Chapter 7 #5
Her father would be taken care of. Wilhelm was not attractive to her, especially now, but he could have been worse looking, could have been more cruel.
He was wealthy and would secure their social standing.
And moreover, he had the attention span of a hummingbird.
After they wed, he would turn his attention to other women, and she would be released from further putrid physical duties to him.
What if she were required to bear children? Of course she would be. He would need an heir.
This was her punishment. This was God punishing her for her interest in resurrection and her wanting to go against His natural law. She swayed slightly, woozy at the thought.
“She makes you feel the music in your body, doesn’t she?
Wonderful.” The dark-complexioned woman with the red feather had appeared at Victoria’s side.
“Sophia Morning.” She nodded to the young blond playing the piano.
“She’s Sophia. I am Helena von Schiller; my husband is Karl von Schiller,” the woman said with a smile.
“I’m sorry. I’m not very good at this, I’m afraid.
Though in my defense, you are an intimidating specimen. ”
Surprised by the relaxed nature of such a seemingly important and fashionable woman, Victoria responded, “I’m Victoria Frankenstein.
” It was not the first time someone had mentioned her being intimidating; black gowns seemed to lend that impression, even to the meekest creatures.
After all, black ants could frighten off an entire picnic despite their size.
Wilhelm continued his slow pace across the room, stopping briefly to speak with clusters of people here and there, but even in conversation, his eye remained on his new prey.
“Yes, of course! Your father is a legend across the Holy Roman Empire. What an absolute honor it is to meet you both tonight.” Helena adjusted the feather on top of her obsidian hair with such awkward grace that Victoria found herself incapable of looking elsewhere.
“This is Rosemary Weber and Johanna Baur, oh, and Ida Wolfe is in the pale blue dress.” She smiled brightly as she introduced her friends.
Rosemary was tall and slender, with an air of superiority, copper hair, and eyes that matched her beautiful blue gown.
Next to her, Johanna stood in contrast, looking shy with a sage-green dress and small, nervous blue eyes that sat under a curtain of curly, barely tamed dark blond hair.
Ida, standing next to her, stood tall and confident in a beautiful ivory gown that made her dark eyes and warm skin glow as she analyzed Victoria.
The women exchanged well-rehearsed pleasantries before all the others except for Helena moved to get a closer station to Sophia, their other companion, on the pianoforte.
Helena caught Victoria staring at the red feather on her head with softly pinched brows. “Are you all right?”
Victoria forced her scowl to relax, surprised that Helena had remained with her and not left with her friends.
Until now, she had never been friends with anyone other than the bodies in the laboratory.
The living were so much harder to please than the dead.
“Forgive me, I was admiring your feather.”
The woman’s face lit up, her round green eyes bright with the compliment.
“Thank you. Sophia thought I looked like a bloodied peacock.” Her glow dulled for a moment but returned quickly.
“Passing Winds by Otto Heinrich inspired me.” She waved her hand in the air and shifted her eyes from Victoria back to the beautiful blond pianist as if she regretted mentioning any of it.
“My husband says I indulge too much in whimsy. He is at our home in France and could not join me this autumn. I brought a couple of novels with me. Sophia and Johanna insist I have already given myself wrinkles.”
Victoria’s mouth fell open as she thought about the woman’s words. “Passing Winds by Otto Heinrich? Where he left the red feather in the snow after his wife passed?”
“You’ve read it!” Helena let out a laugh. “I knew I was drawn to you. I saw your beautifully dramatic gown and told Johanna that you and I would no doubt be fast friends.”
A smile lifted the edges of Victoria’s mouth.
The knowledge brought an entirely different sort of artistic grace to Helena.
“I have the second book of his, if you care to read it?” She almost didn’t recognize her own voice.
Of all the social gatherings she had ever attended, such a genuinely pleasant exchange had never taken place before. Especially not over books.
Helena flashed a friendly smile. “I have already thrown myself completely into the second book, but if you care to try the third, then I will bring it with me on Friday.” She moved her elbow to tap Victoria’s arm in a comfortable gesture.
Utterly surprised, though not entirely ungrateful for the distraction, Victoria pulled her attention back to Wilhelm’s figure looming closer. He was going to approach her. She would have to explain how they knew each other. “Friday?” she asked Helena.
“A group of us are gathering for a bit of Tarock at Rosemary’s. I insist on your joining us so that I can finally have someone to speak about my reading to. Oh, look, here comes Wilhelm! He will be at our gathering as well,” Helena muttered.
“I’m afraid I can’t Friday—”
“You don’t know me very well yet, but I should warn you: I’m quite stubborn occasionally, and I am choosing to encourage that on this occasion.
Oh, please come. I will not take no for an answer.
The others get on so frequently about such boring topics.
I can’t blame them, as they are so much younger than I am.
You will keep me company, and we can catch up on what you thought of the books. ”
“All right.” Victoria found herself unable to turn the woman down.
“How do you know Wilhelm?” Helena asked as she glanced between Victoria and the man waltzing toward her with such fervor.
“Well,” Victoria swallowed. “Apparently, we are to be mar—”