Chapter 14

Vicki finished vacuuming the floor, dusted the furniture and changed the sheets out. She was picking up the sheets and heading out the door when she ran headlong into a broad chest.

"Oh!" She exclaimed as she dropped the sheets and stood back to see who had blocked her exit.

He was tall, strikingly handsome with dark hair that styled rakish over his brow, which shadowed the most incredibly beautiful blue eyes she had seen. "Excuse me?"

She bent picked up the sheets and held them like a shield against this stranger. Then she heard the whirl of helicopter blades and glanced out the window. A helicopter was lifting off from the front lawn.

"You must be Victoria Winters?"

Still hugging the sheets she nodded, "I am cousin Quentin." She immediately relaxed.

"Oh, I thought you would not be here until tonight. I just finished cleaning your room."

He stepped past her and brought two suitcases in and put them on his bed.

"Roger told me all about you. So, you are the enchantingly beautiful and lucky lady that caught the eye of my stodgy cousin Barnabas. I really must say after seeing you he is the lucky one."

Vicki flushed. "Thank you. So, you caught a helicopter ride?"

Quentin laughed, "No, I bought a helicopter and now we will never be land locked and unable to get where we want."

Vicki laughed, "My goodness. Well I suppose that is one way to . . ."

There came a loud squeal of excitement as David came bounding into the room.

"Vicki! Did you see the helicopter?" Then he saw Quentin and shouted, "Quentin! You came back home!" He ran to throw his arms around Quentin's body.

Quentin laughed heartily, "David! It is good to see you too."

David looked up at him with a wide grin. "No one told me you were even back in the United States. The last letter you wrote came from Egypt."

Quentin moved to sit down on the divan at the end of his bed. Laying his arms across the back of it, he crossed one elegant pant leg over the other. "Come David have a seat and let us catch up."

Vicki walked out of the room taking the dirty sheets. Dropping them down the laundry chute, she went to her room and laid out her best black dress. Moving down the hallway to the bathroom, Victoria was thinking about the new bathrooms that would be built in the old house and happy that Barnabas and she would have their own bathroom just off their room.

Taking a quick shower she dried her hair with a towel and pulled out the hair dryer from under the sink. Curling her hair, she put the plastic cap over her head and turned the dryer on high.

Taking time to put on her makeup, she stepped back to pull out a curler to see her hair was curled and dried. Going back to her room, she dressed and fixed her hair pulling it into a half ponytail.

Finding her earrings and pearls she stepped back and satisfied with her appearance, she moved to get her coat and purse and went back down the hallway to Quentin's room.

Knocking on the door, she poked her head inside. "Hello? David, I am going into Collinsport to Trasks' Funeral Home."

Quentin had gotten up and was unpacking and David was playing with a magician kit that Quentin had obviously brought him.

Quentin quit hanging up his clothing and paused. "Did someone die?"

David was pulling out the rings and looked up. "Yeah, Vicki's Dad's wife died."

Quentin paused and looked at the stricken look on Vicki's face and then at David who was playing with the magic rings.

"David, what did you say? "Vicki's voice was trembling as she looked at David.

"I said the Sheriff, your Dad, his wife died and they are meeting to arrange the funeral." Quentin became aware that Vicki was trembling and obviously in shock watched as she leaned into the door frame.

"David, how do you know Sheriff Patterson is Vicki's father?"

David caught up in his new game answered, "Because I heard him and Aunt Elizabeth talking about how she is her mother and he is her Dad. Can I go now?"

Vicki felt her legs beginning to shake and she turned and started down the hallway.

Quentin started after her, "Vicki? Are you ok?"

Vicki did not hear him, and Quentin turned on David, "David, are you trying to hurt Miss Winters on purpose?"

David looked up and then chewed his bottom lip. "Oh shoot. I was not supposed to say anything."

Quentin moved to sit next to him. "Ok, tell me what you know so I can try to fix this."

David shrugged. "What do you need to fix?" Quentin sighed and took David's face in his hand.

"David, Miss Winters is really hurt now. I am not sure if you were supposed to say anything or not. I just know she looked very sick when she left here."

David crossed his arms and looked at his shoes with a sullen expression. "Aunt Elizabeth said she and Sheriff Patterson wanted to tell Miss Winters about her being Aunt Elizabeth's daughter born out of wed lock. Aunt Elizabeth had not told anyone including Sheriff Patterson. I got mad at them and was going to go tell her but Sheriff's Patterson talked me out of it."

Quentin released his chin and sighed. "Well it looks like you told her and she was very upset."

David stood up, knocking the magic tricks on the floor. "Oh no. Aunt Elizabeth is going to be really mad."

Quentin stopped him. "David, let me see what I can do. Let me go talk to her." He stood up and then looked at David. "You stay here and play with your things. I will be back in a bit."

Quentin moved to the hallway in search of Vicki.

Vicki blindly made her way down the hallway, to the upstairs landing, down the stairs and out the door. She walked towards the pathway to the old house and detoured to Widows Hill.

Stopping on top of widows hill she watched the crash of the waves on the craggy rocky abutment below. She stood there until she knew nothing else except the call of the gulls, the thrashing of the waves to the beach.

Vaguely she became aware of someone standing behind her. "Vicki?"

She turned to see Quentin. "Well, it would seem we are cousins." His poorly executed attempt at humor went past her and she turned back to watch the waves.

"All my life, I wondered who I was and where I came from. I asked Mrs. Stoddard repeatedly if she knew my parents, my mother. She always gave me some glib response."

Quentin could feel her pain as she spoke. "Maybe had David not been so reckless Cousin Liz would have been able to tell you this and the reason. I am pretty sure that David was not trying to be cruel and hurt you intentionally."

She was such a tragic figure standing there and a part of him wanted to reach out and pull her into his arms to give her what comfort he had to give. "He told me that Patterson and your Aunt wanted to tell you together. He told me he was mad at them for keeping the information from you."

Instead he shoved his hands down into his pockets and slumped his shoulders, "But whatever reason Liz had, it had to be a good one in her mind."

Vicki felt the threat of tears as her eyes burned and her voice quivered as she spoke. "She knew how important it was to me. Then when Burke Devlin came and we were engaged, I felt it was no longer important because Burke was going to be my family. Burke died in a plane crash. Then Barnabas came into my life and he gave me a chance to be a Collins for one night, I felt so special."

He could tell her thoughts were jumbling up together and she was making little or no sense. " The night of the costume party, I was allowed to wear Josette's dress. We all played parts, Roger was Joshua, Mrs. Stoddard was Naomi, Carolyn was Millicent and I was Josette. I told everyone how proud I was to be a Collins."

Quentin moved to her side and he pulled her into his arms and that was all it took and she cried, she cried for all the times she missed her mother, she cried for not knowing who her parents were, she cried because she felt robbed, cheated, confused, and hurt. Quentin held her and let her cry. As she finally gained control she stepped back and accepted his kerchief.

"Thank you." She dabbed her eyes and delicately blew her nose. Turning she went to sit on the large rock. Pulling her coat about her, she hugged her arms to herself.

Quentin moved to sit next to her. "Vicki, maybe you should not react until you know everything. I did not know Jamison that well, but I had heard he was a very strict disciplinarian."

Quentin was trying to make sense of this for her as he continued, "If his daughter had gotten pregnant he would have done anything to protect the family name to and including sending Elizabeth off and taking the child away."

He paused and then sighed softly and finally plead out the case for Liz, "So, I am going to ask you to wait and when Elizabeth is ready with Sheriff Patterson to tell you about what happened, then keep an open mind and do not hate her."

Vicki looked at Quentin and nodded, "You are right, it is just hard knowing this now."

Quentin put his arm around her and hugged her. "We all have some secrets we keep and we have our reasons for keeping those secrets. For you my dear, this is going to be especially hard, but it is something I feel you can do."

Vicki sighed and looked down at his crumpled kerchief. "I will launder this and get it back to you, you don't mind if I keep it do you?"

He closed his hand over hers holding the kerchief. "No, keep it, dry those pretty eyes, blow that cute nose and go freshen up. I am sure they are expecting you at the funeral home."

Vicki stood and straightened her coat. "Thank you Mr. Collins, you have been a great help. I am sure David will be worried that I am going to say something. Reassure him that I will be silent until they tell me."

David appeared at the edge of the wood line. "Vicki do you hate me?" He was in tears and she held her arms out to him.

"No David." She hugged him tightly. "How could I hate you? You are so special to me. We shall have our little secret for now." She could feel the strength in his arms as he held on to her. She bent over and kissed the top of his head.

She could feel the tension leave his body and he smiled as he peered up at her. "Miss Winters, Vicki, I love you."

She smiled and sniffed and hugged him tightly, "I love you too. Now go on with Cousin Quentin and I am going to see if Barnabas is back. I think we both need to go to the funeral home together."

Quentin put a comforting arm around David as he moved next to him and together they disappeared down the pathway. Vicki sighed deeply and sat back down on the rock.

She had to think. She really did not wish to go back to Collinwood and she needed time to think. The wound was too fresh and she needed time to collect herself.

"Go to the old house Cheri, go and stay there until you are ready to face them. You will need to be with Barnabas."

Josette's ghostly form drifted next to Victoria.

"Did he know?" Josette hesitated only for a few seconds and then answered her truthfully.

"He only just found out and he has waited for your mother to tell you. He feels it is her place to tell you. He wants you happy Mon Cheri. Barnabas wants his happiness and yours. Pack some things and stay in my room."

Vicki unpacked her things and hung them up and put them away in the dresser drawers in the dressing room. Coming out she laid her comb and brush next to Josette's and sighed. Glancing up into the mirror the face that peered back at her was drawn, pale and sad. She had left a brief note on the table in the foyer. It was short and to the point.

"I will be staying at the old house for a few days while I go over the changes with the contractor. I have given David some homework and asked him to come here so we can go over his lessons for the day. I hope this won't inconvenience you. I hope you understand that Barnabas and I have a lot of plans to go over before the wedding. If you need me, just send word, and I will be back

Vicki

There came a light knock on her door and she called, "Come in."

Willie poked his head in and looked at her. Something had upset her and she was still upset from the tragic look on her face. "Um, Vicki, you all settled in?"

Vicki nodded and put a brave smile on her face. "Willie, would you do me a favor and take the estate car back to Collinwood? I want to change and look over the house plans. Do you know when Barnabas will be back?"

Willie glanced over at the window and sighed, "He is downstairs, and he wants to know when you want to go to Collinwood. I told him that Gretchen Patterson's showing is tomorrow from 4-9 pm and the funeral is on Thursday at 10 am."

Vicki took the brush and moved it through hair and then turned to Willie. "Would you please ask him to come up here? I need to speak with him."

Willie nodded and tuned to leave, "Um Vicki you ok?"

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Yes, I am. Thank you for asking Willie."

He looked at her one last time and then left the room, leaving the door open. Vicki moved to the dressing room and brought out her make up bag. Taking out her blush, and foundation she made quick repairs to her face and then turned as Barnabas entered the room.

"Hello my dear. Willie said you wanted to talk to me?"

Vicki stood up and moved to the settee and sat down. She smoothed her dress down and for a moment was caught by the irony. She had dressed for mourning and now she truly was in mourning.

Barnabas knew every nuance about her and could tell she was terribly upset. He pulled the Petite point chair over in front of her. "Talk to me darling. Tell me what has happened to upset you so much?"

Vicki felt the tears welling up, "I found out something today that has affected me to the very core of my being."

Barnabas moved forward and collected her into his arms. "My love, please tell me, what is it?" She pressed herself into his arms and began to cry, deep heart wrenching sobs into his shoulder. Barnabas could hear the heartbreak in her voice.

Her body trembled and she began to calm. "I found out who my mother and father were today."

Barnabas held her tightly. "Did Elizabeth tell you?"

She shook her head and sniffed. "No, David told me by accident and I guess I am still upset. I am trying so hard to be rational about this Barnabas but I can't. Not now, not at this time. I need time to collect myself. I know you wanted to go to Collinwood. I guess you heard Quentin is back."

"Yes, I got word when I returned home that they were having a dinner for him tonight and we were invited."

Vicki sighed and looked away. "I can't go there tonight. Would you go and make excuses for me.. Say I have a horrible headache?"

Barnabas drew her close and stroked her hair. "Of course I will."

Vicki drew away from him and moved to look out the bay window to the front of the house. "It won't be a falsehood. I do have a bad headache."

Barnabas came behind her and rubbed her arms and she leaned into his chest. "Do you want me to send Julia up when she comes by? I am sure she could give you something to help with your headache."

Vicki felt secure in his arms and she put her hands over his arms as he drew her closer to his hold. "I think if I lay down and take a little nap. I will be fine."

As an after thought she said, "About tomorrow, do you want to go with me to the funeral home?"

She lifted her chin to look up at him and then she turned and rested her throbbing head on his shoulder.

"Of course I do."

She held him and sighed. "I suppose we need to get our own car. What do you want to do about transportation?"

Barnabas kissed the top of her head. "I have already taken care of that. Willie had instructions to take you into town to purchase a car today. He said you got so busy, that he forgot. So, he went ahead and rented one for your use until you can pick out your own car."

She smiled and kissed him deeply. Breaking the kiss she whispered, "Thank you my love." She pulled away from him and went to the bed and sat on the edge of the bed. "I am going to lay down now. Please if I am asleep when you get back, wake me. I want to spend some time going over the wedding plans with you."

Barnabas found the Collins family in the drawing-room when he arrived. He was torn between leaving Vicki alone with Willie and wanting to come and welcome Quentin home. It had been a long time since he had seen Quentin, 1897 in fact and he could not think what it was that had brought Quentin back to Collinwood.

Fearing something serious, he managed a cordial smile and moved into the drawing-room to shake his hand.

"Where is that lovely finance' of yours cousin?"

Barnabas turned to Elizabeth and smiled, "Vicki sends her regrets she has managed to work her self into a terrible headache and was retiring when I left the old house."

Liz showed some concern as she accepted Barnabas' hand and his kiss to her knuckles. "We of course miss her. I understand she plans to stay at the old house until the contractors complete the work they have started."

Barnabas moved to stand next to Roger and smiled at Carolyn and then to Roger and shook his hand.

"Yes, she feels she is doing something by being there to over see things while I am in Portland and Bangor in the daytime."

Quentin lifted his drink and saluted Barnabas, "She is lovely and you are a very lucky man cousin."

Barnabas nodded his head in turn to Quentin and smiled, "I am a very lucky man. However, at this time I feel she is over doing things."

Mrs. Johnson entered the drawing-room; "Dinner is ready when you are." She glanced around and frowned, "Where is Vicki?"

Barnabas looked at Mrs. Johnson, "I am sorry she was not feeling well so she sent her regrets."

Elizabeth, Carolyn and Quentin stood and the family followed Mrs. Johnson into the dining room.

The conversation was light and relatively at ease as Quentin regaled them with some of his adventures.

David was noticeably absent from the adults and Barnabas finally asked, "Where is young cousin David?"

Roger lifted his wine goblet, "David is in his room. He was given a gift by Quentin and has tried to master the art of magic. He plans to astound and mesmerize us later I think."

Quentin quickly changed to the subject to the upcoming nuptials. "So, I understand Professor Stokes and Julia are getting married this weekend?"

Carolyn jumped in enthusiastically, "Yes, and then the following Friday is Barnabas and Vicki's engagement party and we are having a 1790's theme for the engagement party."

Quentin quirked a brow and smiled, "Really? Well, where do we get costumes for the party?"

Barnabas chuckled, "I have some of our ancestors old clothing in the attic at the old house, you can come by anytime you want and find something that will fit."

Carolyn shivered, "I remember the first time I wore that dress of Millicent, I had the oddest feeling."

Roger chuckled as well, "Yes, and I must say when Vicki dressed as Josette, I felt she captured her look remarkably well. She was so happy and proud to be a member of the Collins family and now Barnabas you are going to make her officially a member."

Barnabas smiled, "Yes, a member of the Collins family." The dinner progressed until it was time to adjourn to the drawing-room for drinks.

As the family filed into the drawing-room, Stokes and Julia arrived and soon the talk was of the impending nuptials. Barnabas caught Julia's attention and led her over to the piano.

"When you come by later Doctor, I need you to check Vicki, she had a horrible headache earlier and took to her bed."

Julia looked concerned at this information and queried, "What happened to give her a headache."

Barnabas sighed and looked around to make sure no one could hear them. "She found out by accident today that Elizabeth was her mother and Sheriff Patterson was her father."

Julia sighed deeply. "Poor child, well I will be by later and we will see what we can do to ease her pain."

Barnabas nodded, "I was hoping you could make her forget until Elizabeth and George could tell her. She has moved into the old house unable I think to deal with this without explanation."

"Just what are you two plotting." Quentin asked as he moved to stand next to Julia. Barnabas looked from Julia to Quentin.

"I was trying to entreat the doctor to come by the old house to look at Vicki, she really was in a lot of pain from her headache."

Quentin read between the lines and nodded. "Yes, I am sure Julia could easily take care of her headache."

Roger then joined them and the talk turned to business and the trades and the new improvements at the cannery. As the evening grew longer, Barnabas excused himself and headed to the old house.

When he arrived he found Vicki curled up in a chair in front of the fireplace in her nightgown reading one of his books. Coming to place a kiss on her lips he moved to sit next to her. "Would you like a glass of claret?"

Vicki lifted her glass of water that Willie had gotten her earlier. "I am fine my love. How was the dinner party?"

He looked at her with true concern, "It was a lovely evening of course everyone missed you." She folded her book closed and looked at the fire. "I am sure they were concerned." Barnabas could hear the melancholy in her voice.

"Julia and Elliott are going to stop by before going home to Elliott's house." Vicki perked up hearing this.

"Oh that will be lovely, perhaps I should go change." Barnabas halted her from going upstairs.

"No, Julia heard about your headache and grew concerned so she wants to see you and she wishes to examine you to make sure it is nothing more than your being upset and doing too much."

Vicki turned and moved to sit down. "I see, and what makes her think I am doing too much?"

Barnabas knelt in front of her and then taking her hands in his, he studied them. They were long and delicate, an artists fingers. He kissed each finger and smiled. He could smell her hand lotion. It like her perfume had the subtle scent of lilacs.

In so many ways she was like his beloved Josette, but she had her own truly endearing traits that he had learned to love. "I am only going on what Julia had told me about people who get migraines. She is concerned that this is a stress related head ache and merely wants to reassure herself it is nothing more than a terrible headache."

Vicki stood and Barnabas stood with her, stepping around him, Vicki moved to the bay window. "I am upset, but it has nothing to do with the wedding or my plans to get married to you."

Barnabas moved to pull her against him and she turned and went into his embrace. "I feel betrayed by people I love and trusted. I am working through it and I guess that with today being so hectic with David and the arrival of your cousin, I just managed to get a nasty headache."

"Vicki, who has hurt you?" His tone was menacing and bordered on an unsaid threat. She pulled back and kissed him. The kiss was a passionate deep kiss that left little doubt that she loved him but was not going to answer him.

Barnabas returned the heartfelt kiss and let her break it "Well perhaps I should question you more often if I am to get a response like that."

Vicki chuckled and put her head against his shoulder, "I think instead you should answer the door, I heard a car drive up." She moved past him and went to the chair she occupied earlier.

Barnabas arrived at the door, as Elliott was about to knock. "Elliott, Julia, come in. Vicki is in the drawing-room awaiting you." Julia removed her coat and handed it over to Elliott as she adjusted her bag.

Walking into the drawing-room, her first assessment of Vicki was she was pale and might have been crying. "Vicki, Barnabas tells me you have a headache? Is it a migraine?"

Vicki nodded and smiled bravely for Julia, "It is affecting my eye sight and I am having trouble getting it under control."

Julia nodded, "I see, well why don't we go to your room and let me do an assessment." Vicki stood and moved to the stairs, she paused to go and hug Elliott.

"I wished I had been in better health to receive you and hope that you will forgive me Professor Stokes."

He hugged her in return and smiled. "My dear young lady, there is nothing to forgive. I am here with my lovely bride to be in hopes that Mr. Collins will offer me some of his excellent sherry."

Vicki nodded, "I am sure he will do just that. Barnabas, please come to see me later."

He nodded and moved to kiss her cheek. "Go with Julia, I am sure she can get you fixed right up."