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‘It was not what you think. Please, let us talk. Alone. Then I will leave, and you can stay, if you wish.’

‘Say it here, or not at all.’

‘Here? Right here?’

Claudia didn’t think Gia would ordinarily be so reckless, declaring this for all to hear, but she was past her normal reason. She didn’t budge, waiting for Claudia to give in.

Dido and Livia did not attempt to disguise the fact that they were watching. Several others around them were paying attention now too, shifting curiously and cutting eyes at each other.

‘I cannot,’ said Claudia.

‘Then it can’t be important,’ said Gia.

‘Please, Gia. It isn’t safe for us to talk openly. Not even here. I might be recognized.’

‘I am tired of hiding.’

‘So am I, but there are things that should only be between us.’

Gia’s expression was conflicted, as she struggled against herself, but then she relented, sighing in disappointment at herself.

‘I will not order you,’ continued Claudia, ‘but I am begging you. Must I get down on my knees and further humiliate myself?’

‘Fine. We’ll talk outside.’

‘Should we follow?’ said Dido, not wanting to miss anything.

Livia gravely shook her head, holding her back.

Gia and Claudia ducked out into a small courtyard full of colourful plants, forming a rainbow around a small fountain and a pool.

‘You didn’t have to come all the way out here,’ Gia said. ‘You could’ve just waited for me to return.’

‘I was afraid that you might not.’

Gia was unsteady on her feet, tripping over a pavement stone. Claudia tried not to find it adorable since they were about to have a very serious conversation, suppressing a smile when Gia looked at her.

Gia only made it halfway down the path before pulling up.

‘Is it just me, or is the garden spinning?’

‘That would be the wine, I fear.’

‘I… don’t feel so good.’

Claudia guided her to the nearest bench, where Gia hunched forward as if she might be sick. They were still being watched here, which made her cautious to hold and comfort Gia as she wished to. She settled for rubbing her back as Gia sat forward with her head in her hands.

‘Is that better?’ Claudia asked.

‘Why did I drink so much?’

‘You wanted to forget.’

‘That’s just what my mother used to say, too. Ugh, I’m a mess.’

‘When we first met, you had just taken a beating to the face, and you were still so beautiful to me… This is nothing, by comparison.’

Gia sat up abruptly again and stared at Claudia, her expression somewhere between anger and sadness.