Albia hailed from Britain – one of the casualties of the Great Rebellion We believed that her parents were Romans, massacred by the rampaging tribes. The war orphan had been living on the streets when Helena found her Giving a feral scavenger a home with us was madness – yet it was one small reparation for the British tragedy Conscience. Even informers have it. I had seen Londinium, after the tribes burned everything, and I would never forget.

"So what am I doing with you?" Albia demanded dramatically. She was dressed like a Roman girl, yet as we sat on our roof terrace, her crossed arms and hunched shoulders were those of a barbarian waif who had been cruelly made captive – in fact, the classic pose of any teenager thwarted by adults "You never told me I was merely to look after your children, saving you the price of a slave!"

"Because that was never true " I was not having my daughters brought up by slaves, for one thing

It would be reassuring for Julia and Favonia to have Albia rush to comfort them as they screamed in their cribs. But Helena knew she was being tested. Albia was adept at throwing the sympathy dice; she always knew she could make us scared that our goodwill gesture would go bad. "You were offered a place as part of our familia, Albia Anyway, we believe you were freeborn, a Roman citizen "

"So you are teaching me about Roman life?" This was leading to a classic adolescent demand for everything money could buy

"We never promised you Greek life." Chortling, I was no help, still, the game was lost "Helena, she"s right; no Roman girl would miss the chance of being a thorough nuisance on a foreign trip."

"Does this have your approval, Marcus Didius?" Helena glowered.

"Don't play the submissive wife with me! Sweetheart, it seems our work is done with Albia. She is the complete Roman woman -wheedling, devious, and brutal when she wants something."

"Such humour!" mocked Albia, flouncing off in triumph – another trick she had learned since she lived with us.