Primigenius was closing in for the kill, and his words, delivered steadily, were relentless. ‘Then from this moment on you are a debtor, madam. And you can’t cover your debts, can you? You know the law. You will have to sell everything you own. But even that will not be enough, will it? You will have to sell yourself. You will end your days a slave. For that is the law.’

Lepidina shuddered, and Brigonius knew that if not for her own marriage she would have shared her mother’s fate.

But Severa was not defeated yet. ‘This has nothing to do with the Emperor, does it? This is all because I out-manoeuvred you over the building of the Wall all those years ago, Primigenius. Have you waited this long for revenge? Do you have a list of victims you score off one by one as the years go by?’

“‘Children”,’ Lepidina said slowly. ‘You said “children”’.’ She looked up at her mother with grave eyes.

Severa took a breath. ‘All right. I have a son. A marriage before your father, Lepidina. He was a fool, a drunkard, he got himself killed in a brawl. The son he left me isn’t much better. But he is your half-brother, and he has children of his own. My grandchildren. I support them, Lepidina. And if I can’t do that any more—’

Primigenius eyed Lepidina. ‘Are these grandchildren pretty? They may fetch a better price than a leathery old boot like you.’

Lepidina said coldly, ‘You have always manipulated me. You have used me to further your own ends. Now I learn you have lied to me, all my life.’

Severa said, ‘Lepidina, regardless of the past, help me now.’

Lepidina turned away.

Primigenius tutted softly. ‘More enemies, Severa. Even among your own blood?’

Severa turned to Brigonius. ‘You are a decent man. Help me.’

Brigonius recoiled. But he reminded himself that beneath her hard skin there beat a human heart - and she was Lepidina’s mother. He said to the freedman, ‘She may hold assets your list does not cover, Primigenius. She has invested in my own partnership, for instance.’

Sabinus leaned forward. ‘Perhaps you’re unfamiliar with the finer points of Roman law, Brigonius.’ He seemed pleased to be able to put this old lover of Lepidina’s in his place. ‘If one is in debt one cannot sell on shares. So her holding in your partnership, and any others, is worthless to her. Do you understand, Brigonius? Do you have anything else to say?’

Even now Severa was unable to look Brigonius in the eye.

And as Brigonius hesitated Primigenius leered at him. ‘Don’t let her sell you to me again, Brittunculus. Once was enough.’

Brigonius stared at Primigenius and promised himself that he would, some day, somehow, take his own revenge on the freedman. He said, ‘You always did make unnecessary enemies, Claudia Severa. It is a character flaw.’