Death at Pompeia's Wedding by Rosemary Rowe

bullied and tormented by a mother-in-law who made her days a living misery. I prayed to all the gods that they would deliver me – and so they have done. In this dreadful way! So you see, citizen, it is exactly as I said. I deserve whatever punishment the courts reserve for me. I was responsible for my father’s death.’
    There was shocked silence and then Maesta said, ‘Well, there you are then. Best if she drinks that potion I made, and it will give her oblivion at least. Have them bring a slave in, if she doubts that it is safe, and have him take the draught. She will see it only makes you sleep. I have another dose of the same mixture in this phial.’ She produced a woven basket from underneath the stool – it had been hidden by her skirts when she’d been sitting there – and took out another little bottle. ‘I was going to leave it here, in case it was required. They can give her that one, if she would prefer.’
    Pompeia turned her tear-stained face to me – she had obviously adopted me as her protector in all this. ‘Don’t let them, citizen. How can I be sure that the mixture is the same – or that the poor servant won’t be murdered too?’
    ‘I don’t think so, Pompeia. I am here to witness what is happening, and they could not give you poison without my knowing it. Besides, there is a different proposition I could make. We’ll put a little of this poppy juice into another cup, and Maesta herself can have a sip of it.’
    Maesta looked startled. ‘And if I fall asleep?’
    I shrugged. ‘What does it signify? You were staying here to see that the potion took effect, and you were to be locked into this room with her until it did. If Pompeia goes on refusing to touch it in this way, it might be quicker if you simply had a sip yourself.’ I didn’t add that I was interested to see her reactions for myself. Maesta’s skill with herbs might be important yet. Someone had poisoned Honorius, after all – although it seemed that Pompeia had not – and who better than the vintner’s wife to have access to the wine? Though, admittedly, it was hard to see what her motive might have been. I would have to talk to Maesta – and her husband – later on.
    For the moment, though, Pompeia was my chief concern. I turned towards the girl. ‘If Maesta agrees to taste it, then I think that you should drink the rest. It would be good for you to sleep. You do not want them to call a medicus and have him declare you mad, or worse still call the guard and have you dragged away. I am not surprised you hold yourself responsible for this – by your own admission, you called on the gods to help you to thwart your father’s plans. But you did not curse him, or ask them to strike him dead. I don’t think any court could find you guilty – particularly when someone else set out to murder him. And there is no law against praying to the gods.’
    She gave a little groan. ‘You really think so, citizen? I made my vows in private – there is no proof of what I said.’
    ‘It may be that the gods have a sense of irony, but I think this murder was by human hand. I don’t believe your prayer was really answered, anyway. You wanted to be delivered from this marriage, I’m aware, but it was really the married state you wanted to escape – and your grandmother’s still hoping to find a groom for you.’ I didn’t add that Gracchus was employing me, and was prepared to take her as a wife himself.
    I had rather expected that she would be relieved by my reassurance that she was innocent, but instead she looked appalled. ‘But my vow to Venus! I promised on my life . . .’
    I grinned. ‘Ah, that is where you are very fortunate. Or you made a very clever bargain with the gods. If you are given in marriage your prayers have not been heard – in which case you are not bound to keep the vow. If you remain single, it will keep itself.’
    For the first time I saw the flicker of a smile, and was amazed how it transformed