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and his wife, and then at the steward and the grovelling page, who was still groping underneath the table for the fan.
    Helena Domna stood as if she’d turned to stone, silent as the statue of Juno in the niche nearby.
    The young woman’s face burned fiery and there was a tremble of fury in her voice. ‘My mother-in-law, as usual, will not acknowledge me.’ So she was Honorius’s wife, I thought – or rather, poor thing, she was his widow now. She turned to me. ‘You, citizen, can enlighten me perhaps? I think I saw you in the atrium just now, when this red-haired servant came to summon you? What is happening? Didn’t I hear mention of an accident? Have they contrived to burn the wedding food, or is it simply a servant who has hurt himself?’
    I glanced at Helena Domna, but she was staring at the wall. I forced myself to voice the awful news. ‘An accident. A fatal accident. But it was not a slave. It was your husband, Honorius, I regret to say.’
    ‘My husband?’
    I nodded.
    She pressed her hands against her chest as though to still her heart. ‘But how . . .? When . . .?’ She shook her head, as if in disbelief and then said angrily, ‘You knew this, Helena Domna, didn’t you? Why did you not come and announce it in the atrium? Or at least send word to me? I would have gone to him at once.’
    ‘Your pardon, lady,’ I murmured. ‘This must be a shock. But we have only just learned of this event ourselves. When my slave here was sent to summon me, Honorius had been taken ill, but he was still alive. It seems that things have taken a fatal turning since.’
    ‘So he was ill and conscious? And I wasn’t told? Did he not call my name?’ Her voice was trembling. There was no mistaking, she was shocked and close to tears. Whatever kind of person Honorius had been, I thought, this woman at least was genuinely upset that he was dead. She whirled around to the steward. ‘Where is he now? Take me to him. I must see for myself.’
    ‘Livia!’ Helena Domna had found her high, cracked voice again. ‘Control yourself. Of course you will be able to see him in due time. Since he leaves no son or near male relatives, it will fall to you and me to perform the obsequies – though that is for later, when the body is laid out. But first we must consider what is best to do at once. The house is full of visitors and Pompeia’s bridegroom is almost at the gates. It is most unfortunate. We will have to postpone the wedding, naturally – a girl can hardly marry with her father lying dead – but we must announce it with a little dignity and try not to create an unseemly spectacle.’
    ‘Helena Domna—’ Livia began.
    Her mother-in-law cut her off with an imperious hand. ‘Pray, Livia, do not interrupt. I am attempting to formulate a household plan. Of course, I will make the announcement to the guests myself. And since we’ve offered sweetmeats, we should give our guests a drink. Something safe – the wine that we were drinking yesterday perhaps. It might be watered down enough to go around, with water from the well. Meantime – as I said before – Vinerius can oblige us by sampling all the new amphorae from his shop. The page can take him and show him where they are. And his wife with him – see she tastes them too. If they are resistant to testing any of the wine, we shall know where to look and be certain whom to blame.’
    The page looked troubled, but prepared to lead the way. Maesta seemed as if she might protest, but Helena Domna brooked no argument. ‘Now! At once! Before I call the watch and have you both arraigned before the courts on suspicion of attempting to murder my poor son.’ It was clear that she meant it, and – rather to my surprise – the wine merchants submitted to being led away.
    ‘Helena Domna . . .’ Livia tried again.
    ‘And you, Livia, can call the household guard and have them lock up this so-called citizen.’ She seized the fan, which the page had put down on the