We're back with Nataly, who only ran to the conservatory before stopping and waiting for Darling Bory. She hides when he arrives and watches him preening in a convenient mirror. He leaves and Sonya walks in. Nataly's still spying. She's such a youngest.
Nikolai comes in and makes up with Sonya. She's jealous of Julie, but doesn't want Nikolai to declare his love for her either. That's not confusing at all.
Nataly calls darling Bory back and demands a kiss first for her doll, and then for himself. He is understandably creeped out, but reminds her that he has promised to marry her in four years, when she turns sixteen. I am uncomfortable.
Chapter XIV
The countess has thrown everyone out, but has decided she'd like to talk to princess Anna Mikhaylovna some more. Vera is still her, but her mother kicks her out as well. Vera seems testy. She walks into the conservatory where Nikolai is copying out his very first poems for Sonya and darling Bory and Nataly and whispering together. Presumably, they are planning the table settings. Vera is pissed off, claims her inkwell back from Nikolai, and tells Darling Bory and Nataly that their having secrets at Nataly's age is "nonsense". I am fond of Vera.
Nataly threatens to tell their mama about 'Berg', whoever Berg is, and Vera dares her to go ahead; their mother will be more concerned about Nataly and Boris than Vera and this mysterious Berg. Nataly accuses Vera of being a "madame de Genlis". Apparently, this is an insult. I don't see why, she sounds cool. Anyway, Darling Bory, Nikolai, Sonya, and Nataly run away shouting "Madame de Genlis" at her. Vera is "handsome" but produces an "irritating and unpleasant effect on everyone". I like her.
Back in the drawing room, the countess wants to know how Anna Mikhaylovna managed to get such a good job for Darling Bory, when Nikolai is only going as a cadet. Anna tells her about asking Prince Vasili and somehow turns it around to her need for a loan, and her hopes that Cyril Bezukhov will come through; he is Darling Bory's godfather after all. She openly wishes he were dead, so Darling Bory could have his money. The poor man. They'll be breaking into his safe before he's cold.
Anna and Darling Bory leave, and we get another name for rich uncle Cyril - Count Cyril Vladimirovich. The Count wants Anna to ask him to invite Pierre over, so they can show that they throw a better party than Count Orlov (who the hell is Count Orlov?).
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