Leopoldina frowned as she studied the text of the draft Treaty of Rio de Janeiro.
"This treaty is no good at all", she said.
"How?", asked Pedro. "It gives us what is vitally important, recognition by Portugal of our independence."
"In so many different ways", replied Leopoldina. "It states that your father 'yields and transfers from his free will' the sovereignty of Brazil to you and our heirs. His free will! Did all the blood sacrifices of the last three years not happen? Did not you yourself, in your great wisdom, guide this country to freedom?"
Pedro opened his mouth to argue, but Leopoldina continued:
"Furthermore, the Treaty says that your father 'takes and reserves for himself' the title of Emperor of Brazil, and that you consent to his use of the title that by rights is yours alone. Also, we are to pay Portugal 80 tons of gold in reparations. Reparations for what? For fighting for our rights? After all the depradations and insults that Portugal committed against us, yet it is we who are to compensate them? Should it not be the other way round? And last of all, Portugal is to have all her trading privileges restored."
Leopoldina put down the copy of the Treaty and looked at Pedro straight in the eye.
"The people will not accept this humiliation", she said. "There are already rumours afoot that you and your father are plotting together to reunite us with Portugal."
"Why, I have no such plans", said Pedro angrily. "How can you say so?"
"I did not say you had such plans", said Leopoldina calmly. "I would never suspect you of such a treacherous deed. But there are unfortunately many who believe so, and your father calling himself Emperor of Brazil - and your agreeing to this - is only fuelling them. The people will not like it if you agree to this disgrace of a treaty."
"I have to agree to it", replied Pedro. "The European powers have made it plain that they will not recognise our independence until Portugal does so."
"Shouldn't you at least wait until the General Assembly has convened?", asked Leopoldina. "Under the Constitution, it is they who are to ratify the Treaty."
"No", said Pedro, "I need to ratify it myself, while I still have that power. We need the countries of Europe to recognise us, so they will help promote immigration to this country, and thus aid our social and economic development - something we badly need. I also need to solve this issue quickly, to address the trouble in Cisplatina."
Although Pedro had succeeded in crushing the Confederation of the Equator, with 16 rebel leaders executed and the remainder pardoned, in Cisplatina matters were starting to come to a head. A group of 33 men had started a rebellion, proclaiming union with the United Provinces - the situation had proved to be more serious that Pedro had anticipated. In addition, Pedro thought, hadn't Domitilia already told him that ratifying the Treaty was the right thing to do?
Leopoldina opened her mouth to argue, but soon realised it was useless.
Pedro had informed Leopoldina that he was going to present a potential new lady-in-waiting to her, and hoped that she would be so gracious as to appoint this lady to the position. Leopoldina was sitting in her chambers, awaiting the new arrival. Maybe, she thought, this new lady-in-waiting would be a good friend, one in whom she could confide her growing concerns about what Pedro was doing.
The door to the room opened: Leopoldina stood up, and smiled, as Pedro came in, followed by a woman she had never seen before.
"Leopoldina, this is Domitilia de Castro, Baroness of Santos, whose father has done great service to me", said Pedro. "My lady Baroness, this is the Empress."
Domitilia curtsied and kissed Leopoldina's hand, as Pedro had instructed her to.
Leopoldina smiled again.
"Welcome to Boa Vista Palace, Domitilia", she said.
"Your Imperial Majesty", said Domitilia, "this is the greatest honour, and I promise to be your faithful servant."
"I have no doubt", answered Leopoldina, "and I willingly appoint you to my service."
Domitilia jumped up and laughed for joy: this disturbed Leopoldina, but not as much as what she glimpsed in Pedro's face. He was beaming, looking as happy as Leopoldina had ever seen him, and his eyes glanced at Domitilia: he quickly turned away, once he knew Leopoldina was staring at him, and stared awkwardly at the floor.
Leopoldina's eyes narrowed.
"Is there anything going on between the two of you?", she asked.
"Well . . . nothing, really . . ." spluttered Pedro.
"Don't lie to me", said Leopoldina: there was a rare note of sternness in her face.
"Pedro has been very good to me . . .", began Domitilia.
" 'Pedro'?," repeated Leopoldina.
Pedro strode forward and put his arm around Domitilia: she rested her head on his shoulder, and he caressed her.
"Well, yes, you are right", he said awkwardly to Leopoldina.
Domitilia smirked at the Empress.
Leopoldina bowed her head.
"But this doesn't mean I don't love you", said Pedro earnestly. "It's just that I love Domitilia as well, and she loves me."
"And I'm supposed to be happy with that?", demanded Leopoldina. "Happy that my husband, the man I love, sleeps with another woman? Happy that you are breaking your wedding vows? Happy that you are disobeying the Seventh Commandment?" She did her best to avoid Domitilia's gloating grin.
"I can love more than one woman", said Pedro, his voice rising
"I am your lawful wedded wife", said Leopoldina. "I am the one that you are pledged to, the mother of your children, the one who has always loved and been faithful to you."
She was on the verge of tears.
"Now, now", said Pedro, "it is quite improper for a wife to question her husband's actions like this."
"And it is improper for a husband to be unfaithful to his wife!", said Leopoldina. "It's immoral, it's against the law of God, it's . . ."
Distracted, she strode out of the chamber, as fast as her dignity and her pregnancy would allow, doing her best to hide her tears. She made her way to the nursery, where Maria, Januária and Paula were playing, joined by their nine month-old sister Francisca, known as Chica. The girls all ran to their mother and hugged her.
"What's wrong, Mama?", asked Maria.
"I can't tell you", answered Leopoldina.
"Is it something about Papa?", asked Januária, placing a consoling hand on Leopoldina's arm. Leopoldina smiled, despite herself.
"No", she said quickly.
Paula smiled shyly at her mother, while Chica danced around and pulled a few faces: eventually Leopoldina broke out into a laugh. Perhaps if my baby is a boy, Pedro will treat me better, she thought.
"It's a boy!", proclaimed the midwife.
"Hurrah! At last!", shouted Pedro, jumping for joy.
Leopoldina, thoroughly exhausted and breathing very heavily, smiled as broadly as she could. Weakly she stretched out her arms and gently caressed her newborn son.
"You are the future of Brazil", she told him proudly.
She beckoned to her four daughters to come to her bedside and say hello to their baby brother. Maria looked resentful, even though Leopoldina did her best to explain that the fact she was no longer the heir did not mean she was any less loved.
"What will you call him?", inquired the midwife.
"His name is Pedro, but we shall call him Pedrinho", the Emperor replied at once.
"Can I hold him?", asked Domitilia: she was holding Pedro's hand.
"Certainly not", said Leopoldina.
"That's so unfair of her", complained Domitilia, turning imploringly to Pedro.
"Hand him over", Pedro commanded.
"I shall not", insisted Leopoldina. "I am the Empress, I am his mother, and . . .
"And I am his father, the Emperor, and your husband", said Pedro: there was a slight but unmistakable angry tone in his voice. "I order you to hand him over to the Viscountess of Santos."
Leopoldina gave an exasperated sigh, and reluctantly allowed the midwife to pick the baby up and place him in Domitilia's arms. Leopoldina turned away, unable to bear the sneering look Domitilia was giving her. The four princesses turned away from the bed to stare in confusion at this strange scene: Maria glared at Domitilia.
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