‘Told? Who by?’

‘That, my dear Vitellius, is what you were sent here to find out.’

Under The Eagle

Chapter Thirty-one

‘Cato! How on earth did you get in here?’

‘Brought a report from my centurion to headquarters, my lady. Somehow I lost my way trying to get out. And here I am.’

Flavia laughed as she rose from the floor. She had been busy packing a campaign chest for her husband and the wooden flooring was covered in neat piles of tightly folded clothes. ‘You look awful. Rough night?’

‘Yes, my lady. I went into Gesoriacum.’

‘When will you youngsters learn? Still, I don’t suppose you’ve come here to explain yourself to me. So you might want to go and inspect progress on the nursery I’m having built for Titus.’

‘My lady?’

‘I’ve put Lavinia in charge of some household slaves to spruce up the nursery. She wanted a word with you. And I dare say you wouldn’t mind seeing her again.’ Flavia winked. ‘Now run along and let me get back to work. Go out that flap, it’s the third entrance on the left. Oh, and don’t let anyone catch you in here.’

As Cato walked slowly the way Flavia had indicated, his mind raced. Desperate as he was to see Lavinia, there were still questions in his mind about that night in the legate’s tent. He needed to know if she had said anything to anyone about him. Clearly Flavia knew he had been there, but who else? He paused at the entrance to the nursery.

Cato steeled himself and stepped inside. The interior was cluttered with children’s toys and clothing. Squatting amongst the mess were several of Flavia’s household slaves, busily striving to make a comfortable place for a child to play. Sitting to one side, happily painting a farm animal on to a small screen, was Lavinia. She had not seen Cato enter and jumped when he softly called her name from a few feet away.

‘Now look what you’ve made me do.’ She laughed, pointing her brush at the screen. ‘There’s a tail on my cow’s head.’

‘Cow?’ Cato could have sworn it was a horse.

Lavinia turned to face him. For a moment her expression was serious and his heart sank. Then she reached out for his hands and smiled.

‘I was worried about you, after I heard about that sentry.’

‘Why didn’t you come back?’

‘I couldn’t. When I got back to my quarters, my lady Flavia said she needed me, said Titus was ill. I couldn’t see anything wrong with him but she told me to stay with him while she went to find some medicine. By the time she got back everyone was shouting. I’m glad you got out before that nasty business with the guard happened. I can’t tell you how worried I’ve been. I felt really bad about leaving you alone in the tent. I’m sorry I did, truly I am.’

Cato squeezed her hands. ‘It’s all right. I’m just glad you were safe. When that man came into the tent I was afraid you’d walk right into him when you came back. I think he’d have killed you.’