What if you had to choose between your deepest passion and your one true love? Beautiful and talented, Natalia Oblonova must deny her heart to achieve her dreams of joining the Mariinski Ballet. Becoming the protégée and wife of Count Boris Kussov, an enigmatic, charismatic member of the highest aristocracy is Natalia's ticket to fame and prestige in a cutthroat world of competition and betrayal. But her heart isn't his. Her heart belongs to an unruly artist, Pierre Riazhin—an artist she left for her place as a socialite. Through wars and deception, passion and lust, nothing can keep Pierre from having what he's always wanted—Natalia. He wants his second chance—his encore.