Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 25

Characters Present:

Princess Mary Bolkónskaya

Old Prince Nicholas Bolkónski

Julie Karagina

Location: 

Bald Hill Estate

Old Prince Nicholas' health worsens in the year that Prince Andrew travels abroad, and he is in a much worse temper than usual and acts quite horribly toward Princess Mary.  Recent politics involving the celebration of Napoleon Bonaparte have also gotten the old prince all riled up.

Princess Mary writes to her friend, Julia Karagina, to offer condolences over the recent loss of Julie's brother. 

She also writes that she doesn't think that the rumours of Prince Andrew being betrothed to Natasha Rostova could be true, for they are completely different people and Prince Andrew would never marry again.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 24

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Location:

The Rostóv home

Prince Andrew Bolkónski spends all of his time at the Rostóv home in the weeks leading up to his departure. 

He and Natasha get to know each other a bit better during this time, and it seems that their relationship now feels real as opposed to fake, as it did before.

Prince Andrew insists that the betrothment be kept quiet, so that Natasha would not be shamed should she change her mind about the whole thing while he is gone. 

They discuss Prince Andrew's son, Prince Nicholas, and much to Natasha's disappointment, Prince Andrew decides that it is best if the baby stays with his grandfather.

The family get along well with Prince Andrew.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 23

Characters Present:

Old Prince Nicholas Bolkónski

Prince Andrew Bolkósnki

Natasha Rostova

Countess Natalya Rostova

Location:

Bald Hill Estate/The Rostóv home

Prince Andrew returns to his father's home to ask permission to marry Natasha.  The old prince grants his permission, but on the condition that Prince Andrew travels abroad for a year.  Prince Andrew agrees and after three weeks, returns to the Rostóv home.

Prince Andrew arrives at the Rostóv home and asks Countess Natalya Rostova for permission to marry Natasha.  Permission is granted, but Countess Rostova doesn't seem super happy about it, seeing how unhappy Natasha has been in recent weeks due to Prince Andrew's silence and absence.

Prince Andrew finally asks Natasha, who sobs with joy, but expresses some dismay at the prospect of a years separation.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 22

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Count Pierre Bezukhov

Location:

The Rostóv home/Count Pierre Berzúkhov's home

Prince Andrew Bolkónski goes to the Rostóv home for the day on invitation of Count Rostóv. 

He spends the entire day with Natasha and all of the Rostóv family can see the romance developing.

Natasha later confides to her mother that she is in love. 

Prince Andrew goes to visit Pierre, who is depressed about his wife, to reveal his plan to marry Natasha.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 21

Characters Present:

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Nastasha Rostova

Vera Berg (nee Rostova)

Count Pierre Bezukhov

Location:

The Berg apartments

Pierre notices Natasha Rostova sitting quietly in the corner, looking rather plain, until Prince Andrew Bolkónski arrives, when she comes to life and looks beautiful again.

Vera Berg, having noticed their attraction at the ball starts to meddle, and makes Andrew rather uncomfortable.

Pierre interrupts, and Andrew makes a joke and then pulls Pierre to the side and says that he would like a private word.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 20

Characters Present:

Count Pierre Bezukhov

Vera Berg (nee Rostova)

Colonel Adolf Berg

Location:

The Berg apartments

The newly-wed couple are now settled into their apartments in Moscow and intend to throw a small party.

Colonel Adolf Berg pays a visit to the Bezukhov household.  Upon being rejected for an audience with Countess Hélène Berzúkhova, he visits Pierre and invites him to the party.  

Pierre can see that his wife Hélène has cruelly rejected the invitation because she considers the Bergs beneath her social station. Pierre agrees to attend and though he is generally late to things, arrives at the party five minutes early. 

Though the party starts off awkwardly with Vera and Adolf disagreeing as how to entertain their prestigious guest, things relax after other people begin to arrive.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 19

Characters Present:

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

The Rostóv family

Location:

The Rostóv home

The day after the dinner, Prince Andrew goes about visiting households that he has not yet visited, including the Rostóv home.

He goes there to renew his acquaintance and to also refresh his impressions of Natasha.  Prince Andrew finds her as delightful as before. 

Prince Andrew returns to his home, feeling refreshed and happy.  It doesn't occur to him that he is in love, but he suddenly feels hope for the future and decides to sort out his son's education and to travel around Europe.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 18

Characters Present:

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Michael Mikháylovich Speránski

Location:

Speránski's  home

On the day following the ball, Prince Andrew reflects on the pleasant evening that he had, and remembers Natasha Rostóv fondly.

In his office, Prince Andrew has trouble settling in to do his work and regrets having accepted to attend a quiet dinner at Michael Mikháylovich Speránski's home.

Prince Andrew goes to the dinner, and discovers that he doesn't like Speránski nearly as much as he thought he did, and is bored and mildly disgusted by the whole evening.  He leaves, feeling disillusioned with all of the work that he has been putting into legal reforms and the crowd of people he had been associating with.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 17

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova

Prince Andrew Bolkónski
Count Ilya Rostóv

Location:

The New Years Ball, Petersburg

After dancing with Prince Andrew, Natasha is asked by so many young men to dance that she scarcely has time to rest between each dance.

She finally gets to dance with Prince Andrew again, who is becoming so enamoured by her innocent charm and excitement that he starts to think that he wants to marry her.

Natasha's father, Count Rostóv invites Prince Andrew to visit them.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 16

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Count Pierre Bezukhov

Countess Natalya Rostova

Location:

The New Years Ball, Petersburg

Natasha despairs as she is left alone with her family against a wall, and is close to tears as nobody is asking her to dance. 

Across the room, Prince Andrew Bolkónski is partaking in some boring political conversations, and mentions to Count Pierre Berzúkhov that he would like to dance soon.  Pierre points out young Natasha standing forlornly across the room, and Prince Andrew excitedly crosses over and asks Countess Natalya Rostova if he can ask Natasha to dance.   Permission is granted, and Natasha very keenly joins Prince Andrew, who becomes ever more enamored with her.