The day of the ball arrived. The hardwood floors of the Bela Vista Hotel shone with polish and its crystal chandeliers shimmered with rich aqueous luxury. There were a dozen tables draped in linen and lace and set with Sheffield silverware and Baccarat glass. Surrounding each table were eight rosewood chairs, each with its own bright yellow damask cushion.
Nadia arrived early, dressed in a black silk evening gown with fitted waist and sleeves. Earlier, she had volunteered to oversee the seating plan, the flower arrangements, the party favours and the silent auction. She removed her new and rather uncomfortable shoes and set to work. First, she positioned a centerpiece of orchids on each table. Next she spread an assortment of paper masks and foil-wrapped chocolates amongst the tableware. And afterwards, having ensured that cigars from the Tabacaria were made available to guests, she set out the place cards according to the seating plan.
She put herself between a local hotelier and a man called Rodrigues, who was editor of one of the local newspapers. She sat Iain next to Izabel and the Governor’s wife, Senhora de Sousa Barbossa on Table 1. And she sat Anna as far away from Iain as the ballroom allowed, on Table 12.
With this done, Nadia examined her face in one of the tall gilt mirrors and smoothed the front of her dress with her hands. She looked at her watch. It was time to lay out the auction catalogues, which she placed on every chair. She ran her eyes over the first six lots. There was a small watercolour by the artist George Chinnery, donated by the Governor; two tickets to see La Traviata at the Dom Pedro V Theatre; a pair of jade-and-onyx cufflinks; a hand-crafted 3-ft long replica of a Chinese Imperial junk made from Philippine mahogany; a complimentary dinner for four at Foo Lum Noodle Cafe; and – this one made Nadia smile – a set of Scottish dance lessons to be taught by Iain Sutherland Esq.
Nadia placed a phonograph record, a 10-inch seventy-eight by Jimmy Mackay, on top of Iain’s bid sheet then went across the room to collect her shoes.
At six o’clock people started to filter in. They took their drinks from silver trays and stood on the breezy verandah overlooking the Praya, lit by the naked flames of garden torches. Women in stylish gowns brushed past each other; they emerged in and out of doorways exchanging handshakes and kisses, introductions quickly forgotten as they flitted from group to group like butterflies. Silk brushed against challis, batiste against tulle, flesh caressed flesh. Soon corks were pulled from bottles, wine swished and flowed and the bar was in full swing. At 6.45 the Jazz band started up.
The waiters ferried in a selection of canapés: oysters wrapped in bacon, fried baby squid, devilled quails eggs, miniature sausage rolls. And the room continued to swell with new arrivals.
Senhor Pinto spotted Nadia and thrust his short little arms high into the air. He pushed his way through a mesh of elbows and kissed her on the cheek. ‘‘How are you, my lovely?’’ he asked, needing to shout to be heard above the din.
‘‘I am well, thank you.’’
‘‘Fantastico,’’ he said, clasping his hands together. ‘‘This is quite a turnout, eh?’’ He shot her a Stan Laurel smile, scratching the top of his head.
From the verandah whoops of laughter shot through the air, spilling over like a river bursting its banks.
‘‘Perhaps we should go outside,’’ said Pinto. ‘‘To get some fresh air and join the fun.’’
They squeezed outdoors. Nadia found Iain deep in conversation with a burly man known in Macao society as ‘Grande Daddy’ – they were talking about football and the upcoming World Cup to be held in France. Nadia excused herself to see how the silent auction was progressing. She trailed her eyes along the console tables. So far an offer of 200 patacas had been made for the Chinnery watercolour and there were a total of nine bids for the jade-and-onyx cufflinks. She had just turned to make her way back outside when she noticed a name scribbled on Iain’s bid sheet. ‘Goodness,’’ she thought with a smile, ‘‘somebody’s actually put in a bid for Scottish dance lessons.’’
She inclined her head to read the name and amount.
Anna Lopes – 15 patacas
She felt her shoulders knot beneath her gown. Hastily, she grabbed the pen and marked her name down for 18 patacas.
Moments later, she went in search of Iain and found him and Costa deep in conversation with the Consul General of Japan.
‘‘I can assure you that Nippon hassa no indenshun to be aggor-essors towards China,’’ said the Consul General.
‘‘How can you say that?’’ Iain countered. ‘‘I have on good authority that the Japanese army has been conducting battle drills in Fengtai, near Peking. You’re preparing for war, don’t deny it.’’
‘‘Are you trying to porovoke me?!’’ the diplomat cried angrily.
‘‘No more than you’re trying to provoke China?’’
Nadia looked at Costa. ‘‘How are you?’’ she asked. ‘‘Busy at work?’’
‘‘Deus! I have never been so busy! With heem transferring to Hong Kong, Vermelho hash handed everything over to me. I have paperwork coming up to my eyeballsh!’’
The gong was struck and people took their seats for dinner. The appetizers were served within minutes. Rodrigues, the newspaper man to Nadia’s right, tucked into his baked prawns and citrus fennel salad.
At 8.00pm Senhor Pinto spoke on behalf of the orphanage’s board of governors, thanking everyone for their support and generosity. He urged the guests to enjoy themselves and called on them to reach deep into their pockets for the children.
When he sat down, Nadia heard a set of blunt footsteps echo across the dancefloor. She glanced round to see Anna, dressed in Katharine Hepburn inspired slacks and a crisp white blouse, making her way towards the console tables, heading for Iain’s bid sheet.
After a few moments, Nadia excused herself from Senhor Rodrigues’ conversation and rushed over to increase her bid to 26 patacas.
‘‘Are you all right, senhora,’’ asked Rodrigues when she returned to her seat, ‘‘you are looking a little flushed.’’
‘‘I’m fine,’’ she snapped.
‘‘I see that the Japanese Consul General has just left the party early. Is that what has upset you?’’
‘‘Bawzhemoy!’’ Nadia shook her head. She looked across to Iain on Table 1. There was a self-congratulatory smile on his face.
Ten minutes later she heard Anna’s brash, blunt stride sound across the dance floor once more.
Instinctively, Nadia picked up her dessert fork and started running the sharp tines along the back of her thumb.
‘‘Mmmgoy,’’ a voice announced behind her. ‘‘Perdoe-me.’’ Nadia pulled her hand away. ‘‘Galinha a Africana,’’ the waiter said, placing a dish of grilled spiced chicken with buttered carrots in front of her.
Nadia took a sip of wine and played with her food, eating just the vegetables.
When the main courses were cleared away Nadia excused herself again. Despite her new and uncomfortable shoes, she glided across the stage with her head held high. This time her bid was for 34 patacas.
Iain shot her a funny look as she passed his table. He got up and approached her.
‘‘Nadia, I can see quite clearly what is going on,’’ he said. ‘‘You’re playing a childish, and might I add costly, little game with Anna.’’
‘‘I don’t think it’s childish.’’
‘‘What are you trying to prove?’’
‘‘I’m not trying to prove anything. I want to learn the Highland fling.’’
‘‘I can teach you at home.’’
‘‘I don’t know what sort of fees you charge. At least here I know the money is going to a good cause.’’
‘‘Dear God, woman. You’re my wife. Do you actually think I’d ask you to pay me for a few silly dance lessons?’’
‘‘Well, you are Scottish.’’
She arrived back at her table with a smile on her face.
The little charade continued for almost two hours, until Nadia was called away by Izabel to help present Senhora de Sousa Barbossa with a bouquet of flowers – a scrumptious collection of tiger lilies, sweet peas, honeysuckles and long-stemmed roses. The Governor had just announced a donation of 2500 patacas to the orphanage in the name of the de Soussa Barbossa Foundation, resulting in a spontaneous outbreak of applause.
When Nadia returned to the console tables, the silent auction had closed. The winning bidder for Iain’s coveted dance lessons was listed as:
Anna Lopes – 100 patacas
She could have screamed out then and there.