‘She won’t. It’s as simple as that.’ Bel’s eyes filled with involuntary tears.

‘Bel, don’t despair.’ Margarida patted her hand comfortingly. ‘We will find a solution, I promise.’

Ironically, their tutor for the morning session was Landowski himself, whose rare lessons Bel was normally enthralled by, as he expanded his theory of simple lines and discussed the technical difficulty of achieving perfection. But today, Bel didn’t hear him.

The worst thing was that since the very first lunch at La Closerie des Lilas, over a month ago now, she hadn’t set eyes on Laurent Brouilly. When she’d asked Margarida as casually as she could where he was, she had said he was heavily employed assisting Landowski in producing the first prototype for Heitor’s Cristo.

‘I believe Monsieur Brouilly has been sleeping in the atelier every night. Senhor da Silva Costa is eager to be given something that he can begin to work with for his mathematical calculations.’

After the class, Landowski beckoned Margarida over.

‘So, mademoiselle, you will join us at my atelier next week?’

‘Yes, Professor Landowski, and I’m honoured to be given the opportunity.’

‘And I see you are with your compatriot, the girl with the beautiful hands,’ Landowski said, nodding at Bel. ‘Brouilly still talks of wishing to sculpt you. When this week is over and my first sculpture goes to your guardian, perhaps you can accompany Mademoiselle Lopes de Almeida to my atelier and Brouilly can have his wish? Your presence will be a prize for the long hours he has spent on the Cristo these past three weeks. It will be healthy for him to study a woman’s form, after looking so long at Our Lord.’

‘I’m sure Izabela would be delighted to do so,’ Margarida answered quickly for her. Landowski nodded at both of them and left the classroom.

‘So, you see, Izabela?’ Margarida crowed as they walked from the school and commenced their daily walk to Montparnasse. ‘God, or in fact the Cristo, seems to be on your side!’

‘Yes,’ agreed Bel, her heart lifting with renewed hope. ‘It seems He is.’

‘Bel, I have something I wish to talk to you about,’ said Maria Elisa suddenly that evening as they readied themselves for bed. ‘And I want to know your opinion.’

‘Yes, of course.’ Bel sat down, glad of a chance to be a sounding board for her friend, with whom she felt she had been spending far less time than she should. ‘What is it?’

‘I’ve decided that I’d like to begin training as a nurse.’

‘Why, that’s wonderful news,’ Bel said with a delighted smile.

‘Do you think so? I’m worried that Mãe may not agree. None of the women in our family have ever had a career before. But it’s something I’ve thought about for a long time, and I need to pluck up the courage to tell her.’ Maria Elisa bit her lip. ‘What do you think she will say?’