The Diamond Eye

Home from that evening’ s reception, Eleanor Roosevelt reflects that Mila rose to the occasion. She considers her new plans for the delegation and her hopes that the project will distract her husband from his preoccupation with his enemies.

Mila wakes in her White House guest room to find a threatening note, written in Cyrillic: “Go home you communist whore, or you’ll die here” (288). Mila’s dread is compounded by knowing that the newspaper headlines about her are decidedly mixed. When Mila uses her free time for shopping, she is followed by an NKVD official named Yuri whose presence is meant to deter her from any political missteps or defection. She refers to him as her “minder” (290). She impulsively buys herself a yellow evening gown. Alexei follows her, leading her into Rock Creek Park and suddenly becoming flirtatious. He suggests this trip could lead to more fame for them and even asks about Slavka. Mila reminds him he once doubted their son’s paternity, and Alexei tries to claim that he has changed and Slavka needs him.

Alexei argues that Mila herself knows boys need fathers, or she would not have sought marriage to Lyonya.