Chapter 14

1845

Dawn came to Collinwood. It washed the morning with his pink tendrils of soft light over the now burgeoning summer garden of the old house. Vicki stood in front of the bay windows watching the sky and sighed. "Red skies in the morning sailor take warning." She muttered softly under her breath.

"The day will bring hot that will caused the night to be mad and bring rain." Magda leaned against the door watching her and noted the pallor of her face. "You been letting 'him' feed off of you again?" Magda walked to Vicki's side lifted her chin and studied her eyes. "You are tormented by 'him' and you let 'him' lead you around like a sad puppy dog." The way she said him Vicki got the distinct feeling she was fighting her instincts to call Barnabas a monster.

Vicki turned from the window a soft sea breeze hinting at giving her just a little relief. "Oh how I wish I were in 1968. At least there I could wear less clothing and feel more comfortable. Magda, this 'him' will some day be my husband in the future. You may think he is a monster but he has no control over what he is or can he control what he has to do which is his nature." Walking to the other set of windows she opened them wide to allow more of the sea breeze to fill the room with its subtle welcoming smells blowing the scent of the roses into the room.

"You are tied to him by the vampire bite. If you no had that bite you would not want to be with him and let him use you as some kind of nice juicy steak. You should be no man's food." Magda snorted with a hint of disdain in her voice. "You are so much more and from what I saw in your hand." Magda reached for Vicki's hand turned it so it was palm up and ran her fingertips over her palm. "You are more than just a woman with a past and future. You show great promise to be so much more." She dropped her hand turned and walked to the door. "You think about that the next time he wants to eat and takes from you. I only stay because of you, remember that too."

Vicki watched he saunter out the door and from sight. Turning she felt a slight headache coming on. Thank goodness with Harriet's help she was able to dispense with those corsets and not be bound. She could at least breathe. What she needed was a bite of breakfast and then perhaps a nice long walk on the beach. She just did not want to go to the beach dressed in a gown that would get wet from the surf. Smiling she remembered the family had put lots of clothing away in trunks in the attic.

Surely there were some of Daniel's old breeches and shirts there. Perhaps if she found them she could put them on and then move along the beach in the waves much as she had done when she liked to scour the beach when she was in her time. With a plan in mind she with a happy little skips to her step she went out the door with a light happy tune in her voice.

1845

Beach Below Widows Hill

With her hair pulled up in a ponytail wearing a pair of Daniel's breeches and one of his poet shirts she walked barefoot and happy along the beachhead. Stooping down to pick up some tiny pink shells. Brushing the sand from their surface she washed them in the rolling waves that soaked her feet and ankles. Smiling she tucked the treasure into her pocket. "What a beguiling and very enticing picture you make my dear. One could hardly believe you were a boy dressed like that." The voice was a familiar one with mocking tones. Startled Vicki lost her balance and slipped back into a particularly large wave that had made its way to the beach and now swamped her with its briny embrace

"OH MY!" She exclaimed as she landed with a wet slosh into the wave eliciting a soft chuckle of amusement from Quentin. Face flushed, body soaked and now the white clothing leaving very little to the imagination she sighed deeply looking up to see Quentin's eyes dancing with open mirth. "You think its funny?" She glared dangerously at him from her position of being swamped again by another wave.

"Actually yes I do. You look so charming all like a drenched rat bobbing about there in the surf." He walked forward, bent to offer her a hand up. She looked at the position of his body bent forward in his effort to be the gentlemen and a thought came to mind. Smiling she fluttered those lashes reached for his wrist and with the super human power that had been granted to her by the life force transference she tugged on his wrist, bracing her feet to the ground. As she levered herself up she made sure he was off balanced and landed face flat into the surf.

She laughed hearing him gasp in outrage. Turning she dashed for the pathway up the hill using her speed to make it to the top of the path just as he extricated himself from the surf swiping at the wringing wet clothing. Turning to look for her he was amazed to see she had made it to the top of the hill so quickly. It must have been the fact she was in pants and not a cumbersome dress that gave her impetus to get there before him. She smiled waved to him then turned and headed back to the pathway that led to the old house.

"Oh no you do not get to do that to me. Now without consequences." He began to march towards the pathway to widows hill. "You need to be taught a lesson my dear and I am just the one to do that." He smiled with a tight determined look on his face. Looking down to see the wet footprints she had left behind gave him pause to realize she had gone up that craggy rocky abutment without shoes. "You are one remarkable woman that is for sure Mrs. Collins."

Victoria dashed along the pathway not feeling winded and happy for once she carried some of Barnabas' vampiric powers. She would not have trusted that Quentin would not have pulled her up and drew her in to steal a kiss. That could not happen. She was not destined for Quentin she was destined for Barnabas and that is whom she loved. Chuckling softly she slowed her pace and walked with a light step to her movement. Looking up at the bright sunshine she sighed. That was close and she was actually happy for a change. Life could not have been happier for her at this moment in time.

From the depths of the shadows a figure lurked watching the fetching figure dressed as a boy. He rubbed his hands together and enjoyed the view of the wet clothing pressed against her nubile body. Stepping from the pathway he blocked her path and smiled. Vicki had been looking down when she noticed a set of feet in front of her. Popping her head up she gasped and fear coursed through her body. "Trask!" She said the name falling back away from him. His eyes lit up and he looked curiously at her.

"How do you know my name?" His immediate perception was perhaps she had seen him before or knew of his powerful reputation of being a strict schoolmaster. He reached to grab her wrist only to find she had danced back far enough from him to keep him from touching her. "I said wench tell me how do you know my name? Are you empowered by the dark one?" He watched her back up smiling noting she was now trapped against a tree. Advancing on her he pinned her to the tree with his body. His slid his hands past her waist on each side of the tree thereby preventing her movements to the right or left. His eyes bore into her with a look of determination and a hint of evil glinting.

Lowering his face to hers he held her against the tree and spoke harshly, "I say answer me witch, tell me how you know my name." Vicki crossed her arms to put some distance between them feeling him press deeper into her and the immediate arousal of this close proximity was bringing on him was evident by the hardness now pressed against her body.

"Please do not do this Mr. Trask. I know of you by those that have spoken of you in town." She was grasping for straws to get this man off of her. Her fears were should he try to rape her here in this forest she would be forced to break his neck and this would not bode well for her time here in this century with this Barnabas or worse Barnabas would find out and kill him. That would not do.

"I would do as the lady says Trask." Quentin had caught up to them and had stood long enough to watch what transpired between them. "As a matter of fact I insist that you step away from Mrs. Collins now." Trask glared at Quentin, his demeanor one of wishing to exert control over the weak and to intimidate and not liking the upper hand way Quentin was taking this situation out of his control.

Quentin stood in front of Trask and was still dripping wet, slowly drying from his tump in the ocean. Advancing on the two he looked more menacing as he advanced on Trask. Trask turned from Victoria glaring at her, "You do not move wench, I will have the truth by the almighty!" He threw in the sanctity of the almighty mostly for show in his own heart he felt he had the right by the jurisdiction of his collar and his calling to take what liberties he wanted. He was after all married to Minerva and she was enough to make any man want to look else where for the comforts a man needed.

Quentin curled his fingers into the man's jacket jerking him forward. Turning briefly to look at Victoria he spoke softly. "Leave now Mrs. Collins, go home and change so you may be respectable to receive a guest."

"What are you going to do Mr. Collins?" Trask felt his throat constrict with panic this man was about to thrash him. His eyes had grown huge with fear and his mouth would only work long enough for him to ask what was about to happen.

Vicki paused looking from Trask to Quentin. "Yes Quentin, what are you going to do?" She was breathless. The close encounter with a man she could not tolerate from 1700's was back in her life in this century. Except for looking a little older with muttonchops he still bore a striking resemblance to the Trask that had nearly raped her. She was Victoria after all and could not stand the thought of him coming to bodily harm and getting Quentin in trouble over such a worthless excuse for a human being.

"Why I am escorting the trash from our property Victoria. I promise you I won't throw him from Widows Hill, but I will see him off the grounds with a promise never to return for any reason." He turned his glare on Trask when he had spoken to Victoria. Vicki glanced one more time between the two and moved away from the tree.

Hurrying along the pathway she felt the need to pick up her speed and run towards the old house. She needed a bath and she also was going to have to make a trip to Collinwood for afternoon tea. She certainly could not go looking like this. Rushing up the stairs through the front door she paused seeing Gregor and Julianka standing in the drawing room. They obviously had been in an embrace and Vicki had interrupted. "Oh excuse me I am sorry." She tucked her chin and moved to the stairs.

"Mrs. Collins?" Julianka looked embarrassed stepping away from Gregor she walked to the staircase. "I think you have the wrong impression." She smiled hesitantly looking back to Gregor then to Vicki. Vicki knew they were cousins but was not sure how this type of arrangement was made with gypsies.

"I have no impression Ms. Romano. I must go and change. I am expected at Collinwood." She smiled encouragingly to the young pretty girl standing so expectantly at the base of the stairs. Vicki started up the stairs and Julianka followed her with a look to Gregor who nodded and disappeared through the louvered doors.

"Mrs. Collins I would like to help you dress and perhaps hope to have you hear what I have to say." Vicki slowed her advanced so the tiny woman could catch up. "You see I am not a true cousin to the Rakosi clan. My father is Johnny Romano, he is the king of all the tribes and Sandor to Magda only relates me through marriage. Gregor is the son of Magda's sister's husband who was married before and had the two boys and brought them into the marriage after his wife died. So they are stepchildren to the Rakosi's and our love would be accepted without rancor from either society but we care little for the gorger way of living or thinking."

Julianka followed Vicki into Josette's room. She had already laid out a soft pale yellow gown, undergarments along with that damn corset. Vicki sighed look at the corset picked it up and took it back into the dressing room. Julianka had gone down the hallway to prepare a bath for her mistress. Vicki sighed looked at her image in her the mirror. She was a mess and that wet shirt had left little to the imagination. Being a white shirt whole breasts were nearly exposed with the dampness pressing against her erect nipples no wonder Quentin was impressed and she was nearly attacked by Trask in he woods.

Moving to the dressing room, she stripped off the shirt and pants, laying them to dry over the back of a chair. Grabbing her housecoat she sighed deeply cinching the tie at her waist. Walking down the hallway to the bath Julianka had prepared she slipped into the warmth of the sudsy water. Closing her eyes she sighed and slipped beneath the surface of the water to dunk her head. Pushing up she pushed her hair out of her face. She had to be more careful; she certainly did not need any of this getting back to Barnabas. How would his oh so correct self react to such actions by someone pretending to be his proper and prim wife?

Resting in the water she just wanted this day to be over and for Barnabas to be up so she could hold him close and be held by him. That is what would make this day end as it should have. She had been so happy earlier and now all that had been plunged into darkness of her thoughts thinking of what happened.

1795

Beach Below Widows Hill

Barnabas held Josette close to his body. His kiss was deep and passionate. "Josette lets go away. Travel the world be together forever, you said so yourself you love me and I love you and now with Jeremiah showing an interest in Victoria perhaps he will divorce you and we can finally be together."

Vicki pressed her body into the enclosure of the rocks and watched stunned at what she was seeing. Then it happened there was Jeremiah riding down on the two star crossed lovers held in each other's arms. Vicki closed her eyes she knew this was the moment that all would come crashing down on the two Collins males and she knew one of them would end up dead. "Vicki come we should not be a party to this scene. We have to go to the west wing of Collinwood and find the stairway through time." Quentin was pressing into the darkening craggy rocks and had seen the two lovers meet.

"Quentin I can't leave I have not done what I was suppose to do. If I go back now I am not sure there will be a Collinwood to go back to or a family waiting for us." Quentin glanced up to see the gauntlet being thrown down and the challenge issued. Vicki turned in time to see the same thing and she closed her eyes. "It is beginning the end to the Collin's Family line. Two near brothers are fighting over the other's wife." She whispered into Quentin's chest.

Quentin knew that he had one more night of being at risk of turning and he needed to get through this night. Hiding in the family mausoleum had been the best thing to happen to him since before the portrait was painted. "We need to find a way back somehow but if you feel you have not done what you were sent back to do I will wait but after that we must do what is necessary and get us back to our time."

Vicki slipped with Quentin away from the tragic scene being played out on the beach she did not want to remember this day but knew it would be with her for the rest of her life. With a heavy heart and walking with leaden feet she walked beside Quentin up the pathway and away from the drama on the beach.

1795

Victoria's Bedroom

Vicki looked out the window watching the sun slowly set in the west. She sighed her life had become more complicated. Jeremiah had begged her to meet him after sundown. She knew he was going to tell her he had challenged Barnabas to a duel. Turning she glanced at the clock on the mantle and shook her head. Going to her closet she reached for her cloak, drawing on the cloak she glanced around the room and a part of her felt that this room would never feel the same again. Opening her door she walked down the hallway pausing briefly outside of Josette's room.

She could hear her sobbing inside and sighed walked past the room headed to the place she had promised to meet Jeremiah, the one place they knew they could talk. Making her way to Eagle Hill Cemetery she paused outside the gate kept out unwanted visitors to the mausoleum.. Opening the gate she saw him standing by the entrance to the secret room. "Jeremiah?" She spoke his name watching him stiffen then pivot on his feet to turn and move to her grabbing her up in his arms and pressing his lips passionately to her lips. Running his hands up the back of her neck to hold her head in place as he held onto her and kissed her deeply.

Breaking the kiss he smiled looked into her concerned and confused gaze. "I needed to spend just a little time with you before dawn. I challenged Barnabas to a duel and we meet tomorrow. I will call off the duel if you promise to stay with me and not go back to the future. Be mine Victoria and I will divorce Josette and she and Barnabas can have their life together."

Vicki was stunned and torn. Here was her Burke and here was an offer she could live with and be happy with this man. Then there were those that depended on her in the future and Quentin. She was conflicted. She could say she would happily be with him and avoid the death of Jeremiah, he was the one that died young and now she was here and could change history. She had to have time to think about this and needed a moment but his demands were so insistent as he held her in his arms and then planted light little kisses over her neck and face then back to her lips.

"Jeremiah I would love to stay here with you. I would want nothing more than to be your wife . . . " She had to think about how she was going to phrase this. She saw the hopeful look in his face. "I will accept what you want from me in return I need you to make sure that you will not harm Barnabas or disgrace Josette or her family." She sighed and looked away from him breaking his hold on her. "I cannot live with the fact that I was responsible for that kind of dishonor to any member of this family. Since this is not my time you are asking me to alter history and that could end with the Collins family not moving forward."

Jeremiah knew she spoke the truth the fact she was willing to stay in this time with him and share his life was enough for him. "Then I shall divorce Josette and call off the duel." He said softly approaching Victoria, running his arms around her waist and whispering into the silkiness of her hair. Vicki put her hands over his hands. Lifting he chin to peer at him over her shoulder she spoke against his lips now pressing to hers.

"Jeremiah I could love you with all my heart you are so like the man I lost in the future that to leave you and see you harmed would break my heart. It would be like loosing you all over again and that I could not bare." He gently turned her into his embrace nuzzled her neck laid his chin on her should and spoke softly into her neck.

"Victoria Winters, I have never met a woman that was so wonderfully tender and sweet as I have found in you. You make my world complete and to know that I cannot have you in my world would mean nothing. You will stay with me?" He pushed back and peered into her gaze. "I love you Victoria, I made love to Josette last night and I wanted it to be you in my arms in my bed not her. I wanted it to be you that I awoke to this morning. I even crept into your room at dawn and watched you as you slept."

Vicki flushed that was not a gentlemanly thing to do and she feared he might have seen her drooling on her pillow or her hair mused. "Oh my I guess you got an eye full?" She fluttered her lashes and looked up at him shyly.

"I saw one of the most beautiful women I have ever had the pleasure to meet sleep like an angel." He brushed her hair back from her face looking deep into her eyes. "In you I see my future when I peer into your eyes." He smiled at this moment it was the first time he had been happy in a long time. "I love you Victoria, I did not wish to love you but I do love you. I want no other but you will you when I am free marry me?" He moved to his knee just as the moon broke through the clouds.

From the forest surrounding the cemetery a low growl and then a howl interrupted the two lovers caught up in each other's embrace. Vicki jerked away from Jeremiah and turned to see a huge man size wolf moving towards them. Jeremiah shoved Victoria into the secret room and was following behind when he felt his body lifted and thrown through the door landing hard on the ground outside. The wolf turned his hungry gaze on the wide-eyed frightened woman standing in the doorway of the secret room. Vicki rushed forward and shoved the door shut. Catching the wolf's hand in the doorway she saw he was half man half wolf and this frightened her.

Turning she grabbed a silver candleholder hitting at the hand she heard him growl and scream out in pain. The hand disappeared and the next thing she heard was the sound of a gun being fired and a horrific scream.