‘I do not know. She vanished many years ago.’ The words came out, but for once to his surprise the sorrow did not engulf him, neither was there much of the shame at his failure to devote his life to searching for her.

‘Then I am sorry, I did not mean to open old wounds or to pry.’ He could see no trace of regret in her voice or expression, neither did he believe that the questions were idle ones. ‘We all have our sorrows and disappointments, and may not always find it easy to live the life given to us. Things are not always as we imagined they would be, and yet the world goes on and on, whatever we feel.’ She glanced away, looking through the other window of the carriage at Flora’s place. ‘Close the curtain,’ she said to her maid.

Time was running out and they would soon reach the gate where it would be harder to hover around the carriage without inviting comment. ‘On the day of the attack,’ he began, deciding that he must be blunt, ‘you were going to Coria, I understand?’

‘Yes, sir, very good, sir, straightaway, sir.’ She mimicked the tone of an obedient soldier. mocking him. ‘Yes, I was. I was to attend the birthday party of Claudia Severa, wife of Aelius Brocchus, whose ala is stationed there. It ought to have been a pleasant excursion, and yet I found myself under assault from barbarians – then yelled at and slapped on the behind by a friendly barbarian!’

‘Once again, my sincere apologies.’

‘And my insincere acceptance.’

‘How long ago did you receive the invitation?’

‘Do you want the hour and the day – and a signed chit from my commanding officer? Well, I don’t know, but several weeks at least. It is not as easy as calling on a friend back home. I dare say the letter inviting me is in the house somewhere. I can look if it would interest you and clear my good name?’

Ferox tried to stick to the point. ‘Your departure was delayed?’

She made a face like a guilty child. ‘Yes. One of the mules got kicked and the poor thing broke its leg. After that I was all ready and then some silly girl’ – she nodded towards her maid and was grinning broadly – ‘spilled half a bottle of scent on me. I could not go reeking like a whore, so had to change. I suppose you know well what a whore smells like?’

‘I have little knowledge of such things.’