“He was kind of smelly.” Dido looks a little brighter as she starts to play the game.

“And garlicky. And farty.” Victoria nods. “Yes, definitely him. Mr. GarlicFarticus.”

“I never knew he was called that,” Beronice says, wonderingly. “I thought he was called Manlius.”

“Of course it was Manlius, you idiot!” Cressa snorts.

They all laugh. Even Beronice smiles. Amara wonders for a moment if she might have played dumb on purpose.

“I think we should write him a message on the wall,” Victoria says. “In case he ever comes back.” She bends down and hands a shard of pottery to Amara. “What shall we say? I know! Thrust SLOWLY.”

“Shall I write it in Greek?” Amara asks.

“What’s the point in that?” Victoria retorts. “We want the smelly idiot to read it, don’t we?”

Amara scratches the motto on the wall. They all sit looking at it when she is finished, smirking with satisfaction.

“I’ll tell you who does thrust slowly,” Beronice says, her face sly. She pauses, making sure all four are giving her their full attention.

“Go on then,” Cressa says. “Who is this Apollo?”

“Gallus.” Beronice beams. “I love him.”

“Gallus?” Victoria shrieks. “He’s a terrible lay!”

“You’ve not even slept with him!” Beronice says, wounded. She looks round at her friends’ embarrassed faces. “Have you?”

“We all have, sweetheart,” Cressa says kindly.

Beronice flushes. “Well, it’s me he loves. He told me he will buy my freedom one day. He loves me! He’s going to marry me, so I don’t have to do this anymore. We spent a whole hour together when you were all out fishing. He’s really kind and loving and gentle and caring. He even asked what I wanted!”

Amara struggles to picture the oafish Gallus being any of these things. She is about to ask Beronice if he gave her the bread yesterday but decides the answer might be too painful.

“Beronice,” Victoria says, her voice low with warning. “You didn’t fuck him for free, did you?” There’s silence. Beronice pouts, not meeting anyone’s eye. “You idiot!” Victoria hisses. “What if Felix finds out? You can’t spend your days rolling around with Gallus for nothing! He has to pay Felix. The prick’s just playing you; he’s using you!”

“He doesn’t want to pay because he’s saving up to buy me!” Beronice says, stung. “And who’s going to tell Felix? Not any of you I hope!”

“Of course none of us would tell Felix,” Amara says. “But are you sure Gallus isn’t taking advantage?”