Chapter 4

Barnabas took his time, in making his way downstairs. His confusion, over what might have happened, the previous night with Angelique, weighed heavily on his mind. He couldn't imagine, betraying Julia as he had. He couldn't tell her, of his indiscretion; nor could he not tell her.

When they had first begun their relationship, a few weeks after their return from the past, he had vowed to himself, that he wouldn't keep anything from her. Now, he had betrayed her, in the worst possible way.

Finally making his way down to the kitchen, his heart sank on finding Angelique at the table, a smug look on her face.

She watched him, over her coffee mug, her blue eyes sparkling with a hidden knowledge. To her, he appeared pale and shaken.

He refused to look at her, as he helped himself to coffee. As he sipped his coffee, he looked out of the window, deep in thought. It had to have been a dream.

"I was beginning to think that you were intending to sleep all day," she

commented, watching him carefully. "After last night..."

He turned quickly, choking on his coffee. "What about last night?" he asked, sounding alarmed. The sick feeling in the pit of his stomach returned. He'd hoped that it had been an extremely vivid dream; apparently, that hadn't been the case.

She rose, seeming to not notice his obvious discomfort. "You ought to know," she said, coming closer to him, and wrapping her arms around him, rested her head on his chest.

He would have taken a step back, but the kitchen counter, barred his retreat.

He swallowed, hastily pulling away from her. "I have to leave!"

"Where are you going?" she demanded, the image of a loving wife, vanishing, to be replaced by a suspicious, vindictive one. "You're going to her, aren't you? To Julia!"

He left the house, hastily, without answering her.

Alone, blue eyes spitting blue fire, Angelique, scowled after his departing figure, suspiciously. The confident, smug look, vanished, as she watched the taillights of Barnabas' car, fade from sight. She turned angrily from the window, pouting. She couldn't understand, why he hadn't succumbed to her manipulations. It was clear that he had had the dream, but he was still resisting her. She turned back to the window; her mind already, thinking of ways to manipulate him further, when an unexpected voice managed to startle her.

"Still drugging drinks, my dear?"

Julia walked into the reception area of Wyndcliffe, and stopped in mid step, as she spotted Barnabas, staring out of the window, nearest the aquarium. Her heart gave an unexpected leap, at the sight of him; she hadn't expected to see him today.

Seeming to sense her presence, he turned, as she continued further into the room. She handed the files, she was holding to her receptionist, and met him halfway.

"Barnabas," she smiled in greeting. "I wasn't expecting to see you today. Though I'm not complaining." her smile and voice trailed away as she saw that something was wrong. She could always tell, with him; he seemed far too pale for her liking.

He returned her smile, but she was quick to note that it didn't reach his eyes. Something was definitely wrong. She placed a hand on his arm. "Barnabas, what is it? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, exactly," he edged, worrying his onyx ring. How easy it was, to slip into old habits he thought. The sick feeling, returned. "I missed you, so," he added, truthfully.

She smiled, somewhat shyly. Their relationship, in many ways, was still new, and an awkwardness that all new relationships had, still hung between them, as they explored and got used to their new closeness.

** It had taken Julia by surprise, when Barnabas had begun to show a new attentiveness towards her, a few weeks, after their return from 1840. It had been small things at first; compliments, when she least expected it. Then, one night, he'd invited her to dinner, and she'd accepted. It had become a regular event, as they'd anticipated yet another supernatural threat that never came.

One evening, they'd taken a stroll along the beach below Window's Hill, when he'd suddenly taken her by surprise, by taking her hand, in his. He'd pulled her gently to him, his gaze so intense, that it had come as a kind of relief, when he'd kissed her for the first time.

That had marked, the beginning of their relationship, which had stalled briefly, when Angelique had returned, unexpectedly. **

"I'm free for the next few hours," she replied again sensing that something was bothering him. He glanced quickly towards the secretary, suddenly aware of her presence. She understood his glance, and still holding onto his arm, she led him towards the door that would lead to her apartment. "We could have some lunch, and then, we could go for a stroll around the grounds."

Once in the privacy of her rooms, he embraced her, and kissed her. "I love you, Julia Hoffman," he said when the kiss ended. Something in the way he said it, sent alarm bells ringing. She was about to question him, when he released her, and walked a distance away.

On his drive from Rockport, he had thought long and hard, if he should tell her what had happened, He didn't want to hurt her, but he couldn't see any other way. If he were honest

about it now...

"Barnabas, what is? What's happened? Tell me."

Head bowed, he worried his ring nervously. He stood with his back to her, swallowing, before saying; "I hate this situation as much as you do, Julia," he turned to face her. "You deserve more than this!" Frustrated, he moved over to the window that looked over the grounds, putting further distance between them. He bit his lip. "This isn't easy for me to say," he began. He faltered, unable to articulate the words.

She came to stand behind him. Reaching out, he allowed her to turn him to face her. "I know that this arrangement isn't to our liking, Barnabas. But I'm confidant that in time, we'll work it out."

He looked at her still upset. "You mean everything to me, Julia. I don't want to hurt or upset you..." he took a breath. "Last night, I had a dream...an...intimate dream...with Angelique. When I woke, I was alone, and I was convinced that it was a dream. Earlier today, she implied that it wasn't a dream. But I'm sure it was."

Shock registered on Julia's face, very clearly upset. He grasped her by the arms. "I'm convinced it was a dream, Julia," he implored. "You must believe me! My darling, you are the only important thing in my life."

Julia stared into his face. He was clearly distressed and shaken by what Angelique had implied. They both knew she was manipulative, when it came to Barnabas, and she'd caused dreams to happen before. She knew deep in her heart, that he was being honest with her. He didn't want to have anything to do with Angelique.

"Of course, it was a dream, Barnabas," she was quick to reassure him. "We both know what she's capable of. But you must be careful; when she realizes that you don't believe anything happened, she'll have something else, planned, that we don't know anything about."

Barnabas started at her gratefully. He embraced her. "I love you," he said, with great sincerity. His eyes gleamed, with a sudden passion and longing, that was communicated to her, in the kiss they shared. They separated long just long enough to move towards the bedroom.