At last, the door opens a crack. It is not Juventus who looks out, but Vitalio. Amara stares at him in astonishment. “What are you doing?” she hisses. “Let us in!” Vitalio opens the door wider, and Amara and Victoria bundle inside. “What the fuck was that about?” Amara snarls, when the door is safely closed to the street. “Where is Juventus? And Philos?”

“Called back to the house.”

Amara grips hold of Victoria to steady herself. “Why? How long for?”

Vitalio shrugs. Amara tries to stay calm. She knows Vitalio has always hated her, but she also knows he loves Philos, that the two are friends. Surely, the man would not be so cold if someone he cared about were in danger? “You must have some idea,” she says, trying and failing to keep her voice steady.

“They’ve gone for questioning.”

“Questioning?” Amara can no longer control her shaking. “But why?”

Vitalio’s expression twists in a sneer. “Got a guilty conscience, have we?”

“You shut your mouth!” Victoria explodes. “Who are you to talk to her like that? What is it with the rude fucking slaves in this house?”

“You know all about manners, do you?” Vitalio shouts back. “Service here not up to the usual standards of fine ladies like yourselves?”

“There is problem?” Britannica’s presence makes them all jump. She must have crept, panther-like, down the stairs at the sound of raised voices. She looms over Vitalio, smiling slightly to reveal her knocked out front teeth. “You have problem with us?”

Vitalio takes in the three former brothel whores, ranged together in a rare show of unity. “No,” he says to Britannica. “I meant no offense.”

“Why are they being questioned?” Amara asks again. “Please, you’re a good friend to Philos, you must know.” She can see the flicker of surprise in Vitalio’s eyes but is too desperate to hide her anxiety.

“I have no idea,” Vitalio says, stiffly, his attention still drawn to Britannica. “Believe me. I would tell you if I did.”

The effort of hiding her anxiety is becoming unbearable; Amara knows she has to get away before the others grow too curious. She nods at Vitalio then turns her back on her friends. “I’m tired,” she says in a low voice. “If Rufus calls, I’m resting in my room.”