Chapter 7
AN Just wanted to thank everyone for their reviews, it really is appreciated. Apologises for the delay, but my young daughter has been ill, and as a consequence, I wasn't able to update.
Barnabas stared at her, for several seconds, as the news sank in. Then, a smile lit his face.
"Julia, that's wonderful!" the elation he felt reflected in his voice.
She crossed her arms, and biting her lip half turned away from him. "Is it?" she asked quietly.
The elation faded, as did his smile, as he watched her. "Of course it is!" he said, a slight frown creasing his forehead. He stared at her, his brown eyes boring into her half turned back. He refused to entertain the sudden thought that briefly crossed his mind. "Don't...don't you want this child, Julia?" he asked, his tone clearly worried, and hurt, by the thought that she might not.
She turned to face him, clearly unsettled and still reeling from the news. "I'm not sure of how I feel, Barnabas. I never considered our having a child together. I accepted long ago, that I wouldn't have children, when I decided to pursue a medical career. Frankly, I never considered that either of us, could produce a child at this point in our lives." She turned away from him again, and walked over to the window, that faced over the grounds.
She could feel him watching her. "This isn't going to be easy, Barnabas; there's my age to consider. The prospect of having a child now, terrifies me. Certainly the timing could not be any worse with the uncertainty we face with Angelique! And then there's Angelique herself. If she finds out, then none of us will be safe."
He went to her, and gently turned her to face him. "Julia, I never expected this to happen, either, but it has. It's a miracle, a blessing in disguise. You know that I'll do all I can, to help you through this. I promise you, Angelique won't find out..."
"You can't promise that, Barnabas. She's capable of finding out like that!" she said, clicking her fingers.
"Let me worry about Angelique. You and the baby are what's important, now."
He embraced her, and leaning forward slightly, kissed her deeply.
"Nicholas!" Angelique almost screamed, in desperation. She paced the drawing room, growing more and more agitated, at his refusal to appear.
"You're certainly impatient, my dear," replied his familiar voice. She turned to find him, perched on the arm of a chair, his Cheshire cat grin, revealing his perfect white teeth.
"You certainly took your time!" she greeted him.
He stared at her coldly, his dark eyes, glittered menacingly. His grin was chilling. "I don't like your tone, Angelique," he said, with menace. He rose to his feet, the implication clear. He would not be toyed with or used by an inferior.
"Don't go!" she said, quickly. "Nicholas, please! I need your help."
"I'm not sure that I can help you, Angelique." He smiled smugly. "Or that I would."
Her blue eyes glittered and a smile touched the corners of her mouth. "No, of course not. You're just a messenger."
He turned to face her, his face becoming set. "You would be wise to retract that statement, my dear," he said, in a voice, barely audible.
"Or what?" she questioned, mockingly. "You're an errand boy, Nicholas, and nothing more!" She sauntered around the room, and came to stop a few inches from him. "If you help me, I will make sure that you are rewarded."
"And how do you propose to do that, Angelique? You're in less favour with our Master, than I am. No, Angelique. To win Barnabas Collins, you must do so, on your own, without the help of this...'errand boy'. I cannot help you." He looked at her slyly, as he toyed with her. "I take it, that things aren't going well?"
"Nicholas, I need more time! You must help me!" Angelique pleaded as she paced away from him.
His Cheshire cat grin returned, and his eyes sparkled with evil mirth. "My, my, but we are desperate now, aren't we? I cannot be of assistance; I am, after all, only an errand boy. Angelique, you have only a little time left; I suggest you think of something fast."
When she turned around, he'd vanished.
She'd tried everything that she knew, and still Barnabas resisted. What else was there? It had to be something he wasn't expecting.
Two days later, Barnabas returned to the Old House. It had been a difficult decision for him to make, since learning of Julia's pregnancy, made leaving her that much harder.
Hearing the approach of his car, Angelique, prepared herself for the confrontation that she knew was coming.
"I was beginning to think, that you were never returning home," she stated, conversationally.
Caught unaware by her tone and manner, Barnabas paused briefly in hanging up his coat. "I may be the master of this house, Angelique, but you will never be its mistress."
Her manner was making him suspicious. What is she up to this time? he wondered.
At least they were managing to be civil. She tried again. "Please, don't be angry with me Barnabas. It was merely an observation. You go away for days, without telling me..."
"We don't share confidences." He stated, bluntly, intending to move past her, without further comment. But she grabbed him by the arm, halting him.
"Then that is something that will have to change, Barnabas. Something has happened that will change our lives. I'm pregnant, Barnabas."
