Wanda, Vol. 3 (of 3)

After a long tour through the mines of Galicia and the plains of Hungary, the couple returns home to find news from Paris: the Duc de Noira, a reclusive collector and godfather, has died and left his celebrated eighteenth‑century art collection to the young countess. Though she would rather stay in her mountain estate, she urges her husband Sabran to travel alone, fearing the change would disturb their quiet life. Sabran, torn between his love for his wife and his own curiosity, ultimately agrees to accompany her, promising they will winter together in the French capital. Their departure marks the beginning of a new, uncertain chapter.

In Paris they settle in a bright hotel on the Boulevard Saint‑Germain, where the arrival of the Szalras family quickly becomes the talk of the city. The priceless paintings and glittering pearls draw admirers from every quarter, and Sabran finds himself swept up in the flattering attention that his aristocratic lineage commands. Meanwhile, his wife, accustomed to privacy, struggles with the sudden spotlight, her delicate temperament clashing with the bustling social scene. Their first weeks in the capital set the stage for a delicate balance between duty, desire, and the allure of a world far removed from their mountain home.