‘Senhor Bonifacio says that Izabela has told him so much about Professor Landowski and the time she spent in the atelier while you sculpted her. He waits to see if you have captured her beauty well enough,’ said Gustavo.

‘I can only hope you think I’ve done your daughter justice, senhor,’ Laurent replied, feeling the mother’s eyes upon him, assessing him as he spoke. He recognised her as the woman who’d been with Izabela yesterday on the top of Corcovado Mountain.

‘Senhora Carla says that of course, Izabela doesn’t know anything about either the sculpture being here, or you,’ said Gustavo, ‘and that it will be a big surprise for her when she comes down to join us.’

‘It certainly will,’ Laurent replied with feeling.

‘Are you ready?’ said Gustavo, entering the bedroom and finding Bel sitting on the bed looking pensive.

She turned and smiled at him. ‘Yes.’

Gustavo surveyed his wife in a beautiful gown of green silk, the emeralds her father had presented her with for her eighteenth birthday in her ears and around her neck.

‘You look radiant, querida,’ he said offering her his arm. ‘Shall we go?’

‘I can’t imagine what it might be that warrants such an audience,’ said Bel as she walked with him down the stairs.

‘Well, you shall soon see.’ Gustavo tapped his nose and then opened the drawing room door. ‘Here she is,’ he said to the assembled company, and Bel smiled as her mother and father came over to greet her. Gustavo steered Bel away from them towards his own parents, who were talking to another guest.

‘This is the first part of your surprise, which may help you guess what your gift is. May I present Senhor Laurent Brouilly, all the way from Paris.’

Bel watched as Laurent turned towards her, Gustavo smiling gaily between the two of them, so happy with his surprise plan.

She gazed at Laurent witlessly, knowing that all eyes in the room had turned towards the two of them to watch for her reaction. She could not think of a thing to say to him, so deep was her shock. She felt her silence lasting forever as the seconds ticked by.

‘Madame Aires Cabral,’ said Laurent, taking her hand in his and saving the day. ‘It is such a pleasure to make your acquaintance again.’ He kissed her hand, and then studied her. ‘Your father was asking a few minutes ago whether I felt I had done you justice, but seeing you again, I fear I have not.’

‘I . . .’ Bel forced her brain to make her mouth open and speak to him in French. ‘Senhor Brouilly, what a pleasant surprise. I did not expect to see you in Rio.’

‘Well,’ said Gustavo, ‘it was a happy coincidence that Senhor Brouilly was here in Brazil for the Cristo project. Surely you must have guessed what my gift is by now?’

Bel’s mind was so full of Laurent, she hadn’t even begun to contemplate the correlation between his presence and the gift from her husband. Luckily, before she could answer, Gustavo steered her towards an object that stood draped under a tablecloth, as everyone gathered round.