Summary

Chapter 48 occurs in Sofya’s perspective, after Luba entered Taras’ townhouse. An old woman escorts Luba through the front door and Sofya recognizes Varinka’s mother. Luba recounts how Taras had asked who she was, and how Varinka’s mother had vouched for her and pretended she was the maid. Luba says, in reference to Mamka: “‘she’s on our side, Sofya. Wants you to have Max back’” (375). She passes Sofya a letter for enrollment from L’Ecole Cygne Royal, which refers to Maxwell Pushkinsky. Luba also retrieved their mother’s emerald necklace from one of the bedrooms.

Sofya and Luba go to L’Ecole Cygne Royal the next morning, “hoping to catch a glimpse of Max in the schoolyard” (375). They see Max playing with another child at the sandbox nearby and Sofya whispers his name. Max steps closer and Sofya wonders if...