CH 2: Second Meetings Are the Most Grand

"Don't you want to hear about Barnabas, Angelique? You haven't said a word all evening!"

I immediately looked up from the dress that I had been hemming, my cheeks turning a delicate crimson as I promptly shook my head in answer. "Oh, no mademoiselle, I feel that it would be very improper of me to question such matters."

"Nonsense, Angelique! You are my best friend and confidant!" Josette argued, laughing as if it were the most ridiculous thing in the world. Leaning in closer she added, "Besides, I'd only trust you to keep my most treasured secrets. If word were to get out to the neighbors everyone would be absolutely up in arms!"

"Oh...oui" I agreed, not realizing that I had tied the knot to my hem so tightly that it had snapped directly in two.

Noticing this, Josette raised an eyebrow in concern. "Your patchwork" she began, pointing. "It must have torn."

"Oh...so it did" I mumbled, absently re-knotting it before purposely redirecting my gaze anywhere but the beautiful countenance of my mistress.

Before I could announce that I was about to retire for the night as I so sorely desired, however, she suddenly blurted, "Barnabas is staying for a fortnight, you realize. That's why his carriage is still out front."

My heart felt as if it had blossomed like a balloon being inflated by helium, my lips screwing into a grim line in order to hide the undeniable ghosting of a smile. Checking myself so that my voice deflected absolutely no emotion, whatsoever, I returned wearily, "Oh, really, mademoiselle?I can honestly say that I took no notice of Mr. Collins' transportation, whatsoever. I trust then that I'll be caring for him and his coachman, as well?"

"No, I wouldn't dream of it! Marie and Reynard can take care of them" Josette argued before flopping back on the settee with a light-hearted sigh. Glancing back up at me she added, "MonsieurCollins is so wonderful, Angelique...really, if you talked to him you'd melt in a puddle at his feet."

"Oh, I'm sure" I agreed, my cheeks flushing at the very remembrance of our confrontation out on the front porch. "Is he interested in a long-term relationship, by chance?"

Josette smiled. "As far as I can tell he is...what would you say if he proposed?"

"That is not my place, mademoiselle" I hurriedly cut in, truly wishing to avoid the subject at all costs. "Monsieur Collins is so far out of my league that I blush at the very idea of him proposing."

"Oh, nonsense, Angelique! You put yourself down far too much!" my mistress argued, giving me a light tap on the arm as her weak punishment for my spoken words. "I'm sure that Monsieur Barnabas is absolutely captivated by you! If I were not here I am almost certain that it would be you and not I that he would be courting."

Something in Josette's words gave me a newfound hope, yet I couldn't help but frown as I continued with my patchwork. My heart was already far too scarred to subject it to a new bout of pain, so it was clear that I was not nearly as eager to interact with Mr. Collins as she.

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Something about springtime always makes my heart flutter and dance to an unwritten melody within my beating heart, the after effects of winter intermingling with the beginnings of summer always leaving me with the feeling that absolutely nothing can go awry. Perhaps this is the reason I had decided on taking a walk down along the beaten path behind the DuPres manor, in which I have long ago dubbed 'The Path to Salvation'.

I merely feel so strongly about this beautiful walk because once one actually completes it a powerful sense of liberation truly comes over. The feeling is absolutely inexpressible, yet one day I managed to write it all down within the confinements of my diary and described my most intimate fantasies occurring in this very place. As of late one of these fantasies has become the noble Barnabas Collins...

"I say, are you out here all alone and unattended?"

I let out a tremendous gasp, whirling about on my heel in order to find none other than the aforementioned, himself. "Barnabas!" I choked out, suddenly redder than any tomato that I have ever picked from the DuPres garden. "W-what on earth are you doing out here? Mademoiselle Josette is inside!"

"I am quite aware of that, thank you. The truth of the matter is that I came out here to see you" he explained, smiling that alluring smile of his as he allowed the most gentlemanly of bows to grace my presence. Noticing my silence he added, "That is, of course, if I may? I merely saw you walking all by yourself and figured that it was only proper if I escorted you amidst such beautiful weather."

Quite flattered, I nodded my consent, then held out a hand before returning rather demurely, "Oui, monsieur, you most certainly may, yet I must warn you...men who accompany me often find their hearts to be quite broken by the end of the evening."

Barnabas smirked, seeming to enjoy my proposed challenge immensely. "Might I reveal, Madame, that I am not like most men?"

"Nor I like most women" I remarked, smiling in turn. "What say you to that?"

He grinned. "I say that that makes it all the more compelling."

Linking my arm in his, the two of us cheerily began the charming walk toward my favorite retreat: the DuPres Brook.

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"Why do you suppose the world is the way that it is, Monsieur Collins?" I asked sleepily, subconsciously resting my head on his shoulder as the two of us continued to sit alongside the glittering brook behind the DuPres garden.

I felt Barnabas shift slightly beneath my unexpected weight, then reprimand softly, "Please, Mademoiselle Bouchard...call me Barnabas."

"Well only if you call me Angelique" I returned, smirking before stretching out and flopping back in the cool grass. Noticing him glance down at me with warm eyes I no longer cared whether or not my current position was ladylike, for his caring gaze alone left me with all the assurance that I preferred. He accepted me, and I needed that. I never like to admit my weaknesses, but this is one that I've only recently discovered upon Mr. Collins' unexpected arrival.

In a way I am frightened to realize that I need another human being - let alone a man - in my life, yet on the other hand, all of the feelings that I have been experiencing over the past few days are very new and exciting. It's almost as if something incredibly warm to the touch has developed and expanded within my very soul, consuming me little by little as my desires continue to unfold. And yes, I've just admitted it - I desire Barnabas Collins more than life, itself. Dare I tell my mistress? Most certainly not...and yet...how can I possibly hope to attain Mr. Collins' affections when my beauty clearly pales in comparison to Mademoiselle Josette's?

Noting my sudden lack of vitality, Barnabas laid down beside me and rolled over onto his side, the crow's feet around his dark eyes crinkling ever-so-slightly as he bestowed me with one of the most pleasing smiles that he could possibly muster. "My dear Angelique" he began, reaching out and touching my chin, "are you ill?"

"No, Monsieur" I whispered, daring to reach out and grasp at his invading hand. "I just...well...do you think we could possibly just lie like this for a moment longer? Can we just pretend that for once there's actually something wondrous awaiting us in the future? Together?"

"My dear, I'm quite afraid that you may have misunderstood my intentions. You see, I-"

"Please" I whispered, gazing into his eyes with my own powerful sea-green orbs so that he seemed frozen in time.

Finally nodding his consent, Barnabas took me fondly within the security of his arms and we laid like that together until dusk, within those precious moments my heart never feeling more alive than any other time in my pitiful existence.

By God….I'm in love.

A/N: First and foremost, thank you to all of the lovely reviewers whom have been so kind as to give me feedback:) I GREATLY appreciate it, and hope that you've enjoyed the next installment as much as I've enjoyed writing it. :-P

Secondly, I apologize for my slow updating - I'm bad at being precise with timing.

And third, I don't mean to sound like a pitiful case, but none of my other Dark Shadows stories have gotten nearly as much success, and I'm just asking if you'll give them a chance? You see, my best friend put some of mine under herpen name, SweetFaith06. I use this one so that I can write different pairings than I'm accustomed to without my fans of the other pairings getting all fired up about it. :-P Ssh, you know my secret! I only ask because I'm rather proud of them - moreso than this piece - and since you've been so kind I was hoping you'd enjoy them just as much, if not more. Thank you very much once more, and please enjoy your days! ;0)