Amara thinks about her own deception, the secret loan with Balbina, her plotting with Rufus. It’s impossible to imagine why anyone would want to be loyal to a master, still less to Felix. She tries not to let Victoria’s stupidity make her angry. “He should be grateful to you,” she says. “If he had any decency, he would free you for what you’ve done.” Victoria’s face falls and she almost regrets her spitefulness. They both know that’s not going to happen.

Felix opens the door. Amara flinches, hoping he wasn’t listening, but he looks distracted. He doesn’t waste time with greetings. “We can’t wait any longer,” he says, sitting down on the bed next to Victoria. “Simo will have given up waiting for his man. We need to strike now, before he does. Make sure he’s finished.”

“What do you need us to do?” Victoria asks, as if she wants to be asked to put herself in danger.

“Some friends of mine will take care of the bar. And of Simo. I need you two to act as a distraction and keep watch.”

“Keep watch on what?” Amara asks.

“Paris will be keeping watch too,” Felix says, ignoring her question. “He’s not as recognizable to Simo as Thraso or Gallus.”

“Does Paris know about the necropolis?”

“No. Nobody knows,” Felix says. “Safer that way.” Victoria looks at him gratefully, and he rests a hand on her knee. “You will have to be veiled. Pick up a few men opposite the bar, that should distract some attention.”

“You want us to fuck men in the street?” Amara says. “On our own? No protection?”

“Paris will be around.”

“But he’s not there to look after us though, is he!” Amara protests. “He’ll be watching the bar.”

“There will be two of you,” Felix says. “I don’t see the problem.”

“What are you going to do to the bar? I don’t want to go if we don’t know.”

Felix loses his temper. “Nobody is offering you a choice,” he shouts at her. “Since when did you tell me what to do? If I want to sell you on the fucking street, or in the brothel, it’s not for you to argue.”

“Please,” Victoria says, looking imploringly at her. “Please, we have to. What if Simo attacks us again?”

Amara looks at the pair of them, sitting together like a married couple, united against her. She thinks of all she owes Victoria and knows there is no way out, even if she weren’t bound to Felix. She nods.

“Better if you both stay upstairs until tonight,” he says. He looks from one woman to the other, his expression sly. “You can go to the storeroom now,” he says to Amara. “Leave us.”