Takes place after The Rest of the Story chapter 6, Moving On
Josef stood in the master suite frowning at an object in his hands. It was a few days before Christmas and Sandy was moving into the mansion. Her jewelry armoire was sitting in the middle of the bedroom and Josef, ever curious, couldn't resist taking a look. The typical trophy wife had more jewelry than Sandrina but still, in 200 years - several decades of them as an antique dealer - she had acquired an impressive collection. The most recent piece was the ruby heart from Josef for her birthday.
"What are you looking at?" Sandrina was at his elbow.
"I've never seen you wear this."
"The chain is worn and I'm afraid it will break but it's the original and I don't want to replace it. Besides, it's old-fashioned and too big."
It was true. Although the workmanship was very fine, it was an oval about 5x3 inches. It was larger and more ornate than the watch locket Josef had with a picture of Lola. Instead of photographs the locket contained beautifully painted miniatures of a handsome man and a lovely woman.
"Are these your parents?"
Sandrina nodded. "Sandor and Irina."
"I knew them," Josef said abruptly.
Sandrina's eyes were wide with apprehension. "Did you sleep with my mother?"
"We were barely acquainted!" Josef protested.
"That would be more reassuring if we hadn't had sex the second time we met."
"I solemnly swear I never had sex with your mother. Or your father," Josef clarified.
"What about blood? Did they know about vampires?"
"I never had their blood, either. And I don't think they were aware of vampires."
"I told you their names before but you didn't recognize them."
"When did you tell me?"
"The second time we met."
"I don't always remember non-sex related details when I'm naked. Besides, I knew them as Baron Lindelberg and Fraulein Wellendt. It was too formal an age to be on a first-name basis with casual strangers."
"How did you meet?"
"I was in Lucerne in 1798. Society was a small circle then. I had brandy and cigars with your father and the other gentlemen when the ladies withdrew after dinner. And I danced several times with your mother at balls."
Sandrina's eyes were wide again, this time with excitement. "You're the matchmaker!"
"You're thinking of Barbara Streisand in 'Hello Dolly.' I don't really care for musical comedy."
Sandrina ignored this attempt at wit. "Count Willem von Clausen."
"That is the name I used," Josef admitted.
"My parents used to tease each other about you. I asked my mother what happened. Like you, she told me the circle in which they moved was small. It wasn't like Vienna or Paris or London in the Season. Central Switzerland was often isolated by the mountains all around and by the weather. From the time young people made their bows and curtsies to society, it was pretty clear who they would marry. But with the 19th century so close, the young people rebelled. Instead of marrying within a year, they decided to have fun for awhile. For several years there were fewer weddings. The young ladies enjoyed themselves at first but a woman's life had little scope and soon they wanted to be married and have a home, husband and children to interest them. But the men were in no hurry. They knew their partners would be waiting. One day Count Willem von Clausen arrived. No one seemed to know him but he was invited everywhere. He was rich and titled, young and handsome. The young ladies thought themselves in love and for the first time the young men were worried. The Count left suddenly a few weeks later. The ladies missed him but the men had learned their lesson. What if von Clausen returned or another stranger came among them? The men proposed and the ladies were glad to accept. After all, the Count was gone and might never come back. There were ten weddings within a year and my parents were the first."
"The French invaded soon after I left. The possibility of war may have had more to do with the marriages than me."
"The legend of the matchmaker is more romantic. Did you leave because of the invasion?"
"Partly. I knew what was happening. But mostly it was the weather. I got caught by the spring melt. You remember the roads then, more like cart tracks. They were a foot deep in mud so I stayed a few weeks in Lucerne until they dried up. By then I was dying for a good meal. Not literally, but it's difficult to get a decent drink in a small area when you don't want to be discovered."
"I just realized you might be the reason I was born," Sandrina said thoughtfully.
"And 200 years later I saved you from celibacy. You owe me."
"Now that we're living together, I'm sure I'll be paying the price every day."
"Hey ..."
