Chapter 21

Vicki was brought back to the present looking upon the face of the man that had corrupted the husband of Josephine duPres Cristobel. Though she would have been more comfortable out of his purview. She had to tolerate his effusive compliments and waited to see what he was going to try and bully her or her parents into whatever disagreeable plan.

She did not know what he had sought to put into play and what agenda he was trying to propagate that would involve her. She knew all she had to do was wait and it should be forthcoming. Until then she would try to deftly side step his advances or any type of insinuation into her life.

Jeanette had watched with undeniable interest and wondered if this Vicki had the same powers as her mother. She knew how her mother would have dealt with this man and how quickly she would have put things to right.

This Vicki appeared to be less forceful than her mother and was more vulnerable than her mother. If only her mother could have been here to use her kind of protection that this poor woman needed. She watched waiting to see how this was going to play out as she waited for some sign of how Nicolai had created this blend of their realities.

Vicki had not long to wait until Nicolai had tried to sway her to what his plans would be and how she would fit into them and he was most persuasive in his arguments to convince her that his plans were her plans. She listened to his plans and waited for the other shoe to drop thereby letting her know he did have a plan a very deceiving and undeniably loathsome plan.

"I wish to have a ball and have obtained permission from Joshua Collins to use his ballroom. I wish to make a presentation to you on behalf of your deceased husband."

Josephine stiffened at the thought of being in close proximity of the man that had corrupted her husband. Then she forced herself to relax and she smiled. "It would be a pleasure and honor to have you visit with my family. So, you are staying at Collinwood with Mr. Collins?"

Nicolai had ignored her momentary lapse and stiffening at his offer. He was very much aware of how Andre had left his wife before his death. He had even boasted on how he was able to bring her to heel while in his cups. "She cowered before me and did everything I had instructed her to do, if she refused I would give her a good knock on the head. She was readily enough to give me what I wanted!" He had laughed thinking of how he had taken his sadistic pleasure from her.

Both men had laughed and that was when Andre had the miniature of his wife in his pocket watch. It was not a very good picture but she looked to be a respectable and sweet woman of little note.

The picture did not do justice to the actual woman standing in front of him. Nicolai tucked her hand into his arm and led her over to a chair where he assisted her to sit. "I understand you had a rather nasty knock on your head so standing must be quiet a trial for you." He was delighted to see her flush again at the lavish attention he was giving her.

"Thank you..." She hesitated because she wanted to say your Highness and he felt her need for a name to give him

"Please call me Nicolai, I would be honored if you called me Nicolai and I hope Countess would permit me the familiarity of using your name Josephine. It is such a lovely name."

He kissed her hand again gently laying his lips to the side of her hand to peer at her over the top of her knuckles. Natalie not one to let a good thing pass, moved forward and gushed, "Of course you should call her Josephine."

Nicolai smiled indulgently as he peered at Natalie, "And would you excuse us please Countess, I would very much like to discuss business with Josephine in private."

Vicki looked anxiously to Natalie and then down at her hand still held by Nicolai. Trying to politely withdraw her hand from his she felt his hold on her hand tighten. Natalie kissed her daughter's cheek and excused herself.

Nicolai bowed to her and still holding Vicki's hand smiled as he seated him self before her. "I know you are feeling improved and you should rest, but I thought perhaps we could take a little stroll in the garden and continue the conversation I feel I must have with you."

Vicki attempted to push her tension out of her smile and nodded politely. "Yes, of course." She started to stand and he reached for her waist to help her stand.

The familiarity of his touch made her recoil and she flushed. "I am so sorry, I am still a bit of sore. Forgive me?"

She had noted his eyes narrow slightly and his smile froze noting her rejection of his touch. Then as she explained he relaxed with her explanation seeming plausible enough. He then patted her hand as he again tucked it into his arm. "No need to forgive, it is understandable that you are still a bit tender from your accident. Shall we just take a small walk around the garden and I can tell you what I plan." Nicolai had always had what he wanted and no woman had ever refused him.

The warmth of the sunshine helped to take the chill from the air around them. Vicki pulled her shawl closer to her body and felt Nicolai move closer to her. "I must say these Americans are most meticulous with their gardens, almost as meticulous as the English. I am amazed that even in the chill as crisp as this air the flowers are still fragrant and beautiful. They pale compared to your beauty my dear."

Vicki felt her face flush with heat. "Even with the color you put in your cheeks you out shine all these flowers. To me you are a beautiful exotic flower that should be nourished and cultivated and never picked to die from the vine."

Vicki tucked her chin and smiled behind a polite hand to cover her face. "Sir, your flattery will make me very vain should you continue with your generous prose of compliments."

Nicolai led her to a bench and helped her sit, then taking a seat next to her; he lifted her hand and brought it to his lips. She could not help but feel his lips were dry and soft. He kissed her hand and then looked at her long delicate fingers that lay in his hand.

"I feel that I must make good a debt of honor. Your late husband was good to me and gave his life to protect mine. I am thereby honor bound to see his wife is treated as one of my own household. I hope you will permit me the privilege of repaying this debt of honor."

Vicki having been infused with Josephine's memories and life was somewhat taken aback. Her bright articulate mind was trying to process what his motive was other than a debt of honor. She felt that she had sensed or seen in his gaze something cold and dark in his nature.

This was something that Andre had been better at hiding from her than apparently Nicolai. She felt a slight squeeze on her hand and she glanced up. "You know when you go deep in thought you have a dreamy kiss me look about you."

Vicki flushed deeper and tucked her chin. This afforded an opportunity for Nicolai to release her hand and cup her chin and guide her gaze to his.

There was intensity in his gaze he studied her. "I am very grateful of course you feel a need to satisfy a debt of honor. I just don't know what you expect of me to repay a debt of honor. You said that you had a commendation to bestow posthumously on my husband, is that not enough to satisfy this debt?"

She smiled politely for him and she saw him melt to her smile and his eyes seemed to close off and hide his thoughts behind a devilish twinkle. "You are so charming my dear, I can see why Andre was attracted to you." Vicki bit her top lip as the memories of Josephine's last encounter with her husband overwhelmed her.

"You are much to kind with your compliments Nicolai, as you kept confidences with my husband I am sure he kept the same with you and he must have spoken of me in less than a complimentary light. I fear my husband used our marriage as nothing more than a matter of convenience."

She tugged her hand away and stood moving to the fountain that tinkled with water. The sunlight caught the water making it look like tiny diamonds glistening on the surface. Nicolai stood as she did and watched her move to the fountain pulling her shawl closer to her body, "I fear he had more loathing for me than love."

Nicolai moved to her and put his hands on her shoulders, "Andre was a hard soldier and he treated his men with reckless regard. I was hopeful he would at least been tempered by you. I am sorry you were so harshly treated by him, which is all the more reason I wish to correct any injustices that were done to you."

Vicki turned to smile sadly for his benefit. "I am not as fragile as you may think Nicolai. I am a duPres and as such I have my own temper to hold and I can hold my own."

Nicolai returned her smile. "You see you are worthy of note and I wish to make right what should have been done for you long ago, when you married Andre."

He took his finger and moved it along her neck and the fine cut of her jaw line. "Josephine, you were not treated well, and I fear it may have been my fault. I may have put too much demand on Andre and his duties and you had a disservice done because of my expectations from Andre."

Vicki took his fingers and held them. The feelings his touch was sending through her senses were disturbing and uncomfortable. "Nicolai, you have nothing to make up for what was between my husband and myself. I am not your responsibility."

Nicolai curled her fingers to his and kissed them lightly. "My dear I dare to disagree with you. I feel you are my responsibility. I want you to be my responsibility. I would find myself extremely committed to seeing you lack for nothing and are happy."

Nicolai tipped her chin up and placed a light little kiss on the tip of her nose. "I find myself enamored of your charm and hope to have you reciprocate them in kind some day."

Once again he was charmed by the flush of color that had rushed into her cheeks. "Well you will allow me a chance to consider your kind offer."

Nicolai drew her hand to his lips and smiled as he kissed her hand. "I shall do my best to convince you to allow me the treasure of your company."

Vicki felt overwhelmed with his charm and closeness. The intensity of his stare bore through her to the core of her very being. For a moment she felt she would drown in that stare and she wavered on her feet and felt her world spin, her eyes lashes fluttered and she began to faint. Nicolai swept her up in his arms and carried her across the patio to the doors and into the house to the sofa. There he laid her on the sofa.

Moving to the doorway he called, "Countess! Monsieur du Pres! Someone! Come quickly to the drawing room!"

Millie moved through the side doorway and stopped seeing Vicki on the sofa she moved back to the kitchen and returned quickly with a bowl of cool water and cloth to bathe her face. Vicki moaned softly and her eyes fluttered open. Color was coming back into her cheeks and she looked at the concern written on Nicolai and Millie's face.

She allowed her gaze to travel the room she saw her mother and father standing in the doorway. "Moi Petite Cheri', are you unwell? Did you do too much?" Natalie bustled towards her daughter and checked her face and then lifted her hands. "Your hands are like ice."

Philippe stood helplessly in the doorway, "Should I get the doctor my love?"

Natalie looked at Vicki and then to her husband. "Mamma, do not worry. Nicolai and I had a nice walk in the garden and I am fine. I just got a bit tired and felt slightly weak. I will be fine and no Poppa, do not get the doctor, let him tend to those that are sick or in need of his services."

Nicolai turned an apologetic smile on those in the room and said, "Well, I have over stayed my welcome, I must be away to prepare for the ball. I had hopes of planning it for this weekend and if that is to happen, I need to make arrangements to not be a burden on Mr. Collins."

Nicolai took his leave and left the duPres family to discuss what Nicolai had proposed to Vicki earlier. Natalie had been ecstatic at the proposition. However; Philippe was not so excited. "Would that mean you would have to live in that country?"

Vicki shrugged her shoulders lightly. "Poppa it does not mean I intend to accept his offer. I do not know if it would be appropriate or circumspect. I am after all still in mourning for my husband. I hardly think it proper to allow any form of affection or other conciliations to be acceptable until I am through my mourning period. Understand Poppa and Mamma, I will not give up my honor to satisfy another's honor."

Philippe moved to his daughter and sat beside her and pulled her into a fatherly hug. "I know my pet, your mother and I raised you to be proper and fit."

Vicki snuggled into the comfort of Philippe's' hold and closed her eyes. "Perhaps I was too quick to leave my bed. If you all will excuse me, I believe I need to go lie down and rest."

Natalie watched her daughter move to the stairs and mount them. "Philippe, you must talk some sense into the girl and tell her this is the best situation that will ever fall into her lap. She would be a Princess and her husband is next in line to be King of Monrovia. That would make her a Queen."

Philippe watched his daughter disappear from sight and turned his tired eyes upon his wife. "Natalie, you need to not mettle in her life. She has suffered enough at the hands of that bounder Andre. Do not push her into this situation with Nicolai. We do not need any more unfortunate happenstances to occur for this family. We have been put through enough,"

Natalie shook her head and sighed, "If that is what you wish my pet. We will wait and discuss this another time when all are rested and more alert to what the possibilities it will bring."

Vicki stood by the window of Josette's room looking out over the expanse of the front drive and watched the sunset. The sky was painted with the darkening clouds and off in the distance.

Vicki could hear the rumble of thunder as it made its presence known of an impending storm. Then a soft voice sounding far away began to call to her. Cocking her head she thought she heard a voice. There it was a familiar voice that echoed through the woods and into her mind.

"Josephine . . . Josephine . . . please, hear me and come to me . . . come to me follow the music and my voice. Do not let anyone see you leave, you must come to me and comfort me."

Vicki turned and reached for a cloak that had been draped over the small settee and moving down the hallway. She went down the backstairs to the servant's quarters and out the back door. Josephine ever pressing forward moved on her satin soft-soled shoes to the wood line.

She continued on with her search following the sound of 'his' voice. She moved in the direction with familiar knowledge unknown to her; to a place in the woods where she stopped and waited.

From the shadows Barnabas stepped and looked at the frail lovely woman in the soft moonlight. "Josephine, come to me. Comfort me." She smiled and moved to his open arms and leaned into his hold. Oddly, enough Barnabas felt nothing of a desire to taste her blood. He wanted to hold her and feel human again in her arms.

Tempting as she was, she laid her head on his shoulder exposing the tender neckline for his pleasure. "Here my love, take what you need from me. Let me comfort you."

Barnabas unable to control his need, his desires, bit into the inviting flesh holding her fast to keep her from pulling away and tearing the tender flesh her throat. Once again while he fed, he could hear the double heart beat and the fetal heartbeat began to slow.

She slumped into his embrace. Barnabas feeling remorse again bit his wrist and pressed his bleeding arm to her lips. "Drink Josephine, drink, nourish and be healed so the baby will not be affected." Mentally, Barnabas did not understand why it was important that she keep the child safe. He just knew he felt an uncommon need to protect her and the child.

Slumping into his arms, he looked upon the beauty of her face. Anguish at how much she looked like Josette filled him and he hugged her body close to his. "I cannot harm you. I cannot do this to you."

Lifting her he carried her to the pathway leading to Collinwood. "Josephine, open your eyes my dear." He watched her eyes fluttered open. "That is right, go to the front doors. Help will be waiting for you on the other side."

Barnabas stood and watched her move towards the front door and used the knockers. Seeing the doors open, Barnabas shifted into bat form and flew away knowing she would be safe in his father's house.

Vicki leaned against the doors knocking and when the door opened she collapsed into Joshua's arms. Joshua immediately called for help from his staff and lifted the girl and carried her into the drawing room placing her on the sofa. Laying her on the sofa her head rolled to the side and once again he had the vision he had seen only once before, bite marks on her neck.

Turning her care over to the staff, he slipped quietly from the house to the stables where he saddled a horse and rode for all he was worth to Eagle Hill Cemetery. Moving to the family mausoleum he opened the door to the secret room and peered upon the chained casket. Moving to the casket he laid his hand on top and with so much emotion he spoke with a choked voice. "Oh my son, I am so sorry." Turning he left the mausoleum and rode back heavy hearted to Collinwood.

Upon his arrival he had learned Philippe and Natalie had come to collect Josephine. Allowing that the duPres needed time to deal with their daughter's malaise Joshua took his time in thinking over what he thought he had seen on the girl's neck.

Pacing back and forth in his study he finally sat down and gave into his own mental exhaustion and dozed. His mind twisted and tumbled over the image of Josephine and how much she looked like his dearly departed Naomi.

It was an uncanny resemblance that a woman could have the traits of two entirely different women. Though her manners and her actions were similar to Josette, she did look like Naomi. He slept fitfully knowing he had done a disservice to his beloved wife in not showing her more love and tenderness and allowed the guilt to play havoc with his dreams.

Natalie, Philippe, and Josephine began to fall into a routine of sorts at the old house. Gradually, Josephine had regained her strength and true to his word, Nicolai had planned a grand ball at Collinwood and the time had arrived for them to attend.

Josephine sat at the vanity and watched Millie dress her hair in intricate curls, weaving ribbon covered in pearls through her curls. Nicolai had sent over a terra for her to wear on the night of the ball and at his insistence, Josephine had it placed in her hair. He had even had a special gown of white satin and lace designed for her to wear at the ball.

The dress was of French design with an empire waist dress that offered cap sleeves, which laid off the shoulder allowing a tantalizing view of the slender neck and shoulders. The dress fell away from the body to the floor and held a two-foot train that gave grace to the dress and its wearer.

Along with the gown Nicolai had sent an elaborate necklace of rubies and diamonds with precise instructions that on the night of the ball Josephine was to wear with Nicolai's compliments. Millie stood back as she finished helping Josephine dress and caught her breath at the vision of loveliness she made standing in the center of Josette's room.

"Oh Miss Josephine, you look beautiful!" Millie clapped her hands together with pride in how she had arranged her hair; which set the look of the dress and jewels she wore.

Josephine stood in front of the mirror and turned smiling at Millie compliment. With a wrinkle of her nose, Josephine entreated, "Do I look presentable?"

She smiled and her face lit up with her inner beauty. "Oh Miss Josephine you look good enough to eat!"

Josephine laughed and spun around. "I feel like I am in a fairy tale and it has been a long time coming to make light and have a jovial time."

A light tap on the door and Natalie entered, carrying feathered masks. "Here my pet, oh do you not look lovely. You will make the duPres family proud tonight."

Josephine looked over her mother gown and found she had also been dressed to the hilt in her own satin creation of deep green, her red hair draped over her shoulder in long curls with an assortment of diamond pins. "Mamma, you look lovely. Here you help me with my mask please."

Josephine moved to her dressing table and sat on the stool and waited for her mother to put the mask on her. Taking the ribbons she pulled them around her daughters hair and tied the mask into place. "There my sweet, you are the picture of mystique and beauty. Poppa is waiting at the carriage for us. He is full of compliments. He has told me how ravishing I looked." Taking the small cape from Millie she hugged the girl and thanked her for all the help she had given. Moving down the stairs and out the door her father stopped and looked up at the beauty that was his daughter and he felt a lump in his throat. She glowed with her excitement and he with his pride.

The duPres carriage fell into a succession of carriages while they rumbled to a stop at the top of the hill over looking the ocean below. Vicki felt a sense of excitement for the night's entertainment she was hoping to get through the evening with little notice.

She did not realize how exotically beautiful she was in her gown of cream satin and her hair alight with the pearls and tiara, or that the mask she wore only made her more bewitching. Stepping lightly from the carriage, she let the doorman help her alight and guide her by her elbow to the side entrance to the grand ballroom of Collinwood. She noted that there was an assembly of musicians already playing and the sounds of laughter filled the night air.