Bel followed her mother down the corridor to the kitchen, partly to escape from her father’s overwhelming euphoria.

‘Mãe, are you happy for me?’

‘Of course I’m happy, Izabela.’

‘And are you sure you’re feeling well?’

‘Yes, querida. Now you go up and put on a pretty gown for our celebration dinner.’

17

The next few weeks raced by as Bel and Gustavo’s engagement was well and truly celebrated in Rio society. Everyone who was anyone wanted to be part of the fairy tale – the nearest thing they had left to a crown prince and his beautiful wife-to-be.

Antonio revelled in the invitations he and Carla began to receive to attend soirées and dinners at private houses, the doors of which had previously been closed to them.

Bel had little time to think about her forthcoming trip to Europe, although the steamer passage had been booked and Madame Duchaine had been summoned to fit Bel for a wardrobe suitable to visit the great fashion capital of the Old World.

Loen had at last returned from the fazenda, and Bel was anxious to know her opinion of Gustavo.

‘I think that from what I have seen of him, Senhorita Bel,’ she ventured as she helped Bel into her dress before dinner one evening, ‘he is an honourable man who will make you a good husband. And certainly the family name will bring many advantages. But . . .’ She stopped abruptly and shook her head. ‘No, it is not my place to say.’

‘Loen, please, you have known me since I was a child and there’s no one I trust more. You must tell me what you’re thinking.’

‘Then forgive me for reminding you, minha pequena,’ she replied, her expression softening, ‘but you said in your letters that you were very unsure about this engagement. And now that I have seen you together . . . well, I can tell that you are not in love with him. Does this not worry you?’

‘Mãe thinks that I will grow to love him. And besides, what choice do I have?’ said Bel, her eyes pleading for reassurance.

‘Then I’m sure your mother is right. Senhorita Bel, I . . .’ Loen looked suddenly uncertain.

‘What is it?’

‘I want to tell you something. When I was staying at the fazenda, I met someone. A man, I mean.’

‘Goodness, Loen!’ Bel was surprised. ‘Why have you said nothing before to me?’

‘I was shy, I suppose, and you’ve been so busy with your engagement, there hasn’t been the right moment.’

‘Who is he?’ Bel asked curiously.

‘Bruno Canterino, Fabiana and Sandro’s son,’ she confessed.

Bel thought of the handsome young man who worked at the fazenda with his parents and smiled at Loen. ‘He’s very handsome and I can see you two will fit well together.’

‘I’ve known him since we were very young and we’ve always been friends. But this time, it became something more,’ Loen admitted.

‘Do you love him?’ questioned Bel.