Pompeii: the Peacock Murders

© 2020 Lorraine Blundell. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/17/2020

ISBN: 978-1-7283-5492-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-5491-0 (e)

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CONTENTS

Characters

Acknowledgements

Prologue

PART I

Atia

1

2

3

4

Antonia

5

6

7

8

9

PART II

Tatiana

10

11

12

13

14

PART III

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

PART IV

Marcella

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

PART V

Dulcia

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

Epilogue

Rome

The Author

Glossary

Historical Notes

Pedanius Secundus

A Note From The Author

Book Club Notes

For Jenni and Steve

FRONT COVER DESIGN

London Montgomery

Peacocks symbolize

New beginnings

and

everlasting life and rebirth

Saying

CHARACTERS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Professor Miles Prince

Dr. Harold Cashmore

–—

Thank you to the archaeologists and restorers

whose passion, hard work and skill has given us a

bittersweet look back at the ancient city of Pompeii

A generation which ignores history

has no past and no future

Robert Heinlein

PROLOGUE

POMPEII

79 A.D.

PART 1

79 A.D.

If you would know a place, then first, know its people.

They are its spirit, its soul. Pompeii is one such place.

The Author

ATIA

1

POMPEII

79 A.D.

Via dei Teatri

A tia heard footsteps clanking on the street’s hard volcanic lava paved stones and quickened her pace. The bulk of the theatres that rose beside her in the gathering blackness seemed encircling as she turned her head to see who was there.

‘Can I be of help? You seem to be lost.’

She saw a young man of neat appearance who smiled at her as he stopped walking, making no attempt to close the gap between them.

‘I’m looking for the Villa Holconius,’ she replied hesitantly, but feeling a little less threatened.

‘If I may, I’ll show you the way. It’s actually not far from here.’

‘Thank you. I must return home.’

He approached slowly then stopped beside her and pointed back the way she’d come.

Atia turned to look.

Before she was aware of the danger, a strong arm went around her neck as his other hand forced her head up and clawed her mouth open. She spluttered as she felt a bitter liquid being poured down her throat.

Then, there was nothing.

Villa of Holconius Rufus

Via dell’Abbondanza

One day before

The carriage rumbled noisily through the city gate, finally reaching its destination on the south side of Via dell’Abbondanza, not far from the theatre, where it pulled up with a jerk. The occupants inside, Senator Sextus Marcus Rufus, his wife Priscilla and their daughter Atia scrambled to their feet, eager to escape from the cramped carriage interior. Their baggage was unloaded as servants sent ahead of them to prepare and freshen the villa hurried to provide assistance.

‘I’ve never been so uncomfortable before in my life!’ Marcus grumbled. ‘You’d think by now someone would have found a way to make travel more satisfactory than this.’ A tall man, he stretched to relieve his aching muscles.

‘I told you not to wear your toga,’ Priscilla reminded him sharply. ‘You’ve been whinging about it for the past two hours. It’s no wonder you’re not comfortable. It’s your own fault. You could have dressed in a simple tunic.’

‘Never forget, my dear,’ Marcus exclaimed as he walked with as much dignity as he could manage towards the front villa entry, ‘as a Roman senator there are certain standards that must be upheld, even when one is on holiday.’

‘How could we possibly forget?’ Atia muttered mutinously as she followed her parents inside. She said nothing more as even she would have struggled to find fault with the elegant villa interior.

It had been built by an ancestor, one of Rome’s famous benefactors, Holconius Rufus. A tribune of the Emperor, Augustus, his credentials were impeccable. He was also well known in Pompeii at the time for donating money to build facilities in the city.

The family had struggled in recent years to maintain their elevated position. Now, at least, his descendant Marcus, as a senator, was held in high esteem and, fortunately, the holiday villa in Pompeii had been scrupulously maintained through the years.

The villa was wonderfully located close to the forum with its temples, bathhouse and municipal buildings. A short walk away, the mouth-watering aroma of freshly baked bread wafted over those nearby from a bakery. The street on which the villa stood, Via dell’Abbondanza, was the main thoroughfare in the city. Straight and long, it led to the distant amphitheatre.

The Rufus villa was decorated throughout with colourful wall frescoes. Rooms opened on all sides from the large atrium and a charming, square fountain could be glimpsed through the colonnade in the garden, where the statue of a boy held water gushing from an amphora.

‘I’m going to my room to rest,’ Atia called over her shoulder as she entered a cubiculum painted in the palest cream. She collapsed onto the bed with a sigh of pleasure. In one corner of the room stood a marble table, the top of which was made of rich colours where fresh flowers had been placed. She was aware of their fragrance as she was gently lulled into a peaceful sleep.

‘I believe we all need to relax,’ Priscilla sighed to herself as she made her way into the main cubiculum. ‘Tiredness is making us all irritable. Marcus, I’ll have a servant bring cool drinks to us.’

‘Help me with this toga, will you?’ he called in frustration. ‘I’m sure I’ll feel better once I can get rid of it!’

It wasn’t long before quietness descended upon the villa as the hubbub of the outside world passed them by, unheard.

Dinner that night found everyone in a much better mood, to the great relief of the servants. An attractively laid table awaited them set with the best family silverware and silver wine cups.

‘I wonder what mischief Aquilius is getting up to,’ Atia mused, referring to her mischievous younger brother left behind to stay with a friend in Rome.

‘I don’t know and I don’t want to know,’ Priscilla replied firmly.

‘Atia, you may not have to put up with him much longer,’ Marcus commiserated with her. ‘If you marry soon, you’ll have your own house and responsibilities.’

Atia’s expression turned sour.

‘I’m quite happy as I am,’ she responded tartly. ‘Can we please talk about something else?’ She was of an age to be married but didn’t relish the idea of being answerable to a husband. Her parents glanced at each other and let the subject drop.

‘I think I’ll go and have my hair cut tomorrow. And maybe I’ll also buy some new perfume,’ Atia declared.

‘That’s a good idea. The woman in Via di Castricio is very skilful I hear,’ Priscilla smiled, ‘and there’s also an excellent perfume shop in the same street,’ she added. ‘I think you’ll find them both to your liking. Perhaps, you should try the rose perfume. It’s famous here. Take one of the servants with you.’

‘This is Pompeii, mother, not Rome. I’ll have no need of a servant,’ she objected.

Atia wasn’t a beautiful girl but she appeared far less plain with the aid of hair styling, cosmetics and the expensive clothes her father was wealthy enough to buy for her. Her main attributes were a flawless skin and a smile, when she chose to use it, that showed off cute dimples and good teeth. She was a confident girl who expressed herself well.

She was of an average height with glossy, long, brown hair. Unfortunately, she also had small, deep-set eyes and a nose that was a little too large.

Eagerly, she set off the next morning for the short walk to Via di Castricio where she found the delightful small shop of the owner, Livia. She was welcomed effusively and invited to peruse the cosmetic items on the wall shelves while she waited to have her hair cut. Atia was surprised to see that Livia had the very best products for sale that money could buy, even in Rome. She decided to take a couple of them with her when she left.

‘I don’t believe we’ve met before,’ Livia greeted her as she began to work on Atia’s hair.

‘I haven’t been to Pompeii for years,’ Atia informed her, instantly comfortable with the woman’s casual, bright manner.

‘Then, that explains it. You have lovely, thick hair and it has a natural wave,’ Livia rambled on. ‘You should always have it cut well to show it off to best advantage.’

‘I’ll take these cosmetics with me,’ Atia told her before she left as she handed over coins in payment.

‘I hope you’ll come again!’ Livia encouraged her. ‘And I don’t know if you noticed it, but there’s a wonderful perfume shop just across the road from here, a bit further along. I’m sure you’d enjoy a visit, it smells wonderful! The owner is my best friend, Drusilla.’

Atia left in a cheerful mood and decided to have a look at the fragrances the perfume shop had to offer. Livia hadn’t been wrong. The perfume that floated towards Atia on the gentle breeze caused her to quicken her steps to reach the door of the enchanting perfume shop.

‘Would you like to try some of them before you decide?’ Drusilla asked as she welcomed Atia at the door with a beaming smile.

It had once been a tiny house but had been renovated. Its feminine interior with pretty pink walls, fresh flowers on the entry table and garden fresco on the back wall of the reception room invited her inside.

‘Yes. I’d like to smell some of them,’ Atia agreed in reply to Drusilla’s question.

‘Of course!’ She placed a number of elegant Egyptian glass perfume bottles on top of the counter whilst explaining their contents one by one so that her customer could try them.

Atia took the top off the first bottle and sniffed its contents. ‘I believe I know this one. I think my mother would like it. It’s the scent of violets, isn’t it?’

Drusilla nodded.

‘I don’t like this, though!’ Atia exclaimed, crinkling her nose in distaste as the second bottle was opened. ‘Whatever it is, it’s dreadful!’

‘That one is reed perfume. It’s my least favourite. Ladies who come in with little to spend usually choose it.’

‘They’d be better off with nothing!’Atia spoke her mind caustically.

Drusilla smiled in agreement.

The rose perfume caused her customer’s face to light up. The heady fragrance seemed to fill the small room. ‘Mother would really love this one!’ By the time she’d sampled the lily and the lavender, Atia was ready to make her choice.

Drusilla, had a satisfied look on her face when her customer finally departed, having bought two bottles of her most expensive fragrances, lily for herself and the other, rose perfume, for her mother.

Atia was looking forward to meeting their family friend Mia, whom she hadn’t seen for the past few years. Carrying her precious perfume bottles and cosmetics and feeling happy with her new hairstyle, Atia sauntered down the road looking for the street she needed. Via dei Teatri was close to the large theatre and she found it easily.

Mia hadn’t changed at all except that some of her hair had streaks of grey. At least that was Atia’s first impression when she knocked on the door of the house and Mia welcomed her inside.

‘I’m so very happy to see you again!’

The two women embraced and sat down to talk. The house was small but all that Mia could afford as she’d never married and lived on her own with just one slave who lived in a small room at the back of the house. Atia thought the house looked a little like a child’s paradise.

There seemed to be vibrant colour everywhere.

Mia supported herself and had done so for many years, by making the highly creative masks and costumes for the productions which took place a few doors away in the great theatre. She also contributed towards the many festivals and celebrations that often enlivened the city.

She was popular with people who came to know her, and visitors to her home were frequent. She was seen as absolutely irreplaceable by the theatre performers who worked with her.

Materials of all types covered every available space, the effect being one of gorgeous chaos. Grotesque and comic masks hung on most walls of the house some of them extremely intimidating. A variety of other items such as cloaks and wigs lay on chairs.

‘You seem to work long hours, and it can’t be easy making all of these wonderful things,’ Atia remarked. ‘Will you ever be able to manage without working?’

‘I can’t see how,’ Mia answered. It takes money even to pay to stay in as small a house as this and buy food. Still, at least I enjoy what I do!’ Her smile was genuine.

‘Of course. That’s important.’ It occurred to Atia that she should speak to her father to see if anything could be done to help their friend financially.

Mia was one of those rare people who were blessed with natural creativity. She asked after Atia’s parents and her brother. The time passed quickly as they discussed all that had happened over the years, amidst much laughter, enjoying each other’s company.

‘You’re not betrothed yet?’ Mia asked, unaware that this was a subject her visitor would prefer not to enter into.

‘No. Not yet, it may be a while before that happens,’ Atia answered evasively.

‘I’m sure there’s no hurry, you should take your time,’ Mia counselled her. ‘It’s a very important decision.’

‘I will. It’s been wonderful talking with you but I’d better go,’ Atia added regretfully as the day was drawing to an end.

‘You’ll come again, though, won’t you?’ Mia urged her.

‘Of course,’ Atia smiled. ‘You can depend upon it.’

After Atia had gone Mia sat down on her well-worn couch, having