The Vestal Vanishes

NINETEEN

Of course, I had done nothing of the kind. This theory — which in any case was hers and not my own — was hardly more than guesswork, though I was forced to grant that there were elements of it which did seem plausible.

‘It’s a clever explanation,’ I agreed, putting the silver flask carefully into the pouch-purse at my waist. ‘And you may well be right. But remember, at the moment we are lacking any proof. In fact, at present, that line of reasoning raises problems of its own.’

Now that she had found a version of events which satisfied her, though, she was unwilling to admit that there might be flaws in it. She leant back against the limewashed wall, her hands defiantly upon her hips. ‘Such as?’

There were so many unanswered questions that I couldn’t voice them all. I seized on some at random. ‘Such as who put the poison in the flask, and what became of the original sleeping draught? To say nothing of whether Paulinus and his wife were really who they seemed and — above all — whether Lavinia is safe and how she disappeared. We are still only guessing that the rebel Druids had a hand in that.’

The woman shook her head impatiently. ‘These are mere details, citizen. You have solved the central mystery, the one that you were sent here to investigate. You’ve managed to explain, and rationally too, how Audelia could appear to leave here in good health, ride to Glevum on a public road and end up beheaded in a box without anyone apparently noticing a thing. What’s more, you have lifted a big weight from my mind: you have shown me that this household was most likely not involved and you have demonstrated that it could all have been achieved without the use of sorcery. I shall sleep a great deal better for knowing that tonight. You have made such a good beginning, and in so little time, I’m sure you’ll find the answers to your other questions soon.’ She picked up the cooking-bowl of oil and held it balanced against one ample hip. ‘I’ll take you to the market in the forum if you like, and locate the donkey-boy. He’ll take you to the farmstead where he took the writing-block and you can check if it is really the home of Audelia’s relatives.’

I nodded. ‘That would be excellent. Perhaps, if I am quick about it, I can find the slave trader as well. He may have useful information to impart.’ If Paulinus knew about the mute maidservant in advance, I thought, it would indicate that he’d had previous dealings with the man. ‘But before we do that…’

Priscilla had decided that I was now a friend. She gave a half-flirtatious little gasp. ‘I forget my duties, citizen. I do apologize. Of course, we must first arrange a meal for you. I was on my way to do so when I first got up, but I delayed to look in on the nurse.’ She was already leading the way back into the house, her buttocks waggling like rounded grinding stones under the tight blue fabric of her gown.

Breakfast had been the last thing on my mind, but I was obliged to follow her. ‘I was about to say that before I leave the house, I would like to interview the slaves — including the one that you have locked up in the kiln,’ I called to her retreating form.

‘I’ll go and let him out,’ said a lugubrious voice behind me. It was Trullius, bringing up the rear. ‘I told her that the stable-boy had no part in what happened to the nurse — why would he stay there, if he’d poisoned her? — but my wife would not listen. She likes to have her way. And with your permission, citizen, I will instruct the other slaves that they may now continue with their early-morning chores. I ordered them to stay indoors and out of sight while you were out there searching in the court.’

I nodded my assent. ‘By all means, provided I can speak to each of them.’ I realized that Priscilla had paused ahead of me and was now waiting in the passageway, poised like an actor depicting ‘patience’ on the stage. ‘Perhaps your wife will indicate a place where I can conduct my questioning.’

‘Use the dining-alcove,’ the woman said at once. ‘And if you start by talking to the kitchen-slave, you and your servants in the stable will be more quickly fed. Settle yourself, I’ll go and show her in.’

I sat down at the table, and a few moments later the kitchen-maid arrived. She was small and skinny — not more than ten years old — and smelt of cooking-smoke. She was clearly terrified but desperate to help, though it seemed she genuinely knew nothing of any consequence and I soon let her go. It was the same with the other house-slaves and the stable-lads as well, all of whom the landlady had lined up at the door and who were officiously brought to me in turn.

‘I don’t know what you hope to learn from this,’ Priscilla muttered archly, showing in the final slave. ‘My servants don’t have any connection with the Druids. I would soon have them punished if I thought they did. However, this is the last of them — the boy who was supposed to guard the nurse last night. When you have finished, I’ll have your breakfast brought.’ She pushed him forward and swayed off herself.

The stable boy was sullen and uncooperative, not at all grateful for my having had him freed — indeed he seemed to blame my presence for the whole affair. But his account of yesterday, when I extracted it from him, was much the same as I had heard from everybody else. Paulinus and Secunda were the first ones to arrive, and went straight to their room, because the lady wasn’t well, and they did not come down again until Audelia drove in, in the temple carriage which then drove off again. Then they came down to meet her — and it was very evident that they had met before.

‘And that’s all I can tell you, citizen. The household was excited that the Vestal Virgin came, but we did not have a lot to do with her, because she was always attended by her slave. I had to help to take the boxes up, that’s all — and jolly heavy they turned out to be.’

‘And later the raeda came from Glevum bringing Lavinia and her nurse?’

A nod. ‘More confounded boxes that I had to carry up. Then I went back to the horses and don’t know any more.’

‘But naturally you heard what happened in the house? Servants always gossip.’

He sighed, reluctantly. ‘They had a meal — all except the sick lady who couldn’t face the food — and afterwards they all went straight upstairs. The cousins shared a room and got on very well, from what I understand. There was a light in that window for a long time, anyway, and you could hear them whispering and laughing from the court. Then all of a sudden there was shouting from inside, and next thing there was a message to the stable-block, saying that the wedding slippers had been left behind and that the horseman was to set off at first light to try to get them back and take them to Glevum before the wedding-feast.’

‘And who brought down that message?’ It was vital that I checked.

‘Audelia’s personal slave. Crying like a waterfall, fearing she’d be whipped.’ Then he said, with sudden spirit, ‘Owners are all the same. Blame you for everything. The maid swore by all the gods that she had packed the shoes. Pretty little thing. I wish I’d had the chance to talk to her, but of course I didn’t, because she slept indoors — the very place where I was set to sleep last night. But I can sympathize. My mistress tried to blame me for what happened to the nurse, though I was no more guilty than a fly…’

I cut off his protests. ‘You were telling me about Audelia’s maidservant. When the shoes were missing she seemed genuinely surprised?’

He shrugged. ‘Surprised? She was aghast and terrified. She was still upset next morning when the coach set off. I helped her get up with the driver at the front. She was more than pleased to be there, because her mistress was still furious with her. But I couldn’t stop to chat because I had to go and help them to bring down Audelia’s box — and dreadfully heavy it turned out to be. No wonder if the driver’s story turns out to be true, and it had a headless body in it at the time! We were told that there were extra gifts inside, and of course we didn’t doubt it. Vestals never lie.’

He paused, evidently hoping that I’d confirm the tale, but I hadn’t finished extracting his account. ‘And then all the other guests came down to see the bride-to-be, and crowded round the raeda until the time it left?’

‘Everyone except that girl, Lavinia. Someone said that she was already at her prayers — though I thought I saw her at the window looking down to wave.’ He saw my startled look. ‘Is it important?’

If true, it might be pivotal, but I didn’t tell him that. What if Lavinia had seen something significant in the court? Something which meant she must be hustled off — or permanently silenced — before she talked too much? Yet what could she have seen? The landlady had also been looking from above and she had clearly seen nothing whatever untoward. ‘I don’t know,’ I answered, truthfully, ‘but thank you anyway. This is at least a detail that I hadn’t heard before.’

He looked at me slyly. ‘Worth an as or two?’

But I had no tip to give him and he was scowling again as he stomped out of the room, almost colliding with the little kitchen-maid who was hovering at the doorway to bring in my breakfast tray. She brought it at my signal and began to set the contents on the tabletop: two pears, a pot of strong-smelling cheese-curds, and a hunk of bread, with a small dish of salt and olive oil to dip it in. Quite a little feast. This was going to cost Publius a few sestertii.

‘The mistress wants to know if you want watered wine as well, or if you’d rather just have water from the well?’ She gave a timid smile. ‘And she’s very sorry that it is baker’s bread — we’d made our own loaf freshly yesterday, but you and your servants ate the last of it last night and we’d raked out the fire that heats the clay-oven, so there was no chance to bake another batch in time.’

I waved all these domestic apologies away and indicated that fresh water would suit me very well. I did not add that I would much have preferred a couple of hot oatcakes from a street-vendor to any of the Roman dainties set in front of me. I picked up a piece of fruit. ‘I am not very hungry, anyway, but there’s one thing that I’ve heard which I would like to check with you. Did you see Lavinia at the window-space when the raeda left?’

The slave-girl paused in the act of taking out the tray. ‘I didn’t, citizen. We house-slaves were busy with our duties by that time. Audelia had us carrying cushions to and fro, but I didn’t see her leave — or any of the other guests for that matter. We aren’t allowed to stop and watch visitors depart.’ She flashed that timid smile. ‘Although, I would not be surprised if Lavinia did look out and wave. I know that she wanted to come down and say goodbye.’

‘Then why didn’t she? I thought Lavinia generally got her wish?’

‘That was Audelia’s doing, citizen.’ She smiled at my surprise. ‘I heard them talking when I took the child’s washing-water up. The girl was begging to be allowed to come downstairs and wave, but her cousin told her that it wasn’t fitting for a Vestal candidate. “Much better that you stay here in the dry”, I heard her say. “Fast and pray and purify yourself, ready for the wonderful new life which lies ahea…”,’ She broke off as her mistress came into the room, dressed now for outdoors in a handsome cloak.

Priscilla rounded on the kitchen-slave at once. ‘What are you doing loitering in here? Get back to work at once. And bring the citizen a drink as you were told to do.’ Then, as the servant hastened to obey, she turned to me. ‘I’m sorry, citizen. The girl has no business to interrupt your meal.’

She had caught me in the middle of a mouthful of ripe pear. ‘On the contrary,’ I murmured, when I’d swallowed it. ‘She was answering my questions — and being quite a help.’

Priscilla snorted. ‘Well, I’m glad she’s good for something. But I’ve come to say, if you wish to find the donkey-boy, we should leave fairly soon. Otherwise he’ll have found a different job to do — a message or a parcel to deliver out of town — and he won’t be able to lead you to the farm where he took the letter. And weren’t you hoping to see the slave trader as well?’

I nodded, finishing the remnants of my pear.

‘Then when you’ve finished here, I will accompany you to town. Do you wish to take the horseman too — or the raeda-driver, perhaps — since you have no other servant to attend on you?’

I shook my head. ‘I think that the raeda should take the nursemaid back to her owners,’ I said, dipping a little of the bread-crust in the oil. ‘Ephibbius will have to purify the coach, in any case, before another paying customer will dare to ride in it. Another body will not make much difference at this stage. Shroud it in something for the trip and treat it decently.’

She nodded. ‘If you think that Lavinius will meet the cost of it, I’ll get the undertaker’s women to lay out the corpse. I think I’ve got some funeral herbs around the house — we had a slave-boy recently who died. That will purify the room as well so we can let it out again — supposing we ever get another guest when news of this gets out! And what about the clothes Lavinia left behind? Should I box them up and send them back as well?’

I nodded. ‘Keep back the adult clothes and drawstring purse. I would like to look at them again. Ascus had better ride back to Lavinia’s family and break the news to them — not just about the nurse’s death but the fact we haven’t found the girl. He can also tell Publius where I’m going and why, and say that I’ll report in person in a day or two.’ I risked a smile. ‘I take it I can stay here for another night? It will be too late for me to walk back home today, whatever I discover at the farm.’ Poor Gwellia! I was already planning that, whatever news he took to Publius, Ascus could carry a reassuring message to her on the way.

Priscilla nodded. ‘Then, there’s a lot to organize. I’ll go and make a start. Meanwhile here’s that useless slave-girl with a drink for you. I hope you’ve brought the citizen a proper metal cup and not one of those beakers that we use ourselves?’ And she stalked out of the room.

The slave-girl hadn’t brought a metal cup, of course, but I indicated that she should pour me some water nonetheless. As she raised the jug she looked timidly at me. ‘Permission to ask you something, citizen?’

I nodded. The water was clear and cool, but not as good as that we get from Glevum’s public well.

‘Then…’ She hesitated for a moment, then said in a rush, ‘There is a rumour in the slave-quarters, that you don’t think that the woman who came here yesterday was really the Vestal Virgin Audelia at all. Is that true, citizen?’

‘Who told you that?’ I spluttered, taken by surprise.

She shook her head. ‘Something that the mistress mentioned, that is all. She came into the kitchen, saying that you’d proved Audelia was dead before she reached Corinium, and that was a blessing because it means the household could not be to blame. But — do you really think that, citizen?’

Something in her manner made me put down the cup. ‘You don’t believe that theory?’

She shook a doubtful head. ‘I might be wrong, of course — I’d never seen Audelia before. The woman who came here might have been anyone at all. But there is one thing you should know. Whoever she was, she certainly knew a lot about the Vestal shrine: what they did with all the newcomers, how they shaved their heads and what the rituals were, and everything that her young cousin could expect. She talked of little else all through the meal last night — saying how revered Vestal Virgins are, with the right to pardon prisoners who crossed their paths — and you could see that young Lavinia was thrilled. And she also made the offering at the household shrine, like someone who had done it all her life, when the master suggested that she should.’ She paused and looked at me. ‘If that was not a Vestal Virgin, citizen, how could she know all that?’ She glanced around. ‘But here’s the mistress, don’t say I questioned it.’ She seized the jug and beaker and scuttled off with them.

Priscilla was already speaking as she came into the room. ‘I’ve left my orders with the household now. So, when you are ready, citizen? You will need to dress, I suppose?’

I could take a hint. I left my breakfast, went upstairs and wrestled with my toga as I tried to put it on — not an easy business with no attendant slave — but finally I managed and came downstairs again.

Priscilla was already waiting by the door. ‘Ah, citizen! If you’d like to follow me,’ she said, and led the way out into the street.