Chapter XII
On that late afternoon, soon after leaving Lorena’s house, Rafael started out his travel in his carriage, but he decided that he would not go straight home. He needed time to process everything and understand better what had happened. He remembered the first time he saw her, which took him some effort. Initially, he remembered only about a young lady, as many others adorning the Carioca ballrooms with their shyness and modesty.
It was another one of the soirées hosted by Miguelita, her full name Miguelita Almeida Galvão, one of the most popular events of the Court, in São Clemente. Miguelita’s house was very luxurious, spacious and grand, like the ones they used to do for those very rich families. She and her husband, the Commander Sófocles Galvão, were into good music, be it erudite or popular, and received in their house many musicians, authors of polka, mazurka and of the genuine Brazilian rhythm that was starting to become popular on the ballrooms: the chorinho. There was no place for prejudice, even if a more conservative lady or gentleman could raise any objections, calling the irreverent melody “the beat of the slave quarters”, inspired by the lundu dancing parties.
At the occasion, Rafael was accompanied by his best friends Otávio and Eduardo, when the first called his attention:
“Hey, you are the success of the night, stud!”
“What are you talking about, you crazy?”
“Haven’t you noticed that girl over there, the one in the yellow and white dress? She’s being eyeing you for a good half an hour...”
Rafael looked in her direction and just saw a young lady a little inelegant, dressed in an old-fashioned style for the current fashion trends.
“Oh, are you talking about that one over there?”
“Didn’t you like it, my friend?” Eduardo asked, with a sarcastic smile on his face.
Rafael turned away from her.
“And do you even have to ask?”
“She can look quite old-fashioned in her style...” Otávio responded, “but she is not ugly!”
Rafael looked at her for the second time, and this time she wasn’t staring at him anymore, for she was distracted talking with one of the other guests. The young man took the opportunity to observe her more closely. Indeed, even if a little tacky in her fashion style, she was undoubtedly beautiful.
“Just imagine, my dear Rafael!” Eduardo said, getting closer to his friend’s ear. “A diamond in the rough that could be lapidated, huh? You wouldn’t look bad at the Public Plaza or at the Lyrical Theater, as long as she was adequately dressed for the occasion.”
Otávio, unlike Eduardo, decided to replace his first mean comment for another one, more philosophical. He was the kind of gentleman that liked to recite interesting quotes from the books he read. And, after all their comments, he couldn’t pass the opportunity to give a little speech.
“So said a famous German man: everyone judges appearance, no one according to essence[32].”
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ballroom, Miguelita announced another song for the enjoyment of the guests.
“Dear friends, unfortunately, today you will not be able to listen to me singing, for I woke up with a terrible sore throat...”
As soon as she said it, the guests pretended to be disappointed. It was known by all that, although she tried really hard, the house owner was a very good hostess and a terrible opera singer. However, the hypocrisy of social conventions didn’t allow someone to tell her the sad truth.
“Even so, this will not hinder me from announcing to friends and acquaintances the presence of the famous pianist who is already popular in some of our ballrooms, with her melodies, all of which I like so much. A round of applause to Mrs. Chiquinha Gonzaga[33]!”
As soon as her name was announced, some of the guests became disturbed and wanted to leave the party, while others, the great majority, curious or fans of her compositions, were already dancing to the sound of Atraente. Such were the nights when there was a soirée at the house of the Commander Sófocles Galvão and his wife: even in face of a few protests against the popular Brazilian music, which was already giving its first steps, nothing could hinder the enthusiasm of the most daring young ladies, or of those less timid gentlemen who gathered in the ballroom. The most important, nonetheless, is that nobody cared much about the conservative ones. The money of the host was the most expressive picture of power of a confident capitalist!
It was there, amidst gentlemen and ladies who were dancing, that Miguelita was able to introduce Lorena to Rafael.
“Mr. Rafael, I would like to introduce you to Miss Lorena Duarte Valão.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Miss!” he said, taking her hand to kiss.
“The pleasure is all mine!” she said, smitten; locking her eyes in his as if she was falling in love for the first time in her life.
This was all Rafael was able to remember from that first time they met. When he realized it was getting late, he decided it was time to go back home. He had supper with his parents and sister and, soon after, he left, saying he was meeting some of his friends. It was a little after nine at night. Where would he go? He thought about confiding to Otávio and Eduardo the events of that afternoon, but no! He couldn’t talk about what happened to them; otherwise they would certainly torment him with sour jokes. The topic was delicate, because it was a misunderstanding where even his fiancée was involved. What to do?
Rafael ended up taking an unexpected direction. Traveling aimlessly through the main streets of the city, the ended up in front of the infamous Alcazar[34]. He found a great number of people there that night, laughing, drinking and telling stories to each other. This was the nightlife at the Court, full of mysteries, racket and debauchery. And Alcazar symbolized all of that, in a mix of depravation and decay. He looked up and down the street and saw no one he knew, so he decided to go in. Right at the entrance, there was a collection of pictures with the faces of the great artistes d’elite who had been there: Aimée, Delmary, Marguerite Bourgeois, Risette and Mathilde Poppe.
Rafael chose a table away from the stage and ordered Porto wine. The show was about to start. He searched the whole place with his eyes, trying to find a familiar face among so many people. Finally he found a face quite familiar that soon came to greet and hug him warmly. It was a man in his thirties, tall and with a strong build, dressed in an elegant English overcoat.
“Long time no see, my friend Rafael!”
“Donato, that’s so nice to see you again!”
“I hope I am not disturbing you, huh? You are certainly waiting for someone...”
“No, not at all! Have a seat!”
They sat together and Rafael offered him a glass of Porto wine.
“I heard you spent a while at the Old World. How is our old Paris?”
“Ah, those were unforgettable days, my friend! There, a man truly learns how to have fun.”
“Many elegant and beautiful women, I assume”, Donato said, mischievous.
“Yes, and much coldness, as well. It seems that the state of spirit of the people is directly linked to the climate of each season of the year. But how about you, what have you been doing? I know you got married to Atílio’s sister.”
“Ah, that was a mistake!”
“What do you say so?” Rafael asked, surprised with the sudden confession.
“But before everything, I don't want you to think I’m a floozy, ok?”
“Of course not!”
“The problem of the matrimony is not the spouses, my dear friend. They are the mothers-in-law.”
Rafael thought that was an interesting observation and tried to know more about it. Donato was tacit.
“I hate mine!” was what he said, swallowing a big gulp of his drink.
“But you must have a reason, huh? I know Atílio’s family well and I know Mrs. Veridiana is not that pleasant, but to say that you hate her...”
“But it is the simple truth, Rafael!”
“What about your wife? I know Atílio’s sister w
ell. Alma is dedicated to the church and extremely commended by society. And, besides, her family has a nobility title...”
“I have nothing to complain about Alma. I am the boss of her life. She is a devout wife, is always trying to please me. Now, that old lady... I cannot stand her! She insults me constantly, saying that I don't want to work, that I am nothing but a bloodsucker and that I exploit the family’s fortune.”
Rafael was quiet after hearing that. Everyone has his or her own cross to bear, he thought.
“But now, talk about yourself, because of me you already know a lot”, Donato laughed to himself.
“There is nothing much to tell, only that soon I will get married.”
“Alma had already said something about it. Is it with General Figueiredo’s daughter, isn't it?”
Rafael nodded his head, drinking a little more wine. In truth, it was the sixth or seventh glass. He could not even remember anymore, because the young man had never been too much into alcohol...
“So, are you not satisfied with your girl?” Donato inquired, suspicious.
“It is not that. She is a good woman and, besides, it was my father’s choice.”
“And why is that? We, men, have the luck to choose who we want.”
“It was an infamous deal!” Rafael was already won over by the wine and had not realized that when the mouth starts to speak too much, it is time to stop drinking.
“What do you mean? What are you talking about, man?” Donato questioned, chocked with the revelation.
“Debt, my friend! Damned gambling debt! And who got the worse in this one was I! The dowry of two and a half million was the price of my head. This pathetic tradition of selling daughters... If it weren’t because of this, I would still enjoy my bachelor status for much longer.”
After such an impressive outburst and confession, Donato preferred to stay silent. It was better to allow the lad to get all the emotions and problems off his chest. Rafael was an acquaintance for many years: a happy young man, friendly with other men and flirtatious with women. It was hard to imagine that he had to face this kind of situation.
“And there is something else, Donato.”
“What?”
“I don’t even know if I love the girl with whom I am getting married; and now there is this other girl that declared her love to me today...”
The conversation was getting interesting by the minute. Donato had always loved a good story...
“Who?”
“You don't know her. She is a young bourgeois girl who lives in Botafogo...”
“And is she pretty?”
“Very much so.”
“And what’s the problem?”
“She is very sassy! Can you imagine that it was she who declared herself to me this afternoon?! She sent me a message asking me to go to her house so that we could discuss the details of my fiancée’s birthday.”
Donato was marveling himself with that great story. He refilled Rafael’s glass, because the lad needed to free himself from this burden; after all, wasn't that what friends were for?
“And does this little bourgeois girl know your fiancée?”
“Yes, they are long-time friends.”
“In that case, the situation gets complicated!”
“Indeed.”
“You haven't told me this girl’s name yet.”
“I don't believe you know her. She doesn't belong to our social circles.”
“Who knows? This is a small world.”
“Oh, I doubt... do you want more wine?”
Donato gestured to him, indicating that for him it had been enough.
For the other one, it was just another wine glass. Less consciousness. More venting.
“Ah, Lorena!” Rafael mumbled.
Donato tried to understand. What had he said?
“What did you say, Rafael?”
“Nothing!” he answered, with his voice already altered due to the amount of alcohol consumed.
“See that you are not being truthful to me, one of long-time friends...”
“I’ve only seen this girl a couple of times... And the other time it was at the Cassino... She is very pretty, and you know, I am a man! I should have taken advantage of the situation...”
“And why haven't you done it yet?” Donato asked, inciting him.
“By God, may I not listen to your counsel!”
“And who will know? Isn’t it true that, until now, nobody knew about it?”
“That’s true.”
“So, why don't you go to her? You can get away with it, man! Enjoy new pleasures... Know that here, in Rio de Janeiro, you will not find too many women with this same intensity, although they do keep it very well under their skirts...”
“No!”
“You are a coward! You can't get it up!”
“Hold on! See how you talk to me!” Rafael was furious, talking loud and advancing angrily against Donato.
“Are you crazy, man? Did you lose your mind?”
“Then don’t provoke me!”
“All right, all right! Forgive me! It’s just that I think you should take advantage of this opportunity. You are going to be married soon and you may lose the best that life has to offer! This is what revolts me in this society. Why do we have to marry these stupid girls? Is that only because they have rich fathers? Why don't we marry these Alcazar beauties, who delight us and make us forget the social evils and grumpy mothers-in-law? This is what I think! If you have the opportunity to have fun, take advantage of it!”
They were silent for a while. Only the sound of the instruments and the artists singing could be heard at that time in the strip club. The live music, the barely-dressed women approaching the gentlemen, and the voices that vibrated and echoed in the air – all that contributed for Rafael to undue his armor and reveal the man he truly was: instinctive and animal. The alcohol simply stimulated him, undressing him from his fears and decency. He thought once again of Lorena and of the dramatic scene that she played in front of him. That woman truly desired him; for not even Carolina had showed such a strong attraction for him. The event of the Cassino came to his mind again, with the two of them being introduced, and the invitation to the square dance, the way Lorena looked at him, the tremor in her hands and her bewitching gaze. How fascinating she was! She didn't even look like the ugly duck he had met months before. Donato’s instigation, mixed with the lightheadedness of a good Porto wine, made him audacious enough to make a decision.
“Rafael, are you still there?” Donato inquired. “You seem to be with your head in a totally different place.”
“And how not to be?”
“Unfortunately, I have to go now... Don't you want to participate in a game of voltarete[35] in a few minutes?”
“No. Thank you!” Rafael said, getting up.
“And where do you think you are going?”
“To enjoy the city, because Rio de Janeiro is waiting for me outside!”
Chapter XIII
While the first meal of the day was being served, right after the prima hour[36], Mr. Gaspar and Mrs. Teodora heard Lorena’s tuned voice singing the lyrics of an opera song in front of her dresser mirror. Until last night, she was sad and languid; but she had woken up this morning with a happy spirit. Logically, the girl’s father was very surprised with the sudden mood change, which he shared with his wife.
“So, what really happened, Teodora? Even last night, this girl was worn out and sorrowful, and now she’s like this, all chirpy and happy, as if nothing happened...”
Mrs. Teodora confessed that she also didn’t understand anything, but that she would go check on what really had happened the previous afternoon. Lorena came down and joined them at the table for luncheon demonstrating excellent disposition and, while they ate, she asked permission to her father to go visit Mercedez after dinner. They were going to rehearse a popular song to sing at Carolina’s birthday.
“You have my permission. You can go.”
“And mo
m? Why don’t you come with me?”
“I have other commitments...” Mrs. Teodora responded, “but I’ll send in a little note to my friend, apologizing for not coming with you.”
“Oh, and dad, I almost forgot to ask you something else...”
“What you want, my child.”
“I would like to go to the seamstress tomorrow and I would like for you to let her know I need some new dresses.”
The father declined the request.
“I will let your mother take care of that, Lorena.”
“But mother already said she won’t!”
“And why?” he asked, looking to the wife.
“Well, Mr. Gaspar! This girl has more dresses than many of our neighbors’ daughters. Some of them have never even been used!”
“But some are already out of fashion, dad! They are full of lace, bows and layers... Now the trend is to wear dresses with crinoline and bustles...”
“Oh, the eternal feminine needs!” Mr. Gaspar exclaimed, already used to listening to this type of discussion in his store.
After the issue of the dresses was resolved, they finished their breakfast. Later on, the girl rented a horse-drawn carriage to go to Mercedes’. There, they rehearsed the chosen song several times, with Mrs. Piedade’s approval, who would cheer them on at the end of each of several runs, and who was accompanying them at the piano.
Only after the tea the two friends finally had a moment to talk more privately.
“How unwise you were, Lorena! Going to Carolina’s house without being invited was a very audacious attitude, to say the least. By chance, didn’t you think about the possibility that she might have not received you?”
“Well, I had to do it! Besides, it worked about well, for now I know how to deal with her. Carolina and I decided that what occurred was definitely a misunderstanding, and now, everything is back to normal.”
“I’m relieved to know! Besides, I had no idea how I would be able to conciliate my friendship with the two of you that way... But, on another note, tell me something...”
The Countess Of Assis - Romance, revenge and ambition during the Second Reign Page 9