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‘You were a very exciting idea to me, and the reality is even better than I imagined.’

Claudia couldn’t see Gia’s face but she was sure she could hear her rolling her eyes.

As the day stretched on, Darius continued to charm her. He flattered her beauty, declaring her more enchanting than any of the statues or murals they passed. He held open the door and took her hand when they ascended the staircase. He listened to her stories about her mother and shared amusing anecdotes about his pets.

‘Imagine my father’s surprise when he woke up to find that my snake had wrapped itself around his neck. I’m lucky he didn’t have my head. We all laughed about it in the end.’

‘Including the snake?’ Claudia joked.

She dared to do an impression of a serpent laughing, though she feared he might find her ridiculous. Darius burst out laughing instead, until he had tears in his eyes. Yet Claudia was certain it was not that funny by the look on Gia’s face.

‘Oh! You are very amusing. Beautiful and funny too? The gods have truly blessed me.’

As their tour continued, Darius now took an interest in Rome’s fountains, in the aqueducts and baths. They finished the day with dinner in the Capitoline Piazza, overlooked by the Senatorial Palace and the Tabularium, where historical records were kept.

They ate a selection of spiced meats, stuffed vegetables, cheese spread and fish stews, and he didn’t complain once.

‘Tell me about your goddess,’ said Claudia. ‘I should like to hear more of this Anahita.’

‘Not now,’ he said. ‘Now, I wish to learn more about you.’

‘Oh. All right. What do you want to know?’ she asked.

He reached across the table, placing his hand on top of hers as she tried not to flinch in panic.

‘Everything,’ he said.

Gia dined at another table, presented with the scraps left over from their meals. Claudia caught her eye, but she merely raised her eyebrows a little and shook her head, wiping up the oil on her plate with a piece of bread.

At last, the prince excused himself to attend nature’s call and Claudia turned urgently to Gia, making another apologetic face as she sat down at her table.

‘I am so sorry,’ she said.

‘At least I am enjoying a sightseeing tour of the city,’ Gia said. ‘Even if I do have to watch my lover being courted by a man.’

‘Your lover?’ Claudia teased.

‘What else am I to call you?’

‘I’m not complaining. I like it, my lover.’

Claudia gave her a covert squeeze.

‘How much longer?’ Gia said.

‘Unfortunately, we have the evening programme still to come.’

‘Perhaps you could tell him you’ve taken ill?’

‘I don’t want to give him any more reason to doubt my intentions. I didn’t expect him to have noticed the graffiti. That means I have to work even harder not to give off any Empress of Lesbos vibes.’

‘And how are you going to do that?’

‘Flirt with him harder, I suppose.’

Gia made a grumbling noise.

They quieted when the prince returned, with Claudia hastily standing up to take his arm and Gia trailing behind.