They continued to meet almost daily from that point on, and sometimes Macro invited Cato to join them, mainly from a sense of pity for the lad, who had only recently seen his first love murdered at the hands of a treacherous Roman aristocrat. Quiet and shy at first, Cato had been slowly drawn out by Boudica’s infectious sociability and now the two could hold a conversation for hours. Macro felt himself being slowly frozen out. Despite Boudica’s claim that she only had relationships with grown-ups, Macro was not reassured. Hence the presence of Nessa — at Macro’s suggestion. A girl Cato could get stuck into while he continued wooing Boudica.

‘Does your centurion often frequent places like this?’ asked Boudica.

‘Not always as nice as this.’ Cato smiled. ‘You should feel honoured.’

Nessa missed the ironic tone and sniffed in disgust at the suggestion that any right-thinking person should deem it a privilege to be led to such a dive. The other two rolled their eyes.

‘How did you manage to get permission to be out?’ Cato asked Boudica. ‘I thought your uncle was going to burst a blood vessel that night we had to carry you back home.’

‘He nearly did. Poor chap’s not been quite the same since and only agreed to letting us out to stay the night with some distant cousins provided we were escorted.’

Cato frowned. ‘So where’s the escort?’

‘Don’t know. We got separated in the crowd near the town gate.’

‘On purpose?’

‘Of course. What do you take me for?’

‘I wouldn’t presume.’

‘Very wise.’

‘Prasutagus is probably peeing himself with worry!’ Nessa giggled. ‘You can bet he’ll be searching every drinking hall he can think of.’

‘Which makes us quite safe, since my dear kinsman — another cousin incidentally — would never think of this place. I doubt he’s ever even ventured into the alleys behind the quay. We’ll be all right.’

‘If he does find us,’ Nessa’s eyes widened, ‘he’ll go mental! You remember what he did to that Atrebate lad who tried to chat us up. I thought Prasutagus was going to kill him!’

‘Probably would have if I hadn’t hauled him off.’

Cato shifted nervously. ‘Big lad, this kinsman of yours?’

‘Huge!’ Nessa laughed. ‘Sa! Huge is the word all right.’

‘With a brain in inverse proportion to his physique,’ Boudica added. ‘So don’t even think of trying to reason with him if he comes in here. Just run.’

‘I see.’

Macro returned from the bar, arms raised to keep cups and jug above the throng. He set them down on the rough surface of the bench and politely filled each of the pottery mugs to the brim with red wine.

‘Wine!’ Boudica exclaimed. ‘You do know how to spoil a lady, Centurion.’

‘Beer’s off,’ explained Macro. ‘This is all they have left, and it’s not cheap either. So drink up and enjoy’