Chapter 14

Another familiar voice greeted Vickie's ears, "We will know soon enough gentlemen, if you will excuse us, I will examine our traveler and see if there is anything to be concern over."

Julia appeared in the doorway with doctor's bag in hand and looking as Vickie had remembered. "Julia." She smiled at Julia and turned to look at Barnabas. "I should have thanked you before now Barnabas."

Barnabas smiled encouragingly to Vickie turning to leave. "No thanks is necessary my dear. Lets allow Julia to examine you to make sure you are well and we will get you something to eat. I am sure you have not been fed properly, you look way to thin."

Professor Stokes held his monocle in his hand and nodded his agreement. "Shall we adjourn to the drawing room and await Julia's findings?"

Barnabas went to retrieve his great coat, "Yes, I have an excellent sherry you might enjoy Professor, we will take our leave now of the ladies."

Barnabas gave a half bow and turned following Stokes, closing the door behind him. Both men made their way down the stately stairway. "Did you have any transition problems Barnabas?"

Barnabas paused at the coat rack placing his coat on the rack and turned to Professor Stokes. "No, I fear it was Miss Winters that had the adjustment. She fainted upon her return."

"Probably due to her malnourishment, more so than from her ability to transcend time and space."

Barnabas moved to the cabinet and poured two small glasses of sherry. Offering one glass to Stokes he waited while Professor Stokes took a seat and then seated himself.

Barnabas was nothing if not the perfect host. "Yes, I suppose you are right. She was in that cell and it left a lot to be desired for small comforts. If they had treated her much the same as before, I am sure they stole whatever personal affects she might have had."

Timothy Stokes accepted the drink, took a long pleasurable sip and then moved to seat himself in one of the fireside chairs. "Mr. Collins, once we have dispensed with the civilities, I have something I would like to discuss with you."

Barnabas moved to the chair with his drink and then set the glass on the table. "Oh, what might that be Professor?"

Timothy relaxed back in his chair. "I was recently contacted by a group of very talented and interesting people."

Barnabas was far too polite to pretend nothing more than mild interest; his concerns were with the woman upstairs and her welfare. "Really, talented you say?"

Stokes was not the least bit fooled by Barnabas or his concerns. "Yes, talented in that they are employees of the United States Government. They seemed to be very well educated on my particular field of study and you dear boy"

Barnabas suddenly was interested in what Stokes had to say, and immediately, brought his attention back and focused. "Me? Why me, I am hardly worth anyone taking an interest."

Stokes took a sip and then lifted his monocle to his eye and peered around the comfortable room. Once lit by soft candle light, now soft lighting from electrical appliances. "Apparently, according to this particular group of government employees feel you are worth study."

Lights flashed across the front windows and Barnabas stood and moved to peer out into the driveway. "Ahh, it appears Willie is back with Elizabeth. Please excuse me Professor."

Timothy Stokes sipped his sherry and smiled, "Of course, I am sure Mrs. Stoddard would take your interest over mine."

Barnabas turned back to Professor Stokes, "Hardly Stokes, I really wish to continue this conversation in more detail, after Elizabeth has a chance to reacquaint herself with Miss Winters, do excuse me please."

Barnabas moved to the double doors of the old house and opened them, watching Elizabeth's arrival. He noted she was breathless and eyes brimming with hope. "She has returned? Is she . . ."

Barnabas helped her with her coat and hung it on the coat rack. "She is in Josette's room with Julia. I am sure once Julia has examined her, she will allow visitors." Elizabeth Stoddard was a strikingly beautiful woman with her dark hair, blue intense eyes and porcelain complexion.

Though she was small in stature, she was big on commanding attention the moment she entered the room. Barnabas was always struck by how much she resembled his mother, Naomi Collins. It saddened him knowing his mother had died after living such a short sad and unhappy life with a loveless husband. His joy was in knowing he could witness Liz and her life and share that life with her.

Stokes stood when Elizabeth entered the room. "Mrs. Stoddard, I hope this day finds you well?"

Elizabeth smiled tensely and spoke with precision, "The day will find me well if Vickie is in good health and unharmed."

Stokes took her hand and gently patted it, "There, there my dear. I briefly observed Miss Winters and she appears to be tired and undernourished, but otherwise unharmed by her ordeal."

Elizabeth smiled and gently withdrew her hand from his. "I hope you will not be offended if I chose to judge for myself."

Elizabeth moved to a chair and sat knowing that until she sat the men would not seat them selves. Both men were the true form of gentlemanly manners. Timothy reseated himself and Barnabas offered Elizabeth a glass of sherry. "Here my dear, to calm your nerves while you wait."

Elizabeth tensely smiled and took the drink. "Thank you Barnabas."

Delicately sipping the drink, Elizabeth palmed the drink in her hand. "I had Willie bring a bag for Vickie. It has some of her clothing. I am sure she will need a change." As if on cue, Willie appeared in the doorway of the drawing room holding a suitcase. "I will take this up to her if you like Barnabas." Willie stood awkwardly holding the case.

"Julia is examining her, you might knock on the door and offer to pass the suit case through to her."

Elizabeth stood. "I would really like to take it up myself, if that would be acceptable?" Barnabas smiled and stood when Elizabeth stood, Professor Stokes followed suit and stood.

"Please Elizabeth allow Willie to carry it up the stairs and you can take it from there if you wish."

Willie began to ascend the stairs followed by Elizabeth. "A striking woman, I wonder why she never remarried."

Timothy watched Elizabeth move up the stairs and from sight. "I suppose she felt one marriage was enough."

Barnabas offered as polite conversation. "I understand she had her attention directed to the family business."

Stokes was making conversation for the sake of convention and to pass the time. "I suppose she felt it needed her attention."

Barnabas was also trying to fill the void of silence while they waited for word from upstairs.

Stokes finally breached the topic they both had avoided, "I hope she will not be permanently damaged emotionally from her trip to the past."

Barnabas stood and moved to the window, his shoulders set and he looking every part of the master of this house still dressed in his period clothing. He steeple his hands together and watched the night sky.

"As do I, Professor Stokes, as do I. I must say when I found her in that cell, she appeared to have lost all hope and was resigned to her fate. She had been ill, and I feared I had arrived to late. I was filled with hope when she recognized me and was most anxious to return with me."

His memory faded back to that moment he appeared in her cell and watched her dry heaved into the chamber pot. He could smell the putrefaction that had been in this cell before her arrival. The cell was dismal and horrid with little privacy. Watching her lean her head to the hardness of the wall tore at his heart. He could not bear to think of her there.

Stokes held his monocle and used it to accent his words. "Did you explain to her the consequences of her and Bradford's actions and the effect it had in the future?"

Barnabas turned, rubbing his hands together. "Yes, I did and she was most anxious to correct the situation and return with me." Stokes set his drink down and stood; letting his monocle drop he moved to stand next to Barnabas.

"Of course she would, it is not her nature to harm anyone she loves. She is a most sensible and remarkable young woman. It is apparent that she is quite wise beyond her tender years. Which is why she has attracted the attention of these people I had mentioned earlier. A subject we must discuss later when you are more prepared mentally to understand what I need to impart."

Barnabas nodded, already knowing what Stokes was going to say. However, at this time he was more concerned over Vicki and her health. "I suppose that is why I was so attracted to her. She understood my love of history and the past. She so desperately wanted to appreciate all it had to offer. Unfortunately, it appears to her near destruction. It was sad that she had to see first hand the treachery and vile contemptible actions of others in that time."

Stokes studied Barnabas, noting he was not ready to discuss the subject matter he had previously broached. "Yes, someone of her gentle nature would be affected by such trails and tribulations of the time. To be tried as a witch and sentenced to hang must have been frightful. Were she of lesser stability, it would not surprise me she might have been driven quiet mad."

"I agree, I do hope she is unaffected by this ordeal." Voices from the top of the stairs alerted the men to the arrival of Julia and Willie. Both men waited anxious for news. Barnabas was the first to meet Julia in the doorway of the drawing room. "Julia?" Stokes moved to pour Julia a drink.

"Forgive my familiarity with your amenities Mr. Collins but the good Doctor appeared to need this."

He handed the glass to Julia and she smiled at Timothy. "Thank you Professor." She took the drink and moved to the nearest chair and sank into it grateful to be off her feet.

Taking a sip of her drink, she sat the glass down and folded her hands in her lap and looked up at both men. "She is under nourished, exhausted, and suffering from shock."

Julia hesitated not wishing to say that she had found signs of torture. "I have given her something to help her rest. I would recommend she rest for a couple of days and perhaps some therapy to help her deal with what happened. For the most part she needs to be surrounded by those that love her and will not make any demands on her."

Barnabas saw the pointed look she had given him and he hid his aggravation well behind a polite reserve. "Of course. Is Elizabeth still with her?"

Julia stood and tugged on her jacket. "Yes, and that was the best medicine anyone could have brought her. She has suffered from abuse and is still grieving the loss of Bradford."

Stokes moved to stand next to Julia. "I believe Miss Winters is a resilient young woman and will rebound in no time. I have faith in the human spirit and it is not in her nature to grieve for long."

Julia smiled tightly, she had been shocked to see the branding on her shoulder and signs of having been whipped. Then glancing to Professor Stokes she shook her head. "Yes, yes of course she is. However, this time she was put through more horrendous acts than before. She I fear was abused emotionally and physically."

Stokes and Barnabas both reacted to this news with outrage. "Abused?" Stokes letting his outrage pour forth, and Barnabas finished thee sentenced with, "Physically how?"

Barnabas and Stokes had reached the same conclusion fearing she had been tortured but abused, had she been molested? Julia moved to the fireplace of the comfortable stately room and peered down into the fire.

"There are signs of old bruises from a caning, shackle bruising and burns on her ankles and wrists."

The horror of what she had found was tantamount to the fact that Vicki refused to admit to what she had found. Looking down at her hands she spoke softly only imagining what Vicki had suffered.

"Though she refuses to talk about it, I fear she may have been branded, I found scars from a burn on her shoulder. When I questioned her about it, she pulled away from me and tried to hide a scar that appeared to have been burned into her shoulder, a crude letter W."

Barnabas was moved to outrage and curled his fingers into a fist. "If I had arrived sooner, perhaps she could have been spared this treatment."

Stokes reached for his glass and finished his drink. "As you are most acutely are aware Mr. Collins in those days, it was not uncommon for an accused witch to be branded before being hanged. It was thought that such branding would follow them into hell to let Satan know his handmaid had been discovered."

Barnabas wrung his hands together and began to pace. "I should have traveled back sooner."

Stokes clapped a comforting hand on Barnabas' shoulder, "Had you gone back before the time we specified for you . . ."

He paused to collect his own thoughts having not been prepared for what he had just learned. Letting out a cleansing sigh. "You would not have accomplished nothing …"

He dropped his monocle and squeezed Barnabas' shoulder and finished his thought ". . . more. "

Stokes waved his monocle about for emphasis. "I fear that had you gone back sooner you would done more harm than good."

Barnabas turned to look from Julia to Stokes. "Such as how much more could have been done to harm her? She has been put through more than most could endure."

Timothy sighed and nodded, "True, but you could have done more harm than good by possibly getting yourself caught. What good could you have been for her then? Two Barnabas in the same time frame could have caused the extinction of you both. I am a firm believer in that time will heal her and she will soon forget Bradford and her time in the 18th century. It will fade to nothing but a memory."

Barnabas turned to Julia. "Is there nothing more that can be done to help her forget?" Barnabas was hinting at Julia's use of hypnosis and Julia knew exactly what he was hoping to hear from her.

"No, Barnabas, I have done everything that I can. The Professor is right. Time is what Vickie needs now. She will heal in due course and the more people that surrounds her that care about her or love her will help her heal faster. The ones that can offer support and love will be the best cure for her."

She glanced at Timothy and then down, She had been aware of the visit from the government officials because they had come to her as well after they had visited Professor Stokes. She shifted uncomfortably with her knowledge, she knew what was coming and did not like keeping this information from her friend.

What none of the people in the room knew was this group had come to them all independently with a request they keep quiet about their visit. Not wishing to create further problems they had kept their silence and now felt guilty from being silent about what they knew.

Barnabas looked up and saw Elizabeth holding onto Vickie's waist. "Are you sure you should be up and moving around my dear?"

Elizabeth's voice spoke volumes in the relief she felt as she guided Vicki down the stairs.

"Yes, please Mrs. Stoddard. I really wish to be down here with everyone else. I feel as if this is where I belong."

Secretly, Barnabas smiled feeling the first step of his plan was beginning to work. Barnabas moved towards them waiting for them to descended the stairs, "Here my dear allow me to assist you to a chair."

Vicky was dressed in her gown of pale blue and her deep blue velour robe. She enjoyed knowing she was wearing her clothing and her slippers. It gave her comfort and made her feel secure for the first time since her return.

Descending the stairs, Barnabas moved to relieve Elizabeth and Vickie smiled at his approach. Leaning into the comfort of his body she allowed Barnabas to guide her to a chair in front of the fireplace. Gingerly she sat on the edge of the chair and sighed softly. "I feel like I am home." She smiled with over bright eyes to all her friends.

Sitting back Vicky glanced around the room. Not much had changed, gone were the candles that lit the room, and were replaced with low-lit lamps. The two-wingback chairs still accented the fireplace, the secretary against the west wall, the settee in front of the bay window draped in the heavy velvet green drapes. The room still held its charm though from what she had recalled from 1795 the room was a more modern fit to the current time.

The portrait of Barnabas hung in prominence over the mantle of the fireplace, which burned cheerfully brightening the room. Vickie's eyes were drawn to the bookcase, where she knew a secret room lay. She had been held captive and then hidden in that room once. The soft tinkling of the chandelier riveted her attention and she noted that it had been converted to electricity.

No more candles to light the room to give it that surreal feeling of the romantic past. Inwardly she moaned, romantic past. All the past held for her was terror and pain. Closing her eyes she must have paled, Julia was instantly at her side.

"Vickie, are you sure you should be up?"

Elizabeth was showing her concern as well and moved to her side. "I should not have let you come down here. It was too soon."

Vickie offered them all a conciliatory smile and shook her head. "I did not wish to be alone. I love Josette's room but I think I needed to be around company to reassure myself I was no longer . . ."

Her words faded she did not want to say 'no longer in that horrid cell awaiting the hangman's noose.' She did not need to say the words, instantly the room became charged and the uncomfortable silence was broken by a insidiously horrible laughter.

"You think you have escaped me? You have not! You will pay Barnabas Collins, everyone you love will die." The woman's voice sent chills rushing down everyone's spine with Angelique's presence making itself known. Vicki eyes widen in terror and she twisted around searching the room for the witch that had condemned her to her fate in 1795.

Stokes grabbed his monocle and shouted. "Be gone witch, be gone or suffer the pains of fire and damnation for eternity."

The laughter faded and Vickie curled into a ball of protection. "Angelique, she followed us through the portal of time. She is coming to seek revenge on you, she thinks you are the Barnabas from 18th Century."

Stokes turned to Barnabas and stated this emphatically with a hint of anger.

Barnabas looked to the ceiling and around the room. "Nothing more than parlor tricks, please do not allow this to disturb you my dear." Barnabas peered down at the pale form of the woman he had come to love. Vickie looked around frightened and then shook her head and offered a smile to those that now peered at her noting all of them were full of concern over her well being.

Vicki uncurled herself from her tight emotional ball and sat up, curling her fingers into the arms of the chair. Taking a deep breath she let it out slowly, "After what I have experienced, there is nothing she can do to harm me now, in this time."

Immediately the charged room took on a more festive air as Vickie made an effort to calm their fears over her reaction. Uneasy laughter from Julia, "Good, now shall we call it a night so Vickie can rest?"

Elizabeth turned to Barnabas. "I will presume you will bring Vickie to Collinwood tomorrow when she is ready. I will have Mrs. Johnson prepare her old room."

Barnabas looked concerned. "What of Maggie? Is she not using Vickie's room?"

Elizabeth frowned slightly. "I had in my excitement forgotten about Maggie."

Vickie appeared confused. "What of Maggie?"

Barnabas turned and bent down so he could be eye level with Vickie. "Maggie was hired to replace you after you left. She sold the cottage and moved into Collinwood."

"Oh, I am so sorry Mrs. Stoddard, how selfish of me to have left you in need for the children."

Elizabeth waved it off and sighed. "We found a solution. Well I will have Mrs. Johnson prepare another room for Vickie."

Julia sighed and reached for her bag. "I think Vickie should stay here for a while, until she can acclimate herself to this century and her surroundings and not be moved until she is ready."

Barnabas smiled, "I would be delighted to have the opportunity to lavish her with attention and pamper her."

Vickie flushed and returned Barnabas' smile. "Shall we take it one day at a time. I feel . . . " she searched for the words to fit her feelings. "Lost, I feel. . . " Again she stumbled for the right words to describe her feelings.

"There dear, don't stress yourself. We shall let you set the pace of your recovery and where you shall stay one day at a time. Are you happy in Josette's room? If not I can . ."

She stood to face Barnabas. "No, no, I love being in Josette's room. It makes me feel secure. I just need time to adjust to being back here. For you I have been gone a few days, for me, it was months. I just need time you do understand don't you Mrs. Stoddard?"