Page 14

“About the bidding? About lying with a guest?”

“Everything.” She rubbed the side of her nose with a trembling finger. “I don’t want men touching me. Maybe there’s something wrong with me.”

I slipped an arm around her, and we sat there for a minute, each thinking our own thoughts.

She leaned against the stack. There was a sheen of perspiration on her brow that I hadn’t noticed before.

“Here’s what we’ll do,” I said. “We’ll get through this bidding process one way or the other, and then we’ll have a little more freedom. We can spend our days enjoying the city. Think of it: we can go to that little bakery near the market square. And we can visit the summer garden near the temple. Remember how, when we were younger, we’d see the courtesans walking there in their fine silks and jeweled hair and think they all looked so beautiful?”

“I thought they looked like fairies.” She smiled faintly. “Valentina has been trying to help me. She gave me a powder to help me relax and sleep, which was kind.”

“Is it safe? Where did she get it from?”

She shrugged. “It’s working a little, but it wears off, and each time I have to take more and more for it to work. I’m going to have to ask her if she can give me another packet.”

“Well, be careful, please. With that and the wine.” I checked the drawers to make sure they were all closed tightly. “Flavia is another one who tries to look after us. She does her best. You know, we could talk to her to see if she remembers my mother. I think she has worked here for a long time.”

I slung the satchel over my shoulder, feeling the weight of the book inside it.

Kyra didn’t seem to notice, and I felt another flicker of worry for my friend, whose dull eyes still showed no hint of the gleam I had been so used to seeing before we came to Casa Caligine.

THAT NIGHT, PERFORMERS from the Circus Animalia entertained on the grand terrace. They had brought a pure white tiger. It sat licking a huge paw beside its handler, who had a long whip coiled around his shoulder. The acrobats wore costumes of red and gold, and they tumbled in and out of a pyramid formation. A fire-eater swallowed a flaming sword. Musicians played a cheerful tune on the kithara and bells. The air smelled of torch smoke and lilacs.

Only the serious bidders were present to enjoy this evening’s entertainment. I recognized several of them from the formal dinner: the man with the medals, the gem merchant, Clemens Fabius, Vicecomes Ignatius with his long beard down to his waist.

Sebastianus stood apart from the group, in conversation with Comitissa Klaudia. His eyes met mine as we filed in. I thought of Geographica, still upstairs in my leather bag.

The matron lifted her cup. “Thank you all, dear guests, for joining us tonight. We are pleased to bring you this marvelous circus entertainment, and our lovely tirae are eager to get to know you better. We are grateful to our good friends from the Circus Animalia for their talents, and as always, we thank the keeper of our kitchens for the delicious desserts and wine.”

The assembled guests clapped politely.

The animal handler stepped forward with the huge tiger padding obediently at his side. He motioned for everyone to move back. The group took several large steps away from the creature.

At a sign from the handler, the tiger sat up on its thick haunches. The man raised his fists, and the animal lifted one paw and then the other, stretching up on its hind legs to full height: much taller than a man. The guests gasped and broke into applause.

“How are you this evening?” The coarse voice was inches from my ear. “Have you brought what I asked you for?”

I shook my head, not wanting to turn around. The skin on the back of my neck tingled as though I could feel his breath.

“I’m disappointed, tira.”

“How could I give it to you here,” I whispered, “with everyone watching?”

The tiger turned in a circle at the handler’s command, eliciting another burst of applause.

“Is it a secret?” he asked.

“Isn’t it?”

The handler called for a box. The tiger stepped onto it slowly, placing its massive paws on the small surface and then sitting back on its hind legs. It roared, exposing huge teeth. The crowd cheered. The handler flipped what looked like a piece of raw meat in the animal’s direction. The tiger gulped it down in a flash.

“Tigers shouldn’t be used in this way,” Sebastianus said softly. “They retain their wild nature, despite their training.”

I turned my head slightly. He was standing much closer than I had realized. I was only a few inches from him, and I could once again smell his spicy scent. Our proximity made my pulse quicken slightly. I took a tiny step forward.

The performance ended. The assembled guests clapped enthusiastically.

He nodded toward the stage. “Don’t miss the fire-eater. Perhaps next year’s tirae can add his tricks to their dance. Change it up a bit.”