Page 112 of The Seven Sisters

Bel put her name to the documents underneath her father’s, then Carla and Gabriela signed as witnesses. Her spirits had lifted enormously at the thought of a home that was truly hers. Given her current misgivings about her marriage, it gave her a much needed sense of security.

‘There,’ smiled Antonio, never happier than when he was being munificent. ‘I will get these to my lawyer as soon as possible,’ he said, stowing the documents away in his desk drawer.

*

Gustavo arrived an hour later to take her home. After the formal greetings from his new in-laws, he announced that they must leave to be in time for dinner with his parents.

‘I’ll be back to see you as soon as possible, Mãe. And perhaps we can take that ride up Corcovado Mountain in the train and see how theCristostatue is coming along?’ said Bel.

‘I would like that very much, Izabela,’ agreed Carla. ‘Maybe on Thursday?’

‘Yes, I will see you then,’ she said and followed Gustavo dutifully out to the car.

As the driver began the journey home, Bel decided not to mention to her husband the gift her parents had just made her. It was her beautiful secret and she wished to keep it to herself. As they passed the Estação do Corcovado, she saw the train emptying its passengers onto the tiny platform. And there, walking towards her along the narrow path, was . . . Bel’s heart skipped a beat as she stared at him, but he turned away down the street too quickly for her to be absolutely sure.

Bel closed her eyes and shook her head. Of course it wasn’t Laurent, just someone who looked very like him. After all, what would he be doing in Brazil?

‘My wedding gift is to be delivered to the Casa tomorrow,’ said Gustavo, pulling Bel out of her reverie and putting his hand on hers. ‘I have seen it and I think it’s very beautiful. I hope you will too.’

‘Then I will look forward to it,’ she said, with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.

Later that evening after dinner, Bel felt exhausted. The image of the phantom Laurent had unsettled her and her stomach was cramping painfully. When Gustavo and she arrived in their bedroom, she moved swiftly into the bathroom and locked it behind her. Changing into her nightgown, she cleaned her teeth and brushed her hair. She unlocked the door and went into the bedroom where Gustavo was already undressed and in bed waiting for her. As he reached for her, she backed away and shook her head.

‘I am sorry, but tonight we cannot. I have the curse.’

At that, Gustavo nodded briskly, climbed off the bed and donned his robe. ‘Then I will sleep in my old room and let you rest. Goodnight, my dear.’

As the door closed behind him, Bel sat down on the bed and let out a small chuckle at Gustavo’s swift exit. At least, she thought, she’d have a few days every month when she would sleep alone and in peace.

*

Two days later, as agreed with Carla, Bel arrived at her old house to collect her mother and take her on the train up to the top of Corcovado Mountain. As they climbed into one of the carriages and began to ascend, Carla grasped her daughter’s arm in fear.

‘Is this safe? The incline is so steep, how can it reach the top?’

‘Don’t be frightened, Mãe. It is worth it when we get there and you can see the beautiful view of Rio.’

At the top, they climbed the steps slowly together, Carla needing to pause every so often to catch her breath. Bel guided her mother to the viewing pavilion. ‘Isn’t it beautiful?’ she smiled. ‘And of course, they are building the structure for theCristoover there. It is so strange to think that I saw the sculpture being designed and made with my very own eyes in Professor Landowski’s studio. He actually took a mould of my hands to perhaps use as models for theCristo’s . . .’

As Bel turned from the view below her to theCristostructure, she saw two men walking from it, deep in conversation. She stared in disbelief, her heart almost stopping as he glanced upwards and saw her.

They gazed at each other for a few seconds, then he smiled at her and turned his attention to the steps. And following his companion down them, he disappeared from view.

‘Who was that?’

Carla was watching her daughter with interest.

‘I . . . it was Senhor Levy, Heitor da Silva Costa’s project manager.’

‘Yes, I recognise him from his photograph in the newspaper. But what about the other man?’

‘Oh, I couldn’t tell for definite, but I believe it was an assistant of Professor Landowski’s.’

‘I see. Well, he certainly seemed to know who you were.’

‘We did meet in Paris, yes,’ Bel said as she tried desperately to compose herself. Every nerve ending in her body was telling her to run from the pavilion, hurtle down the steps and fall into Laurent’s arms. And it took every ounce of restraint to prevent herself from doing so.

Fifteen minutes later, when Carla had said she’d had enough of the blistering heat and they walked slowly back down the steps and onto the platform to wait for the train, the two men were nowhere to be seen.