Semper Fidelis

Chapter 41

“I am only saying what you are both thinking,” declared Sabina, pushing away the bowl of dates whose shape and color had reminded her that this place might have cockroaches. “Germania was bad enough. Did you see all those ghastly people?”

“I am sure the emperor knows best, madam,” Tranquillus assured her.

“And I’m sure this couch is damp.” She gestured to the steward. “Have them find me something else to sit on.”

The steward nodded to one of the slaves, who flitted out through a side door.

“Britannia is a very prestigious posting, madam,” said Clarus.

Sabina frowned at the flaking paint of what was supposed to be the best room, and ordered more coals for the brazier. “If Britannia were so marvelous,” she continued, “Tranquillus would have come here when he first had the chance, instead of finding ways of wriggling out of it. Wouldn’t you, Tranquillus? You could have had a glittering military career.”

Tranquillus modestly inclined his head. “I am honored to be the emperor’s secretary, madam.”

“Oh, be honest, both of you. You would both rather be at home with your noses stuck in scrolls than trailing around all over the empire. And after all this bother, not a blue face to be seen anywhere! Do you think the painted ones have run away?”

“I believe they are on the far side of the emperor’s Great Wall, Madam.”

“Along with the land of eternal day, I suppose.”

Clarus examined a date before biting off one end. “Very possibly, madam.”

“They murdered Lollia’s husband, you know. And both of poor Favonia’s sons.”

Tranquillus said, “I am sure the emperor will not put you in danger, madam.”

She sighed. “No. I’m not even allowed to risk listening to your book about prostitutes.”

“Madam, if the emperor thinks it suitable-”

“We both know that if the emperor thinks it will entertain me, it will not be suitable.”

Clarus glanced at his friend, but Tranquillus had developed a sudden interest in rubbing an ink stain off his forefinger. Clarus helped himself to another date while he was still chewing the first one.

“Surely there must be something both respectable and interesting to do here while one’s husband talks about walls?” demanded Sabina. “What about the famous native warrior women? Could you find one of those for me to look at?”

“I believe they’re all dead, madam.” Was that a touch of condescension in Clarus’s voice?

“Oh, dear. I shall have to spend the afternoon writing to tell Julia that you’re both terribly boring and she isn’t missing anything.”

Tranquillus looked worried. “Madam, if there is anything we can do …”

“You can introduce me to someone who isn’t a homesick officer’s wife, a screaming barbarian, or some dreadful woman married to a tribal chief with hairs in his nose.”

Somewhere in the distance, a military trumpet sounded. The silence inside the room was finally broken by the faint sound of someone clearing their throat. She turned. “You have something to say?”

The steward took a step forward and bowed.

“Speak.”

“Madam, there is a native midwife who is married to one of our officers. She came to help prepare the house for you.”

“Really? Is she a better midwife than she is a cleaner?”

The steward did not know. She glanced at Clarus and Tranquillus, who were clearly hoping the steward’s intervention would divert some of her irritation from them. “Shall we have her fetched?”

Tranquillus looked appalled. “A midwife, madam?”

Clarus said, “A housecleaner?”

Sabina smiled. “And an officer’s wife. I think I should like to meet her.”

“She’ll have to be checked first,” insisted Clarus. “I’ll need a name.”

Sabina sighed. “Clarus, you have a very large sword. We are surrounded by the servants and you can call your guards. If none of those can deal with her, Tranquillus will stab her with his stylus. I think I shall be safe from one woman, don’t you?”