Chapter 14
At breakfast, Natasha is feeling weird and guilty and worried that her family will notice. They don't. After breakfast, Marya Dmitrievna tells Natasha and Count Ilya what happened when she went to see Old Nikolai. Basically, he threw a tantrum and Marya recommends that Natasha go home and wait for Andrew there, rather than remaining in Moscow. Count Ilya agrees - if Old Nikolai comes round, they can always visit him later, and, if not, the wedding will have to be arranged at Otradnoe, the area where the Rostovs normally live, anyway. The old Count is sorry that he took Natasha to meet Old Nikolai, but Marya Dmitrievna insists that it was only the polite thing to do, and if Old Nikolai is choosing to behave badly, that's his affair.
Princess Mary has sent Natasha a letter because, as Marya explains, she is afraid that Natasha thinks Mary doesn't like her. Natasha points out that Mary does, in fact, dislike her, but goes off to read the letter anyway. Mary writes that she cannot help loving Natasha, as Andrew's chosen one. I think that, basically, she loves Andrew more than she dislikes Natasha, and also her faith has convinced her its important to make amends and get along with her future sister-in-law. I do wonder if, also, Mary realised how similar she was being to Old Nikolai on this specific issue, and is trying to be better, though she does claim that old Nikolai feels the same way she does and just came across like he did because he's a crotchety old man. Natasha tries to write a reply - specifically because Mary has asked for a time when they can meet - but stops herself, because she's half convinced she has to break her engagement because of her feelings towards Anatole. She goes to hang out with Sonya instead.
Natasha tries again to write back to Mary after dinner, but has the same problem. She goes back over all her happy daydreams about Andrew and her new ones about Anatole, and believes she cannot ever be happy without both. While she's doing there, a maid brings her a love letter from Anatole. Natasha doesn't take in a word, but realises that Anatole must be the man she loves or how could she possibly be having these feelings while betrothed to Andrew, and how could he be writing her love letters? The narration reveals that Dolokhov wrote the letter for Anatole. Natasha rereads it. It says that Anatole knows Natasha's parents would not approve of their love - for mysterious reasons - but if she agreed they could ride off into the sunset together against anyone's wishes, and their love would conquer all. You may recognise this as the plot to many, many, romance stories. Natasha feels that she must love him. She stays at home that night while the rest of the household goes out.
Chapter 15
When Sonya comes back after the household outing, she finds Natasha fully dressed and asleep on the sofa with Anatole's letter beside her. She is shocked and confused, and knows Anatole is a deceiver and a villain. I like Sonya now, even though I still think she's too optimistic about Nikolai. She's also optimistic about Natasha - she manages to convince herself that Natasha opened the letter without knowing who it was from, and is probably quite offended. That idea dissolves when Natasha wakes up, realises Sonya's read the letter, and excitedly proclaims her and Anatole's love for one another. She's annoyed that Sonya gets stuck on the question of "what about Andrew?". Natasha insists that she has no free will, since she's in the throws of love. Sonya then asks, if Anatole is so loving and honourable, why doesn't he just walk up to the house and announce himself as a suitor? He says there are secret reasons, but is very vague on what they might actually be. Sonya insists that she's going to tell Count Ilya, and Natasha screams that she won't be friends with Sonya any more. Sonya leaves the room, and Natasha finally replies to Mary, informing her that she won't be marrying Andrew after all.
A few days later, Natasha and Sonya attend another party at Julie Karagina's home, and they debrief afterwards. Natasha has been talking with Anatole, and he gave her an excellent explanation, but she can't quite explain it to Sonya. Sonya insists that Anatole is a scoundrel and Natasha will be ruined, but Natasha doesn't mind being ruined for Anatole. Sonya decides to start watching her, to make sure she doesn't do anything (else) stupid. Through careful observation she realises that signs and letters are reaching Natasha and that she has some dreadful plan for the evening, probably eloping. Sonya doesn't know what to do. Ilya is away, she doesn't think Pierre will help if Natasha really has broken off her engagement, and she doesn't want to tell Marya Dmitrievna horrible things about Natasha. Sonya decides, for love of Nikolai, to sleep outside Natasha's door and keep her there, by force if necessary.
Chapter 16
Anatole has been living with Dolokhov, who has also arranged the plan for Natasha's abduction.
Sonya is right about the timing. Natasha is to go outside at 10pm that night, where Kuragin will meet her with a 17th century uber to carry her away to a priest who will marry them, and then abroad. This is all very expensive. Anatole is pacing the room while the witnesses wait until they're needed. Dolokhov decides to talk him out of it, which is a bit late considering that Dolokhov organised the whole thing, but Anatole will not be persuaded. I still want to know why Anatole can't just announce himself as a suitor, especially since Natasha has written to Mary to call off her engagement. Anyway, Dolokhov's concern is that Anatole will be revealed as a bigamist and sent to prison. Anatole is firmly convinced of his argument, in the way "dull-witted" people often are of their own conclusions. He's decided that his marriage in Poland doesn't count, because why would Russians care about what happens in Poland? Dolokhov's second question is, what happens after the money runs out? Anatole has no answer and dismisses the concern as nonsense.
The getaway driver, Balaga arrives. He has joined Anatole and Dolokhov in many schemes over the past six years. Balaga doesn't really make a profit, since he loses all their money at the gambling parties they take him too, but he likes them anyway because he enjoys their capers.
Also, we learn that Dolokhov's first name is Theodore.
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