘I will go to my own bed.’

‘No!’ He grabbed her arm and pulled her back against him.

Far beyond the open window, some small night creature shrieked as it fell prey to a larger one.

He said, ‘I need you.’