Seven for a Secret

Chapter Forty-Six

“The Lord Chamberlain is not available,” Cornelia told the stranger at the door.

“We know that. I’ve come here to speak to you.”

The caller was a man of average appearance, aside from his immaculate dress and perfectly trimmed hair and his exceedingly dark and chilling eyes.

“He refused to give his name, mistress,” said Peter, who had answered the insistent knock.

“I hope you are not offended,” the stranger said to Cornelia. “It is not possible for me to give you my name. It would not be safe for either of us.”

“Give your blade to Peter, and come into the office,” Cornelia replied.

The room beyond the foot of the stairs, furnished with cushioned chairs and a desk of inlaid wood, opened on to the garden. John rarely used it. He preferred to meet visitors in his stark upstairs study.

Cornelia posted Peter beside the door. The visitor refused the proffered seat so she remained standing.

“What did you mean when you said that you knew the Lord Chamberlain is not here?”

“Only that we have been watching him.”

Cornelia forced herself to breath slowly. She could not stop her heart racing. John was in grave danger. She was certain of it. The mild-voiced stranger chilled her in a way that finding Menander’s body in the bath had not. The dead man’s identity had been known. Whatever peril his death represented to the household could therefore ultimately be traced.

Confronted with this unknown caller she could not tell from which direction danger might come.

“Who has been watching?”

The stranger offered a faint smile. At least Cornelia interpreted the expression as a smile. “My apologies, but I simply cannot say.”

Where was John now? He had been gone all day again. Was he safe? Was he…? She pushed the thought away.

“Say whatever it is you’ve come to say.” Somehow she kept her voice steady.

“Please believe me, we have your best interests at heart. The Lord Chamberlain-your husband-has spent a great deal of time lately in the company of people with whom he would not seem to have any legitimate business.”

Cornelia did not correct his misapprehension that she and John were married. If, indeed, he really believed it. “As Justinian’s representative he might have legitimate business with anyone in this city or indeed the empire,” she pointed out.

“That may well be, but these people I mention are like pieces of colored glass-innocent enough singly but when arranged together they form a picture. In this case, a most sinister picture.”

“What people are these?”

“Why, Felix for one, the excubitor captain who controls a contingent of armed men within the walls of the palace itself. Did you know that General Belisarius is also in the city? Justinian relieved him of his command, so he has a grievance against the emperor, and the loyalty of a great many soldiers. I have it on impeccable authority that your husband has consulted an associate of the general.”

Cornelia noticed a look of outrage appeared on Peter’s face. Evidently he too had grasped the implication contained in the smooth words. She glared at the visitor who continued unperturbed.

“The Lord Chamberlain and the excubitor captain have been friendly for years and would hardly be expected to oppose one another if they became, shall we say, ambitious. And then there are all these persons your husband has been meeting in the Copper Market. A seditious rabble, to be sure. He has been present at clandestine meetings, or meetings those attending foolishly imagined were clandestine. You surely realize all this.”

“Are you implying the Lord Chamberlain is involved in some intrigue against the emperor?”

The visitor sighed and made a vague gesture with his hands, the fingers of which were perfectly manicured. “If you step back a pace or two, you will have to admit the picture formed by all these circumstances is very suspicious, particularly since one of the scoundrels known to be involved was found dead in your bath.”

“You insult the Lord Chamberlain’s loyalty by even suggesting he would be part of such a conspiracy!”

“Perhaps he wants us to think he could not be involved because if he were he would not be so stupid as to call attention to himself by leaving the corpse of one of his co-conspirators in his own bath? That by doing so we would overlook the remarkable amount of time he has spent in the Copper Market recently?”

“Investigating the death of a young woman. I am certain I’m not telling you anything you don’t know, whoever you are.”

The stranger smiled again. Or was it a sneer? “Investigating a murder makes for a fine pretext for being in places palace officials would best avoid. And if the victim who supplies the pretext is a person who needed to be put out of the way…”

Cornelia felt her face flush with fury. “You dare to say John murdered her to give himself a pretext to visit with a band of plotters?”

“If your husband was really investigating such a death, why did he not inform the emperor?”

“He considered it a private matter!” Cornelia regretted her hasty words as soon as she had spoken.

The man gave a contemptuous smile but remained silent.

“Why are you telling me?” she demanded. “Confront the Lord Chamberlain with this outrageous nonsense, if you dare.”

“I suspect you may be more amenable to reason, Cornelia. You have a daughter, don’t you? Yes, she is quite fond of Zeno’s horses. She was out riding yesterday.”

Cornelia stifled the cry that formed in her throat. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Peter move. She motioned him to remain where he was. “If you will not reveal who you’re working for-”

The stranger’s voice remained quiet. “At the moment, I am working for you. For you and your husband and your family. A family which may be in danger. I am only trying to help.”

He paused and stared thoughtfully out into the garden. “I had hoped we might talk in your husband’s study. I would be curious to see that mosaic girl I’ve heard about. I understand when Justinian executed the former owner of this house he spared Glykos’ family. I have it on good authority that he is not likely to be so forbearing this time.”

“I fail to see how your threats and insinuations are of any help to anyone in this house. Watching John, trying to manufacture a case against him out of nothing…”

“Ah, but you assume we are the only ones watching, the only ones who have observed your husband’s actions these past days. Not so. Perhaps the emperor’s ire cannot be avoided. So long as the emperor is Justinian. The Lord Chamberlain is a man of principle. A man who would surely put principle above all else, perhaps even his family. This is why I wished to speak to you, Cornelia. I must leave now. Your husband will be back soon and you will want to discuss these matters with him.”