“We will discuss a date, and then we will see”, he answered.
After supper, they moved to the living room in order to continue their conversation. While Atílio and Rafael enjoyed a fine cigar, Lorena played songs on the piano. The governess kept praising the mastery of her employer, playing the notes so effortlessly, and kept applauding her for such a great agility.
“Ah, my lady, how you play divinely well!”
“Don't exaggerate, Fanny!” Lorena smiled, blushing.
“I always wanted to play the piano, but my master chancellor never allowed me to, for he thought that my enthusiasm could lead me to an unholy life.”
“That’s a bit of a stretch!”
“But it is true, milady!” the governess insisted vehemently.
“It is not her fault, my dear! Atílio intervened, smiling. “My mother had already informed me that Fanny received an impeccable education, but it was also extremely conservative.”
“I apologize, Fanny, but I don't know if in your place I would had withstood all that...” Lorena commented, impressed.
“That’s not important, milady! I am happy to at least being able to hear such beautiful melodies.”
Meanwhile, Rafael, who had just checked on his watch, realized it was getting late.
“Atílio, my friend, it is already late. I need to go home.” He announced, getting up.
“But it is still early, man!” the host protested.
“Mrs. Carolina must be worried. You know better than me how women tend to be!”
They hugged themselves.
“Mrs. Lorena, it was a pleasure seeing you again”, Rafael commented, kissing her hand as he bid her goodbye.
“Send my greetings to Carolina” she requested.
“Have a good night!” and saying that, he left.
Later on, while Atílio and Lorena were getting ready to go to bed, the husband was commenting about Rafael Abrantes’ visit. The wife, languid, was brushing her long black hair in front of the dresser, oblivious to everything around her.
“Don’t you agree, Lorena?”
“Huh?”
“I asked if you have the same opinion as me...”
“About what?”
“What? By chance, weren’t you listening to me?”
“Forgive me, Atílio! I was thinking about Mercedes...”
“Did something happen to your friend?” the husband questioned her.
“Personal problems...” Lorena was admiring her reflection on the silvery brush she had in her hands.
“Love problems?” he asked, looking at her sideways.
“Family problems...” she answered, while she resumed brushing her hair.
Silence in the room.
“Atílio, I wanted to ask you one more thing.”
“What is it...?” he said, approaching her, and looking at themselves together in the mirror.
“I would like Mercedes to stay with us for a while, here in our house.”
“Why are you asking me this?”
“Because she is my friend and is going through problems with my godparents.”
“I don't want you to get involved in other people’s problems.” He said, wary, going back to the bed.
Lorena turned in her chair, abandoning her reflection on the mirror to look him in the eyes.
“It is not about other people’s problems. Mercedes is like a sister to me, Atílio! What harm would it be to receive her in our house for a few days?”
“I just don't want to bring problems to our home. Why do you worry so much about problems that don't even concern you?”
“If she is here or not, I will worry the same way”, she answered, incisive, turning back to the mirror.
Her husband exhaled.
“Ok, then, as you wish...”
Lorena, listening to her husband’s answer, run to their bed and covered him with kisses, hugging him.
“Oh, my sweetheart, I knew you would not deny my request! And, besides, it will be only for a few days...”
Atílio took his wife’s face in his hands and talked to her tenderly.
“You know very well that I cannot deny you anything. You are my life! Don't ever forget that.”
And he kissed her ardently.
The following day, Lorena lay down on the sofa to read another one of her romance novels. It was a recent translation of the Le Comte de Monte-Cristo[47], by Alexandre Dumas[48]. She was so concentrated in her reading that she didn't notice Fanny approaching.
“You scared the hell of out of me, creature!”
“Pardon, milady!” the governess apologized, all worried.
“Did something happen?”
“No, milady! It’s just that I already finished my morning tasks and was wondering if you would like some company.”
“Of course! Have a seat!”
Fanny sat on a nearby bench, exactly at Lorena’s feet.
“What are you reading?” she asked, with interest.
“The Count of Mount Cristo”.
“By monsieur Dumas? It’s excellent!” Fanny told her enthusiastically.
“Have you read it?”
“Yes, but I read it in French.”
“I’m intrigued by the story, even though it is not one of my favorite novels... Dantès[49] did everything to recover what was taken from him...”
“It is a story of revenge, milady. The main character had his reasons for what he did. He was in his right...”
“I didn’t know that you had this kind of sentiment, Fanny!” Lorena exclaimed, admired.
“It is not about it, milady, but I believe that much of what we do to others, we end up paying for.”
“Ah!”
“Wouldn’t you revenge someone who did something very bad to you?”
“Certainly so!” the employer affirmed, indignant.
“And so? Tell me, milady! Isn’t there someone for whom you have developed this kind of sentiment?”
“And why should I tell you?” Lorena asked suspiciously.
“Forgive me for what I’m going to say, and I don't want you to think of me as someone nosy, but I noticed a certain disdain on your part in regard to that gentleman who came here last night...”
“Mr. Rafael Abrantes?”
Fanny nodded her head.
“I won’t deny he is someone I disgust...”
“But what you feel for him certainly didn’t come from nothing.”
“Where do you want to get with this?” Lorena inquired, irritated.
“To nowhere! Didn’t I just tell you not to take to heart what I was going to say?”
“Well... the problem is not exactly him, but his wife.”
“Mrs. Carolina? But aren’t you two friends?”
“Carolina has already humiliated me a lot in the past... Oh, if I had an opportunity to revenge myself! Offending comments, the arguments... She talks about me on my back and now is hanging out with the dissimulating Adelaide. That is another jealous woman! She can’t get over that I am the one who got married to Atílio.”
“Are you referring to your husband’s cousin?”
“Yes, she is a despiteful woman, because she wanted to be the new Countess of Assis herself.”
Fanny opened her eyes wide.
“Don’t be so alarmed, my dear!” Lorena commented, with her eyes almost closed. “Another one who I can’t stand is Mrs. Veridiana...”
“But milady, she is your mother-in-law!”
“And what’s that have to do with it? You have no idea how I have been humiliated for months, putting up with insults and sarcastic comments every day. It would be great if that wretched old lady could disappear from my life forever.”
“Just know, milady, you can count on me!” Fanny declared.
The employer stared at her governess with shock.
“I’m grateful to those who do good to me, and you have always been extremely generous to me; you didn't leave me abandoned when I was on the streets, without work and alone in this world. You c
an count on me for whatever it may be that you need, Mrs. Lorena!”
“Can I count on your loyalty, Fanny?”
“Certainly so!”
“All right, then! I won’t forget what you just told me, and I will remember to honor you for your fidelity.”
The governess approached Lorena and kissed her hand.
“All your enemies are mine as well, milady!”
Chapter XXIII
“Adelaide, what a pleasure to have you in my home!” The Countess of Assis exclaimed, coming down the stairs of the hall.
Lorena’s enemy had just arrived, and was standing in front of her, as she had always been — elegant and superior. However, Atílio’s arrogant cousin couldn’t have imagined the intensity of her disaffection for inviting her to come to her house.
“I couldn’t refuse your invitation, especially because it had been a long time since I wanted to see my cousin again.”
“Ah, my apologies! Atílio is not home, but maybe he will come home soon...”
Lorena asked Fanny to serve them a drink, while they talked about the latest gossips of the Court.
“Did you like the house decoration?”
“Yes, it is of a very good taste...” Adelaide responded, examining the environment around her.
“You have no idea how much work I had in order to make it all according to Atílio’s taste...”
“I know my cousin very well, Lorena. Don’t you forget that we dated for a while...”
“Of course! How could I have forgotten?”
“I still don't understand the reason for this sudden invitation.”
“Well... I wouldn’t ask you to come all the way here if it wasn’t for a purpose”, the house owner declared, glaring at her guest with determination.
“I suppose so”, Adelaide spoke, with disdain.
“I asked you to come here so that we could overcome our differences...” Lorena was determined to involve her in an argument and for that, she needed to act in perfect dissimulation. She walked up to the big dinning room table and started touching its chairs, purposefully standing in front of Atílio’s cousin. “And this, because we are not just mere acquaintances... I would say we are even more than friends... relatives, why not think that way?”
“What’s the point of all of this, Lorena?”
“I know I am quite impulsive and that, sometimes, I end up being misunderstood... but I don’t want this feature I have to be a reason for contention between us...”
“If it depends on me...” Atílio’s cousin consented.
“You will see soon enough that it does depend solely on you!” Lorena retorted, with a mysterious gaze. “Pardon me, I don't want you to feel offended by what I’m going to say... it is just that, in reality, the reason for my dislike it that we are so very different from each other.”
“Maybe not so much...”
“But in your case it is different... you can see that, in the Court, there is no such a lady more fought for than Adelaide Santiago! Everybody knows that! They even talk about it on Ouvidor Street, about the gowns you use, the trips you have made... while I am a restrained woman, without so many attributes...”
Adelaide smiled.
“I still haven’t understood your intentions.”
“My only intention is to apologize for the way I have treated you. This is getting in the way for us to get to know each other better. You are the one who would have been the perfect Countess!”
“I won’t deny that the title goes very well with my personality. I even understand that you may feel shy or restrained, but feeling yourself inferior to me, I have to disagree! Isn’t the Countess of Assis one of the close companions of princess Isabel, and now it is the new queen of the Carioca ballrooms? Unfortunately, I still maintain a captive position among my admirers.”
Lorena approached the woman again, holding her hands.
“Adelaide, I want us to be friends! And it is because I have great esteem for you that I intend to invite you to go up to Petrópolis with me as soon as I am again invited by the princess.”
“There is no need for that! I have been to many soirées in Petrópolis myself”, she said arrogantly.
“I am aware of that”, Lorena retorted, nodding her head. “The Santiago family is well-known in the Court, and it is for this reason that this simple plebeian who just entered the Fluminense saloons enjoys certain privileges, such as assisting the emperor’s daughter directly.”
Adelaide swallowed hard with that affirmation.
“All right, Lorena. We may be friends, then!” she said, extending her hand.
“I’m so happy with your decision, my dear!” The Countess of Assis responded, matching her gesture. “And now...” she said, seating down, “I hope there are no more grudges between us.”
After they came to an understanding, Lorena showed the mansion to Adelaide, and they talked for a long time until Atílio came home from the city, accompanied by Alma and Donato.
“Cousin Adelaide, what a good surprise to find you here!” Alma said, greeting her.
“I’m also happy to see my dear relatives again... How do you do, Atílio?”
“I’m very well, thank you!”
“And how about me, don’t you greet me any more, my dear Adelaide?” Donato inquired, with a scornful demeanor.
Adelaide and Donato had known each other for a long time, even before he had married Atílio’s sister. However, it was known in the family that the two couldn't stand each other.
“Of course, unless you still consider me as a prideful woman”, she said, extending her hand for him to kiss.
“My dear Adelaide!” Donato commented sarcastically. “Have you never heard they saying that: a leopard can't change its spots?”
The woman looked at him with fury in her eyes, capable of exterminating him from this planet. But what a repugnant idiot! She thought. However, Adelaide’s tongue worked as fast as her thoughts.
“Oh, yes? I know of a more appropriate expression that says: don’t poke the bear”, she answered, challenging him.
“Guys, please!” Lorena intervened.
“Donato!” Alma exclaimed.
“All right!” he exhaled. “Let’s give it a break; after all, I came here to visit my dear brother-in-law and I don’t want to spoil our visit.”
“We weren’t expecting you, Adelaide”, Atílio commented, seating down.
“Lorena invited me to discuss something, but it is my time to go. Besides, I don’t want to be an inconvenience...” saying that, Adelaide started in the direction of the door.
“Please, I will accompany to the front door”, the host volunteered.
Already by the gates, while the woman was getting settled in the carriage, Lorena commented with her:
“Adelaide, let’s schedule a new meeting. I will send you a message suggesting a time and place. Our conversation hasn’t finished yet.”
“I will be at your disposition, my dear! See you soon!”
When Lorena returned to the living room, she found Alma and Donato arguing about the malicious comment. After they had settled down, she was finally informed about the purpose of such an unexpected visit from her sister-in-law.
“Lorena, I came to your house to talk to you about a very important issue”, Alma declared.
“And what is it?”
Alma looked at her brother as if she was begging for help.
“It is that... well... we would like...”
Atílio ended up intervening.
“What Alma wants to say, Lorena, is that mother is extending you an invitation.”
“An invitation from Mrs. Veridiana?” She said, quite shocked.
“Yes”, Alma completed. “Mother has asked me to come here to call on you. It is because it’s her birthday, and it has been settled that we are going to organize a party for her next Sunday. We will invite all our relatives and friends. In fact, uncle Frederico and Adelaide will be there.”
“And why didn't she come t
o invite me herself?” Lorena asked.
The Santiago siblings looked at each other.
“Well, we all know that the relationship between the two of you is delicate... But mother promised that she would avoid being disagreeable, Lorena. She gave me her word! Besides, Atílio must be present in such an event like this and...”
“I am his wife!” she completed emphatically. “All right, I don't see any problem in that. We will be there, then!”
Alma’s face lightened up.
“I’m very happy you accepted the invitation!”
“Of course! She is my mother-in-law, isn’t she? Will it be at the Laranjeiras mansion?”
“No, it will be at Andaraí. It is one of our uncle’s state.”
“Will there be other people we know?” Lorena asked.
“Yes, my dear! Atílio completed. “And curiously, Rafael Abrantes’ family was invited. You will be able to enjoy Carolina’s company.”
This means the two of them will be there. Very well, Rafael! It is now that my revenge will get under way! The Countess of Assis smiled, already excited for what was to come.
When Sunday arrived, it was the day of Mrs. Veridiana’s birthday. Although the Andaraí neighborhood had already shown a little progress, with the installation of the first textile factories in the region, the extremely traditional community still preserved the purity of an idyllic landscape, which extended until the limits of the Tijuca.
The state belonging to Mrs. Emília da Veiga Monforte was one of these historic residencies, built to receive a great number of guests. Mrs. Veridiana’s youngest sister was a widow and, after her husband’s death, only a slave couple, called Antônio and Rosaura, was her constant company. Her two sons had established their homes in the region of Minas Gerais and rarely visited the Court. For Mrs. Emília, that would be a festive and happy day in which her bad mood would vanish.
The guests were arriving and complimenting Mrs. Veridiana on her special day. However, the most expected attraction of the day was to witness once more the beauty and refinement displayed by her daughter-in-law. When Lorena entered the hall, everybody turned around to admire her. She was an angel that had fallen from heaven with the intention to bewitch all the gentlemen present at the party, or even the devil himself who had come to torment all the unfortunate ladies with her exquisite beauty.
The Countess Of Assis - Romance, revenge and ambition during the Second Reign Page 17