Krantz mixes in the names of the famous with her fictional characters; in this case such luminaries as Picasso, Chagall and Matisse make an appearance. But the main characters, Mistral and the three Lunel women, are straight from romantic fantasy. Each of the women is a familiar type: Maggy is the beautiful young model with questionable morality but a heart of gold.

She is first Mistral's mistress, then mistress of a rich American banker, with whom she produces Teddy.

Teddy's beauty is her first identifying feature; the second is that she falls instantly, totally and ecstatically in love with Mistral upon first meeting, this despite the fact that Mistral is married at the time to another woman.

Interestingly enough, there is not a single hint of gossip from any of the people who knew Maggy and Mistral that Teddy might be Mistral's daughter. Krantz avoids this touch of...