“I suppose he gave you extra to have us thrown out last time,” Amara says, still annoyed at the thought of being cheated. “Shame that didn’t work out for you.”

“Oh,” says Victoria. “I don’t think it was the money.” She stands up on the steps where she has been sitting in the water, nimbly hopping up onto the heated floor. She flexes her body, not in the coy way Drauca does, but like an athlete, showing off her strength as well as her beauty. “Are you scared of the competition? Afraid those legendary tits of yours aren’t going to look as good next to mine?”

“I think you’ll find the men are looking for Venus not Hercules,” Drauca sneers. Simo’s other women laugh, but Amara can see Drauca is rattled. She stares at Victoria who is now doing backflips, a small crease on her beautiful forehead.

“Shut up!” Beronice hisses. “Listen.” The women fall silent. An echo of male voices reaches the pool.

“Here they come.” Victoria splashes back down into the water. She is flushed with excitement. It’s not about sex, Amara realizes, looking at her. Her eyes take on that same look at the gaming table. The ferocious will to win.

Six men walk through an archway encrusted with colored shells, bare feet slapping on the stone. Their faces are red, and their bodies shine with sweat. They must have come from the steam room. Amara watches as they drift toward the pool, chatting, unhurried, not yet acknowledging the women’s presence.

Drauca may have picked the most scenic spot, but Victoria, sprawled over the steps, beats her by proximity. “You’re new,” says a young man as he eases himself into the water next to her.

“Victoria,” she breathes in his ear, twisting herself round his body like a vine. She starts kissing him to forestall any further conversation.

“Lucius got a lively one,” laughs another man, following his companion down the steps. He wades toward Drauca. “And how’s my lovely girl?”

Amara realizes she has unconsciously shrunk back against the side, away from where the customers are getting in. She thinks of Felix, of Vibo, of all she has gone through to get this second chance. There’s no point wasting her time by allowing nobodies like Maria and Attice to upstage her. Swallowing down the feeling of dread, she swims toward two older men who are sitting talking at the side of the pool, their thin legs dangling in the water.

“So I told him, at that price, we will look for another supplier. People need bread, but the city won’t pay for grain at any cost . . .” He trails off, noticing Amara leaning against the side next to him. “Not now.” He shoos her away. “Maybe later.” She freezes, not sure what to do.