The Governor's Man by Jacquie Rogers (best beach reads TXT) 📕

she comes of age if she doesn’t concentrate on her lessons. That seemed to make some impression, and Demetrios tells me that when she applies herself, she has real ability. Speaking of Aurelia, I had a visit from Agrippa Sorio last week. A formal one.’

‘Oh?’ Quintus knew what was coming. He had seen the besotted look on Drusus’s face several times.

‘He came on behalf of Drusus, to ask for Aurelia’s hand.’ Julia looked strangely flustered. ‘I told him she was far too young and flighty. He hadn’t known that it was my decision to make, under the terms of my brother’s will. I think he was surprised that a single woman was Aurelia’s guardian. He mentioned —well it doesn’t matter what foolishness Agrippa said.’

Her eyes flashed, and his heart sank. But he had steeled himself over the days of travel from Londinium to have this conversation, and he must not let the chance go.

‘Julia, could we sit down? I have a few matters to discuss with you. Including Aurelia.’

She drew a sharp breath, but allowed him to steer her to a nearby bench. He was struck silent, unsure how to begin. She spoke first.

‘You obviously have difficult things to say, Frumentarius, and I can guess what they are. Now that your business in Londinium is done, I assume you have come to collect Tiro. He has healed well, by the way, ribs mended, fever all gone. Back to his usual noisy self.’ She paused, reaching for Quintus’s left wrist. She gently peeled back his sleeve, a gesture at odds with her brusque tone. He let her inspect his arm.

‘It’s fine,’ she said, looking relieved. ‘I think the remaining scars will heal quickly. You’ve been looking after it.’ Then her face seemed to drop. ‘This must mean you’re ready to travel again.’

Right, you have the opening. Get on with it, he thought, feeling his stomach lurch.

‘Well, Governor Rufinus is confirmed in post. And he’s given me permission to leave Britannia, but —‘

She leapt up, standing over him with a thunderous look on her face. He stood too, reaching for her gloved hand. ‘Julia, —‘

Before he could move, she slapped his face hard. He reeled and nearly fell.

‘It’s not what you think!’

‘What is it that I think, Quintus? You men, always telling us women what to think. Even your man Tiro. Although actually he’s a decent man, worth any number of you.’

Now he was angry. The lurch in his stomach turned into a swoop and he contemplated simply walking away. Perhaps that was best. She would never let him forget Eboracum. Then he thought of Flavius, and knew he had to try again. He sat back down.

‘Julia, I’m not trying to tell you what to think, I don’t have that right. No-one does. I just want to explain my position, and then I’d like to suggest something to you.’

She was still glaring at him. He went on, ‘Aradius Rufinus has been in touch with Rome.’ She stiffened, and tried to turn her face away. He twisted the bronze owl ring off his finger and held it out to her. She grabbed the ring, jerking back to her feet. He was startled to see tears forming in her eyes.

‘This is the end, isn’t it, Quintus? You’ve come to tell me you have your orders from Rome. You’re going home, leaving your daughter, leaving me. Are you even taking Tiro?‘

Before he could stop her she had bolted away across the garden, her veil falling onto the lawn. It was a disaster. He could not bear it, he must go now —

‘Can I offer assistance, sir?’ A man he knew, a stooped older man with a long drooping nose, stood in front of him. His mind was blank. ‘Demetrios, sir.’

‘Yes, sorry, of course. I should have known you, Demetrios.’

‘May I sit?’

The old man lowered himself slowly onto the bench. ‘Sir, I have known Lady Julia since before she was Aurelia’s age. To most people she seems a calm figure of authority. She will forgive me for telling you that this impression can be skin-deep. Underneath, Lady Julia is sometimes still a young girl. And if I may say so to you, sir, she is a young girl still longing for a young man she lost in Eboracum.’

Quintus stared at Demetrios in shock. Was there anyone in this house who didn’t know his deepest secrets? He opened his mouth to make an angry retort, and closed it again. Anger would not help Aurelia, or Julia. He waited. The old man smiled, the corners of his eyes almost disappearing into deep wrinkles.

‘Well done, sir,’ he murmured. ‘Now then, if you want my advice, you will try again. Once you get past the hurt of a grief-stricken girl, you will find the real Julia. It will be worth the effort, I promise you.’ He stood slowly and walked away, humming to himself.

Quintus stared after him. Then he saw Aurelia approaching, dragging Julia by the hand. He groaned. He hadn’t had time to marshal his thoughts, to find a different way to bridge the gulf between them. Then he realised that Aurelia was that bridge, the person who joined them together. He would have to make another effort, for Aurelia’s sake.

His daughter smiled her wicked smile, little pointed chin raised, grey eyes gleaming. What did this mean? Perhaps she had guessed the truth. It wouldn’t matter if he couldn’t regain Julia’s trust.

‘Aurelia, thank you. Now please go away. I need to speak to Julia in private.’ His daughter gave him another grin and twirled herself away.

Julia sat stiffly, not letting her back touch the bench.

‘Julia, I am returning to Rome, but commanded by Aradius Rufinus.’ She turned her eyes to his, looking puzzled. ‘He wrote to the Castra Peregrina, arranging my release. He has offered me a permanent assignment, working