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I took a sip of the syrupy liquid. “Why does Sebastianus have to toy with people?”

Don shrugged.

“His cousin knew exactly what I am.”

Don nodded slowly.

“I suppose it’s obvious, even without Seb dangling me in his face, dressed up like this. As if anyone would really think that I’m a scholar.” I took another sip and winced.

“You are a scholar,” Don said, “whatever people think. Cassius says you have a quicker mind than any student he’s ever taught.”

I passed the flask back to him. “Georgios said he wanted to make an arrangement with me. Not three feet away from his wife and daughters.”

Don shook his head. “I wonder what Gurgexenes thinks of that.”

There was a peep-peep from an invisible insect.

“What about you? Do you have a wife, Don?”

“No.” He took another sip of mead.

“Why not?”

There was a long silence. “Because I don’t fancy women. That’s why not.”

“Oh!” I grabbed his huge hand and squeezed it. “I understand. But—but do you have someone?”

“I did once, but he was killed in battle years ago. The same lightning-blasted conflict at the eastern border that’s been going on for decades.”

“I’m so sorry.”

We sat there quietly for a few minutes, passing the flask back and forth.

I looked up at the dark sky, at the thick clouds that allowed only a sliver of moonlight through. “Why did he bring me here?”

“Whatever Seb’s reasons for bringing you here,” Don said, “they don’t define you. You’re clever. You don’t need me to tell you you’re beautiful. Use it for something good. If you want to be something, be it. You have more of a shot here than if you spent your life in that mountain fairyland, that’s for sure. By the gods, that place makes me uncomfortable.”

“How do you know I have more of a shot here?”

He put the cap back on his flask and tucked it away. “Because I was born a slave in a land far to the east, and now I’m here, a free man. I know better than many men what possibilities life holds. Of course, even here, some liberties are just out of reach.”

Before I had time to say anything, I heard the click of a walking stick against tiles.

“Don,” Sebastianus called quietly, “I asked you to fetch Anna, not sit down and have a drink with her.”

“Well, Seb, every once in a while, a man has to make up his own mind about something.”

“Hmmm. Come with me, Anna.”

I got up reluctantly and, with a glance back at Don, followed Sebastianus out of the garden.

HE PULLED OPEN the door to the dark thermae and held it for me. He lit one lantern and carried it with him to ignite two more, its flame throwing his shadow large against the stone wall. He bent beside the sunken tub and pulled up a heavy copper lever. Steaming water began to flow from the tap and fill the deep basin. The room, with its flickering candles and rushing water, had the solemnity of a temple.

He took a small pile of white cotton towels from a cedar closet and set them on the floor beside the rapidly filling tub. He removed his wool toga and then the linen tunic underneath. He dropped them on the floor and stood for a moment in his gray linen trousers. His broad, muscled chest was covered in fine, dark hair.

“By the gods, you were charming tonight. I couldn’t have gotten through that dinner without you. Now that we’ve done our duty, we can relax.” He knelt and tested the temperature of the water with his hand, then stood up and slipped off his trousers without a hint of self-consciousness.

I stared at the pile of cloth on the ground as he lowered himself into the hot water with a satisfied groan and closed his eyes. “One thing Corlivo lacks is a decent bath.”