Chapter 13

1845

Entering Josette's room, Barnabas paused to peer at the sleeping form of the woman that had captured his heart. She lay serenely sleeping with her hair splayed around her head. He could see the slow easy fall of her breath as she slept. Moving to her bedside he was approached by Harriett. "Barnabas she just fell asleep. I think she needs rest dear. That corset was bound way too tight and was cutting off her air. Poor thing, she just needs to toss those into the trash and never put them on."

Barnabas was glad to hear it was something that was as simple as a piece of clothing and not the fact he thought she might be carrying another man's child. He did not know how he would have reacted had she come to him and back to this time pregnant. Moving to the edge of the bed he bent over to study the paleness of her complexion and knew he was partly responsible for that. Condition.

"Thank you so much cousin Harriett. We are both grateful you were here to help her through this moment of discomfort." Harriet tip toed up and placed a light kiss on his forehead.

"I will join the others down stairs when you are ready you might wish to join us again?" She offered it only as a suggestion. Barnabas sighed deeply and nodded slowly.

"I will be down shortly, I just want to watch her a little longer." Harriett stepped from the room leaving them alone. Barnabas walked to the other side of the bed and sat on its edge, slowly to not disturb her he moved to curl his body into hers. Gently laying his arm over her he held her close. He smelled the soft scent of lilacs in her hair and on her body. The gown she wore was the softest shade of blue. The satin strap fell off her shoulder onto her upper arm.

Barnabas kissed her shoulder and her neck resting his chin on her shoulder he took a moment to feel all she was. Warm, soft, with delightful curves that danced in his imagination. Remembering a moment from the past when he walked in on her naked having just divested her wet clothing to lay over the chair and dry. He had taken a while to get that image out of his mind and it was odd it was something he was just recalling as he held her.

She spoke softly her voice sleep filled. "Barnabas?" She curled over and into his hold burying her head in his chest. The scent of her was even closer than it had been. He could feel the fall of silk like hair brushed against his face, the warmth of her body as she snuggled close to his body.

It was a simple act of acceptance that held Barnabas still he spoke softly into her ear. "Yes my dear. You should rest. Harriett said it was your garment that caused you distress and now has exhausted you." He gently laid a kiss on her forehead and held her in both arms.

"I am fine. It was hard to breathe and I felt something was about to change and it was not going to be good." She sighed and rubbed her head against his chest. The action caused his brocade jacket to feel ruff against her cheek. Her words were muffled and sounded softer with her face buried in his chest.

"We have guests my dear. Apparently, Peter Bradford is now using the name of Peter Hanley and his wife is saying she is my sister, Angelique." He had said the two names with a degree of disgust.

This announcement caused Victoria to push against his chest and peer up into his gaze her own filled with a hint of anxiety and fear. "Peter Bradford is here? Angelique is with him?" She felt her world tilt again and her stomach knot.

He nodded slowly, "I fear my dear yes we are to be plauged with them. I want you to avoid Peter at all costs. He will not be happy unless he tries to seduce you or worse make you what we are and I will not allow that."

Vicki sighed deeply, "You have nothing to fear where Peter is concerned. " She was now put out with the fact that she would have to face both of them having seen them before in her time and having not been happy with that association she knew she would need to curb her instincts to run screaming from the room at seeing her and as for him a part of her wanted to drive a stake into his black hear. Looking deeply into his gaze she smiled. "I am tied to you now and forever Barnabas." She spoke and he was immediately touched by her confession.

"As I am to you now my dearest Victoria. Now, we have guests unattended and I fear of leaving a bad impression on them so I want you to rest. When I return later we will discuss this new situation with the newest members of our family." He kissed her and slid from the bed making her feel bereft of his body.

"Barnabas be very careful around them. They are dangerous and they mean this family no good of that I am very sure." He smiled and shook his head. He was so grateful and amazed that he now had someone that understood him and the plight he faced with this new life transition. Leaning over to lay a light kiss on her lips he smiled.

"I am going to be even more watchful and alert now that I have you to as a part of my life." He stepped back turned and walked to the door pausing for only a minute to watch her layback down and close her eyes. He could not believe his good fortune to have her as a part of his life.

1795

Trask locked his hands behind his back and studied the plain spinster in front of him. The tale she had just spoke had given him hope that he would now have what leverage he needed to bring the witch Victoria Winters to her knees begging him to not hang or burn her at the stake. He slapped his hands together causing Abigail to jump. "I thought you should know she was meeting my brother in the woods and having an illicit affair with him. She is a vixen and a witch. I am sure of it!"

Trask moved to her side bent down and took her hands in his and smiled. "I am so glad you have reported this to me Abigail. You must tell me of anything else you find. The fact she met your brother is a matter for the civil courts she and your brother having an affair is not enough to bring it before the judges to get a writ." He smiled and noted she blushed so prettily for him. He knew he was affecting her with his close proximity and if he played this right he could have a stake in the Collins family and have his bit of fluff on the side. "Now off with you and be care to let no other know you were here."

Guiding her up from the chair he escorted her with an arm around her shoulders to the door. Opening the door he bent and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. "Now to take great care my dear these are dangerous time." He watched her raise her hood to her cloak and smiled nodding to Trask.

"As we all know it is a very dangerous time when we have a witch that sleeps amongst us."

"Keep your Bible at hand dear lady and nothing shall harm you as long as you keep your faith that God will prevail and vanquish evil from your house and the hearts of those with whom you have surrounded yourself." He watched her walk into the encompassing shadows and disappeared from sight. Closing the door he leaned against it and smiled. "This is so perfect so terribly perfect, tomorrow I take Miss Wycke and make her mine. She shall be the catalyst that will bring me what I want what I desire."

Collinwood 1795

Jeremiah opened the door to the master's suite and looked in at his wife sleeping soundly in her bed. He studied her from the doorway and felt tonight she should rest and he would spend his evening in one of the other bedrooms. His mind was in turmoil over everything he had learned tonight and what he had discovered he was astounded that it was possible for someone to travel through time. He was staggered by this knowledge.

Now there was the new complication in his life. Miss Winters. There was something about her that attracted him; something more than what he had seen in Josette. He never wanted to marry Josette. That had been Jeremiah's manipulations. He suspected but did not know if Barnabas was having an affair with Barnabas. Sitting down at his desk he leaned forward supporting his face with his hands elbows bent. Covering his eyes with his hands he sighed. Closing his eyes thinking he could get the thought of her face, her lips, the way she felt when he held her in his arms. The tenderness of her voice was still haunting his ears.

What made this whole situation worse was he knew now she belonged to another and another time. Why had this bewitchment befallen his good sense? Could it be she was a witch? No that was ridiculous; there were no such a thing as a witch. Groaning he shoved back in his chair he sighed deeply looked at the ceiling. This had to stop he was married to Josette and that was that. Standing he resolved to make his marriage work and he would not allow another's influence his obligation to his family and his wife.

Walking out the door down the hallway he stepped into their bedroom. He stood and watched his wife sleep and was immediately reminded how lucky he was to have such a wonderful wife. On silent footfalls he made his way to the bedside sat gently on his side of his marriage bed and began to disrobe. "Jeremiah?" Her voice was sleep filled and concerned.

"Yes, Josette?" He spoke over his shoulder while he tugged his boots off. Laying them under the bed, he stood and slipped his beaches off his frock shirt falling below his hips to his thighs. Laying his breeches over the chair's back he turned and slipped his jacket and cravat off. Moving to find his nightshirt he slipped his shirt off and the whole time her eyes followed him as he moved about the room.

"Why are you coming to bed so late?" She sat up dropped the covers from her body looking anxiously at him as he dressed for bed. He studied the beautiful woman looking so delectable in her ruffled nightgown her hair tumbling down over her shoulders. She smiled and patted the bed next to her. "Come it is late and we have a very busy day tomorrow."

Jeremiah slid into bed next to her kissed her lightly on her lips and rolled over curling his hand to his feather tick filled pillow. Josette giggled and spooned into his body sliding her arm around his waist. "Jeremiah, make love to me my love." Her words sounded sincere and it appeared she was trying to make their marriage work.

Jeremiah felt her hands guide over his body and he was aroused. He turned pulling her close planting feather like kisses over her neck and shoulder noting the goose bumps that were growing from her own now burgeoning need to feel her husband's love. Jeremiah closed his eyes and began to make love to her. In his mind he could see another in his arms. She was as pliable and loving and more tender than the one in his arms. She had hair of raven's wings and the tumultuous eyes of a storm tossed sea. Her lips were tender and his words were intent for another.

Try as he could when he finally reached his climax he whispered her name on his lips. "Oh my god Victoria!" He buried his nose into her shoulders and shuddered.

Josette tensed at the moment of her release and gasped out his name, "Jeremiah!" Her words over shadowed his words but a part of her mind had heard a different name on his lips. He collapsed on top of her frail form then rolled from her side to lay facing up. He could not believe he was thinking of Victoria while he made love to his wife. It was wrong and he was wrought with guilt. Josette pushed up smiled leaned over and placed a playful kiss on his lip. "Merci beaucoup Mon amour." She

Sighed and stood from the bed. "I will return soon my sweet husband." She slipped out of the room and headed to the bathing chambers. Once there she began to clean herself speaking softly to herself. "I cannot believe he called me by another woman's name! What was the name it surely could not have been Victoria Winter's names that had laid upon her husband's lips while he made love to her? She would not jump to conclusions, why did she have the right to be angry with him when she was always running off to be with Barnabas?

Leaning against the door she began to cry, why did it have to be Jeremiah as her husband? Why could it not have been Barnabas? She loved Barnabas and had to pretend to love Jeremiah. It was not in her nature to be this way and it was tearing her apart. As sensitive as Barnabas was to her needs and feelings she could sense he knew how unhappy she was. He had been growing more insistent that they run off together. How could she bring shame to his family and her family and do this.

Then her mind began to wonder if it was true was he growing closer to Victoria? If he wanted to get rid of her then it would not be on her as it was on him. What was it Aunt Natalie had told her while she was growing up? Oh yes, it was that a woman should expect a man that is involved in an arranged marriage to have a roving eye. How did she put it? Her mind wandered back to the time she as with her Aunt and she suspected her husband, the twin to Josette's father had taken a mistress. She had said that a man is expected to have a wandering eye and a taste for more than one woman.

Natalie had been involved in an arranged marriage. She personally had never seen her father give up on her beloved mother's memory or image by trying to bring another woman other than her Aunt Natalie into their home or try to have Josette call another woman mother. Josette finished cleaning up and sighed looking at her image. She did not love Jeremiah but was told she could grow to care for him. It was her family duty to make this match.

She had much preferred to have Barnabas as her husband; it was he that held her heart. Her aunt had hinted at discretion was the better part of valor and if she found she was attracted to another to be careful to give her husband an heir and not expect him to raise another's bastard. She always thought of Barnabas when she was with Jeremiah in that way. It made it easier to suffer through his touching her in a way that she felt should only belong to Barnabas.

Thinking back to earlier she made her way down the hallway and paused in the doorway looking at the sleeping form of her husband. Stepping to her bed she slipped in next to him and laid there thinking about earlier had he called out Victoria's name in their love making? Had he already taken her as a lover? Was that why he was late this night to their marriage bed? This was something she would have to discuss with Barnabas. She knew she was young enough she could out live her husband. However; she knew her lover was not willing to wait that long.

Trying to fall asleep she sighed deeply and in her moment of going into sleep she spoke his name softly, "Barnabas." It was her mistake. Jeremiah had pretended to be asleep and hearing his nephew's name upon the lips of his wife had been an awakening. If he could prove her infidelity then he could safely divorce her without besmirching the family name. That would leave his heart and the door open for him to pursue and claim Victoria as his wife.

Rolling to his back he studied the ceiling through the soft material of the canopy. He listened to her steady slow breathing as she slept and dreamed of he was sure his nephew. Tomorrow he would make her believe he was going into the shipping yards and then he would wait and follow her. He was sure he would find that his wife was meeting his nephew. A part of him felt guilty because he held tender feelings for another so why should he care about what was happening between his wife and nephew? He supposed it was the thought that if he did not confirmed his suspicions he would always suspect that any issue they shared was more than likely that of Barnabas.

He would be damned if he raised Barnabas bastard so he had to know. Folding his arms over his chest he closed his eyes and once again he saw her standing on widows hill looking lost and forlorn and so beautiful with her long raven colored hair and eyes that were like the storm tossed seas. Lips so delicate and kissable. He had to quit these thoughts they were affecting him in a manner that was less than gentlemanly. Giving over to exhaustion he knew he would rise by the cock's crow and prepare to put to rest his thoughts of whether or not Barnabas and Josette were lovers.

1968

Elliott Stokes' House

Julia paced to the couch and sat down next to Eric who had already seated himself after shaking Elliott's hand. Barnabas stood watching the fire by the small fireplace. His mood had grown somber since finding that diary of Quentin's. All three waited for Elliott to read through the important parts of the diary. Barnabas noted Hallie's retreat up the small stairway to her room upstairs.

The earlier conversation had centered around how she was doing in school and what subject she had hoped to pursue in college. It had been small chitchat designed to be pleasant and to open the door for the more serious information they were going to direct to Elliott's attention. Hallie had learned at an early age that such discussions were meant for adult ears and minds. She did not need a house to fall on her to know she was not needed in the room. Excusing herself she walked up stairs to her room and looked out her window.

It stood like a great hulking beast and was somewhat frightening in its current state. The power had long been shut off and after the police and forensic police had completed their investigation the yellow do not cross police line tape had been taken down. The creepy guy that had lived there was gone and Hallie was glad. She had watched him from the peripheral of her vision when he sat on the porch and knew he was watching her.

Turning from the shadowed shrouded house she turned her attention back to her books. Growing distant with her thoughts she was happy she had her Uncle Elliott as her back up or surrogate father. She had just wished Uncle Elliott had found a woman and then she could have woman to talk to about life and her questions she had. She had considered Julia but she was wrapped up in her new life with Dr. Lang. There was the fact that Julia was also pregnant, then of course there was Beth but she was spending so much time with Willie and she knew Willie was going to be released at the end of the week. So Beth would be too busy with him.

Vicki had been her second choice but it seems that Vicki was missing. Having been plagued by a lot of different questions of things happening in her life, she needed to talk to a woman now, not when they could find Vicki and bring her home. Sighing she stared down at the book in front of her and saw the name Elizabethtown. She smiled; of course she could always talk to Mrs. Stoddard she had raised a daughter, so she would understand her questions. Shaking her head she looked to her book and began to study for her SAT's.

Collinwood

1968

Carolyn shifted uncomfortably in her bed, she needed to get up, Gregory was coming over and she did not want to be in bed to share her time with him. She was trying to decide when they would set their date for their wedding. It was a soft knock at the door first then a familiar face popped their face around the door's facing. "Hey, how are you feeling?" Maggie moved into the room to see how Carolyn was faring.

Carolyn smiled as she shifted, "I feel like a beached whale and want Green Peace to come and push me back into the ocean." She chuckled lightly over her little joke.

"Well are you up for a visit from another old friend?" She turned to see Joe standing in the doorway smiling at the two women.

"Why sure, the more the merrier is what I say come on in Joe and tell me how things are going down at the cannery, since I have been delegated to be bed bound I might as well enjoy some gossip." She wiggled back in her chair, pulling the leg comforter over her legs covering the frilly pink gown she wore and hiding the swell of her belly.

Maggie and Joe found chairs to pull close to Carolyn and sat down. Joe reached for Maggie's hand and for a brief moment Carolyn felt a slight tinge of jealousy, pushing it aside she put a bright smile on her lips. "So, what is going on with the two of you? You seem to be growing closer?"

Maggie smiled and lowering her lashes to hide a hint of a blush to her cheeks she slid a sideways glance to Joe and then held her hand out so Carolyn could see the ring on her finger. "We are engaged." She looked anxiously from Carolyn to Joe's bent head.

Carolyn did not hesitate to squeal out in delight and happiness for them. "Congratulations you two! This is wonderful news? So, you are engaged and this ring is lovely." Carolyn had sat forward and took Maggie's hand in hers to look at the lovely modest engagement ring. "So have you talked about dates?" She glanced up looking from one to the other.

"Well we just got engaged today and so we really have not discussed dates, we just wanted to make sure it would not make you uncomfortable with this news and knowing that I am going to marry Joe." Maggie was quick to offer a halfhearted apology for springing their news on her.

Joe looked up and smiled. "We wanted to be sensitive to your feelings Carolyn, we knew that our dating had upset you when we first started to date so we wanted to make sure that you were okay with our engagement."

Carolyn laughed and stood hugging Maggie and then Joe. "Not likely I would be upset, I am thrilled for you both. I am at this time pregnant with another man's baby so why would I be upset?"

"Which reminds me my darling, we need to set our date. Hello Joe, Hello Maggie pleasure to see you here." Gregory Trask walked into the room and stood next to Carolyn dropping a chaste kiss on her lips. Sliding a possessive arm around her shoulders he squeezed her next to his body and smiled at the newly engaged couple.

Carolyn felt the uncomfortable squeeze, glancing up to Gregory she clenched her teeth and spoke through them. "We won't set a date if you keep trying to pop me like a pimple." Carolyn tugged away from him and sat in her chair. Gregory did have the grace to show his embarrassment.

"Sorry my dear did not realize how tightly I was holding you." He slid onto the arm of the chair next to her and gently took her fingers in his hand and kissed each one. "I really need to be remember you are carrying my son."

"Or daughter." Carolyn said as a counter to his statement. "Anyhow I suppose once we find what happened to Vicki then we can set the date."

"Vicki? What happened to Vicki?" Gregory was confused. "Something happened to Vicki?"

Carolyn nodded, "Yes, some maniac came in and drug her off and she and Quentin with that maniac and they have not been seen since."

Gregory stood, turned and stared out the window. This was something new and unexpected. His mind spiraled down a long list of things that could hold up his marriage but this was not one of them.