‘And if I may, I would like to miss luncheon to visit my father. I telephoned him earlier and Gabriela told me that he hadn’t even dressed and wasn’t planning on going into the office today.’ Bel’s features creased into a frown. ‘I’m obviously very concerned about his state of mind.’

‘Of course,’ agreed Gustavo. ‘I am going with my father to the senate building. President Washington Luís has called an emergency meeting of all the coffee barons to discuss the continuing crisis in America.’

‘I thought your father no longer had an interest in coffee farming?’ queried Bel.

‘He has very little, but as a senior member of the community here in Rio, the President has asked for him to be there.’

‘Surely my father should also be attending?’

‘Yes, he should, of course. The situation is deteriorating by the day. But please tell him that I will be happy to brief him on what is said. I will see you before dinner, querida.’ Gustavo kissed Bel gently on the cheek and rose from the table.

Once Gustavo had left with his father for the senate and she knew Luiza was sequestered in the kitchen with the cook organising the menus for the next week, Bel hurried upstairs to find her address book. Running back downstairs to the hall, her hands shaking, she picked up the receiver and asked to be put through to the number Laurent had given her.

‘Please be at home,’ she whispered as she heard the line ring at the other end.

‘Ici Laurent Brouilly.’

The sound of his voice made her stomach churn with nerves and anticipation. ‘It’s Izabela Aires Cabral,’ she replied, just in case Luiza decided to emerge unexpectedly from the kitchen and into the hall. ‘Is it possible for me to book an appointment for this afternoon at two o’clock?’

There was a pause before Laurent answered. ‘Madame, I am sure I can accommodate that. Will you be coming here?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then I will look forward very much to seeing you again.’

She could almost hear the wry smile in his voice as he joined in with the game. ‘Goodbye then.’

‘A bientôt, ma chérie,’ he whispered as Bel abruptly replaced the receiver.

Her fingers hovered over it for a few seconds as she thought of calling Madame Duchaine to book an appointment with her as an alibi, but she knew that she could not yet chance Madame’s beady eyes falling on her newly rounded stomach and gossiping to others about it. So she called and made an appointment for two days’ time instead. Grabbing her hat and informing Luiza she was on her way to see her father and then on to her dressmaker, Bel climbed into the back of the car and asked Jorge to take her to Mansão da Princesa.

Gabriela was at the front door before she had even climbed the steps, her face full of concern.

‘How is he?’ Bel asked as she walked inside the house.