Unease squirmed in my stomach as I tried to think of a way out of that one. She’d never acted moony around me before, that was certain, but she did talk to me, and that made me suddenly cautious, considering the fact that my parents were always talking, back and forth about anything and everything, and they were linked up for life and probably death beyond. Sabina’s father and Lady Calpurnia were always talking too, come to think of it… Was it the talking that made what went on under the blankets more than just a giggle and a good time? Was that what pulled a man in too deep to get out?

I didn’t know what to say; didn’t know what I thought or felt or wanted. Didn’t know much of anything, really, and I wondered again how I was going to get out of this, but then Sabina laughed a little and climbed on top of me for a kiss. I buried my hands in her smooth, piled hair and brought it tumbling down, and the moment disappeared.

CHAPTER 7

SABINA

“Not too many more of these this year.” Sabina took a pomegranate from the old fruit-seller’s wrinkled hand, passing over a coin in return. “Thank you for saving me one, Xanthe.”

“Of course, Lady,” the old woman beamed, bobbing a curtsy. Sabina moved on, holding the pomegranate to her nose. A little withered but still sweet.

“You knew the woman’s name,” Hadrian observed at her elbow, offering her a little silver knife to split the skin as they walked.

“Xanthe? Of course, I always buy fruit from her. It’s good to remember people’s names.”

“Even commoners?”

“Especially commoners.” Sabina levered the first seed out of the pomegranate and popped it into her mouth. “My father knows every one of his clients by name, and they’d do anything for him. And look at Emperor Trajan—he knows all his Praetorians and their families. He remembers the names the centurions give their horses.”

“Yes.” Hadrian sounded thoughtful. “It does seem to work for him, doesn’t it?”