Serge Panine — Volume 03

The first months of Serge and Micheline’s marriage unfold like a bright summer tableau. They spend their mornings galloping through the Bois de Boulogne, the wind in their hair and the scent of pine filling the air, while the elegant stables of their Rue Saint‑Dominique house brim with a growing herd of horses. Their shared joy radiates through the household, delighting Micheline’s mother, Madame Desvarennes, who finally sees her daughter content and secure.

Evenings turn into lavish receptions where Serge’s generous entertaining draws an eclectic crowd of foreign gentlemen eager for cards and conversation. Madame Desvarennes watches from her apartments, uneasy about the expensive extravagance but unable to protest as her daughter glows amid the splendor. Beneath the glitter, subtle tensions hint that the peace may not last, offering a glimpse of the deeper conflicts that will soon surface.