Husband by Proxy

Charlotte Ponson is a woman defined by her bank account and her lack of subtlety. Having recently ascended to the ranks of the nouveau riche, she views the acquisition of the historic Luny Palace in Paris not as a preservation of history, but as the ultimate trophy. The narrative follows her clumsy attempts to navigate the shark-infested waters of the Parisian elite, where her wealth buys her a seat at the table but not the respect of those already seated. The 'proxy' element of the title hints at the transactional nature of her social climb, where relationships are brokered like real estate and emotional authenticity is the first casualty of her ambition. It is a sharp, often biting look at the friction between old-world prestige and new-world capital.