Dark Omens (33 page)

Marcus grunted, but it was not an angry sound. ‘Oh, very well. I think I know the place, and it might be suitable. What is he asking?’

I named a price – a little more than I’d suggested to Cantalarius.

My patron shook his head. ‘It’s far too much! I don’t know why I’m thinking of extra land at all. There is no advantage if I am leaving anyway.’

‘On the contrary, husband!’ Julia had been listening to all this. ‘The bigger the estate, the more you’ll get for it. And if this is the farmstead that I think it is – it will make a perfect package with the land you’ve got. Besides, I’m sure Libertus would not give you poor advice.’

‘I think I could persuade him to reduce the price a bit,’ I said, nominating the proper sum this time.

Marcus said, ‘Hmmm!’ and stroked a thoughtful chin. My little subterfuge was having an effect.

‘And, husband, there’s another thing you haven’t thought about,’ his wife put in. ‘If you have more children, you need more land to leave.’

He looked at her, his handsome face dissolving in a smile. If this deal succeeded, I’d have Julia to thank. ‘Oh, very well, Libertus. Draw up a bond and find some witnesses. I’ll put my seal to it. How soon can we have the ownership conveyed?’

‘As soon as possible,’ I said. ‘He has vacated it. I’m to convey the money to her parents’ home, which they have retired to for the present. I think they hope to find a smaller place elsewhere. Across the northern border with the Picts, perhaps – they have acquaintances there. She has some scheme for keeping ewes and making cheese for sale.’

‘Talking of cheese,’ his wife said, plucking at her husband’s sleeve. ‘Your slave’s been waiting in the doorway for several moments now. Don’t you want him to fetch some refreshments for us all?’

Marcus gave his orders – ‘Figs and cheese and wine!’ – and the servant went trotting off again.

Julia turned to me. ‘Well, I’m glad to have solved the problem of the farm. And you say that you have made a little profit too? I hope so – you deserve it. You must have worked for hours to provide my husband with that information on the list. But you earn a little something from this, I believe?’

I nodded. ‘A little something called Arlina,’ I told her with a smile. ‘A stubborn little creature with four legs and a tail. I just hope my wife is pleased. Gwellia has been telling me all year that I should get a mule.’