I frowned. “We are not thinking of the same woman.”

Justine’s eyes were pulled to the floor with the weight of her memories. “She was. Loving and gentle and kind. To my three younger siblings. What I did to so anger her that she could treat me with nothing but hatred and spite, I have never known. Maybe something was wrong inside her. Or maybe she saw something wrong inside me that I have not yet discovered.”

I grabbed her arms and turned her toward me, my voice fierce. “There is nothing wrong with you, Justine. There never has been.” I knew what it was to be rotten in the core—to hide sharp teeth behind a serene smile. Justine was not hiding anything.

“But do you see? How do I know I will not share my mother’s madness? How do I know I will not make life a hell for a child of my own?” She patted my hands, removing them from her arms and settling back against the sofa. “I am so happy here with you. I want nothing more than what I have and can reasonably hope for in the future, now that Victor will return. I am glad it is all settled.”

I was happy to hear it, for her sake. But something in me recoiled at her words, and I realized what the ghost haunting my return truly was.

I was haunted by the diverging future I had given up. For so long I had held Henry’s potential like a card hidden up my sleeve. That card was lost to me now, as was Henry, whom I had planned to keep one way or another, whether by my side or Justine’s. As it always was, the choice had been made for me by others.

“It is so lovely to be home.” Justine sighed happily, staring into the crackling fire.

“Lovely,” I echoed, closing my eyes and remembering the thrill and satisfaction of other flames. I had proved my cunning and capability were as much as I had always hoped. And now I had my reward.

I shivered against a sudden imagined chill.

—

I slipped through the doors and took my place at the dining table. Judge Frankenstein did not even look up at me.

“I have good news,” I said as the maid placed soup in front of me. The boys had already eaten. Ernest was old enough to eat with us now but preferred to dine with William and Justine. I would have preferred that, too, but was never given the option. I had to maintain my standing in the home.

Judge Frankenstein did not ask what my good news was, so I pushed on. “Victor has written that he will be returning home within a month. He is eager to be reunited with me.” I allowed a feminine blush and ducked my head. “With all of us.”