So... Here's the big surprise! I'm so very excited to finally be sharing this with all of you! TheBitterAfterTaste and I have been working long and hard to get this ready for you. Alright, so since this is basically a thread (that's a turmblr RP term if you're wondering) we had to chose one of our accounts to put this on, since fanfiction doesn't allow jointed stories. So - TheBitterAfterTaste is Angelique, while I am Barnabas in this representation. Basically, we wrote POV's for our seperate charecters but had them flow together into a story. An exciting enterprise, I know! But, no need to keep you waiting - enjoy!

{ ATTENTION: This story is a collab with TheBitterAfterTaste }

Beautiful Facade

Angelique had always had a special place in Barnabas' mind. He thought of her in a way he thought of no one else. As if she was more than a person; that she was in and of herself an aura. Tempting. Captivating. Inimitable.

Angelique woke up at dawn as she had done every single day for the past twelve years, and for some reason that morning held promise. She hadn't seen herself as a servant at eighteen years old, yet today on her eighteenth birthday she was going to spend it alone.

She sat up from her thin mattress and sighed softly, shuffling her body out of the bed and opening her modest closet, retrieving a powder blue dress and a white lace apron and quickly fastening them within seconds. She kept her dark hair pinned back so it flowed down to her waist, taking opportunity to look in the small cracked mirror on her way out. Eighteen today and nothing had changed.

The only thing she looked forward to during the day was catching glimpses of Barnabas as she worked,he was the only person who ever bothered with her and even from a young age found time for her. He had mopped up her tears when she cried, and taught her how to read and write basic things, he had been her only friend and she never forgot it. However as he was at a tender age of twenty where marriage would soon be posed upon him he was very well kept an eye on so he didn't stray. She was immediately handed a scrubbing brush and bucket as she was sent to clean the marble staircase, an awful job that she loathed deeply.

- Angelique

A light haze of fog surrounded the manor, as it did most mornings. It covered the rose bushes with elegance and mystery, creating an aura of fascination he couldn't seem to pull himself away from. Barnabas looked out the view from his bedroom in an attempt to clear his head. So many voices pounded against his skull it was near impossible for him to find solace. His mind was filled with the lectures of his parents pushing him to do a multitude of things he felt unprepared for, everyday problems that took up much more time than he thought they should, and a niggling at the back of his mind that told him what he really desired was much more fulfilling; enigmatic and undeniably forbidden.

Perhaps he had been reading too much Shakespeare lately. Trying to calm himself, he began a small to-do list in his head. A multitude of tasks occupied his conscious as curiosity and a desire for sin ran amuck in his subconscious.

He put on his coat and started on his way downstairs. Rich colored carpeting and drapery lined his way through the hallways as he decided to take the main stairs down to the dining room. He went over everything he had to do once more, making sure not to leave out a single detail. What was it that he was forgetting about?

Oh.

Angelique quickly gripped his attention as his eyes drifted to her beautiful form. All at once his mind came into focus. Words formed without thought. Thoughts formed without worry. A smirk formed on his handsome face. It was her. A few wavy locks of her dark hair fell in front of her face, hiding some of her lovely features. Once she had noticed his presence, a pair of stunning blue eyes rose to meet his gaze. Barnabas couldn't help to be anything but confused about his feelings at that very moment.

"Good morning Angelique."

- Barnabas-

Things had been oh so different since that one day, and it had been then when she felt her whole world turn upside down, and it was all because of him.

She had been on one of the high ladders, hanging on bunting against the white coloured walls, and had been quite focused until Barnabas had entered, unsettling her. Subsequently she had leant backwards just a little bit too far causing herself to topple and fall from the steps.

She could have really injured herself, if she had landed and hit her head it may have even killed her. But his arms had wrapped around her in a careful embrace as she fit perfectly there, nestled in the crook of his arms.

Of course then had come the incessant awkwardness that followed from such a great deed, involving the pink in her cheeks to rise as she tried to stammer an apology, but he didn't seem to mind, in fact he looked like she could throw herself off of a ladder everyday and he would be quite happy to catch her.

'Yes...' Angelique thought to herself as she scrubbed at the steps. A job that she had been doing for years, and it was one of those tasks that were just as difficult and tiresome as when she had done it last. She had managed to distract herself however, and settled in a detached frame of mind, comforting herself with the thought that this was not permanent, she would not be here forever, she would not be a servant till she was old and grey.

It was only when she glanced up did she see him looking at her, and she slowly stopped the circular scrubbing movements against the damp flooring. She felt hypnotised under his presence, and her willingness for him to talk to her almost made her ache she wished for it so much, but she knew even looking was risky, yet when she saw the smirk on his picturesque face she couldn't help her own lips raising into a smile,

"Good morning Master Collins." She replied politely, before quickly looking back down and working at her assigned task.

-Angelique-

Barnabas couldn't help but be a little hurt when she quickly returned to her work. Not many people had ever turned him down. He took a few more steps down the marble stairs, he's shoes clicking as he did so. Perhaps it was her beauty that made him place her differently than the rest. Maybe it was why after all these years knowing he should move on he just couldn't get her out of the back of his head, or maybe it was her stunning intellect, or her elegance and charisma.

After several moments, Angelique raised her gaze to meet his stare. Despite the obviousness of his staring at her, his heart jumped a little at having her cerulean eyes resting on his own. Deep down, he knew he missed the days they used to spend together tucked away in the library of the old house. He missed those eyes.

It brought him back to the incident not that long ago when he had caught her from falling from of the ladders as she prepared for their annual New Years Eve Ball. It was a miracle of God that he happened to be walking by at the precise moment she fell. It was quite surreal, as if they were acting out a scene in a play. He couldn't help but notice the connection between them had done anything but lessened.

"If I did not know you well enough Angelique, I would think that you're avoiding me." His voice was rich, but obviously harmless and playful in nature. Just the way he liked it. Chocolate brown eyes captivated Angelique's once more, finally satisfying him as he continued down the stairs and into the kitchen.

- Barnabas -

Truth be told Angelique had been preoccupied when she had been distracted by the deep, melodic sound of Barnabas' voice. It seemed like it was the only thing nowadays that brought her out of her train of thoughts. She enjoyed speaking to him, and it was not as if she would rather do anything else, but she also knew society as a whole would not allow it.

As soon as she had been labelled a servant that had been the final word on anything. There was the occasional servants wedding she supposed, but it was never to anyone of a higher status, and it certainly would not have been anywhere near as grand or extravagant as those who were higher up in society. Servants rarely ever found peace, happiness or love, it was just how things were.

However, unknown to everyone else except herself Angelique harboured a deep and potentially dangerous secret. Ever since the age of ten she had had certain...abilities.

It seemed they manifested whenever she was feeling a negative emotion, such as pain, hurt, anger or sadness. The first time it had happened was when she had been in the kitchens helping to prepare dinner. As she had not been able to read very well she did her best, but had been scolded by the head of house for reading out the recipe wrong, and she had gained a sharp slap across the cheek. As the rest of the servants laughed at her she felt so angry and so embarassed that she wanted to run away and hide, however in one simple movement a pile of plates that were piled high in the cupboard fell, the door mysteriously swinging open from it's hinge, smashing each and every one of them.

That was the first incident, and it had happened a few other times since. Yet whenever she had been desperately upset she had always seemed to go to Barnabas, right from being a young child.

Of course there was a period when they had grown apart. He had gone to school to receive a top education and she had remained back at Collinwood, desperately yearning for something more than just being a maid all her life. She used to clamber up to the window and wait till he got back from his classes, often with one of his friends much to her disappointment, as that meant she could not go to talk to him.

However this phase of loss of connection did not last long between the two, and as Barnabas grew older Angelique began to see him in a different light. The boy she had once played with around the lake was becoming a man, and a very handsome one at that.

So now as he stood there she could not help but stare back into his deep brown eyes, wishing more than anything that she was good enough, that he thought of her as much as she thought of him. She had not meant to be rude and quickly stood up after he made the comment about his theory of her ignoring him and scurried after him, leaving the scrubbing brush and bucket behind.

She caught up with him in no time and quickly sidestepped him so he had to stop in his tracks, even though there had been playfulness in his tone when he made the comment she needed to make sure he did not think that.

A soft smile appeared on her porcelain features as she looked up at him and focused with her big blue eyes.

"Please do not think I would ever ignore you Master Barnabas, every word you say is etched in my mind," she told him, hoping it was enough to show him that she indeed hung on his every word, even when he did not think she was properly listening at all.

-Angelique-

"Sometimes I ignore you so I feel in control cause really, I adore you, and I can't leave you alone fed up with the fantasies; they cover what is wrong." - Marina and the Diamonds.

He was a bit surprised when she came to face him, let alone step in front of him. Of course what she did wasn't very respectful, but he had egged her on. Barnabas liked her spirited personality; her perfectly rebellious nature. It made her unique, interesting. It reminded him that behind her beautiful features there was a personality, unlike so many other women he had known. So empty, meaningless. Their heads full of superfluous thoughts and no desire for anything more. Angelique was quite the opposite.

As she smiled he couldn't help but stop and concentrate on only her. Light from the window behind him shined on her features perfectly, almost making her beauty seem... unreal. It was quite a dazzling sight, and did nothing but intrigue him more than he already was.

His time abroad and on travels certainly granted him much needed experience when it came to women. Barnabas wouldn't be so bold as to make this known to anyone in Collinsport of course. At least not yet; but he was certainly eager. His dark eyes challenged her bright ones. He wondered exactly what all he could make them express. And there he was again... back to square one.

But it was her words that sparked something within him. It snared him in with her beauty, her grace, her charm. Barnabas took another step down the stairs as he calmly took in her full physique. It would only be honest that he had never had anyone as beautiful as her before, only twice as eager. At least that she decided to convey. Yet another thing he was determined to change. He was only a couple of inches away from her face when he countered,

"My dear, I could never do such a horrid thing as that." A now familiar smirk rose on his handsome features. It was if he was challenging himself to what she had said. He was, in fact, very good at making himself be remembered. The words formed in his head the moment his eyes began to light up.

"Not to you."

- Barnabas -

'Come on leave me breathless, tempt me, tease me, until I can't deny this loving feeling' -The Corrs

Though Angelique was a servant, she was anything but stupid, and knew exactly when she was being flirted with. It was not such a foreign concept to her. Many men had tried and failed to successfully grasp her attention, some had been the male servants here and some had even been some of Joshua's friends whilst in the midst of a meeting, and whilst she had smiled and laughed softly at all their jokes she would politely decline. She knew many of them were just out to sleep with her, and because of her beauty and popularity with the men it didn't do her any favours with the female staff, not that she cared. If their husbands wanted to salivate and lust over her then how was that her fault?

Barnabas however... Barnabas was different. They had known each other since she was five years old and he was seven. There was definitely a history there and it was no denying that as they grew older there was certainly a chemistry between the two of them. When they suffered through the phase where he went to school she assumed that he wouldn't ever look at her as he was doing so now. She was a servant and it was not allowed to have romantic implications with anyone in the house who was higher up in society.

His remark made her lips curve up into a smile, and as he stepped closer she did not retreat, she was not one to back down, and she knew he liked her spirited nature as she bit her bottom lip. She was gifted, her intelligence and beauty was a threat to anyone stood in distance, not to mention she held the body of a temptress, and more so knew how to use it to her advantage. So when his face was a mere few inches away from her own she was more than able to hold her ground in such a way it was almost like she was his equal.

"I'm very pleased about that Master Barnabas," she murmured, looking up at him through her long, thick eyelashes. "And for my benefit only just makes it all the more...satisfying..." She replied in that low French drawl that could bring the world to it's knees in almost any circumstance. She wasn't one to back down, especially not to Barnabas, it was much more fun playing him at his own game.

-Angelique-

"Mmm." Barnabas replied, lifting head the slightest bit to face her. Her beauty was distracting him. He had felt a strong impulse to lean forward and kiss her, but knew it would be a mistake. Anyone could walk by and see them. But she was so temptingly close, her features more radiant than ever. Her blue eyes glimmered, entrancing him.

"I would hope so." But he couldn't seem to help himself. He lifted a hand to cup the smooth skin of her cheek, his thumb grazing across the surface. Even though he would never tell anyone, his heart skipped a beat at their connection. It was strangely wonderful and made his stomach churn. His skin tingled as he removed his hand, and turned to enter the dining room.

As he walked he bit the inside of his lip, trying to keep his composure. His mind began to churn with memories of her. All the hours he had spent tucked away in the corners of the old house, poring over ancient teachings in the library, teaching her English in secluded gardens and running along the beach in the early hours of the morning.

Barnabas had never really been in love before. Sure, while he was in college there were girls that caught his attention. One in particular, but when he got to know her better she turned out to be quite vague and... shallow.

But Angelique was so different than the other girls. She had intuitive desires and understandings, and a sense of - magnificence. It infuriated him seeing her talents and excellence wasted on being a maid. He knew just how much more she was capable of.

When they were younger she had no less than fascinated him, and she quickly became the best part of his life. When he woke up his mind went to her, thinking about her, dreaming about her. Of course, they were only friends before. Now he was beginning to sense that he wasn't the only one that wanted something more. It had only been days since he had arrived. For those years he spent in England, she had slowly been pushed into the back of his mind. He of course was not the least bit unnoticed by the women he met while he was abroad. Barnabas had earned quite the status as a ladies man.

Barnabas thought he had successfully kept that part of his life in Great Britain, but he was wrong. His cousins had spent a day in Collinsport before they returned to New York, to see the new manor; and they just couldn't help but tease him about it. Usually, this wouldn't bother him at all, but his parents had been nagging him about marriage since he was barely seventeen. Now it was incessant pressuring. It was driving him nuts.

Besides, Angelique certainly wasn't helping him focus on settling down. Really though, he didn't feel ready at all for settling down. He was a young aristocrat, the world under his feet. All a wife would do now would weigh him down. His parents wanted him to though, that was clear. His mother especially. Barnabas knew she wanted grandchildren, and he didn't blame her for that. But she also shouldn't blame him for wanting freedom for a few more years.

With the business to run, his parents eyeing him like vultures and everything else in his life constricting him he felt trapped. He needed a distraction; and Angelique seemed was perfect. Hopefully she could help keep him sane until he could figure a few things out. Barnabas never would have guessed she'd be anything more than a mere distraction. But even he could be proved wrong.

Barnabas forced himself to stop fantasizing about her on remembering that his parents were waiting for him. On his way inside he crossed the Collins families head housekeeper, Mrs. Harris. Seeing as his parents were momentarily distracted by being served, he took a moment to address her quietly.

"Please see to it that Angelique replaces Emily as my chambermaid."

- Barnabas -

End of Chapter One

Well, I hoped you liked it! Comments are so greatly appreciated - the sooner they come the faster I write! So come back soon and please follow and favorite this story!