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“It was different, talking to the Archidux,” I said after a few moments.

She shot me a sidelong glance. “Different how?”

“He made me want to prove that I can think and not just smile and curtsy.”

I felt a faint blush rush to my temples at the memory of standing beside him on the balcony.

“What good will that do, though?” Kyra yanked open another drawer. “Anna, forgive me, but what are we even looking for here?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe I’ll see something that gives me an idea.”

The registers had been carefully maintained, with hardly a blot or ink scratch on any of the pages. On the left side of each bound leaf was a running tally of revenue, each line representing a transaction. These were mostly the names of patrons and their payments in gold on a given day.

Third day of Aprilis | Baro Dominicus for Felicia | 10 solidi

Third day of Aprilis | Lord Horatius for Iris | 15 solidi

On the right side, a column of expenses was neatly tallied in units of bronze coin.

Third day of Aprilis | grain | 12 nummi

Fourth day of Aprilis | thread, cloth, needles | 14 nummi

From the sums at the bottom, Casa Caligine appeared to be a profitable business. I flipped through a few more pages. There were several large tax payments recorded as well. Then my eye caught a familiar reference.

Fifteenth day of October | Archidux Sebastianus | for Iris | 10 solidi

Sixteenth day of October | Archidux Sebastianus | for Lavinia | 12 solidi

Seventeenth day of October | Archidux Sebastianus | for Lavinia, Iris | 15 solidi

The notes continued onto the next leaf. Nearly a decade before, in the autumn, the Archidux had spent several weeks at Casa Caligine in the company of at least one courtesan each evening. Often more than one. He might not be interested in tirae, but he had certainly spent plenty of time with more experienced courtesans over the years. I turned the page quickly.

“Look at this.” Kyra, two stacks away, held up a bound blue book. “It looks like the matron’s personal diary.”

I climbed up beside her on the little stool to see the book she propped open on the shelf.

7 Quintilis

Meeting of the Corlivo pleasure house guild. Several of us protesting the increased levies. Rates will have to go up. A motion from Casa Aeris to address the problem of missing girls. City council will investigate, but in my view, we need more focus on planning ahead. Related: Met with Paulinus about infants, two girls to Flora Nursery. Closer to home: Livia’s monthly blood is late. Assistant cook has run away; will need to post a notice in the market. Lilacs well over but canna lilies at peak.

“Is the business of each day captured in such detail?” I asked.

“From what I can tell,” Kyra said. “It would be strange to see such notes written about ourselves.”

We looked at each other for a fraction of a second, then jumped off the stool and moved it over to the stack holding the most recent records. But after a few minutes of looking, we concluded that ledgers and diaries for the current year simply were not there.

“She must keep them in her chamber until the year ends,” I said. “Too bad. I was hoping for something like, ‘Anna clearly not courtesan material. Must send her off to travel the world.’”

Kyra laughed. “Or maybe, ‘Kyra too shy for own good. Must be sent to the kitchens to sample pastries.’”

I sat down on the floor and leaned against the shelves. “We’re not going to find anything here, are we?”

She slid down beside me. “No, we’re not. But please remember that you do have family. I’m here, and the other girls love you too.”

I put my head on her shoulder. “You’re right. Thank you.”

“You know, I’m really having trouble sleeping,” she said. “I just lie awake at night, thinking and worrying. I wish I could just quiet my mind.”