Books were not uppermost in Cato’s mind as he made his way back down the line of wagons. He found himself drawn back to the girl sitting on the driver’s board, driven by the simple desire to set his eyes on her once more. That was all. What else could possibly come of it? And yet he felt his heart quicken as he approached the place he had seen her earlier.

The wagon was still there, piled high with goods, but there was no sign of the girl. Cato pretended to browse through the wares of the next trader, making sidelong glances at the nearby tents set behind the wagons. Casually reversing direction, he sifted through some chipped Samian ware with his spare hand.

‘Looking for anything in particular, noble sir?’

Cato looked up quickly. A swarthy merchant in an unseasonally bright cloak stood at his side.

‘Oh no! Nothing. Just looking.’

‘I see.’ The merchant continued to watch him closely, a hint of a smile on his dark lips. ‘Just looking, then?’

‘Yes. You, uh, you had a girl here earlier.’

The merchant nodded slowly.

‘Is she yours? I mean is she family?’

‘No, sir. A slave. Bought her from a tribune this morning.’

‘Oh, really?’

‘Yes. And I just sold her a few moments ago.’

‘Sold her!’ Cato’s heart jumped.

‘To a lady, there, sir.’ The merchant pointed through the throng to where a tall, slender figure was about to enter the fortress gate. At her side, following her new mistress like a dog, was the girl he had seen earlier. Without another word to the merchant Cato set off in pursuit, not sure of any reason for his behaviour other than a powerful desire to see the girl again. And so he hurried through the crowd, eyes locked on the pair of women ahead as he quickly closed the distance. At the gate, the woman turned to look back and Cato instantly recognised her as the legate’s wife. Before he could react, Flavia’s eyes met his and she instantly waved a greeting.

‘Why! It’s young Cato!’

Trying hard not to blush, Cato hurried over, managing to avoid looking at the slave girl as he made his greeting.

‘Good morning, my lady.’

‘Been buying books I see, rather a lot of books.’

‘Not for me, my lady. For my centurion.’

‘Ah yes,’ Flavia smiled. ‘It must be quite pleasant having an officer who shares one’s tastes in poetry so completely. Did you find anything for yourself?’

‘No, my lady.’ Cato let his eyes shift to the slave girl and flushed with embarrassment when he saw her smiling back at him. ‘Can’t afford any books, my lady.’

‘Really? That’s too bad. But look here, Cato. I have to leave some of my books behind since there’s so little room to spare in the wagons. They might not be to your taste, but you’re welcome to have the first pick.’

‘Thank you, my lady. That’s most kind.’

‘Call round to the legate’s house later on and we’ll see. Do you two know each other?’