Oriole's daughter, a novel, Volume 2 (of 3)

In the elegant yet stifling Casa Dietrich, Minna finds herself drawn into a delicate dance of admiration and irritation toward the resolute Signora Dietrich. Daily visits from Fulvia, the signora’s frail but striking daughter, offer both an escape from the outside world and a window into the family’s concealed unhappiness. As Minna navigates the polite civility demanded by her hostess, she becomes increasingly aware of the subtle power the signora wields without ever exerting it overtly.

Behind the genteel façade, Minna silently probes the reputation of Marchmont, the man poised to become Fulvia’s husband. Rumors of his vulgarity and failed attempts at society swirl, yet concrete scandal remains elusive, leaving her hopes for an intervention uncertain. While winter settles over the house, Minna balances a feigned smile with a growing resolve, hoping her quiet influence might yet tip the balance before the marriage is sealed.