Amara turns to Philos to take the tablets from him. His face is inscrutable, but she knows he must be afraid of what his master will say about two brothel slaves, not to mention how she is ever going to pay back this enormous debt. “Before I sign,” Amara says. “There is one last condition. The sale will only mention Britannica. I want you to free Victoria, not sell her to me. The six thousand will compensate your generosity.”

Victoria cries out, almost falling to her knees with shock. Philos steps forward, grasping Victoria’s elbow to steady her. Felix says nothing. Amara cannot tell if she has surprised him or not. “Why not free her yourself?” he asks, even though he knows the answer. “But of course! You were too recently a slave yourself to do that.” Felix clicks his fingers at Amara, the way he did when she was still his property. “Sign for the money first, and I will free her.”

“Free her and then I sign.”

“If I may suggest,” Philos says, stepping in, before Amara and Felix can begin haggling again. “I will write up a different contract. The payment will be both for transferred ownership of the slave known as Britannica and to compensate Felix for granting the slave known as Victoria her freedom. That way both the money and the gift of freedom are legally binding. If the payment is not made, Felix will take back both women. If Victoria is not freed, or Britannica not handed over, no payment will be made.”

Amara can see Felix does not like taking suggestions from a slave, but Philos is looking at her old master with a mild, unchallenging expression that gives no trace of the dislike she knows he feels. He looks at Rufus like that, she realizes.

“Write it,” Felix says to Philos. “And when we have both read it and signed, I will free her.”

“I would like to call Zoskales as a witness,” Amara says.

Felix shrugs in answer. “Call whoever you like.” One of the drinkers staggers off to fetch the landlord.

Felix and Zoskales sign first, then Philos hands the tablet to her. She scans the agreement, trying not to focus on Felix’s extortionate rate of interest, and signs. Philos does too, then stamps it for her.

Felix turns to Victoria and takes her by the hand. Amara can see she is trembling. “Victoria, in front of witnesses, and in the sight of the gods, I grant you your freedom,” he says. “You now take my name as Gaia Terentia Victoria, Liberta.” Victoria starts to cry, overwhelmed. Amara remembers the moment Rufus freed her, the way time stopped, her heart unable to take in the magnitude. Felix pulls Victoria closer and kisses her. “And now you are free,” he says, tenderly stroking the hair from her face. “Will you be my wife?”