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‘Livia has asked me to ask you if you’d support the opening of a school for gladiatrices, here in Rome,’ said Gia.

Claudia recalled who Livia was: Rome’s own woman gladiator, or gladiatrix as they were calling themselves.

‘She and Dido have found a landlord willing to rent to them but they require funds for equipment,’ said Gia. ‘They know you were my patron, back in Pompeii, so they asked me to ask if you’re interested.’

Claudia didn’t answer for a moment.

‘Do you think that’s why they’re saying those things?’ she mused. ‘Because I sponsored you and brought you to Rome with me?’

‘Huh?’ said Gia.

‘The graffiti,’ Claudia explained.

‘Oh, right,’ said Gia, as if she’d forgotten. ‘I don’t know… It could be anything. Is that a no, then?’

Though Claudia wasn’t sure opening a gladiatrix school would help with her growing reputation as the Empress of Lesbians, she couldn’t say no. It was the right thing to do, and perhaps it might bring her new supporters, sporting spectators who weren’t threatened by women. Besides, she was unable to turn Gia down, particularly when she was looking at her just so, with the light of the sun catching her beautiful face.

‘No, it’s a yes. Sorry, it’s a wonderful idea,’ she said. ‘Of course I’ll be their patron.’

‘You don’t seem that enthused.’

‘My mind was just wandering, but I am, I promise.’

One of the gladiators pinned the other to the ground, ending the fight. Claudia stood up to applaud him rather more enthusiastically than was warranted, as if to affirm her heterosexuality. She sat down when a different pair began to battle theatrically, both showing off for the empress.

‘Dido and Livia have asked me to be involved, training the new recruits and providing mentorship,’ said Gia, fiddling with the leather strips of her uniform skirt. ‘And they want to use my name for advertising, you know, “Viatrix the Victorious, survivor of Vesuvius”.’

‘I hope you told them your presence is very much required, here with me,’ said Claudia.

‘Actually, I’d like to do it, if you could spare me a few hours a week,’ said Gia, as if choosing her words carefully. ‘I’m loath to leave you alone after what happened at the Pantheon, but Cassius has offered to guard you, in my absence.’

Claudia was taken aback. Gia was clearly serious about this.

And, for some reason, Claudia wasn’t sure she liked it, though she could not put the feeling into words.

‘You really want to do this, don’t you?’ she said. ‘You don’t just feel obliged?’

‘I’d like to be a part of it, yes,’ Gia said. ‘I was there when Cyrus first opened the Pompeii school to women.’ Her face sank at his name, even though she’d been the one to speak it. ‘I thought it would honour him.’

Claudia hadn’t thought of it like that. She placed her hand on top of Gia’s, unseen behind the partition of their private box.

‘Whatever you want, you will have,’ she said. ‘I fully support it. Tell Livia and Dido to compile a list of their financial requirements and I’ll provide everything they need.’

‘Are you sure?’ said Gia hesitantly.

‘Of course. For a moment, I was being selfish. I didn’t want you to leave my side, but I’m trying to be the best version of myself that I can be… for Rome… and for you.’

‘You already are,’ said Gia.

They fell quiet, listening to the sounds of grunting and clashing steel, of sandals sliding through sand. A troop of centurions filed out into the amphitheatre, each one saluting her.

When she looked back, Gia was gazing at her in a way that scared her, so longing and hungry and vulnerable.

‘What?’

‘Just, looking at you,’ said Gia, faux-casually.

What scared Claudia more was how desperately she wished to forget her place and throw herself into Gia’s arms for all to see.