Philos stops, so that they can stand side by side, looking out at the water. “I’m rarely with him now. Any time I’m at the house, I work on the business, not his personal affairs. But I don’t think it’s a lover. I think his family expect him to get married. That is what Vitalio has heard.” Amara puts out her hand to touch the column, wanting to feel something solid. The marble is warm under her fingers from the sun. “I’m sorry. There was no good time to tell you. But it’s another reason I wanted you to get that money from Drusilla.”

“He’s not going to want to keep renting a house with a concubine in it, is he?”

“I don’t think so.”

“I’ll speak to Julia; I know she has some apartments to let. It might be cramped with Victoria and the other women, but we’ll manage. Rufus must owe me something, as a patron it would look bad if he threw me out on the street, and if I involve Julia, that will make it even harder for him. It’s all I’m going to ask: rent to Julia, and letting me keep you. Surely, he can’t say no to that?”

She is looking at Philos, but he is staring out at the water, the light of the waves reflecting onto his face. “I hope not,” he says.

35

“I see you hurrying in excitement with a burning torch

To the grove of Nemi where you

Bear light in honor of the goddess Diana.”

—Propertius, Poems

The garden is filled with the sound of laughter. All the women of the household are gathered together, even Martha, and they splash one another as they wash their hair. The water is cold when Victoria pours a jug over Amara’s head, making her shudder, but the heat of the sun is so intense the water dries on her skin almost as fast as it falls.

Amara takes another jug and pours it over Britannica, who shakes her hair like a dog and sprays the water everywhere, making Phoebe shriek. Martha yelps and darts out of the way as Victoria tries to fling water at her too. Amara realizes it is the first time she has ever seen her maid smile.