Page 138 of The Seven Sisters

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 dressmaker’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.

*

Over dinner that night, celebrations ensued, and the look of joy on her father’s face when Gustavo announced their news confirmed to Bel that she had made the right decision. Luiza’s wintry expression meanwhile had given her a tiny inner glow of satisfaction. After dinner, Gustavo turned to Bel.

‘It is past ten, my dear, and you must be exhausted. Come,’ he said as he pulled back her chair and helped her up from it, ‘I will accompany you upstairs.’

‘Really,’ muttered Bel, embarrassed, ‘I’m feeling extremely well.’

‘No matter. You and the baby have had a difficult few weeks and we must all look after you now,’ he added, looking directly at his mother.

Bel said her goodnights, and then walked around the table to hug her father tightly, not caring for protocol. ‘Goodnight, Pai.’

‘Sleep well, Izabela, and I promise that the little one’s grandfather will make him proud,’ he whispered, indicating her stomach. ‘Come and visit me soon.’

‘I will, Pai.’

Upstairs, Gustavo followed his wife into the bedroom and stood there uncertainly. ‘Izabela, now that you are . . . in this condition, you must tell me if you’d prefer to sleep alone until the child is born. I believe that is what married couples usually do in these circumstances.’

‘If you feel that would be more appropriate, then yes,’ she agreed.

‘And from now on, you must rest as often as you can. You mustn’t tire yourself.’

‘Gustavo, I promise you I am not unwell, just pregnant. And I wish to carry on my life as normally as possible. Tomorrow afternoon, I really must go to see Madame Duchaine and ask her to alter my wardrobe to fit my growing shape.’ She smiled shyly at him.

‘Yes, of course. Well then.’ He walked to her and kissed her on both cheeks. ‘I shall say goodnight.’

‘Goodnight, Gustavo.’

Bel watched as he smiled at her then left the bedroom. She sank down onto the edge of the bed, her heart a mixture of conflicting emotions. Her thoughts travelled to Laurent and the fact that he was expecting her at his apartment tomorrow afternoon. Rising, Bel walked to the window and looked out at the stars, which reminded her poignantly of the nights they had shone so brightly above Landowski’satelierin Boulogne-Billancourt. She remembered in particular the evening she had found the young boy under the bushes in the garden, and how his suffering had provided a catalyst for the start of her love affair with Laurent.