I stood in the street, reading my message with a faint smile.
'You look shifty!' Camillus Verus' stately daughter, at my back.
'Trick of the light…' I lifted my shoulder to stop her looking over it, then managed to screw up and drop the note as if that was what I had intended all along. I grinned at her. 'Aemilia Fausta's waiting maid has just made me an offer I shall have to refuse.'
'Oh shame!' mouthed Helena gently.
I hooked my thumbs in my belt and slowly swaggered off, letting her come if she chose. She did.
'Thought we were strangers; can't you leave me alone?'
'Don't flatter yourself, Falco. I wanted to see Rufus-'
'Bad luck. He's deploying the fabulous Apollonian profile in court. Two sheep rustlers and a slander case. We reckon the sheep stealers did it, but the slander's a put-up; plaintiff's nephew is a barrister who needs to show off-'
'You're well at home! I would not have thought Aemilia Fausta was your type,' she found it necessary to add.
I walked on, replying peacefully, 'She has a scrawny appeal. I like blondes… And there's always the maid.'
'Oh, you won't see her again!' chortled Helena. 'If Fausta spots her girl making overtures, she'll be sold before you get back from our stroll.' I gave her my hand into a colonnade as a handcart laden with marble creaked past. 'Don't waste your time, Falco. Aemilia Fausta never notices rugged types with wicked grins.' She jumped off a pavement with an impatient twirl. 'Fausta only likes pomaded aristocrats with mattress stuffing between the ears.'
'Thanks; I'll load on more attar-' I hopped after her, brightening up as we bandied words. 'I feel sorry for the lady-'
'Leave her alone then! She's vulnerable; the last thing she needs is to find you with that soft look in your lying eyes, pretending you can't keep your hands off her-'
We were standing on a corner glaring at each other now. I tweaked at a strand of Helena's new hair. 'Been through a sheep dip, or are you starting to rust?'
'It's called Egyptian Russet. Don't you like it?'
'If you're happy.' I loathed it; I hoped she could tell. 'Trying to impress someone?'
'No; it's part of my new life.'
'What was wrong with your old life?'
'You, mostly.'
'I like a girl to be frank-but not that frank! Here's the court,' I growled. 'I'll nip in and tell the judge an Egyptian carrot wants him, then I'm off to flatter his sister with my Lydian arpeggios!'
Helena Justina sighed. She put her hand on my arm to stop me turning away.
'Don't disturb Aemilius Rufus; it was you I came to see.'