‘Think nothing of it, Antonio. You are family, after all.’

Bel took a deep breath, knowing that she must say the words now or her courage might fail her and she would change her mind.

‘Gustavo, may I speak with you for a few minutes alone before dinner?’

‘Of course, my dear.’

Maurício and Antonio continued to the dining room as Bel led Gustavo into the drawing room and shut the door.

‘What is it?’ said Gustavo, his forehead creased into a worried frown.

‘Please, it’s nothing to be concerned about,’ Bel assured him hastily. ‘In fact, I hope you will think it is good news. I wanted to tell you now, so that perhaps we could announce the news together over dinner. Gustavo, I am with child.’

Bel watched her husband’s reaction swing immediately from concern to joy. ‘Izabela, you’re telling me you are pregnant?’

‘Yes.’

‘Meu Deus! I can hardly believe it! My clever, clever girl!’ he said as he came to embrace her. ‘This news will silence my mother forever.’

‘And hopefully will please her son,’ she replied with a smile.

‘Of course, of course, querida.’ Gustavo was now grinning from ear to ear. ‘I doubt I have ever felt so happy. And it is news that could not have come at a better moment for everyone in our family. And for you, Izabela, who has suffered such a recent loss. And of course, for your father, whom my father and I think we may be able to help. I insisted on it,’ he added. ‘It is only right, given his generosity in the past. Are you absolutely certain you are pregnant, Izabela?’

‘Yes. It has been confirmed by the doctor. I went to see him yesterday and he telephoned me earlier today.’

‘That explains it!’ said Gustavo, relief crossing his face. ‘Yesterday afternoon I went to collect you from your dress-maker’s after the senate meeting. Madame Duchaine told me that you had no appointment booked and that you hadn’t been to her salon. You were seeing the doctor, weren’t you?’

‘Yes,’ Bel lied, fear clutching at her heart.

‘For a few minutes, as I stood outside wondering why on earth you had lied to me, I even wondered if you had taken a lover,’ Gustavo chuckled as he kissed her on the forehead. ‘I couldn’t have been more wrong. Do you know when the baby is due?’

‘In about six months.’

‘Then you are over the danger time, and yes, of course, we must announce it,’ he said, almost skipping like an excited child as he led her to the door. ‘Oh my beautiful Izabela, you have made me the happiest man in the world. And I swear to you now that I will do everything to be the father that our child deserves. Now, make your way through to the dining room while I go down to the cellar and open a bottle of our finest champagne!’

Gustavo blew her a kiss as he left, and Bel stood for a few seconds, knowing that her path was now set. And whatever it took, she would have to live with the duplicity of her actions until the day she died.