As a servant, she wasn’t allowed a lock or latch, so every night she blocked the door to her room with her only piece of furniture besides her bed. The four-legged stool was sturdy, but it wouldn’t keep out a determined intruder. All Linh could hope for was that anyone breaking in would make so much noise, the Livius household would rally to her defense. She blocked the door mainly to keep out Drusus. He was too cowardly to assault her, but Linh didn’t want to wake up some time and find him snuggled up with her. So she blocked the door every night. Her thoughts were harsh when she heard scratching on her door. She said, “Go away, Drusus!” twice, but the tapping continued. She threw back her thin blanket and stalked to the door, stubbing her toe along the way. Biting her lip and cursing silently, Linh put her lips close to the door and hissed, “Go to bed, Drusus! I’ll tell your father if you don’t!” “—not Drusus,”
