‘Marcus!’ Family gatherings were Helena Justina’s strong point; she could direct bad-tempered relatives like a theatre producer getting an uncoordinated chorus into line. ‘And Albia, my dear—here’s a surprise.’ Over our children’s heads, her dark eyes sent me complicated messages. Without appearing to hurry, she began unhappily: ‘Aulus has come back to Italy to settle down. He thinks he has learned enough; he wants to use his knowledge.’ That, and his talent for upsetting everyone, I reckoned.

‘So who’s your new friend?’ I asked him bluntly.

He cleared his throat. ‘This is Hosidia.’ He looked hopelessly at Albia.

‘Hello, Hosidia.’ I don’t discriminate. I use the same brisk tone for tipsy barmaids showing their bosoms, hard-hearted females who have knifed their mothers, and Athenian dames who are looking down their nose as if they think I am the slave who cleans the silver. This Hosidia appeared to be costing up our metalware—the comport with the honey-glazed nutty titbits and the small but exquisite drinks tray. (Thanks to my father’s perfect taste, our best service was small, but second to none.) If she had been under investigation, I would have put her on the suspects list. I really did not like the way she was assessing my pierce-patterned wine strainer.

‘Marcus Didius Falco,’ Aulus introduced me formally. He sounded unsure how Hosidia would react. I thought he could not know her well; nowhere near well enough, if I had judged this situation right.

Helena wanted Aulus to come clean, but as he held back she said politely, ‘Hosidia is the daughter of my brother’s tutor, Marcus. You remember the famous professor, Minas of Karystos, don’t you?’

Jupiter help us! I raised an eyebrow, which Hosidia could take as admiration of her papa’s intellect if she chose. In front of his daughter, I refrained from saying, ‘That disgusting boozer, never in the classroom, trying to kill his students with his terrible all-night parties?’

Minas of Karystos was a decent court prosecutor when he could stand up straight, though that was rare. I knew Decimus Camillus, my father-in-law, was appalled by the shameless fees Minas charged. Perhaps this explained the son’s recall. Camillus senior had decided to staunch the haemorrhage of cash. He can’t have banked on the tutor’s daughter.

Helena was looking overwrought. ‘Marcus, would you believe my little brother has gone and got married?’

‘No!’ Call me a cynic, but I believed it all too sourly.

Aulus would have been an easy mark. He thought himself astute, but that just put him in more danger.

I saw it all. Albia, however, was taken aback. After one wild glance, she wrenched her hand free from mine and tore from the room.

Nobody commented on Albia running out. I thought Aulus jumped, but he stayed put.

Helena continued bleakly, ‘The wedding happened in a rush, because of Aulus coming home. Minas is delighted—’