“You’re a handsome man. Has anyone told you that? I’m sure they must have,” she said suddenly.
Val looked across from her shaking his head. “No. No one has ever told me that. I was told that I was as ugly as a troll and twice as stupid.”
Caroline smiled lightly at his remark. “Were you a handsome child?”
“I’ve seen a daguerreotype of myself. I suppose one might say I was good looking. And you?”
“And me?”
“Were you a beautiful child?’
“I’m sure I was thought to be pretty.” She wondered. “My mother was very pretty. There’s a painting of her in the townhouse. I always thought she looked sad but she’s also lovely and fragile.”
“Where did you inherit your strength? Your father?”
“My grandmother. My father said I’m much like her.”
“Your grandmother’s strength and your mother’s beauty. And your father’s intelligence?”
She smiled. “Perhaps.”
“The London Theater is playing the Fate of Frankenstein next Friday. It’s supposed to be a peculiar romantic melo-dramatic pantomimic spectacle in two acts.”
Caroline smiled then grew serious. “That sounds like quite a show.”
“It should be entertaining. Shall I purchase three tickets?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“How can you say no to this handsome face?” He teased her.
“Because your handsome face is just a mask. You’re actually a devil underneath.”
“A devil?” He looked wounded at her words.
“Yes. You hide behind that handsome face only to get what you want.”
“What is it that you think I want?”
“I couldn’t say. I don’t know.” She evaded him.
He moved to sit beside her.
“You promised.” She reminded him.
“I know.” He said even as she looked away from his probing eyes. “Shall I tell you what I want?” He asked her.
“No.”
“Well what I want is simple. I want to be successful in my profession. I want to be respected. And I want you in my arms every night until the day I die.”
Caroline caught her breath and met his eyes in the dark cab.
“What?” He asked innocently. “What did I say?”
The cab was slowing down and she breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn’t realized she had been quite so loud until she looked at him and saw him grinning.
“You’re free, Caroline.”