Doctor Who_ The Stone Rose - Jacqueline Rayner [9]
‘The money you offered, I could hardly refuse,’ said the man, with a rapacious smile that reminded Rose of Vanessa’s former owner, Balbus.
Gracilis gave a sad chuckle. ‘It is true that the advantage of being a very rich man is that things can sometimes be bought which are not normally for sale. And yet I cannot buy the one thing I desire above all others: the return of my son.’
He stepped forward and took hold of the cloth covering the statue. ‘Still, it is my hope that this will bring us closer to that happy event.’
With a sharp flick of his wrist, the sheet fell away and the statue was revealed. It was of a young boy striking a noble pose. The statue was of gleaming white marble, but its lips, eyes and hair had been painted in bright colours – Rose considered that a bit tasteless personally, only one step away from drawing on a moustache and glasses in felt‐tip.
Gracilis sighed heavily. ‘This day was supposed to be a celebration,’ he said, turning to the Doctor and Rose. ‘The Liberalia, the day on which my son took at last the toga virilis and became a man in the eyes of the world.’ He gestured at the stone boy. ‘This was to commemorate that momentous day. But at least it may aid us in our plight.’
‘This is Optatus,’ said Marcia, dissolving into tears, and flinging herself at the statue, hugging its knees tightly as though to stop her son leaving again. ‘And now you will be able to find him.’
* * *
THREE
Gracilis led his weeping wife back towards the main house. Vanessa was told to follow them; Marcia would tell her more about Optatus’s birth. Ursus seemed about to go too, but the Doctor stopped him with a gesture.
‘Pretty impressive stuff,’ he said, indicating the sculpture.
‘All my “stuff” is impressive.’ Ursus replied.
‘Ah, I see. Do I see? Yes, I think I do,’ said the Doctor, nodding. He half turned away, letting the man go, but then suddenly pounced with another question. ‘you must have seen a lot of Optatus, working on this. What do you think has happened to him?’
Ursus shrugged. ‘How should I know? Sons of rich men, they get kidnapped. It happens.’
‘Pretty rubbish kidnappers,’ put in Rose. ‘They’ve had him for days and not even bothered to ask for a ransom.’
‘Then he has gone off on his own somewhere.
Perhaps he has been attacked by highwaymen, perhaps he is drunk in a tavern somewhere. It is none of my concern.’
The Doctor seemed to consider this. ‘Yes, could be… of course, we’re miles from the city and he took no transport… Still, you could be right.’
Rose could tell he didn’t believe it in the slightest.
Or perhaps he‐just didn’t want to believe it, didn’t want a mundane solution. Perhaps, for the Doctor, any little mystery to investigate was better than none at all.
‘When did you last see the boy?’ asked the Doctor, in his best detective voice.
Ursus seemed reluctant to answer. ‘Four days ago,’ he muttered eventually. ‘My work was almost complete, but he visited me in my studio to observe the finishing touches. I have a studio set up near the stables in order to work here.’
‘Must be interesting,’ said the Doctor. ‘I’d like to come and visit you there.’
Ursus shook his head firmly. ‘I allow no one to see me at work. No one.’
‘Ah,’ said the Doctor. Then he began counting on his fingers. ‘Hang on, four days ago? That’s the very day young Master Optatus disappeared. Blimey, you could even have been the last person to see him!’
‘Perhaps.’ The sculptor shrugged. ‘How do I know?’
‘Well, I think we really will have to visit that excellent studio of yours, then. Start of the trail and all that.’
Ursus bristled, ‘I have told you, no one is allowed inside my studio. I am an artist and I do not permit it!’
‘Not your studio, though, is it?’ said Rose. ‘This place belongs to Gracilis, and I bet he’d let us in there. Seeing as we’re after his son and all.’
Ursus stepped forward and for a moment Rose thought he was going to hit her. She tensed. But instead he reached out a hand and lightly touched her cheek. His