Chapter 6: Collinwood
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The first week at Collinwood passed uneventfully. During the day, Lee and Amanda worked on the security review, visiting the shipyard and going over employment records and other paperwork, and to Amanda's relief, the apparition did not make any repeat appearances.
Friday evening, Amanda and Lee were enjoying an after dinner sherry with David, when the housekeeper announced the arrival of Barnabas Collins.
Barnabas walked into the sitting room, and greeted them, "Ah, it is so nice to see you again. I trust your week has been a good one?"
Lee answered, "Yes, Mr. Collins, we have had a very productive week."
"And you, Amanda, how have you been?"
"Just fine, Mr. Collins. It is good to see you again, too. How has your week been?"
"Ah, very good, and I hope you'll be pleased. I have had some success in my research efforts," he replied, and showed them the book he carried. "May I?" he asked as he indicated the seat next to Amanda.
Amanda nodded and Barnabas sat down, holding the book on his lap.
"I would like to tell you a story. About 100 years ago, a woman by the name of Daphne Harridge Collins lived at Collinwood. Here, let me show you her picture." Barnabas opened the book to a portrait of a young woman, a woman with large doe eyes and long straight hair parted in the middle.
Amanda gasped, "That's me! I looked exactly like that when I was in my twenties. Lee, look at this."
Lee leaned over and studied the picture. "There is a strong resemblance to you, Amanda. It's quite amazing." He turned to Barnabas, "No wonder you said Amanda looked familiar to you."
Barnabas nodded and continued his story. "Daphne married a young sailor by the name of Jonas West, and they had two children, Rachel and Isaac." Barnabas turned the page and showed them a family portrait. "Unfortunately, after only four years of marriage, Jonas was lost at sea. Daphne was left to raise her two small children by herself."
"Oh, how sad," Amanda murmured.
"Then, about a year later, Daphne's cousin, Bramwell Collins, returned from England where he had been living for several years. He brought with him a friend, Ian Hamilton, whom he had met whilst in London." Barnabas flipped through the pages of the book to another picture. "Here you can see Bramwell and Ian."
"Oh my gosh, Lee, Ian looks like you, except for the mustache, of course. And Bramwell resembles you, Barnabas."
Barnabas smiled as he continued his story, "Ian was a widower, with a son, James, who was living in London with Ian's sister and her husband. When Daphne and Ian met, it was love at first sight. They married, but her presumed dead husband, Jonas, returned the day after their wedding. He had not perished in the shipwreck after all, but had been picked up by a passing ship and nursed back to health, returning to his wife and family at the earliest opportunity. Well, you can imagine his anger when he found his wife married to another man. The following morning, Daphne's body was found at the bottom of Widow's Hill. Jonas accused Ian of her murder, and it wasn't difficult for him to convince the law and the townspeople that the stranger from England was to blame."
"Who was really guilty?" Amanda asked.
"Nobody knows for sure. However, they convicted Ian of the murder and he died in jail. Some say he died of a broken heart, others that he died of guilt. Jonas took the children and moved away. From what I've learned, they settled in Virginia. Ever since then, some visitors to Collinwood swear that they have seen her ghost roaming the halls of the house, always accompanied by the strong scent of lilacs."
Amanda began to shake, and grabbed Lee's arm, staring up at him with wide eyes.
"My dear, I haven't disturbed you with my stories, have I?" Barnabas asked solicitously.
She looked over at him. "I've seen her twice, and I've smelled the lilacs," she whispered. "She asked me to help her."
"That's a first. Nobody has ever reported hearing her before. This is fascinating, Amanda. I wonder about this connection between the two of you."
