Chapter 15

1795

Eagle Hill Cemetery

Silence that is what Vicki heard from behind the stone enclosure. Nothing could be heard since she heard the yelp, the scream as the door closed completely on her. Bending she opened the door and slid the flat stone step back to cover the mechanism that operated the secret panel. With extreme caution she advanced slowly from her hiding spot to the exterior of the mausoleum. "Jeremiah?" She called softly then the sound she heard held her frozen to the spot. It had started as a low growl.

Turning she looked around the darkened room then saw the feral red eyes watching her every move. Gasping softly she backed up to the open doorway to the secret room. With one mighty shove from his standing position the man wolf lunged towards Vicki landing inside the secret room blocking her retreat. Thinking quickly she reached for the lever and watched the door begin to close slowly on the wild animal of a breed or kind she had never beheld before.

In that feral unreasoning mind of the man wolf he realized that the door was closing on him and trapping him inside. He lunged forward in an attempt to escape but too late. Once the heavy door had closed Vicki could no longer hear the wolf's bay, growl or grunts it was silent once again except for a soft moan outside the mausoleum. "Jeremiah!" She whispered his voice softly then rushed out of the iron door to look around the fog shrouded grounds of the cemetery.

"Jeremiah?" She called to him with fear filling every fiber of her being. "Jeremiah?" She stepped with caution forward and felt her foot make contact with something soft and it moaned again. Looking down she found him crumpled on the ground bleeding and near unconsciousness. "Oh my God! Jeremiah!" She stooped down to run fingertips to his throat and found him bleeding from an open neck wound. Attempting to drag him up to support him, She got him up enough that he was able to stand and lean into her body.

"Come we have to get help!" Using her body as leverage he held onto her frail form and then fell. Following him down to the ground she began to cry softly and plead. "Please Jeremiah, you must get up. I need light to help you." A figure moved through the fog carrying a lantern. Vicki felt her heart skip a beat when a familiar voice called out.

"Hello is anyone there?" Ben Stokes shambled towards the fallen figure. "Miss Victoria? What 'ere aye doin out in this pea soup tonight?"

"Ben, help me its Mr. Jeremiah he has been attacked." Vicki held onto Jeremiah while Ben walked forward and stopped in shock.

"How did he get hurt?" Ben dropped to his knees and looked at the damage done to Jeremiah's throat. It appeared he had been sliced across the throat and was bleeding badly.

Vicki became more insistent. "We must get him home now Ben. Please help me." Ben shook his head and then handing the lantern to Vicki lifted Jeremiah up. Together they trudged back to the pathway that would lead to the great house. With the sight of Collinwood in front of them Vicki turned to Ben, "Should I run ahead and alert the family?"

Ben shifted his burden and nodded, "Aye, and have 'em send fer the doctor real quick like!" Vicki holding the lantern forward so she could see the ground dashed to the front door and threw it opened. Entering the foyer she screamed. "HELP! SOMEONE HELP! MR. JEREMIAH HAS BEEN MORTALLY WOUNDED!" The house hold went from sleeping and silent to a bustle of activity with all forms of persons appearing in night shirts, gowns and night hats. The first to arrive down the stairs was Josette, followed by Joshua, Naomi and a bevy of servants that immediately took Jeremiah from Ben.

Joshua glared at Ben then to Victoria. "What is the meaning of this? How did you find him? What happened? Who is responsible for this?" The torrential down pouring of all these questions was upsetting Josette and Vicki more. Naomi reached a hand to Joshua. "Joshua go change and fetch the doctor we will get our answers later. Our first priority is to the welfare of Jeremiah. Now hurry!"

Josette had clung to Jeremiah's blood soaked form, crying over him in near hysteria. "Jeremiah who did this to you?" His head in her lap he looked up and he saw not Josette bent over his broken bleeding form but that of Victoria's face swimming in and out of his lucidity. Reaching up he cupped the side of her face with his palm. "You . . . are . . . so . . . beautiful . . . my. . ." His voice was ragged with the injury and his emotion was affecting his speech as he looked into the eyes of whom he had perceived was Victoria. Continuing to struggle with getting his words said before death claimed him, he knew it was important that he tell her of his love for her. "You . .. you. . . . are . . . my . . . one . . . true. . . love."

A death rattled filled his throat along with the blood of his torn throat. His voice had gone to a bare whisper. "Know . . . I . . . will . . always . . . love . . . you. . . " His words were fading and he wanted to tell her it was right for Josette and Barnabas to be together.

"Jeremiah who did this!" Josette was feeling guilty over his profession of love for her. "Please tell me!" His vision cleared and he smiled looking into Josette's gaze he did forgive her he had found his love. He said softly, "Josette. . . "

Again tears of anguish and guilt filled Josette. "Tell me who did this!" He whispered one name softly.

"Barnabas."

With his dying breath he thought he had told Josette to be happy with Barnabas instead as he died he left the impression that Barnabas was the one that had struck the death blow to his body. With the utterance of Barnabas' name Josette cried out in guilty anguish laying her body over her dead husband's body. Vicki having been distracted and relegated to the drawing room as the family members drew around the dying Jeremiah had not heard him proclaim Barnabas as his murderer. If anything she just knew that something horrible must have happened with the scream and now deep pain filled sobs of someone lost in their grief

1845

Vicki dressed in the soft powder blue gown, smoothed her hair down, reached for her parasol and wished it were proper for women to dress in breeches. Moving to grab a bonnet she sighed softly and stepped from Josette's room. Walking on soft soled shoes down the hallway she looked up to see Julianka. The pretty gypsy girl walked towards Victoria. "Madam is going out?"

Vicki smiled, "Yes, Henrietta has asked me to tea at Collinwood with her, Daphne, Joanna, Amanda, and Judith. I should be back before Mr. Collins is available. Just in case I am detained longer would you kindly tell him that I am at Collinwood?" She thought the young lady was very attractive and could see why Gregor was interested in her.

Julianka knew that Victoria had promised to keep their secret until they were ready to tell the family of their feelings for one another so she was sure she was the friend she longed to have and found it ironic that it was a gorger that would show her loyalty for one of the tribe. Julianka moved her hand forward to touch Victoria's arm and for a moment her eyes glazed over. Vicki had looked down and saw a beautifully cut blue sapphire ring on the young woman's slender delicate hand.

The touch for Julianka was electric she felt something charge through her system and for a moment her eyes cleared and she saw Victoria as a child lost and alone in a foundling home. Julianka could read her thoughts and they were sad and lonely thoughts filled with a longing and desire to discover the identity of her parents. Superimposed over Victoria's face were two other faces that of a balding man and another of a woman that bore a striking resemblance to that of Judith Collins and another man whom she felt a strong connection to. He somewhat resembled her father's brother with his barrel chest and balding head.

Vicki watched her grow distant in thought and then she shook her head smiled and looked at Vicki. Impulsively she leaned forward and hugged her and somehow with that hug she felt family somewhere connected them in the future. Cupping Vicki's face she spoke softly, "You travel the waves of time and you do not belong here but to me you belong to my heart. You take great care My Lady Victoria." She leaned forward and kissed her forehead stepped back and walked down the hallway towards the room Vicki knew belonged to Magda and Sandor.

Smiling at the tender touch and the kind words, Victoria walked to the stairs carrying her bonnet and her parasol. Pausing she watched the door opened and held her breath she had hoped it was not the odious Trask that had accosted her earlier in the woods. Instead it was Quentin walking through the door to stand and peer at the lovely woman standing poised on the steps. His clothing was somewhat disheveled and he did appear to have allowed his clothing to partially dry from his fall into the ocean's waves.

"My, my, my how you changed my dear and now I find you on your way out. Perhaps I shall escort you to Collinwood so you do not run into the rude and obviously delusional Headmaster Trask." He noticed at the mention of Trask she had shivered slightly.

"You have a problem with the man do you not?" He waited for her to advance down the stairs and assisted her off the last step. "I have to honestly say there are few that do not have issues with the man he is a charlatan and a rake." Quentin found it ironic that he just called someone else the same names that had been used to describe him.

"I wanted to thank you for your help Mr. Collins he was a very rude and horrible man that obviously is a tad delusional and filled with his own self importance. I fear had you not come along I would surely have been molested by the man or worse he may have taken liberties with me that no one but a lady's husband should take." Taking his hand she allowed him to assist her off the bottom step. " I would appreciate safe escort through the pathway in the woods to Collinwood. I do have a tea engagement with your mother in an half an hour."

His eyes twinkled with mischief thinking of how he could try and steal a kiss from her on the way to Collinwood. However another part of him was not about to have her associate his actions with those of Trask's. He would this time be on his best behavior and try to get to know this lovely morsel a little better before he made her an object for conquest. A part of him did not wish to harm her or her husband but another part of him wanted very much to insinuate his influence into her life. She was a complex and very attractive young woman that deserved and would desire his further attention.

Offering her his damp arm, stepping with him to the front door she paused, to open her parasol. Smiling with eyes shining and a feeling of excitement in her she slid her hand to his bent elbow and allowed him to escort her down the steps and to the woods. Unaware that they were being watched, the two chatted about mundane topics such as the weather and how pleasant it was for this early into the spring season.

Lamar Trask watched them until they were out of sight. Turning he put his gaze back to the house and saw the door open. Magda and Julianka stepped out to the front landing and this caught Lamar's attention. The young gypsy woman was lovely she was what he found to be attractive in a mysterious sort of a way. The older woman he had recognized as being around the town a lot with another older man. This one he knew would bare watching a little further.

1845

Collinwood Drawing Room

Vicki sat primly by the fireplace accepting a cup of tea in cups she had recognized as those belonging to the Collins Family from her time. For a moment were it not for the face of the woman handing her the teacup and the mode of dress and the fact that the room was lit by gas lights she would have felt she had returned to her time in the home she had become accustomed as being her home. Smiling her acceptance she took a light sip noting that Quentin had changed and was now joining them in the drawing room. For him he refused tea and made a beeline for the liquor cabinet.

She sipped delicately from the cup then set the cup to the table next to her. "So, Victoria from where do you come originally that you were a proxy bride for cousin Barnabas?" Amanda was the first to ask this question after she had taken a sip from her cup. She thought she senses a bit of a hesitation in Victoria's manner when she had asked her question.

Vicki looked down, speaking softly she said, "I was born in New York on the Southside near Williamsburg. My father was a modest tradesman and he located our family near the East River. I was educated in England and spent most of my early years in London. When I turned eighteen my father brought me home and sent me to a finishing school. It was his desire to make a good match for me and apparently he met Mr. Collins on one of his business trips to the West Indies. Mr. Collins had seen my miniature father carried of my mother and myself in his watch and Mr. Collins indicated he was interested in possibly joining the two families."

Quentin listened with a sardonic look on his face as she spoke of her arranged marriage. He sipped his drink and snorted softly from the corner, which elicited a dark look from his mother. Quentin raised his left eyebrow then lowered his gaze and continued to listen to the life of Mrs. Victoria Collins.

Harriett sighed deeply returned a polite smile to Victoria and nodded. "Something we pride ourselves on as Collins are to make sure our children are well situated and settled nicely to a good family of breeding and wealth. Please Victoria do go on."

Joanna smiled widely, "Oh yes do go on this sounds so romantic. Surely the thought of marrying a stranger must have given you pause and fear of not knowing if you would even like the man in question."

Daphne patted Joanna's hand. "Sister, when you are bonded by an arrangement you learn to love one another completely and accept. For you it was easy, you had already met Edward but Victoria had no idea if she were getting a pig in a poke or a diamond in the rough."

From the doorway a dry comment was heard. "Or if she were signing her life away in a loveless marriage for the rest of her natural life." Edith pushed Gabriel into the room next to the sofa and sat next to him. Harriet frowned noting that the sour faced and very acerbic Edith had decided to join their ranks in the room.

Harriet snorted softly, "Edith, you are being rather rude to suggest that a Collins would only offer wealth and not love to his bride." Edit glared from Victoria back to Harriett.

"I am speaking from my own family's experience with my youngest sister Emily, she is the one that ended up dying in child birth having been tied to some old man for years with nothing but his cold hands to touch her and no love to offer."

Victoria sighed deeply feeling sorrow and pity for her sister. "I am sad to hear this about your Sister cousin Edith, perhaps in her case that was a misfortune for me I have been fortunate enough to found love with my arranged marriage."

Edith looked at Victoria and spoke with a dry tone. "How lovely for you Cousnin Victoria and fortunate that you will find heat in your bed at night and not coldness and neglect."

Quentin could not resist, "Is that your personal observations because of your own circumstances dear sister in law?" He looked from Gabriel to Edith then back to the flush filled face of Victoria and by the way she acted he could have sworn she was acting like a virginal bride having never felt the touch of a man or now the love of that man. His intent had been to insulate Victoria against the jaded and hard point of view that Edith had delighted to wallow in when she was with Gabriel. Clearing her throat Victoria spoke softly but dedicated to the love of the man she had claimed as her husband.

"I think such topics of conversation were not meant for mixed company Cousin Edith, perhaps it is best we just drop the subject all together and perhaps we could take a nice stroll in the garden?"

Joanna appeared disappointed. "Oh I so wanted to hear more of you and Barnabas and how you felt when you first met him. Surely you were scared to death at the thought of sharing your life with a man that was no more than a stranger to you?"

Victoria smiled her indulgence to Joanna. "I can assure you that we learned a great deal about each other Joanna. My father made the arrangements with Barnabas we began to correspond and we got to know each other very well in those letters." Quentin watched that delightful flush spread to her cheekbones and he was enchanted with how lovely and still innocent she appeared to him.

"I would love to read those letters sometime if they can cause you to blush so beautifully cousin Victoria. Perhaps some day you might share a little bit of those missives with us?" Quentin could not resist his own attempt to see her blush again. He was not disappointed. She tucked her chin and flushed.

"They are far too personal to share Mr. Collins perhaps some day I shall read you some of the lovely poetry that Barnabas wrote for me. That is the one part of those letters I would gladly share, I felt that he had missed his calling and should have been an author instead of a shipping magnate."

Quentin lifted his glass and looked at the last swallow, "By all means why would he want to suffer and starve by being an author hoping for a sale of his work when he could be a wealthy and probably brilliant shipping magnate." The sarcasm was dripping from his voice.

"Do I detect a hint of jealousy in your voice Quentin, are you disappointed that you were not the one that Victoria's father had met and hoped to bond you to her?" Gabriel had noticed his brother was showing more than just a casual interest in his cousin's wife. Gabriel glanced to Edith and saw her face suffuse with anger at the suggestion that Quentin had designs on Victoria. Jumping up from the couch Edith stormed from the room causing Quentin to chuckle at her jealousy.

"Interesting that your wife would care who would be interested in our newest cousin Gabriel could it be its her bed she complains is cold and not that of her dear deceased sister?"

Gabriel glared at Quentin whipped his wheelchair around and rolled with no further comment from the room. Which once again sent Quentin into a deeply humor filled chuckle. "Sensitive are we not brother?" He called to his departing back.

1795

Pushing forward she heard Joshua say that Mr. Jeremiah should be taken to his room so he could be prepared for burial and for Victoria the thought of him lying dead was too much for her to bear. Rushing from the room, she moved to the kitchen and servants area to the rear garden and away from the house. Walking quickly a few yards to the pathway she did not realize she was making a mad dash to the pathway that would lead her to the old house. Eyes blinded by her tears sobbing with each gulp of air she took she moved to the front stairs of the old house collapsing on the top steps to bend over and gasp out her grief over the loss of Jeremiah.

Hearing a wagon draw up in front of the old house she saw Peter Bradford and Barnabas covered in muddied dirt jump from the wagon and approach the distraught woman now crying into her hands. "Miss Winters why whatever has happened?" Barnabas approached her followed by Peter. He did not wish to see such a lovely delicate being such as Victoria is so much emotional pain.

Vicki sobbing through her fingers gasped out, "Jeremiah has died! He was attacked by a wolf in the cemetery and he died, he is dead!" She looked up her eyes filled with tears "He is dead!" She clung to his arms feeling him draw her into his chest.

Peter was struck by the news. Advancing to Barnabas' side he spoke softly, "Shall I go to Collinwood and see what this is all about?" Barnabas had pulled Victoria up holding onto her with his comforting arms. "Yes, by all means and you might have someone come to the old house to see to her needs there is no way she should try to go back to Collinwood in this condition. She is hysterical."

Peter turned in time to see a very dour faced Ben Stokes moving to the three of them. Peter looked concerned at the notably sadness that shadowed Ben's features. "Ben?" He asked the question and Ben nodded.

"Did she tell aye Mr. Jeremiah is dead?" Barnabas held to the trembling Victoria. Ben looked towards the young woman with pity in his gaze. "He died and it looked like his throat had damn near been torn out. Just afore he died he said Mr. Barnabas kilt him. Then he died. Mr. Joshua wants you Mr. Barnabas to come to Collinwood, he wants to talk to you about the death of your Uncle."

Barnabas blanched, "I could not have possibly killed Jeremiah, I was with Peter in the woods hunting for a wolf. We could not find him so we came back to the old house and found Miss Winters here." Barnabas knew he had lied and the lie he told was one that was to protect his good friend Peter.

Vicki spoke up, "It was a wolf that attacked Mr. Jeremiah, I was there and saw it. He protected me from the attack by drawing the wolf away from me. He shoved me into the secret ammunitions room in the mausoleum to keep the wolf from attacking me!" Vicki could not allow this injustice to happen by blaming Barnabas for something that a wild beast had done.

Peter nodded, "We were together in the woods we just got back there is no way it could have been Barnabas that attacked Jeremiah. We have been together for the past three hours."

Ben looked down at the toe of his boot and sighed, "Then aye s'pose you all three should come back to speak to Mr. Joshua he is very upset and so is the whole of Collinwood."

Barnabas shook his head. "Well we must make haste to clear up this misconception." The four of them began to make their way back to Collinwood all filled with remorse and sadness at the thought that Jeremiah had died. It had been Barnabas' intent for the duel to throw his shot wide then leave and perhaps move to England. He had never intended to further his romance with Josette simply because he was having conflicted feelings about his Uncle's wife and the woman who was trembling with spent emotions over that loss. He had supported her body close to his and found he was having impure thoughts about her.

The memory of seeing her nude earlier had held in his mind for most of the day and even when he had been with Josette he had to push those thoughts of her away and focus back to what she was relaying about Miss Winters and Jeremiah and for a moment Barnabas had felt a pang of jealousy that Jeremiah had shown feelings for her and not his wife. This should have pleased him but ironically since that encounter with her in Josette's room he had been unable to get that image out of his mind. He had spent the majority of the day lamenting over his decision to go through with the duel.

Now as they approached Collinwood his heart sank as he saw every light in the house was on. It was a confirmation that something tragic had upset the whole household and a part of him did not want to go further but turn around and find the first ship to England. If only he could have persuaded Miss Winters to join him. Taking a deep breath he moved forward to face his father's angry wrath.