In which Hélène, undeterred by convention or censure, boldly sets society abuzz with talk of her intention to remarry despite her living husband, confident in her right and unmoved by whispered dissent. The opinions of friends, kin, and strangers weave a tapestry of intrigue and counsel, while Hélène’s serene calculation and social grace guide her through the complexities of love, duty, and reputation in Petersburg’s drawing-rooms.