A/N: I'd like to do a more thorough job of this... but I'm going to keep following my nose for now. Enjoy...
Chapter Three: The Old House
As the family settled into walking through the woods, David made grabs at branches, jumping up to catch leaves which brought the rest of the family to relieved smiles.
Throughout all the downfall and destruction; a child could still be a child.
Suddenly David halted his fun and pointed, "That's it! The Old House!"
As crickets chirped in the distance of a long night, the family stood still in awe, noticing the columns, the triangular top most above them to show the majesty of its previous occupants.
"Our old home," Barnabas breathed.
"Yes, my love," Josette assented, "this was where you grew up before Collinwood was built. Collins House here… a place Angelique was never allowed to go, among other servants."
"Angelique couldn't come here?" Carolyn wondered aloud.
"Many who were unrelated to the family couldn't come here," Josette explained, "it was the first house, built to be sequestered while the larger home was constructed."
"That's correct," Elizabeth remembered, "This was what we first built after arriving from England. A more humble creation was made even as The Great House would be constructed. The Great House was a way to deflect attention from our stay in this one, or well… our…"
"Our ancestors," Barnabas continued, "remained here, as we would later inhabit the larger part of the estate. Collins House was finished prior to Collinwood to give us the old comforts of that home in England we'd previously known."
"So," Carolyn relayed, "this is a copy of our family's house in England, Barnabas?"
"Yes," he answered, turning to her, "I barely remember it myself. I was so young, but…"
"But," Elizabeth smiled, "it is a reconstruction of that old homestead we came from, as you can attest… having lived in that time, however briefly."
Barnabas smiled back, realizing that everyone around him knew so well he was no modern man and had returned from a past of long ago, "It is as well laid a reconstruction of our English home as could be imagined."
"That doesn't explain," Carolyn prodded, in a desire of needing protection, "why Angelique couldn't come here."
"Very precious few servants were allowed to care for this house," Barnabas explained, "as the majority of the staff was designated toward helping to build The Great House of Collinwood, whereas this one allowed only our nearest and dearest servants to take care of us and it."
"Which is just as well, " Josette continued, "for Angelique and her mother believed nothing was worthy of interest here. All would show its future in The Great House of Collinwood. This house was inconsequential to the family, and so it was to the Bouchards as well."
"Not anymore," uttered David, "I've always loved it."
"You knew about this place?" Carolyn asked, incredulously.
"Mother showed it to me after she died, and I would come here to play."
Carolyn laughed as lightly as she could, "Trust Aunt Laura… giving me some peace and quiet once in a while."
"She says that you're welcome," David smiled back.
"Does she?" Carolyn almost scoffed.
"She does," Josette said quietly, "I can hear her, too… now."
"Let's go in," Elizabeth reasoned, "Cobwebs and all. I'm sure it's much warmer in there than it is out here."
The clopping of steps proceeded as they made their way to the front opening, but it didn't stop David from asking, as he opened the door, "Aunt Elizabeth? Where did Willie and Mrs. Johnson go?"