The Countess Of Assis - Romance, revenge and ambition during the Second Reign

by PAULO FOSCHI, JOÃO; Sobrinho, Vanusa;

  “Oh, so this is how you show you care about the two of us...” Mercedes protested, whimpering.

  “I’m sorry! I didn’t express myself well... That does not mean we will no longer be friends. But you have to understand that I will have other obligations and interests...” Carolina noticed that her comment was not received well and now she was trying to butter them up with her comments and a fake smile. “Come on now! You both know that as well I as I do...”

  After they finished their little argument, the hostess invited them to go to her room. When they got there, the girl opened all the trunks and showed them the dozens and dozens of dresses, all of them displaying the latest Paris fashion trends, which Carolina insisted in showing to them.

  “Wow! How many dresses!!!” Mercedes exclaimed.

  “And this is because I got rid of a bunch of them, because they were already dated, out of fashion. These are the ones I intend to keep for now.”

  “And they are all breathtaking, by the way!” Lorena was enchanted with the enormous quantity of expensive and dazzling clothes.

  “I’m relieved to know that you two do not suffer from the sin of jealousy”, the owner of all those dresses commented, malicious.

  “Of course not!” Mercedes censured her.

  “Let’s see this one...” Carolina said, looking at herself in the mirror with one of the outfits she had just taken out of one of the trunks. “No, this one is also dated...”

  “It is very pretty!” Lorena exclaimed, dazzled by the style.

  “So come here and try it on.”

  “But me...”

  “Just try it on!” Carolina insisted, in a bossy tone.

  Lorena, trying to please her friend, tried the dress on, and then as she stood in front of the mirror, she thought she was stunning. However, while she admired herself in the dress, Carolina started laughing.

  “What’s so funny?” Mercedes asked, uneasy.

  “Nothing in particular...” the dress owner answered, getting up from the bed. “And I don’t want to be unfair, but I think that this dress doesn’t looked very good on you, Lorena...”

  The Duartes Valões’ daughter saddened with such a harsh comment. How could someone consider her as a friend and still manage to say something like that to her? Oh, how she wanted to say her mind to Carolina! But, for now, she needed to be patient...

  “I don’t want you to take to heart what I am going to say, but I think that a dress like that must be worn by someone of the same class. This doesn’t match your style. It is all a matter of... how can I say it? ... Aisance!” and Carolina smiled with the restrict use of that word. “I know that sometimes you may think that I am unkind and even disagreeable, but we are true friends, and it is for this reason that I prefer to be truthful with you as I am being right now...”

  Lorena foresaw that, once again, she would hear something unpleasant and prepared her ears so that she wouldn’t get mad at Carolina again. Mercedes, however, couldn’t hide her anger for having to hear that superior tone in her friend’s voice.

  “I know I was born under a star and that I belong to one of the most important families of the Court... I am a pretty woman and I am rich... But, even so, I don't consider myself better than others...” and she continued her speech while she stood, as if she really was feeling herself superior. “But I want to make it clear that the world out there has no mercy on anyone. It is not so much for Mercedes that I say this, but for you, Lorena. Being a businessman’s daughter is still an obstacle to find a good husband. Of course, you can be sure that I will do whatever I can to help you out. You can always count on me.”

  “I am very thankful for that, Carolina!” Lorena answered sarcastically. “However, I believe that for love we are capable of facing any obstacle.”

  “But in our society?” the friend questioned, shaking ‘no’ with her head. “This only happens on the Cinderella stories, sweetheart... But let’s not waste time anymore, we came here to select dresses and not to discuss social problems!”

  There was a knock at the door.

  It was a slave announcing that Mr. Rafael Abrantes had come to visit her. Carolina was suddenly flustered with that unannounced visit and asked her two friends to go downstairs while she prepared herself to see her fiancée. Lorena felt her heart skip a beat, because once more she would see her beloved Rafael. Maybe this was the best of opportunities. I was also born under a star, Carolina, she thought. The young man was sitting down, with his leg crossed and in the middle of a conversation with General Figueiredo on the living room.

  “Ladies!” the militant greeted them, getting up.

  “Oh, please, we don't want to disturb you. We were already getting ready to leave, weren’t we, Mercedes?”

  “I would never allow that you leave my house without a male escort! General Figueiredo protested. “I will send the horseman to prepare the carriage and...”

  “No need to go through all that, general!” Rafael interrupted. “As my visit here will be brief, I will be happy to take the ladies to their homes. If you two don't mind waiting a little bit, I can take you home myself.”

  “We thank you for your kindness, Mr. Rafael.” Lorena consented. “Mercedes and I can wait as long as it is necessary.”

  Carolina came downstairs soon enough and greeted her future husband, but as the real reason for Rafael’s visit was to talk to her father, the girl preferred to keep a certain distance and to hang out with her friends. While the two men walked to the library, Carolina invited them back to her room. Lorena realized that this was a good opportunity to know more about the gentleman. In regards to him, everything was important to know, and she couldn’t miss a chance to know one more of his secrets or intentions.

  “Carolina, I’m sorry, but I am a little thirsty”, her friend said, looking for an excuse to go back to the living room.

  “I will ask the servant to bring you a glass of water...”

  “No, not need to do that!” Lorena quickly retorted. “Why to go through all that? I can go there myself and ask her, thank you.”

  “Feel free to go, then!”

  She quickly walked back to the living room, from where she could get access to the library. Being very careful, she approached the door of the room to see if she could hear anything, something that could expose Rafael. She looked both ways, fearing to be caught by Carolina, Mrs. Leonor or any of the servants. Nobody nearby.

  “General, I come representing my father. He wants to know if the business has already been taken care of.” It was Rafael’s voice.

  “It is still too early, young man! Let’s wait until the end of the ceremony tomorrow, and then your father won’t have to worry about anything else.” Lorena recognized General Figueiredo’s deep voice on the other side of the door.

  “But, general, I promised that I would fulfill my part of the deal!”

  “And you are fulfilling it very well, Mr. Rafael. I will know how to honor you for that, on the right time.”

  “You know that I don't love Carolina, and you still want me to marry her?”

  “Our business has nothing to do with love, young man! I needed to marry my daughter and you were available. And also thank me for helping your family to get rid of all your debt and shame. Your father, a man I have always admired, now in this condition, drowned with gambling debts...”

  “There is no need for you to tell me that. As if it wasn’t enough what we have been through, with the creditors knocking at our door every day.”

  “And, above all, I am a zealous father. I would never allow my daughter to marry just anyone. In our society, agreements such as this are made every day. It is a type of deal done since the beginning of times. Well, my dear, what your father and I settled is not a new thing! And besides, you will also win in this deal. Don’t forget Carolina is very pretty.”

  Lorena couldn't believe her ears. This meant that the marriage with Rafael was a sham! She quickly got away from the door and, she was so shocked with what she had
just heard, that she even forgot to go ask the servant for a glass of water, just so that nobody noticed her presence. She returned to Carolina’s room, who soon noticed her scared face.

  “What happened? You look like you saw a ghost.”

  “It’s nothing! It is just that when I was coming upstairs I almost slipped and fell. But in a few minutes the paleness will go away...”

  As the minutes passed by, and remembering everything she had heard, Lorena came to the conclusion that she had a trump card to help her to win Rafael. Yes, she had discovered his secret, and now she could require from him whatever she wanted. Once more she thanked Carolina’s “good star”, for she knew she had a weapon in her hands. It was better not to say anything about the pregnancy, for now. She would have to marry Atílio and, this way, she could slowly approach Rafael’s family. She would know how to be patient and, on the right time, she would checkmate.

  When they arrived at Voluntários da Pátria Street, Lorena thanked Rafael for his kindness in accompanying her. While they travelled to Botafogo, the young man noticed that the girl barely talked to him and didn’t advance towards him like in the past, but acted very coldly. Evidently, this gave him some relief. But what a grave mistake! It was indeed from that day forward that the girl wouldn’t leave him alone.

  “I thank you again for your kindness bringing me home.”

  “You’re welcome, Miss Lorena!”

  “Mr. Rafael, I’m still not sure. It is something you never clarified since that memorable afternoon.”

  “What is it?”

  “Do you love Carolina or not?”

  “Of course I love her!” he answered promptly.

  “Liar!”

  “If you don't believe in what I am telling you, then why are you asking me in the first place?”

  “Because I wanted to know how far your capacity to deceive people goes.”

  “I’m not deceiving anyone!” Rafael exclaimed, irritated.

  “All right. I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Now, if you will excuse me, I must go to bed early, because tomorrow there is a wedding, which I most certainly cannot miss. See you later, Mr. Rafael!”

  “See you later, Miss Lorena!”

  And on the following day, Rafael and Carolina got married.

  Chapter XVIII

  A beautiful property located on the proximities of the Tijuca was the chosen place for the new couple Abrantes to reside. From there, it was possible to see the boats that passed by through that firth for the last two decades. The Tijuca neighborhood was a long extension of Rio de Janeiro that was exuberant and paradisiac, where many big states with mansions had been built; and Carolina and Rafael’s home was another one of those magnificent constructions, made to perpetuate a patrimony accumulated through various generations.

  It was the beginning of another Monday.

  Right after the time of the Lauds[41], Rafael’s wife was getting ready to read the Jornal do Commercio[42], when she was taken by surprise after reading a certain section of the paper.

  “But what does this mean?” Carolina asked herself, with shock in her face. She was reading the day’s edition, because she was used to follow the latest chapter of the novel pamphlet from the newspaper. However, what caused such a surprise were not the adventures of her favorite heroin, but a piece of shocking news. The newlywed Mrs. Abrantes was still recovering from the shock: how is it that Lorena hadn’t told her that she was going to be married? On the contrary! She kept it a secret, preferring not to say a word about it, not even that she was been courted by a gentleman, especially someone like Atílio Santiago. Not even on the day she got married, with all the glamour that an event like that required, Lorena felt herself inspired to share with her a commitment so important in the life of a woman.

  Rafael was still adjusting his tie when his wife abruptly entered the bedroom.

  “What is going on, Carolina?” he inquired.

  “You won’t believe it! Unless you already knew of the news and decided not to share with me.” She answered, visibly irritated.

  “Be a little bit more clear, please!”

  “Atílio Santiago is getting married again!”

  “So?” Rafael said, not caring much. “Being a widow is not a good state for a man so young like him. We should congratulate him!”

  “And don't you want to know who the bride is?”

  “Someone from our circle of friends, I am assuming”, he said, indifferent.

  “Yes. With Miss Lorena Duarte Valão! It is here in the daily news!”

  Rafael took the newspaper and read the note. It was a small announcement that informed about the details such as place and date of the ceremony of the couple.

  The doctor of prominent family, Mr. Atílio da Veiga Santiago, will contract wedlock in the district of the province of Rio de Janeiro, on the eighth day of December of 1884, in the Nossa Senhora de Copacabana Chapel, with Miss Lorena Duarte Valão. The bride, until now unknown in our ballrooms, can be already very proud of the title that she will now have as Countess of Assis.

  “So, Atílio and Lorena will get married soon, huh?” Rafel inquired thoughtfully.

  “What do you think of all this? I, for example, confess that I am disappointed.”

  “And why?”

  “Well, I thought that Lorena and I were friends, but no! She simply hid this news from all of us and allow us to know about something so important this way, in the paper!”

  “Don't be upset. We would all eventually know, sooner or later.”

  “I don’t know...”

  “They must have their reasons.”

  “Oh, and I can only imagine which reasons!”

  “But what is the problem?”

  “Don't you think it is strange that Atílio might be getting married with Lorena? And this way, so suddenly...” Carolina was thinking quite coldly. Not that her friend’s wedding affected her, but something seemed wrong. “Do you think she did something stupid?”

  “What kind of stupid thing?” he asked suspiciously.

  “Not that I like to talk about my friends’ intimacy to other people, but you are my husband and I don't see why I cannot confess that I judge Lorena to be a little of a slut. Besides, don't you forget what happened at the Cassino...”

  “There you go with that story again!” Rafael was already uncomfortable talking about Lorena and now his wife started insinuating things again.

  “You know that it is not about a story! Lorena acted improperly, accepting to dance so many songs with you as if you two were a couple.”

  “If that happened it was because I insisted. Please, why don't you get it over your mind once and for all?”

  “Rafael, don't you ever think I am stupid, did you hear me?”

  Carolina’s husband didn't have another option, but to be defeated and stop insisting on the subject. The best would be to go back to the story about Atílio’s wedding, to stay away from this unpleasant jealousy crisis his wife was suffering. And he knew how to proceed to avoid a possible argument.

  “My dear, don't exaggerate!” Rafael said, smiling. “This is what happens when one reads too many pamphlet novels, now you are seeing things! What have you been reading? Why don't you go pay Lorena a visit and try to get along with her, huh?”

  “Oh, I am still not convinced.” Carolina answered, crossing her arms in front of her. “They must be hiding something, Rafael... Lorena getting married with Atílio...”

  “What do we have to do with it?” her husband asked, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Let them get married! Isn't it the law of life? What? Do you think that you are the only one entitled to happiness?”

  “But this note in the paper was not in a good tone! Why didn't she announced this wedding formally, inviting us and her other friends and acquaintances?”

  “You are thinking bad of her because you were not invited to an event that didn't even occur yet? You are something!” her husband censured her.

  “But you know that
I am right!” Carolina affirmed, turning her back to him.

  “If I know Atílio well, he is extremely reserved. I wouldn’t doubt that all this secrecy is his doing.”

  “And what’s wrong in announcing a wedding?”

  “Each person is different, Carolina!”

  “But see that it was different with us...”

  “Stop creating ghosts in your head! Have you forgotten what you promised me, huh? Aren’t you going to please your dear husband?” Rafael asked, touching her chin.

  Carolina didn't resist the effect of that gesture and smiled. The husband, approaching her, kissed her forehead.

  “Stop thinking about all this nonsense! Now you are a married woman, and therefore should occupy yourself with other issues.”

  “You are right! Forgive me! I was brought up with so many rules, and I became a slave of them... are you going to go out this morning?”

  “Yes, I’m meeting Otávio and Eduardo at the office.

  “I didn’t want to be here, alone”, she complained. “We just got married a few days ago and you are all full of commitments.”

  “Carolina, please! We already agreed that we would go on our honeymoon right after the end of the year. Now, with Lorena’s wedding, I imagine that you will give total support to your friend, won't you?”

  “Indeed”, she answered, dry and sarcastic.

  Rafael took his watch out of his suit pocket in order to check the time.

  “Well, I have to go now. Try to distract yourself. Why don't you go shopping on Ouvidor Street?”

  “I will see what I can do to distract myself... See you later, honey!”

  When the door closed, Carolina hadn't recovered from the shock yet. Why did Lorena choose to keep something so important as a secret?”

  “Something is not right! I am sure there is more to it!”

  After Rafael left his house he remembered the last conversation he had with Lorena. Indeed, she hadn't lied. There was the proof, in the newspaper’s note that he had just read. What Rafael couldn't understand was how a woman who said to be so in love with him would soon be marrying another. In fact, he didn't understand why he felt something odd when he heard about Lorena’s marriage to Atílio. Would that be possible that... No, he couldn't be jealous! That woman never meant anything to him. What had happened that night was the result of acting without thinking, provoked by drinking too much and without any major consequences. Now, he was curious to know how Atílio would react if he knew how Lorena had given herself to him without reserve and without any modesty. And so ardently!