Chapter 12

1845

Quentin watching her stand and then faint gracefully to the floor had stood and rushed to Barnabas' side. Both men watched her face and Barnabas gently patted her face. "Victoria, open your eyes my darling." Quentin sighed and with little effort scooped her up from the floor holding her close to his chest and looking to his cousin.

"I think dear cousin perhaps we should get your wife to bed, shall I take her to her room?" He smiled charmingly but with the appropriate amount of concern seeing how pale she had grown. He also noted that Barnabas appeared to be very distressed.

"Yes, of course, will you all accept our apologies on behalf of my wife and myself while I see to her needs. I shall return shortly and do continue with your meal." Barnabas turned to Quentin and nodded, "This way please and thank you for being so concerned and helpful cousin."

Barnabas had started towards the door when he was met by one of the servants. "Milord Collins there are new arrivals in the drawing room asking for you or Mrs. Collins. They say they are relatives that have recently arrived from London and are in fact related to you." The pretty maid dropped a curtsy to him and turned.

Daniel looked pleased and curious. "I thought your line had ended with you Barnabas and now you have relatives?" Daniel with Harriet at his side moved to look at Vicki in Quentin's arms and then to his cousin. "Harriet my dear why don't you and Quentin take Victoria to her room and Barnabas and I will go and see who these new Collins family members are that have just arrived?"

Harriet had become familiar with the house plan for the old house for many years she smiled graciously to Barnabas and then to Quentin. "I suppose she has her own rooms and shares yours for the evening when you desire company?" It had been a delicate way of asking if Vicki shared his bed all the time or as most families of status and noble wealth that she had her own room for the nights that she was not needed for her wifely duties.

"She has the large bedroom at the end of the hallway one I believe belonged originally to Josette Collins you may take her there and reassure her that as soon as I see whom these two new cousins might be that I shall join her shortly." Vicki's head rolled against Quentin's chest. Her eyes fluttered open and she felt dreadful.

Quentin smiled into her confused and troubled gaze. "I believe the best place for you my dear is in your bed. You are a dreadful color of pale right now and it appears that maybe by this fainting spell we may be expecting another Collins?" Quentin's only thought was that she would or could be pregnant at this time his thoughts were it was a pity he was not the father.

Harriet softly scolded her son. "Really Quentin I think it is up to Cousin Barnabas and Victoria to tell us if she might be in a family way. Now come along so we can get her undressed and into her comfortable bed."

Where his mind was going made Quentin smile. Perhaps it was the thought of getting her out of her clothing. Or it could be that the thought of her being in his bed made Quentin smile and made him feel mildly aroused. Turning he spoke softly to his mother. "Yes mother do lead on you know this old house better than I."

Drawing Room Old House

Daniel and Barnabas walked from the dining room apologizing one more time to those left at the dining table to see who awaited them in the drawing room. Both men approached the entrance to the drawing room to see not two but three people standing in the room. The one man that stood facing the entrance was a dapper looking man wearing a black onyx ring on his finger, which he played with as he looked the room over. With her back to them was another figure, a woman with blond curls and wearing a traveling bonnet and cloak. Another Gentleman stood with his back to them as well looking up at a portrait that hung over the fireplace, it was a portrait of Barnabas Collins from the late 1700's. Something Barnabas had found stored carefully in the attic and had hung over the fireplace. Daniel thought he recognized the man and asked softly, "Evan? What are you doing here?"

The lady turned and those piercing cold blue eyes bore into Barnabas and held him to the spot. A moment of rage filled his entire body and he wanted to lunge at her and strangle the life from her body. The name was ripped from the very bowels of his emotional being. "Angelique!" She watched him curl his fingers into a fist to control his rage at seeing her.

The man next to her turned and smiled. Barnabas saw him and again was filled with rage. The shorter man smiled and stepped forward. "Mr. Collins forgive this intrusion but you must imagine how pleased I was to see my brother had arrived with his new wife which I believe is related to the Collins family and more directly related to Mr. Barnabas Collins." Evan's effusive display of being overly charming was grating on Barnabas' nerves he wanted very much to strangle this man, drive a stake through Peter's chest and watch the life slowly leave those piercing blue eyes that held nothing but malice.

Daniel smiled unaware of the underplay of emotions and tensions between the four in his presence. "Really?" He turned to Barnabas having heard him say her name with less than a pleased tone and waited for further explanations. "I would be interested in hearing this as Mr. Barnabas Collins indicated he had no more relatives in England."

Angelique stepped forward oozing charm and batting her eyes in an innocent play of modesty. "Well that is because he thought I had run away and was perhaps dead is that not right brother?" She laughed lightly and turned to Evan and then to Peter at her side. "When in fact I had run away from the family some years ago and married the man I love." She hooked her hand around the upper arm of Peter's arm. "Isn't that right darling?"

Barnabas noticed like the one Daniel had called Evan, this man also had doffed his hat and stood holding it with both hands as Angelique held onto him "Yes, my dearest that is correct." He had spoken softly as his gaze searched the tormented look on Barnabas' face and it made his heart warm at the thought he was still miserable.

Evan sensing the growing animosity between the parties laughed, "So you can imagine my surprise when my brother Peter and my sister in law appeared on my doorstep and I learned she was a Collins."

Angelique stepped forward to place a light kiss on Barnabas' cheek. "Imagine my delight to hear my brother had migrated from England to take up residence here in Collinsport in the family's old house. I was not sure if he would be willing to forgive me for being so flighty but the heart wants what the heart wants and well here we are is that not right my love." She turned to extend her hand to Peter who stepped forward and took her hand in his lifting it to kiss it lightly.

"Yes my dear that is correct and now I have the chance to meet my brother in law and to know his family." Peter's words hit home to Barnabas knowing exactly what Peter was and what his intentions as well as Angelique had they come back to finish what they started so long ago? Barnabas had listened carefully to Peter's tone. It was heavily laced with innuendo and was there a threat or a promise in those words of wanting to get to know the family.

Josette's Bedroom

Harriet had watched Quentin gently lay Victoria on the bed and with a tenderness she had rarely seen him exude for anyone, she watched him gently caress her face, look deeply into her gaze and promise her she would be fine. Watching him leave the room, Harriett moved to Victoria and frowned. "Now then let us get you more comfortable. I know the heat of this day has been unbearable. I suspect if you are not with child my dear then you very well may be suffering from the heat and these damn corsets that someone decided we must wear to have a perfect figure."

Vicki liked this woman she knew exactly what it was that was causing her more distress and making it hard for her to breath. Sitting up weakly she allowed Harried to unbind her dress and release her from the torture device that was a corset that had been laced to tightly and had constricted her air. "I hope some day someone comes up with a better form of foundation to enhance a figure and from what I see, you hardly need this contraption to make you look any more beautiful than you already are my dear."

Vicki smiled weakly and spoke softly. "Thank you Cousin Harriet, you are being so kind and you are right had it not been for the fact that this was suppose to be a family formal dinner I would have forgone this horrible device and I know would have felt more comfortable. I do not recall there being so much heat for Maine this time of the year but it was hot and the breeze had hardly stirred through the house and I was feeling anxious I wanted my first dinner here to be perfect and now . . . " She sniffed lightly feeling the threat of tears.

"Now dry those tears my dear, you can rest assure that you have made quite the impression in Daniel and on the rest of the family and the fact that you were able to bring out some tenderness from Quentin was very much impressive and no little feat. You my dear little one have brought a breath of fresh air to the family."

Vicki offered up a halfhearted smile. "Thank you Cousin Harriett. I just feel that it was important to Barnabas that we make a good impression and I wanted to please my husband."

Harriett studied the young woman before her and found she bore an amazing close resemblance in coloring and looks to her Judith that if it were not for the fact that she was not from here she could almost have been the connection go the Collins Family. She knew the portrait over the fireplace in the drawing room of this house and had at one time wanted to fetch the portrait and hang it in the main foyer hall.

It was no doubt in her heart or her thoughts that the man downstairs was the direct descendent of the same Barnabas that had left so long ago. "Victoria, you have presented yourself very worthy to be a part of this family and you did a wonderful job of giving us a very enjoyable dinner and time this night. You are fretting over nothing. Now you rest you look pale and I can assure you in your absence we shall miss you but will continue to enjoy your hospitality."

Drawing Room of the Old House

Quentin stood outside the bedroom door and had listened to his mother and Victoria speak he was interested in her for more than a conquest to his bed he was curious about her as a person and she had evoked feelings in him he had not held for sometime. Turning he looked to the rear stairs and hearing voices in the drawing room sauntered to the front landing and the stairs standing he listened to the family reunion. Hearing Evan's voice he walked towards the stairs and down them to stand in the hallway and continue to listen.

"Well we thought it might be nice to pay a social visit since we were in the neighborhood and my wife was not sure if she would be welcomed by her brother after their last parting. I personally wished to meet my brother in law."

"I am sure we did not mean to intrude. I have not seen my brother for a very long time and when I learned of Mrs. Hanley's relationship to your family well I thought why not make your acquaintance. When we went to Collinwood we were informed that you were residing in the old house and hosting a dinner party here. Personally, I was not wising to interrupt a family gathering but as my new sister in law is a Collins thought it might be accepted for the intrusion?"

Quentin recognized Evan's voice and frowned, what the hell was he up to and what is this about a brother he had no prior knowledge of. Making his presence known he advanced to Barnabas' side and stood smiling at his old friend in the dark arts. "Evan? What is this I hear you have a brother?" He turned and let his gaze slightly look at the man that was Evan's brother and then his gaze slide seductively over Angelique and he smiled his most charming manner taking her hand and kissing it with a, "And who is this delightful creature?"

Barnabas had stood quiet holding his temper and tongue. "Well Sister it is good to know you made an acceptable match to Mr. Hanley is that what I understand your name is now?" He looked to Peter then to Angelique.

Peter stood forward extending his hand, "Yes, and it is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Collins. I can assure you I am providing well for your sister. I have a practice in Boston and have made quite the reputation for myself." Barnabas suspiciously looked at the hand and then took it and between the two men there was an emotional and mental struggle but the handshake gave no indication that either man had prior knowledge of the other and that there was obviously some hate issues between them.

"So you are a cousin too?" Quentin smiled and released Angelique's hand. He stepped back next to his father and stood with his arms folded negligently over his chest as he leaned into the supporting wall to the drawing room's entrance. Again he was given that seductively sweet and modest fluttering of her lashes as she shyly dropped her gaze.

"Cousin? Am I to believe that you are a Collins too?" She looked from Barnabas to Quentin. Barnabas cleared his throat stepped back and nodded.

"Sister may I present our cousins Quentin Collins and his father Daniel Collins. This gentlemen is my sister Angelique and her husband Peter Hanley." Barnabas now like the other two Collins males stood facing the other three with arms folded in a defensive pose before them.

Quentin chuckled. "The family keeps growing and if what I heard from your wife may be adding another member to your family." He looked from Angelique who had frowned hearing Quentin mention Barnabas' wife and watched Peter clinch and unclench is fist. There was more going on in this situation than was being said. Deciding he would make it his life's ambition for now because he was bored, he would find out what the mystery behind these new family members.

"Brother you are married? How wonderful did I know your bride?" She had clipped her words off as she spoke and there was a dangerous spark of annoyance in her gaze. That glint alerted Quentin there was more to this brother sister relationshi8p that anyone suspected and if he was a good judge of character and he had prided himself on his ability to do such a thing this was no ordinary relationship.

"No Angelique you do not know my wife. As you are aware father had arranged marriages for both of us. I unlike you met my obligation. Unfortunately, I was unable to be here for the wedding so by proxy we were married. Something father had wished and after his death I arrived and met my bride for the fist time prior to moving into this house.

This was an unexpected set of circumstance that none of the three now stood in the drawing room. Peter wondered who was his wife, this same thought was being reflected by Angelique, she had been secretly thrilled to see the look of anxiety and hate that had filtered briefly in his gaze when he saw them for the first time and thought it was because they were there to create problems for the Collins family. Instead she now learned he was married and possibly having fathered a child? How was this possible?

It would bare her looking into this a little further as she stood awkwardly before the Collins family. "So do I get the honor of meeting my sister in law?" She smiled and it had tightened and that right smile had not gone unnoticed by Quentin.

"Unfortunately at this time Mrs. Collins is indisposed and has taken to her bed." Quentin offered and turned to Barnabas. "I believe she was asking for you when I came down stairs. Perhaps you should go check on your wife while father and I escort the newest arrived members to the family to the dining room and make a place for them to join us for dinner?" Quentin had become the perfect foible between Angelique, Peter, Evan and Barnabas. His loyalties to his cousin Barnabas as still on hiatus but he had grown fond of Victoria and wanted for some reason to protect her from these vultures that had descended unannounced on the family.

Grateful for the distracting Barnabas bowed to those present and spoke softly. "Thank you , if you will excuse me I wish to see to my wife's comfort and reassure her." Turning he walked to the stairs and disappeared from sight. Quentin smiled charmingly to those present.

"Well now shall we? I believe there are other family members you need to meet. This way, oh father would you tell the servants there will three others joining us for dinner?" Quentin escorted them to the dining room while Daniel went in search of the maid to set more places at the table.

1795

Vicki followed at a discrete distance behind Jeremiah. Her thoughts were filled with fear and uncertainty when she noticed he had paused on the path and turned to peer at her. Pausing not knowing if he expected her to join him she chewed her bottom lip and watched him turn and face her. She saw the slump of his shoulders and then a heavy sigh that must have caused the motion. "You might as well join me, I have more questions."

Slowly she advanced to him and paused when she was a few feet from him. "I know we asked you to believe in the impossible but all I have told you is the truth." Her words had been laced with such open sincerity there was no doubt she believed she had told him her truth.

"The man you spoke of earlier, you loved him?" His words held a hint of regret for bringing up painful memories. He watched the tragic look of loss fill her when she nodded her assent. "Would you tell me of him?"

Vicki gave him a sad smile with a softening look taking over her features. "He and I were engaged, his name was Burke Devlin. He looked so much like you that when I first saw you I thought you were Burke come back to me. In my time we have a mode of transportation that allows you to use it to fly, it can travel at high rates of speed and take you all over the world. We call it an airplane. Burke was on an airplane that crashed in the Amazon. They found what they believed was his body at the crash sight." She bit back the emotion of those feelings.

He saw the tragic look she held as she spoke of this man she had believed him to be and he was moved to extend a hand of comfort to caress the tears from her face. Vicki had not realized she had begun to cry but there it was with a flick of her lashes her tears were running down her face. "We were to be married and the owner of Collinwood had even offered us the west wing to reside in so I could be close to David." She had curled her cheek into his tender touch and for a moment she wanted him to be Burke to feel those feelings she had held for Burke.

Cupping her cheeks with both hands their eyes locked together and Jeremiah felt his lips moving to her lips capturing them in a passionate kiss. Both closed their eyes as Vicki threaded her arms around his neck pressing into his body to feel that lost feeling once again to find some modicum of comfort from someone from this time. Jeremiah broke the kiss and turned from her wiping his fingertips over his lips. "Victoria. I am so sorry for this. We cannot have these feelings for one another. I am married to Josette. She is my wife."

Vicki too had turned her back on him dropping her chin and pressing her fingertips to her lips holding to the taste of that kiss and the feel of his lips to hers. "I am sorry Jeremiah, I know you are not Burke and wanting you to be him will not make it so. You are right, you belong to Josette and she is your wife and I love your wife, I do not wish to create any anguish for her as it stands she will end up with a tragic end ot her life." She was in tears and had spoken what she new to be a truth.

Jeremiah hearing this turned and looked at her back her head bent and her shoulders slumped. "What do you mean that she has a tragic end to her life. You know how we all die do you not?" He was curious and knew it was wrong to ask, no one should know how they end or when they end.

Vicki nodded, "I know it all and it breaks my heart knowing that people that were just words that I had read and were written about from so long ago, have become important to me and I have grown to love knowing how and when you all are going to die. That alone is tearing me apart."

Jeremiah reached for her arm turned her to look into the grief stricken gaze of a woman he was growing to have a forbidden love. "Victoria I will keep your secret, no one will know what you have told me tonight. I promise I shall protect you from the bailiff and from Trask." He cupped her face in his hands and she closed her eyes rubbing her cheek against the feel of his hands.

"You have to help protect Quentin too. He is a part of my future and your future too. Know what I know I cannot tell you for to do so would put us all at risk and could affect the future. Just know Jeremiah you lived a full life and your legacy lives on. Everyone at Collinwood revere the name Jeremiah Collins even in my day." She smiled a sad smile as her gaze held his gaze.

Tipping her chin up he bent his head one more time and kissed her deeply holding onto her for what seemed a lifetime. "We must never be alone again Victoria I cannot trust myself when I am around you. There is a part of me that wishes to hold onto you and keep you safe and at my side and another part that is screaming at me to run as far and fast from you as I can. I know this is wrong but how can it be when it feels so right."

Vicki whispered softly against his lips, "It is wrong and I will promise you that I shall not allow it to go any further than these stolen kisses." She closed her eyes and held to him and the whole time their encounter was being watched by vengeful wicked eyes that were intent of creating trouble. Abigail Collins slipped away from the tryst with one destination in mind. She would tell Trask what she saw in the woods this night and she would see this brazen hussy would be punished.