page44 (2/2)

“Can we really go inside?”

Matteo’s gaze connected with hers “Let ive you a special tour Then we can have dinner”

She stared at him for a few seconds then nodded with excitement Matteo led her to a special entrance and she held her breath as she walked inside

There were only a few people left inside the structure The illue with streaks of lilac Phoebe took a few tentative steps forward

Matteo held out his hands “Most of the arena floor is gone now—as is a lot of the seating It was arranged strictly by social status” He raised his eyebrows, “Boxes at the North and South ends for the Eins, podiuave a little wink “They could bring their own chairs, you know”

Phoebe let out a laugh “Really?”

“Really” He pointed to the next row up, “This was for the non-senators or knights, the one above that was for ordinary Roman citizens, split into two parts, one for the rich and one for the poor”

Phoebe gave a nod as she glanced around in wonder “Hundreds of years on, and we’re still obsessed with social class You’d think we’d be past all that now”

Matteo looked at her thoughtfully “I know We should be” They moved a little further into the amphitheater He pointed out some other parts “There were specific sections for other people Boys with their tutors, scribes, priests, soldiers on leave and foreign dignitaries”

“Where did the woet to sit, then?” asked Phoebe “The ones eren’t vestal virgins”

Matteo shook his head “You uess The other women were allowed to stand with the slaves or the common poor”

Phoebe gave a nod and kept looking around “Well, I love the wonder of the place I love the structure The architecture” She spun around, holding her hands out “But I’ree with the history of the place”

Matteo held out his hand again “Come on, I’ll show you some more history”

His hand held hers firmly as he led her down sohts that only added to thes But the war up all the way to her heart This was a wonderful surprise So she could only have dreamed of Matteo had done this for her?