War and Peace Volume 2 Book 8 Chapter 21

In which the sombre consequences of Natásha’s broken engagement ripple through the Rostóv household, casting a pall of illness and whispered anxieties, while Pierre endeavours to shield her from the harsh judgments of Moscow society. Meanwhile, Prince Andrew returns, outwardly engaged in political discourse to mask his inner turmoil, his strained interactions revealing the complex interplay of pride, resentment, and unspoken sorrow that binds the noble families.