I BRIEFLY CONSIDERED LOOKING for Henry, too, but he was under no threat from the monster. That was one benefit to his estrangement from us: the monster had no reason to find him, no purpose in targeting him. I hoped dearly that someday Henry would reconcile with us. But for now he was safe, and that was enough for me. And he was also blissfully unaware of Justine’s death. I envied him that.

Did I, though? Would I prefer to know she was gone from the earth, or to go on under the false belief that she was well?

I thought I would rather believe her well than know the truth. But I had no such luxury.

Thus it was that my first stop was the local post office. It was a charming stone building in the shadows of Inverness Castle. If I had been on holiday, I would have been delighted by my surroundings and taken the morning to stroll and discover. The buildings here were nearly all dark stone and thatched roof. In place of Geneva’s carefully cultivated gardens, their yards were wild and creeping riots of plants.

But I was not on holiday and did not so much as let my eyes linger on the castle. The postmaster was already awake and sorting through his parcels when I walked in.

“Can I help you—” He paused, peering to try to pierce my veil to ascertain my age. Unable to do so, he added, “Madame?”

“I have had a letter from my cousin, Victor Frankenstein, that gives Inverness as his most recent address. I am afraid I have terrible news, the type which is best delivered in person. Can you tell me where I might find him?”

He scratched his head beneath his cap. “Well, that is a funny thing. I was just now gathering all Mr. Frankenstein’s letters to have them sent along.”

My heart and spirits leapt. He was here, then!

“Give me the address, and I will deliver them myself,” I said, trying to sound both friendly and forceful at once. I even held out my hand in expectation.

“That will be a bit of a challenge.” He gave me a gap-toothed grin. “Mr. Frankenstein has moved along to the Orkney Islands, which are a day away by horse—if you have a good horse—and almost as long by boat.”

I swayed, my travel-weariness crashing back down after the cruel and taunting surge of hope.

The kind postmaster must have sensed my upset. “But as I was saying, I was about to send them along. By boat. My brother has business near the Orkneys and was going to deliver them in the course of his day. I am certain he could be persuaded to take a passenger along with the parcels.”