Chapter 6
Apparently, the Emperor Alexander has strong feelings about duelling, so it's lucky that the one between Pierre and Dolokhov was hushed up. It's still a big source of society gossip though. Pierre is no longer popular, since he's no longer a rich, eligible bachelor, and he gets the entire blame. Helene is very respected. Anna Pavlovna is now telling everyone that she was against the match from the start. She's throwing another party, and this time her Darling Bory is the guest of honour. Helene and Hyppolyte, her other brother, are also present.
Because of all his social-climbing, Bory has an excellent job as an aide-de-camp to a "very important personage"and is being sent everywhere as a special messenger. This has encouraged Bory's social climbing even more. He's spending every penny he has on clothing and hanging out with rich and influential people, despite being broke. I wonder if that's where Anna Sorokin got the idea? Bory is also embarrassed by the childish memory of his thing with Natasha and is avoiding the Rostov household. Tbh, I'd be surprised if Natasha remembered.
Anyway Bory gets to do some showing off and Helene is into it. He has no money, so I'm not sure why. His mother drags him away to tell him not to bring up Pierre, which he wasn't going to.
Chapter 7
Bory's been invited to visit Helene's, the next Tuesday, but when he arrives it's not clear why she invited him. After a long evening, she says goodbye and whispers that he must come for dinner tomorrow. During his stay in St Petersburg, Bory becomes an intimate at the countess' house.
Chapter 8
Back to the war. It's flaming up and getting closer to the Russian border. In 1806, the old Prince Nikolai Bolkonski - Andrew's father - is made one of the eight commander's in chief, despite his age. Honestly, Maria could have done a Mulan and spared him from this.
That said, she's busy caring for her poor nephew, Nikolai, since he is motherless. Amelie Bourienne is helping, since apparently the thing with Anatole came to nothing.
A statue of an angel has been placed over Lise's grave, and every time he sees it, it reminds Prince Andrew of his wife's dying expression, which seemed to ask "Why have you done this to me?". So he's not feeling great. His father gave him his own estate, Bogucharovo, about 25 miles away, and he spends most of his time there. He's not feeling great about the war effort either, even though his father is all riled up.
It's now February 1807, so quite a while after the last few chapters. The Old Prince has gone off to war, so Prince Andrew has returned to Bald Hills, to look after it. The baby has been ill for four days, and a messenger for Andrew finds him in the nursery, giving his child medicine. His sister is asking him not to wake the baby. He eventually agrees and goes to get his letters. Neither Andrew nor Maria have slept for two days, and that baby Nikolai's fever is increasing. The war is going well, and there have been some victories to celebrate. His father instructs him to gallop off to Korchevo without delay to carry out instructions, but Andrew decides not to leave while his child is ill. I like Andrew as a father, I hope the baby doesn't die. There's also a letter from Billibin, but Andrew can't focus on it.
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