Chapter 15

Julia used the small penlight in her bag to test Vicki's pupils, and then using an ophthalmoscope, she peered into Vicki's pupils. "I see you are having a stress headache. I can give you something to help. But, I would like to try something different."

Julia pulled out her medallion and dangled it in front of Vicki, "I want you to look deep into the facets Vicki, look deep and see the lights, how they are captured and reflect back."

Vicki stared into the lights and felt herself growing sleepy. "That is right relax and look into the lights. Now, close your eyes and listen to my voice Vicki. Can you hear my voice?"

Vicki nodded, "Now, Vicki, you are to . . . "

Vicki sat up and with fear in her gaze, she demanded, "Doamnă, cine ești tu și unde sunt? Unde este soțul meu, Printul Vlad?"

Julia shocked and unsure what language she was speaking, returned the haughty tone, "In English, Vicki, speak to me in English."

Once again, looking outraged and confused, she spoke, only this time it was in English. "Madam, who are you and where is my husband Prince Vlad and why do you keep calling me by that ridiculous name?"

Julia was truly shocked by this outburst; she smiled trying to be reassuring. "I am calling you Vicki because it is your name."

Vicki leaned back against the pillows and shook her head. "Again, that is not my name. My name is Princess Elizabeta wife of Vlad. My husband is Prince Vlad of Wallachia. I demand you bring him to me at once."

Using a more forceful tone, Julia commanded, "You will let me speak to Vicki now."

Vicki's eyes fluttered and shut, then reopened, she looked at Julia, "Am I speaking to Vicki?" She nodded and Julia smiled, "Good, now Vicki today you got some disturbing news about who your birth parents were. I want you to forget that information until Elizabeth and Sheriff Patterson talk to you. Only then will you learn the truth of your birth. You are to forget. Do you understand?"

Again she nodded. "Good, now when I snap my fingers you will awaken feeling refreshed and your head ache will be gone, you will go to Collinwood when you are done with the house plans here."

Julia snapped her fingers and Vicki closed her eyes and then opened them. "Goodness that worked. Thank you Julia, my headache is nothing but a bad memory."

Julia put her scope and pen light back in her bag and smiled at Vicki. "I will be by tomorrow to check on you. Now you just get some rest. I am sure that you will want to be ready to go back to Collinwood and ride to the funeral home with the family tomorrow."

Vicki nodded. " Well, Barnabas and I were going to go together, when he gets back from Bangor,"

Julia stood from the bed and moved to the door. "I am not sure that Barnabas will need to go to Bangor tomorrow. I will tell him you are better."

Vicki slid beneath her covers, "Thank you again Julia." Vicki leaned over and opened up the music box and listened to the soothing tinkling sound. Closing her eyes she felt herself drifting off to sleep. Reaching over she closed the music box and curled into the comfort of the bed.

Julia injected Barnabas with the serum and stood back. "That should allow you time in the sunlight tomorrow Barnabas. I ran some more tests and I think you are safe for now."

Elliott came from the Den and looked up. "I must say you have an excellent selection of books in there Barnabas."

Julia snapped her medical bag shut as Barnabas rolled down his sleeve. "Ah and I see you got your new injection."

He walked over to Julia and bent to give her a kiss. Julia smiled and moved to get her coat. "I think I am done here. I did hypnotize Vicki and she will forget what David told her, but there was something odd that happened during the hypnosis. "

"Oh, and what was that Julia?" Barnabas slipped his coat back on and moved to stand with Elliott and Julia by the door.

"She claimed to be Elizabeta and wanted to know where her husband was."

Elliott sighed and shook his head. "I do hope that poor girl has not been possessed by that blood sucking demons deceased wife."

Julia pursed her lips and shook her head. "No, I don't think that is the problem. I am wondering if I should do a past life regression with her sometime to see if she is the reincarnation of Elizabeta."

Barnabas looked concerned as he considered this possibility. "Could it create a problem for us?"

Stokes shook his head, "Only, if he were alive. We know that Julia injected him with a dose of serum that she has been using on you, with devastating effects. I believe we have heard the last of Dracula."

Barnabas sighed with relief and smiled. "Well thank you both for coming by and for taking care of Vicki for me."

Julia nodded, and lifted her bag as Elliott held the door for her. "If you need me, you can call me at Elliott's." Barnabas watched them walk to their car and watched the lights disappear down his drive.

"Sir, who are you! And where is my husband?" Vicki stood at the top of the stairs and glared down at Barnabas.

He turned and hurried up the stairs to her. "Vicki? Come let's get you back to bed. Julia said you needed to rest."

As Barnabas took her arm, she jerked it away from him. "Unhand me sir, I said who are you and where is my husband."

Barnabas grabbed her and shook her hard, Vicki's chin lifted and her eyes fluttered and she fell, Barnabas caught her and carried her back to the bedroom. "Vicki?"

He watched anxiously as her eyelashes fluttered and then opened. "Barnabas?"

He grabbed her close and held her tightly. "Oh my dearest Vicki, you are back and safe?"

She obviously was confused and pushed away looking at him with some concern. "Barnabas what is going on?"

He kissed her forehead and spoke softly into her ear. "You were sleep walking again my love."

She clutched him close to her and spoke into his ear. "Then hold me tonight and don't let me go."

He stood up and moved to the door and closed it. "Come, come with me." He took her by the hand and led her down the back hallway to his bedchambers where he picked her up and put her in his bed.

Then going to change out of his suit jacket, he came back with his smoking jacket on and moved to lie next to her in the bed. Holding her close he felt her curl into his body and closed her eyes.

At this moment, in her life she had never felt so safe and secure as she did in his arms. Closing her eyes, she fell into a deep sleep. Speaking softly, Barnabas smiled, "This is how my life should have been with Josette, and now I shall have all that I wanted and more with you my darling Victoria."

] The next morning Vicki awoke to the secure feeling of Barnabas' arms around her. She snuggled closer and twisted her head to peer at her future husband.

He had been a gentleman to the end. He laid fully clothed and on top of the covers. Careful not to disturb his sleep, she rolled over and watched him as he slept.

She resisted the temptation to move fingertips to brush his hair over and rather liked seeing him slightly disheveled. The sliver of sunlight filtered into the room and traveled over to the bed to lie on them both.

She noted that he must have had a sleepless or restless night. Noting that there were dark circles under his eyes, they almost looked bruised.

Smiling she watched him in rim sleep and hoped those dreams were of their impending wedding. She sighed and rolled to her back and then rolled her head so she could watch him.

She wanted to see him awaken and wanted to present him with a smile. She watched and as the sun climbed higher in the sky, she watched him open his eyes and look at her. She smiled and rolled on her side. "Good morning my love." She spoke softly and hoped she did not having morning breath.

He blinked smiled at her then realized the sun was up and shining on them both. She watched the wonder of his gaze as he lifted his hand to bathe it in the warm sunshine.

"Good morning to you too my precious Vicki, did you sleep well?"

She rolled over and planted a kiss on his lips. The passion in them both grew with the kiss and as suddenly Barnabas broke the kiss and stood up. Turning his back, Vicki assumed he was getting his desire under control.

Turning back, he glanced down at her, "Shall we get dressed and go down for some breakfast?" The sounds of drills and hammers could be heard from below and Vicki sighed, "I am thinking that we should consider going to Collinwood for Breakfast. Mrs. Johnson will have it ready in," she looked at her watch and then at him.

"Oh dear it is later than I thought breakfast is ready now. Let's leave Willie to take care of the workers, I fear that there will be a great deal of disruptions over the next two or three weeks." She slid from the bed and looked around to the back entrance to his room.

She remembered this was the way servants entered the master's chambers to prepare them for the day or night. Moving to the door, she blew him a kiss.

"I shall be ready in 15 minutes, see you downstairs my sweet."

He smiled and watched her move from the room, then went to the window and opened the curtain wide and closed his eyes.

He stood basking in the sunlight and smiled, his heart was filled with happiness. As soon as he allowed himself to have those feelings, it quickly was replaced with apprehension and a tinge of fear.

How was it possible that he was so happy? Did he really deserve this much happiness? Pushing aside those thoughts, he moved to his dressing room and dressed and was moving down the stairs as Vicki was making her appearance from Josette's room.

He awaited her to fit her with her new mink coat than donned his own coat, picked up his cane, and was opening the door, to allow a flurry of plumbers, carpenters and electricians entry into the house.

Helping Vicki to step around the cables and saw horses, he tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and together they set off for Collinwood.

Vicki hugged close to him as they entered the wooded area and she glanced up to see the leaves in all their glorious colors as the sun filtered through them.

"Oh Barnabas! I am so happy, thank you for loving me."

He patted her hand and smiled, "I am the one that should be thanking you my dear." They broke through the wood line and could see the majesty of Collinwood bathed in the morning light.

"I have said it before and I will say it again, Jeremiah knew what he was doing when he built Collinwood on the hill there."

Vicki smiled and nodded, "I can appreciate its beauty even more, Jeremiah was such a sad man, in a way, and he was a tragic victim of Angelique as was the first Barnabas."

Barnabas stiffened and she felt it through his coat.

"Barnabas? What is the problem?"

He turned to peer down at her and his smile was forced, "I am sorry Vicki, it is that I still do not believe that Barnabas, my ancestor was married to a woman named Angelique. I feel the family history dictated that he moved to England, married a lady of minor nobility and thus my line was created."

Vicki frowned and looked back at Collinwood. "Do you think they would be disappointed that you are marrying someone of low birth?"

Barnabas lifted her chin to peer deeply into her eyes. "Miss Victoria Winters, you are not of low birth. The truth of the matter is we do not know, for all that we do know you came from noble birth yourself."

She smiled at him and then she sobered for a moment.

"It does not bother you that we do not know my background?"

Barnabas lightly kissed her lips, "My dear, your background will be my background upon our marriage."

She returned the kiss and laughed, "As you wish Mr. Collins, I will be so proud to be a Collins. I promise not to do anything to embarrass you."

Making it to the front door of Collinwood, Vicki opened the door for them and entered the foyer. Liz and Carolyn were in the drawing-room and the smell of hot coffee filled the air, Barnabas helping her take her coat off, moved to the drawing-room doors and smiled at the cozy picture they made.

"Hey you two, room for two more?" From the top of the stairs the tall demanding figure of Quentin appeared, "Make that three. I can smell eggs and bacon from here."

Barnabas appeared in the foyer and smiled up at Quentin. Quentin gave Barnabas a curious look surprised to see him there. "Yes, cousin I too can smell them cooking and with all the turmoil at the old house, thought it fortuitous to get an invitation from my charming fiancé."

Quentin moved into the drawing-room and placed a kiss on Liz' cheek and one on Carolyn's. They were dressed in funeral black. "I thought you had business in Bangor today."

Quentin spoke as he accepted a cup of coffee from Liz. "No, I concluded it yesterday and freed up my schedule so we could go to Mrs. Patterson's showing."

Quentin gave a half salute with his cup and smiled, "We are grateful you did. And how about you Miss Winters? I understood you had a headache? Are you much improved?"

Vicki took a cup of coffee from Liz and sat in one of the chairs. "Yes, thank you. Julia came by last night and gave me something for my headache and I awoke feeling refreshed and ready for the morning with my wonderful fiancé."

Mrs. Johnson appeared in the doorway and announced that breakfast was being served. Elizabeth, Carolyn, and Vicki stood and moved towards the dining room, Quentin held back and as they disappeared through the door he turned to Barnabas and smiled widely.

"I cannot tell you how pleased I am to see you here this morning."

Barnabas smiled in return and nodded, "Not half as happy as I am cousin. Julia gave me another shot last night and thought I might be able to tolerate food and sunlight."

Quentin moved to the door with Barnabas following, "I am happy for you cousin, perhaps for once we all can find peace at Collinwood and be happy."

With breakfast over, Vicki excused herself to go up and check on David, and then to dress for the funeral home. When she opened her closet she found a dress bag in her closet.

Pulling it out, she took the plastic covering off and saw two new black couture styled A line dresses. Elizabeth stood in the doorway and smiled seeing her look of surprise.

"I knew you did not have anything black to wear Vicki, so I ordered new dresses for all of us."

Vicki turned and moved to hug her. "Thank you Mrs. Stoddard. Would it do any good to offer and pay for them?"

Liz shook her head. "No, they are black dresses, good for a night out for dinner, or funerals. I always said a girl needs at least two good black dresses in their closet. Now you have them."

Vicki smiled and nodded, "Yes, now I have them, thank you again."

Liz started for the door, "We should leave here around 1, and so you have plenty of time to get a bath and change."

Vicki nodded, " I really want to get David on his homework while we are at the funeral home. By the way who will be staying here to take care of him while we are in town?"

Liz paused and looked at her hands. "Willie volunteered to let him help out in the old house, they are going to be working on the room he picked out to be his when you are married."

Vicki sighed, "Then I should hurry and give him his lessons before I loose his interest in school work completely. Have you given any thought to using Maggie Evans as his tutor when I am married?"

Liz glanced at her, "Do you think we could ask her today. I understand she and Joe will be coming by the funeral home sometime today. What with Gretchen dying, your engagement party, Julia's wedding and then your wedding, I completely forgot to ask her."

Vicki studied the dress then glanced up, "I can talk to her if you like." Liz moved to hug her one more time. "Thank you Vicki, I do appreciate you so much."

Liz unconsciously pushed back a lock of Vicki's hair, pausing a moment to look at the dark hair in her fingers. For a moment she was transport to the night she gave birth to Vicki and how she rolled the baby fine dark hair through her fingers curling it in a large curl on top of her tiny head.

Releasing her hair she turned her back on Vicki feeling a wave of guilt wash through her. She would make this right if it was the last thing she did. Without another word, she left Vicki's room and headed to her own bedroom. She had to get herself under control.

Vicki laid out the dress she had chosen to wear to the showing, and went to David's room. Knocking lightly on the door, she heard him call, "Come in."

She opened the door and looked at him hard at work on his lessons. "Oh excuse me, I thought this was David's room."

He looked at her his eyes shining bright with excitement. "Vicki! It is I, David."

She laughed and moved to hug him. "Well, I came to give you some lessons and you have beaten me to it."

He turned in his chair and hugged her back. "Yes, because I am going to help Willie with my room while you are in town."

She pushed the errant lock of hair back from his forehead and smiled. "Just as long as you finish this up. Do me a favor, and when you are done, put it on your Aunts desk down in the drawing room so I can go over it."

He laughed, "Yes ma'am."

Leaving him to finish up, she went to bathe and wash her hair, using the cover dryer and the big rollers, she styled her hair up on her head, then put on a light coat of make up.

Moving back to her room, she dressed in her new black dress and looked for her Black Hand bag. As she moved to the foyer, the phone rang. Picking up the phone, "Hello?"

Willie's excited voice came over the line. "Vicki, its me Willie, we have a phone!"

She could hear the joy and jubilation in his voice and laughed. "So, I see. Well now I have you on the phone, would you do me a big favor and bring over my car, then you can walk David back to the old house."

Willie was so happy to have a new phone and then the word came down from the upper floors. "Oh and we have bathrooms too! Aint' it great?"

Vicki could not help but laugh and the school marm in her wanted to correct his English but stopped. "Yes, Willie that is wonderful news."

Willie still sounding excited spoke to a worker telling him he would be leaving for a short time and warned them about going into the cellar, then came back on the phone. "Well, I will be on my way. Bye Vicki."

She hung up the phone and went into the drawing room. Barnabas glanced up and seeing her he was taken back by how beautiful she looked. "My dear Vicki you are well worth waiting for anytime. You look lovely."

Vicki moved over to sit next to him on the sofa. "Thank you Barnabas. Willie is bringing over my car and we can leave when he gets here." She looked around and noticed the others must have already left and as the clock in the foyer chimed a quarter after the hour she sighed. "Late again. I truly did try to hurry my love."

Barnabas kissed her nose and tipped her chin up. "Well as I said you were well worth the wait you look lovely. So, I take it we have a phone?"

Vicki nodded and chuckled, "Yes, Willie was excited to make the first call. We also have bathrooms too. He was as excited about that as he was the phone."

Barnabas picked up her fingers and played his thumb over her engagement ring. "Then perhaps after the showing we can go to Portland and have dinner and celebrate? Will you be staying at the old house tonight?"

Vicki lifted his hand and kissed his palm. "I think I will be staying here. I understand we have a photo shoot tomorrow after the funeral for our engagement announcement."

Barnabas smiled at her and lifted her chin to peer into her eyes. "Well, I am disappointed, but I can be patient until you are in my bed for an eternity."

Willie came through the door and handed Vicki her keys. "I will go get Davy. Will you be home tonight for dinner Barnabas?"

Barnabas shook his head. "No, tonight we shall be dining in Portland Willie. Do not wait up for me, Vicki will be sleeping here tonight."

David came bounding into the room. "Willie! You're here! Come on let's go." He grabbed Willie's hand and tugged him out the door.

Vicki stood and moved to get her coat from the coat rack, Once again; Barnabas helped her into her coat.

Together they headed out the door and into town. Finding a spot in the parking lot, Vicki waited for Barnabas to exit and lock his door. She pocketed her keys to the new little sports car and hooked her arm through his and let him lead them to the double doors of Trask's funeral home.

Attendants took their coats and escorted them to the entryway. Vicki could see Carolyn talking to two young men that bore a resemblance to Sheriff Patterson and then she saw his daughter standing by her father.

Liz sat near George as he stood by the closed casket of his wife. A large portrait of Gretchen in happy and healthier days sat beside the casket on an easel.

Quentin joined Liz on the sofa and looked from the casket to Liz. They were speaking in soft tones to each other and had not noticed the arrival of Barnabas and Vicki.

Barnabas signed the guest book and handed the pen over to Vicki for her to sign. The room had a cloying sweet smell of the fresh-cut floral arrangements and the room was filled with flowers.

As Vicki turned to look at Barnabas she noticed one of the men talking to Carolyn point to her and Barnabas and he punched his brother's arm and pointed over to her.

Both boys looked shock and Carolyn spoke softly to them and then moved away to grab Vicki, "Vicki, and Barnabas glad you made it. Barnabas would you excuse Vicki and me for a moment.

Mrs. Johnson is in the break room with some food and I thought she could help me set it out." Vicki looked at Barnabas who ushered her towards Carolyn.

"I shall let Sheriff Patterson know we are here and give him our condolences and tell him you and Carolyn are setting up the food."

Vicki kissed his cheek and smiled at him. "Please. If Maggie shows up send her in to me. I need to talk to her about taking over my duties to David after we are married."

He kissed her hand and smiled, "Your wish is my command my dear."

Vicki followed Carolyn back to the break room; Barnabas followed her with his eyes and then turned to move to Sheriff Patterson.

"Sheriff, my condolences on your loss, if there is anything Victoria and I . . ."

Sheriff Patterson took his hand and shook it, "Thank you Mr. Collins, may I present my children."

The two boys moved to stand by their father and looked curiously at Barnabas. "This is my daughter Penelope, my son George Jr., but we use his middle name so he is Thomas, and my son Jason."

Barnabas kissed Penny's hand and then shook Thomas and Jason's hand. Thomas leaned in to Barnabas and asked, "The lady that came with you. What is her name?"

Penny answered for Barnabas, "Oh that is Victoria Winters, Mr. Collins fiancé. Is she not one of the most enchanting ladies you have ever seen?"

Jason chuckled and rolled his eyes, "Vain much?"

Penny glared at her brother, "And just what is that suppose to mean?"

Thomas punched his brother's arm. "Just that we think she looks just like you."

Penny sighed and shook her head. "Not hardly, she looks like Vicki Winters."

George turned that stare on his sons and shook his head. "Enough, you have to remember where we are and why we are here. Now, manners children."

Barnabas stood quietly. "Well she looks like Grannie P. That dark hair and those hazel eyes." Jason ended the subject with his comment. Which made George cringe and Penny looked at Mrs. Stoddard then back at her dad.

George turned on Jason and gave him the second look and both boys tucked tail and grew quiet.

"I believe Victoria is helping Carolyn set up food or something like that in the break room."

Thomas and Jason, hearing food excused themselves and turned moving out of the parlor and headed to the break room.

George laughed nervously and shook his head. "Boys, two thoughts on their minds, girls and food."

Barnabas nodded, "Yes, they are fine lads. Are they in college?"

George put his arm around Penny's waist and smiled, "Yes, George is 20 and Jason 19, and Penny here is the baby at 18."

"I would hardly call you a baby my dear." Barnabas graciously said as he watched her blush.

"Thank you Mr. Collins. Carolyn and I went to school together. She was a year ahead of me."

Barnabas smiled and nodded, "Yes, Carolyn. So tell me my dear will you attend college too?"

Penny nodded and sighed. "I want to go to New York and attend fashion school."

Barnabas found her charming. "I want to thank you for helping Vicki find a dress for our wedding. I understand I may be moved to tears by her beauty."

Penny giggled and bounced excitedly, "When she came out in the first dress it was so beautiful, but the second dress was breath-taking. Mrs. Stoddard picked them out because Miss Winters did not want to look for a dress." Barnabas frowned hearing this.

"And I wonder why that was." He said it more as a statement than a question, but Penny took it as a question.

"Well truthfully, Carolyn said she did not think she could pay for the dress and was kind of embarrassed to say so. Well then Mrs. Stoddard stepped in and well, she has them both now. Oh which reminds me; before you leave I have the second dress in my car. She can take it home tonight if she wishes."

Barnabas still being gracious smiled, " Thank you Miss Patterson, I will be sure to tell her when she comes back."

Vicki came up behind Barnabas and kissed his cheek, "Tell whom what?"

Barnabas turned and smiled at her, "Why you of course my dear. Miss Patterson tells me that your second dress is ready and she has it in her car."

Vicki brighten, "Really, may we go get it? I can put it in my car." Vicki kissed him one more time on the cheek, and then moved with Penny out of the parlor.

"I see where the boys could see a slight resemblance to Vicki and Penny, it is subtle but it is there none the less."

George pulled on the collar of his dress shirt. "I wish you could have seen my mother. She was Romanian, she had gypsy blood in her."

Barnabas quirked a brow, "Really, from which family name did she come?"

George Patterson smiled and shook his head, "She was a Romano." Barnabas looked suitably impressed, but not as impressed as Quentin.

He had walked up behind George while he was talking to Barnabas. "Romano you say?"

George turned around and nodded, "Yes, he was some big chieftain of the Romanian tribes and she was descended from them."

Quentin smiled and shook Patterson's hand, "I am sure Liz forgot to introduce me, I am Quentin Collins, here on a visit from England."

George shook his hand and looked up to see Vicki and Penny coming back into the room. "Ah the ladies are back I see."

Vicki stepped up to Barnabas and huddled close to him, he could feel the air outside had taken a chill of its own.

"Barnabas, I have talked to Penny and she had a wonderful idea for our first dance at the reception."

Barnabas drew her closer so he could warm her. He knew the flushed cheeks were from the bite of cold outside, but there was excitement in her eyes that gave it a special sparkle.

"Oh and what is that my dear?" Vicki looked into his eyes and smiled, "She suggested that because I wanted to use Josette's music box as the tune to make my entrance, she thought it would be an enchanting idea if we did a minuet at the reception as our first dance."

Barnabas smiled at Penny and then back to Vicki, "Is that something you would wish to do?"

Vicki nodded her eyes alight with the anticipation of the moment. "I would love too. Would that be something you would want to do?"

Barnabas lifted her hand and kissed it, and then smiled, "I think I would my dear. Do you know the minuet?"

She laughed, "No, but I thought you could teach me, unless you think I should have a professional teach me the steps and in that case, Penny has a friend with an Arthur Murray studio in town here. I could take lessons from him."

He smiled and nodded, "That might be the best route my dear. It has been many years since I have danced a minuet at a cotillion. Then perhaps we could practice together."

Vicki kissed his cheek and nodded, "That would be perfect."

The boys came in bragging about the feast laid out in the break room and moved to relieve their Dad and send him and their sister back to eat.

Barnabas took this time to go to Liz and see how she was holding up. Liz looked exhausted, she just wanted Roger to come and take her home. Vicki immediately stepped in to offer her a ride home with her and Barnabas but Liz declined, she did not feel like crawling into the back seat of a small sports car.

Quentin moved to sit next to Liz and took her hand in his, "Elizabeth, I can get the keys to the estate car from Carolyn take you home and come back for her."

Carolyn strolled up to them and smiled, "Not necessary, Jason offered me a ride home earlier. I will go tell him I am going to accept the offer and you can leave, besides, " she looked around and saw more towns people coming into the room. "It appears that more of the towns people are showing up and I know you are tired."