He does not hit her; she is not even sure whether he intends to threaten her by keeping his hand on her neck, although he never moves it. She has endured far worse violence from Felix and from men whose names and faces she does not even remember, but for Amara, the betrayal Rufus inflicts is a pain unlike any other, because she had believed he was different. He is not her safe haven, but yet another storm to weather.

Afterward, he is tender and loving, kissing away the tears he caused, affectionate now he has succeeded in making her more like the fearful girl he wants her to be. He tells her that he will allow her to keep Victoria and Britannica if she promises never to lie again, and Amara cries with gratitude, loathing herself for feeling overwhelmed by relief. She tells Rufus that she loves him, letting him hold her, knowing that she has no alternative. When he falls asleep, she is left lying trapped in his arms, hating the touch of his skin on hers.

The next morning, everything seems to have slowed down, even the flow of water in the fountain is sluggish. Amara finds it hard to focus, still less to talk. She sits in the garden with her dearest friend who is now officially allowed to stay, while her patron rests his hand on her knee, occasionally lifting it to brush a strand of hair from her shoulder. It should be the happiest of moments, yet everything inside Amara feels numb, as if she has been hollowed out. Her two companions, on the other hand, are in great spirits. Victoria is excited about Helvius, who did not stay the whole night but evidently still stayed long enough. Rufus is relaxed, sitting between the two women, behaving as if there was no argument the night before, even laughing with Victoria like an old acquaintance. Amara starts to doubt her senses, to wonder if everything really happened the way she remembers it. She can tell Rufus has succeeded in charming Victoria with his easy manners, just as he always used to charm her. Amara is not sure whether she has the energy left to hate him. After a short while, he leaves with Philos, promising Amara to return her steward to her after he has used him to carry out some business for his father.

As soon as Rufus has gone, Victoria is eager to recount the more lurid glories of her night with Helvius. Usually, Amara would want to laugh with her, to relish Victoria’s outrageous storytelling, but instead, she pleads a headache.