Artist and Model (The Divorced Princess)

A former stage star turned widowed countess, Lise Barineff commands a dazzling drawing‑room in St. Petersburg, where music, foreign artists and the latest Parisian fashions mingle with whispered gossip. Her past marriage to Prince Pierre Olsdorf, a scandalous mismatch that shocked the Russian aristocracy, has long been buried beneath a respectable façade of cultured hospitality. Yet the elegance of her salon masks a delicate balance of old reputations and new ambitions, as she carefully guards both her reputation and the future of her fourteen‑year‑old daughter.

Against this backdrop, General Podoi—once a suitor and still a devoted friend—offers his loyal, if platonic, protection, pledging to find a worthy husband for the young Lise before the countess herself considers another marriage. His quiet scheming and the list of suitable nobles he compiles set the stage for subtle power plays and lingering romantic tension, promising a story where societal expectations clash with personal longing.