“We all know what a tedious husband you will make,” Quintus scoffs. “Horribly proper. But don’t worry, darling,” he adds, winking at Amara. “No doubt he’ll be a screaming hypocrite too, so you’re quite safe.”

“Don’t tease her like that,” Rufus says, holding Amara closer. She is not sure whether the protective gesture is to reassure her of his constancy or to assuage his own guilt at the lack of it.

“Are you really going to talk about wives and weaving all night?” Drusilla wrinkles her nose. “I would have invited your fathers instead, if I’d known.”

“I’m sure Hortensius would never turn you down,” Quintus retorts, a sharpness to his voice. Amara remembers the greedy way Hortensius, Rufus’s father, had looked at Drusilla when they met and is inclined to agree. Even Rufus does not leap to his father’s defense, but laughs.

Drusilla smiles, laying a hand on Quintus’s arm. “Then it’s as well I’m always loyal to you.” Lucius’s mouth twitches slightly at this, and he flicks his eyes to Drusilla in a secret lover’s gesture. Amara thinks Quintus will miss it, but he doesn’t. His anger is plain, and Amara is momentarily fearful Quintus will be violent, but instead, he seizes hold of Drusilla and kisses her, running his hands over her body so aggressively it wipes the smirk from Lucius’s face. Drusilla accepts the embrace then pushes him lightly away. Quintus obeys but keeps a hand clasped around her thigh, staring at her with an intensity that feels too private to watch.

Marcus, alone on a couch, and perhaps still brooding about his marriage, is restless. “Is that enough music now?” he says, refilling his wine glass. “Shall we ask the girls in to dinner?”

“Of course,” Drusilla replies. She gestures at the musicians, a brusque command that Amara suspects will make Victoria furious, and they fall silent. Lucius takes hold of Phoebe’s wrist as she passes, clearly having made his selection, while Lais sits beside Marcus. For one painful moment, Victoria is left standing, unclaimed, taken aback by the sight of Quintus pressed against Drusilla, his lust for his long-time girlfriend painfully evident.

“Room for you here!” Marcus cries, seizing the chance to be the man with two women. His eagerness makes the others laugh and goes some way to restoring Victoria’s pride, or at least makes her smile.