She had faith in me. I had never felt certain just how she regarded Pa. We were the two youngest in our family, long-time allies against the others; she was my favourite and held me in great affection. She had worked with my father because he had paid her, at a time when she had been desperate financially. Newly widowed then — it was about three years ago — she appreciated being in a family business during that hard period. She needed the security. Pa, to do him justice, offered it. He railed against having a woman interfering yet he let her do much as she wanted as his office manager. He recognised how good she was at organisation. He also liked having one of his own privy to his secrets, rather than a hired hand or a slave. That was why he let Junia run Flora’s Caupona too, even though her attitude upset half the customers. And that, I suppose, was why he landed me with his will.

I pulled it out. I held the tied and sealed tablets nervously between both hands, making no attempt to pull the strings undone. ‘So tell me about this, Maia.’ Maia just sniffed. ‘He rewrote it last week? Why was that?’

‘One of his whims. He sent for the lawyer straight after that drama-dealer, Thalia, came to see him at the Saepta.’

‘Thalia?’ That was unexpected.

‘You know the creature, I believe? She wears the shortest skirts in the Empire.’

‘And frolics suggestively with wild beasts.’

‘Who is this? Should I know her?’ Sitting on the end of Maia’s couch, his long legs crossed and his hands behind his head, Petronius showed himself keen for gossip. Maia kicked him, and he massaged the bare soles of her tired feet for her; neither really seemed aware they were doing it.

I shrugged. ‘Have Helena and I not mentioned her? She’s a circus and theatre manager. Runs actors and musicians — does rather well. Her speciality is exotic animal acts. I do mean exotic! Her indecent dance with a python would make your eyes water.’