That character is discouraged from seeking a divorce by a man who secretly loves her; the two are finally deterred from consummating their affair by the pregnancy of that man's wife, May Welland.
The pinnacle of society in this book is represented by the van der Luydens, who hold a dinner party for one of the main characters after proper society refuses to attend the Lovell Mingotts' welcome party for her. That character is discouraged from seeking a divorce by a man who secretly loves her; the two are finally deterred from consummating their affair by the pregnancy of that man's wife, May Welland. Describing the male protagonist's realization of the emptiness of New York society after falling in love with May's married cousin Ellen, FTP identify this Edith Wharton novel about the non-relationship of Newland Archer and Countess Olenska.
The pinnacle of society in this book is represented by the van der Luydens, who hold a dinner party for one of the main characters after proper society refuses to attend the Lovell Mingotts' welcome party for her.
The {Age of Innocence}