she won’t accept any answer except yes.”
“Then it’s yes, I’d love to come. Get yourself something to eat, and a fresh horse. I’ll have a note for you to take back by the time you’ve done that.”
I hurried to my study, hardly able to believe my good fortune. An invitation to Eburacum! Exactly what I needed and wanted.
Albia to dear Aurelia, greetings.
I hope you’re really on the mend at last. Your letter in May sounded more cheerful, and I’ve got just the prescription to get you completely well again. Come and stay with me in Eburacum. I’m here for a few days after visiting Tullia and her gorgeous baby. And I’m here alone, Candidus can’t leave the farm with all the summer work, and I didn’t take the twins with me to Tullia’s, I thought she had enough to do without having them rampaging around her house. I’ve got a few business errands to do for the farm, but it’s very lonely. Do say you’ll come over and keep me company. Then I’ll travel back with you to the Oak Tree, so I can see Lucius on my way home and meet this latest girl of his.
Remember, I’m not taking no for an answer.
The note I wrote to her now was as easy as the previous one had been difficult.
Aurelia to dear Albia, greetings.
What a wonderful surprise. Yes please, I’d love to come. I’ve been thinking about a little holiday, with Eburacum as the first stop, so thank you. I’ll set off the day after tomorrow. I’m quite recovered, and looking forward to a change of scene, and especially to seeing you. And I’ve lots of news, including some from Arpinum.
Lucius has to go away on an assignment, unexpected but necessary. So Vitellia is staying here at the Oak Tree. I hope it’s all right if I bring her with me.
I’m counting the hours.
I was watching the lad ride away with my note when one of the horse-boys came running to me from the direction of the stable-yard. “Could you come to the small paddock, please, Mistress?”
“What is it? Moon-cloud?”
“Not yet, but she won’t be long. No, Hawk’s got a message for you. He’s waiting there.”
I always enjoy chatting to Hawk, partly because he’s a good friend and partly because he’s the best native tracker I’ve ever seen. He knows our woods as nobody else does, down to the last tree and tuft of grass, and if anything unusual had happened last night or early this morning, he would very likely be able to tell me about it.
He was leaning on the fence talking softly to Moon-cloud and stroking her neck. Yes, she was very near her time. Mares usually give birth in the night, but this one looked as if she wouldn’t wait till dark.
He turned and smiled as he heard me approach. He’s a dark, slim man who can move like a cat through the trees. As usual, he had his large hound beside him.
“Good morning, Aurelia. How are you?”
“I’m well, thank you, Hawk. I haven’t seen you for a few days. Have you been on your travels?”
“Yes, I’ve been hunting north of here. I took two of my sons. It’s time they spread their wings a little.”
“A successful trip?”
He nodded. “We caught a wild boar, and his sow and litter. A couple of deer, and the usual small birds, and several good big hares. I wondered if you’d like any meat.”
“Very much, please. Deer or hares would be welcome. And what birds did you catch?” We discussed game and prices briefly, and shook hands on a deal. As usual, I spoke Latin, while he answered in native British. We always conversed like this, even though each of us understood the other’s language perfectly well. After knowing him for almost twenty years I’ve forgotten why we started doing it, but it suits both of us.
And whatever language Hawk chose to speak, he was worth listening to. So when we’d finished our bargaining and he showed no sign of wanting to leave, it meant he had something else to tell me, but something he wanted to discuss in private.
“I need to get back inside,” I said, “I’ve a
“Then it’s yes, I’d love to come. Get yourself something to eat, and a fresh horse. I’ll have a note for you to take back by the time you’ve done that.”
I hurried to my study, hardly able to believe my good fortune. An invitation to Eburacum! Exactly what I needed and wanted.
Albia to dear Aurelia, greetings.
I hope you’re really on the mend at last. Your letter in May sounded more cheerful, and I’ve got just the prescription to get you completely well again. Come and stay with me in Eburacum. I’m here for a few days after visiting Tullia and her gorgeous baby. And I’m here alone, Candidus can’t leave the farm with all the summer work, and I didn’t take the twins with me to Tullia’s, I thought she had enough to do without having them rampaging around her house. I’ve got a few business errands to do for the farm, but it’s very lonely. Do say you’ll come over and keep me company. Then I’ll travel back with you to the Oak Tree, so I can see Lucius on my way home and meet this latest girl of his.
Remember, I’m not taking no for an answer.
The note I wrote to her now was as easy as the previous one had been difficult.
Aurelia to dear Albia, greetings.
What a wonderful surprise. Yes please, I’d love to come. I’ve been thinking about a little holiday, with Eburacum as the first stop, so thank you. I’ll set off the day after tomorrow. I’m quite recovered, and looking forward to a change of scene, and especially to seeing you. And I’ve lots of news, including some from Arpinum.
Lucius has to go away on an assignment, unexpected but necessary. So Vitellia is staying here at the Oak Tree. I hope it’s all right if I bring her with me.
I’m counting the hours.
I was watching the lad ride away with my note when one of the horse-boys came running to me from the direction of the stable-yard. “Could you come to the small paddock, please, Mistress?”
“What is it? Moon-cloud?”
“Not yet, but she won’t be long. No, Hawk’s got a message for you. He’s waiting there.”
I always enjoy chatting to Hawk, partly because he’s a good friend and partly because he’s the best native tracker I’ve ever seen. He knows our woods as nobody else does, down to the last tree and tuft of grass, and if anything unusual had happened last night or early this morning, he would very likely be able to tell me about it.
He was leaning on the fence talking softly to Moon-cloud and stroking her neck. Yes, she was very near her time. Mares usually give birth in the night, but this one looked as if she wouldn’t wait till dark.
He turned and smiled as he heard me approach. He’s a dark, slim man who can move like a cat through the trees. As usual, he had his large hound beside him.
“Good morning, Aurelia. How are you?”
“I’m well, thank you, Hawk. I haven’t seen you for a few days. Have you been on your travels?”
“Yes, I’ve been hunting north of here. I took two of my sons. It’s time they spread their wings a little.”
“A successful trip?”
He nodded. “We caught a wild boar, and his sow and litter. A couple of deer, and the usual small birds, and several good big hares. I wondered if you’d like any meat.”
“Very much, please. Deer or hares would be welcome. And what birds did you catch?” We discussed game and prices briefly, and shook hands on a deal. As usual, I spoke Latin, while he answered in native British. We always conversed like this, even though each of us understood the other’s language perfectly well. After knowing him for almost twenty years I’ve forgotten why we started doing it, but it suits both of us.
And whatever language Hawk chose to speak, he was worth listening to. So when we’d finished our bargaining and he showed no sign of wanting to leave, it meant he had something else to tell me, but something he wanted to discuss in private.
“I need to get back inside,” I said, “I’ve a
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