He was filled with energy now. “A ring. Describe it to me.”
Angelika could anticipate what his reaction would be if she admitted the truth: that the Frankensteins were so careless with trinkets of pure gold that neither of them had paid it much notice. She had wanted to forget the possibility of a wife, and Victor had been too lazy to walk two minutes to fetch cutters. The possibility of a crest or engraving might raise his hopes, only to be dashed if it were gone forever.
“It was dark, so I have no idea of the particulars. That’s why we are trying so hard for you, even though you do not realize it. Victor will locate his fine achievement and bring him home, and in turn, you may find a clue to your identity.”
He nodded now, beaming. “I’m sorry I’ve been so difficult. So, could we try to be friends? And you’ll help me tonight at the morgue?” When happy, he was illuminated.
“Yes,” she said, thinking ahead. “If you’ll take me to the tavern for an ale after. I’ve always wanted to. Saddle your new horse and we shall ride out at sunset.” She smiled at the direction Victor had left by, hoping to appear cool and unaffected by Will’s close presence. “Maybe I will have some fun at last. I’m not being facetious. I think I might search for a new husband while I’m there.”
He didn’t like that. “Where? The morgue or the tavern?”
“Don’t you know me at all?” Angelika laughed and walked away. “I’ll search both.”
*
They rode their horses over the crest of a hill. Angelika pointed with her crop.
“I will give you a tour of Salisbury. It is a fine village, with much history. Victor says we are ideally situated, only a day’s carriage ride from London, and we can easily ride to the plains to see the big stone druid temple. We can take a basket of food and a bottle of wine. It is a marvelous day out.”
“I am sure it is all very nice,” Will said. “You do not have to be nervous that I won’t like your home. I already do.”
They halted their mounts and looked at the village lanterns in the distance. The sky was peach and lavender. Turtledoves cooed in a hedgerow, and honeysuckle perfumed everything. The horses sidestepped, causing their riders’ legs to brush. It was a moment steeped in romance, but only in Angelika’s imagination. She looked sideways at what was indeed a fabulous riding seat. That horse was a lucky creature.
Will broached a new topic with care. “Victor used my hands for his monster, but you said my body was not salvageable due to an accident. Can you explain this to me, so I can stop wondering about it?”
“He is not a monster. I wanted to test my skills in transplanting body parts, and as a scientist, Victor needed to prove his superiority to Jürgen Schneider.” Science was something Will rarely argued with.
“The way Victor rants about that man is unhealthy. I think he would gain peace if he could just forgive his past offenses. Whatever they are.”
She shrugged. “It fuels Victor. It goes beyond science. Schneider was once a potential suitor for Lizzie. Victor is a beast when he is jealous.”
“How did they meet? Please do not tell me that Lizzie is also . . .” He gestured vaguely to his own neck area, where his cravat hid his stitches.
“Goodness, no. Victor has been betrothed to Lizzie since they were children, but when Papa died, he forgot about it. He got drunk and wrote a manifesto of sorts, denouncing the institution of marriage. ‘Opting Out of England’s Elite Breeding Program’ is what he titled it.”
“I saw it on your dressing table. I read it. I’ve felt terrible for prying.” Will did look guilty.
“Hardly prying, when it has traveled the world ten times by now. Victor has always wanted to be famous; now he most assuredly is. Lizzie’s father was livid. Threatened to expel him from his secret society. We traveled to Russia to handle the situation. His grand plan was to be so boring that she rejected him.”
“I don’t think he could manage being boring for long.”
“No, indeed.” Angelika smiled. “Lizzie is a playwright, and funny, and beautiful. Anyhow, we went to let her reject him, but found ourselves in a caravan following her acting troupe through some very remote parts of Russia. Her first play is The Duchess and the Bear. She forced Vic to wear the bear costume, night after night, while villagers threw sticks at him on the stage. My job selling tickets was much better.”
He let out a disbelieving laugh. “That bear costume in the corner of my room is his?”