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They took turns to present each other with gifts. Cinnamon was exchanged for salt, and silk exchanged for leather. Claudia’s presents of olive oil and a rooster appeared paltry in contrast to the lavish gowns she was presented with, embroidered with a jewellery box of gemstones.

The prince stared at the hourglass on the table, seeming bored.

‘A mosaic,’ he said drolly, when she gifted him a scene of two peaceful doves, ‘how quaint.’

‘It symbolizes the historic union between our countries,’ Claudia said. ‘To the future of Persia and Rome.’

The atmosphere was somehow fetid and flat.

She had just gifted him with a basket of Sicilian lemons when a large cat with tufted ears was led into the room on a leash.

‘What is that?’ she said, both afraid and impressed.

‘A Persian lynx. She’s been trained to be tame with people, but she can kill with a single bite to the throat.’

The creature had vulpine, rust-coloured fur and cool, amber eyes, all claws and whiskers.

‘That is why I thought you might like her,’ he said.

Darius handed her the leash and, in shock, she took it into her hand. The lynx bared her fanged teeth at Claudia in a strange, grimacing smile before curling up obediently at her feet.

‘You think I am a savage beast?’ she said lightly.

‘There are people who say you have killed your way to the throne,’ he said. ‘You wouldn’t be the first. Many men have done the same.’

Her heart clutched and seized.

‘You don’t seem like the kind of man who pays attention to idle rumours,’ she said, performing nonchalance.

‘I’m not,’ he agreed. ‘But perhaps I am a fan of savage beasts. They are interesting to me.’

Claudia handed the leash to Damocles, who inched away as the lynx hissed at him.

The room fell quiet, as Claudia searched around for a way to begin an open dialogue.

‘So, here we are,’ she said.

‘So, here we are,’ Darius echoed.

There was a weariness to his expression, a guardedness.

‘Let us begin again,’ said Claudia.

He nodded, a grudging gesture of respect.

‘I am willing to hear it,’ he said.

‘My situation has changed, since you last wrote to my father. I am no longer the girl you were promised, but a woman of agency.’

‘I see that.’

‘All is not entirely well between our two kingdoms, nor has it ever been, but your empire and mine have agreed a tentative peace. I intend to hold on to it at any cost. I hope we can work together, but you must work with me, Prince Darius,’ said Claudia.

‘My father is ailing too,’ he said. ‘Soon, I will be the King of kings. My father wishes for me to fulfil my commitment to you and unite our countries. I shall stay in Rome until the new moon, and court your favour, as promised.’

Claudia was beginning to suspect that the prince didn’t want this marriage any more than she did. He’d been sent from his homeland into an enemy city, to win the hand of a Roman princess-turned-empress. It was a trepidatious quest. No wonder he was so difficult to read.

She was not at all sure about his feelings, or his intentions, so his next words came as quite a surprise: