Chapter 14

1796

Outside Victoria's bedroom Collinwood

Victoria broke the kiss. She was shocked beyond reason and brought her hand up to slap Henri. His head recoiled with the contact of her open palm to his face. "Well, now that was not very friendly especially when you asked for it." Vicki was incensed; she raised her hand to strike him again. His reflexes were lightening fast. Grabbing her hand he shoved her against the door pressed into her body and smiled into her wide-open eyes. "You know you want me my dear and if you are being free with your charms to the males of the Collins family, you certainly should understand I too am a Collins."

Gritting her teeth she ground out, "Sir, you take liberties for which you were not invited, you make a very bad mistake thinking I am some shrinking violet that will allow you to manhandle me in such a manner, I find you reprehensible."

He merely laughed as he held her pinioned to the door. "Now you merely challenge me. You wish to play a game of cat and mouse with me and I am if anything a major gamesman. So be prepared my dear, you are fair game as long as either of us are here."

Vicki closed her eyes focused and found for what she searched and discovered she still held some of those vampiric powers of strength in her small frame. Henri had watched her close her eyes and smiled, he figured she was giving up and had lowered his mouth to her mouth. He was letting his hands make free with the charms that he could touch when he felt his whole body shoved with so much force he flew across the hallway, hit the wall with enough force that it popped his head back with a thunk. The impact with the wall caused him to see a bright light then he slumped to the floor stunned.

Vicki sighed straightened her clothing. She set her ire and irritated gaze on the slump form of Henri sitting sprawled on the floor, walking to him, she reached down with one hand clamped her hand around his throat and jerked him up into a limp standing position. Pinning him to the wall she waited for him to open his eyes.

"You sir, will keep your hands from my person and distance from me as long as we occupy this house. If you wish to trifle with anyone, I suggest any number of the maids here will accommodate you willingly. However, if I discover you have take a maid against her will, I shall pay a visit you will not forget and you would do well to pray that if I do pay that visit you will still retain your manhood." Releasing her hold she watched his knees buckle and he slumped to the floor. He opened one eye to peer up at the heighten color in her cheeks and the flashing fire in her eyes.

Turning she walked calmly back to her room, opened her door, closed it with force and he definitely heard the sliding of the bolt across the door. He laughed. "Oh you are a fiery one, I promise you the next time you won't find me so quick to fall to your sorcery or tricks." This visitor to Collinwood intrigued him. Pushing up from floor, he straightened his clothing. She was right Lisette was more than willing to help him with his needs, she had been in his room enough. He was becoming bored with her and that was why he had seen something in this mere slip of a girl that had felled him like a man.

He was sure she had the powers of sorcery how else could a girl that could weigh no more than eight stones possibly life his body which he was pretty sure was at least thirteen stone weight and throw him across the room, then pick him up with one hand. No there was more to her than even he could imagine and he needed to talk to Andréas about what could be done to stunt her powers so he could get what he wanted. What he wanted was behind that door and out of his reach.

This was frustrating for him; he had always gotten what he wanted. He had never been denied he had always been afforded his privileges since birth. He held a title and was the ruler over his lands. He was after all a grand duke. Rubbing his jaw where the sting of her slap still burned his skin he smiled. "I think I shall enjoy this game." He turned to walk down the hallway.

Victoria's bedroom

Vicki wanted to slam the door shut; she was more than angry she was outraged. Shoving the door shut, she slid the bolt across the door and leaned her back to it. She was still flushed and burning with her anger. Daphne looked up to see how upset she appeared. "Vicki? What happened? Where are we?" She was in a near panic, she knew this was Vicki's room but things were different. There were oil lamps not electrical ones, the house had a new wood smell to it and the room was painted a soft shade of cream. She had distinctly recalled the room held a more old wood polished smell and the walls had been a mint green.

That was just the tip of her confusion, she was dressed in some eighteenth century gown and so was Victoria and she looked like she belonged to this time with her hair now styled with long curls. She was close to panic as she had ever been with the realization that she was not in her time but in a time that had been visited by Vicki on several occasions in the past.

Vicki rushed forward to grab Daphne and hold her. She could see how confused and frightened she was. Vicki had those exact same feelings when she had been thrust back in the past the first time. Now she could easily relate and try to protect Daphne from what she had to learn and adapt her. She knew Daphne was a quick study and once she had all the facts she was pretty sure Daphne would easily adjust. "My dearest friend. I am afraid you have joined me on this trip back in time. You need to sit down so we can talk about how we shall handle this. YOU must be very careful, any indication you may have come from the future could brand you as a witch and they hang witches in this time."

Daphne looked around the room. "How do we explain me? I can't hide. I need to have some kind of story." Vicki stepped away from her and began to pace, she was thinking what she could do to bring Daphne into this house and under the protection of Joshua. She stopped and smiled turning she walked to Daphne and helped her sit on the chair in her room.

"I have an idea but it will require us to produce some documents and a plausible story that will be believed by Joshua and Jeremiah." Vicki knelt at her feet and began to outline her plan. "You will come here as my sister, you will be Daphne who was sent by our father, Quentin to find me. You and I must come up with a story as to why I lost my memory. You are the nurse you know basically how the brain functions."

Daphne furrowed her brow; here she was no longer under the influence of Count Petofi so she could function in her normal parameters of being a nurse and using her skills. "Well we could say that you and father had argued and you ran from the house and was nearly run down by a carriage, that is when you hit your head. We brought you in the house but you disappeared and we have been searching for you ever since then."

Vicki smiled, she liked this story, "So what is my name Winters or Harridge?" Vicki stepped over to the writing desk and pulled out some parchment, ink well, and quill, she began to quickly write down what their story would be so that they would not have discrepancies or holes they could not explain.

Daphne smiled, "We shall make you the unmarried sister but only a year older to me so you will be Winters and my married name shall be Harridge, I am a widow." Daphne stood and nearly tripped over the gown she wore. "I have to remember how to walk in this silly thing." She lifted the skirt and sighed. "How do you do it?"

Vicki chuckled, "it will take some practice but I had the same problem when I first arrived here. We will practice that but we need to work on our story. Okay, now why did I argue with my father Quentin Winters." Victoria was thinking of a good reason to wish to disobey or argue with a parental unit, she only recently had the experience of having a father and a mother so could not possibly see why any child would wish to disobey their parents.

Daphne picked up the other straight back chair and carried to Vicki's side at her desk, she was thinking of two very good reasons and she spoke the first thought that came to mind. "Because father wished you to marry and you did not like the old man he wanted you to marry. He was to old and you said he smelled like mothballs."

Vicki laughed, "Oh that is perfect and a good reason why I would wish to run away subconsciously too." She was likening this to an assignment like she would give David. "Okay, I got into an argument with father, ran out of the house into the path of an oncoming carriage and were knocked unconscious and when you awoke you were frightened, and you ran away and we have been searching for you since that time."

"They think I am from Bangor or Portland, I don't want to be with a family they can easily trace in those two cities." Daphne smiled and shook her head.

"My dearest Victoria our father is very wealthy and he does not live in either of those backwoods places. Our father and our family, which by the way our mother died in childbirth with me so you pretty well helped raise me. Our father is a very wealthy shipping magnet from Barbados and you were betrothed to Lord Wentworth of North Hampton."

Vicki vaguely recalled the tragic story of Lord Rupert Wentworth how he had sailed to the West Indies to seek a new bride and his ship went down at sea. She and David had discussed the tragedies that were a part of the history of the West Indies seas.

Vicki brightened, "So, he died when was that in 1798?" I am sure that they will not be able to trace him down and try to confirm our story, this family is so forgiving and trusting except." Her dark mood began to renew itself with the memory of what happened in the hallway earlier. "Daphne there is a man here he looks like Quentin, he is NOT Quentin, he is a horrible man with a high libido and must and should be avoided at all costs. I am warning you now because he tried to molest me in the hallway earlier."

Daphne frowned, "Let me guess would this be Henri? The same as the one that is visiting Collinwood right now?' Vicki nodded slowly. "Wonderful, it will be hard considering he does bear a striking resemblance to Quentin."

Vicki sighed softly and shook her head. "Not really the minute he opens his mouth you will have no trouble telling the difference from this degenerate and your Quentin they are like night and day in personality."

Daphne thought a moment. "I am going to need trunks and clothing for the both of us, if I am coming to find you, then I must have brought your clothing with me." She chewed her bottom lip now concerned their story would fail because they did not have the essentials that would be needed to properly represent who they said they were.

Vicki sat back and smiled. "Not a problem my dear, in the attic of the old house are trunks of clothing that can easily be taken and used by the both of us. Right now my closet is filled with gowns that Josette gave me upon my arrival. It would seem that Jeremiah gives in to her needs and wants for a new wardrobe every six months. She buys six or seven gowns and then the other gowns are stored. They take them to the old house and store them in the attic. We can go over there tonight and pick out what we need."

Daphne sighed with relief things were actually coming together nicely for them. "Now how shall I arrive?" She stood to pace the floor when a soft knock at the door forced both women to look at each other in a panic.

Vicki stood walked to the door, "Who is it?" She leaned her ear to the door but could hear the soft breath of a female on the other side. The scent was definitely Josette's.

"Victoria it is I Josette are you well?" She sounded genuinely concerned. Vicki put her fingers to her lips in a shushing motion. Stepping back to the sconce on the wall by the door and next to the fireplace, Victoria shifted it and a panel slipped open. She motioned an astonished Daphne to the passageway. "Hide here and I will send Josette on her way." She whispered to Daphne and watched her disappear into the tunnel. Sliding the door shut.

Sliding the bolt aside she opened the door to allow Josette entrance to the room. "Did I hear you speaking to someone?" She looked around curious and suspiciously. Entering the room, she held four dresses over her arm and laid them on Vicki's bed. "I brought you these because I know you only have ten gowns. I had some made and thought you might like these."

They were beautifully made and obviously of French design. "they are lovely Josette thank you. I fear you caught me talking to my self earlier. I have been having such a dreadful time today. It would seem that your cousin Henri is rather persistent with his amorous ways. He rather took liberties and I really was still angry about it and was working out that anger."

Vicki took the gowns to hang in the closet. Turning she smiled tightly hearing Josette exclaimed "Mon Dieu, poor Victoria, do you wish me to have Jeremiah chastise him for this?" Josette set on the edge of her bed. She was outraged. "He is a horrid man, he tried to touch me where he should not. I think he believes all women are in love with him and want him to make love to them. I told him I was not that kind of woman and he left me alone. Did you inform him of same?"

Vicki smiled and looked down at the floor embarrassed. "I certainly did and I slapped his face." She chuckled softly remembering the look on his face when she threw him across the room.

"Good for you cher, you should put him in his place. Well, I must be going back to my room. I have an appointment later in Collinsport and wish to be fresh. If you need anything, you should just ring for Marie, she will come in and help you." Josette stood abruptly and Vicki knew full well with whom she was meeting, it would be Barnabas. This left her with mixed feelings. She knew that in two hundred years she and Barnabas would be together and they would be planning their wedding.

Vicki followed Josette to the door and when she was gone, Vicki slid the bolt in place opened the door to the secret passage. Daphne stepped out and smiled. "That is a really neat place Vicki. There are a series of tunnels that run through out the whole west wing area of this house, the architect had a sense for adventure when he designed this house.

Vicki shook her head and chuckled softly, "You will be meeting the architect and the man that requested the passages. Tonight I am hoping we can have you arrive. I know all about the passages so we will use them to leave the house and go to the old house and get some trunks and traveling clothing. Come along."

Vicki entered the passage and waited for Daphne to follow her. She knew they needed to be very quiet because the hallways to the west wing ran parallel to the passages. Joshua was so paranoid because of the revolution that he had tunnels and passages built in every house he resided. Plus he had secret storage places to stash weapons and gunpowder.

Old House

When Vicki finally made her way past the areas of occupation in the west wing she lead Daphne down the stairs to a side entrance generally used by the servants. The use of this door had not become a habit for the staff. They were safe to make haste to leave the house and take the pathway to the Old House. Memory served her that at this time of the day, Peter would be gone and so would Barnabas. There would be only one or two staff members in the house so they could easily find their way to the attic and obtain what they needed.

The matter of finding the old gowns that Josette had brought from Martinique and those that she had discarded was a matter of going through several trunks. Vicki was reminded of Naomi and her extensive and now outdated wardrobe and sighed softly." I have so many memories of these garments and what they meant to me when I first saw them on the night of Barnabas' ball."

Vicki sat back and a mist of tears threatened to take her sight. Sniffing lightly she felt a strong squeeze on her shoulder. "Come on Vicki I have everything I need here and I found some trunks we can put the items in. I will need your help carrying them down stairs along with the bags." Daphne needed Vicki focused so they could get out of there before they were caught.

"Not until I give you some coins and we will take these items down to a wagon and I will drive you into town and drop you at the carriage station. You can then hire a carriage to bring you to Collinwood and we will begin our new temporary life."

Four hours later

Collinwood main drive

It was amazing how quickly they managed to pack the two trunks and five bags that had been pilfered from the old house. Vicki knew where Joshua hid the coins and jewels and she had taken only five coins, she just needed to have them broken down from the current value so that Daphne could have some coins on her. She had to be sly and quick of hand to exchange the coins at the bank when they asked her where she had gotten her money she had said she had them as a dowry from her father. She was surprised to realize that one coin would have been sufficient to give Daphne what she needed.

Pocketing the other four coins she exchanged the one coin and went to meet Daphne, pulling her reticule from her wrist Vicki dropped the heavy coins inside and stepped back. "I would say wait an hour then go to the handler in the station and ask him to summon a carriage for you. I will be anxious until you arrive at Collinwood." She knew she was a mess and really wanted to get back and have a long hot bath.

Hugging Daphne she turned and made haste with the wagon to get back to the old house. Retracing her steps back to Collinwood and through the passages she opened the door to her room and stepped through just as a knock sounded at her door. Looking down at her dirtied gown, she quickly stripped the gown off, and threw on her housecoat. "Just a moment please."

She tightly cinched the housecoat around her waist mused her hair and walked to the door, sliding the bolt aside she peered around the door and smiled, "Yes?" A maid stood there with a concerned look.

"Madam has been sleeping?" She thought that is the appearance that the guest of Collinwood gave with her mussed hair wearing a house coat.

"Yes, Marie. I am sorry did you need something?" She opened the door and that is when she saw him standing behind Marie. He smiled a devilish evil smile and pushed past Marie. Walking into her room he looked around and then turned back to face Victoria.

"I was concerned my dear after our rather unfortunate parting earlier I came back to offer my apologies and imagine my surprise when I found your room locked and you were not answering your door. You can imagine my concern, so I asked Marie to come and check on you and she said you were not responding to her knock either. We were about to ask the door be removed to make sure you were safe."

Vicki was coldly circumspect not believing one word this pig of a man was saying. "She stepped past him into the hallway. "Marie, would you be kind enough to draw me a bath. I have been sleeping rather soundly something I have found helps me calm and refresh myself for an evening of festivities when I know we will be entertaining guests."

Marie curtsied to her. "I will be happy to get your bath ready Mistress Victoria." She waited for Henri to leave Victoria's room. Henri gave her a very sly smile and had the audacity to wink at her as he passed. Vicki wondered had she not had her guard up if he would have tried to pinch her bottom. He had made it a point to brush his body against her body when he went through the door. That action alone made her want to bathe. Waiting for him to leave her room, she stepped into the hallway and closed her door.

Henri performed a mocking bow to her and sauntered off down the hallway. Vicki could not help but wonder what he was up to with that performance she was pretty sure she had made herself plainly understood she did not welcome his attentions or want them. Huffing slightly she opened her door, gathered her clean clothing and walked to the bathing chambers.

Sequestering herself securely in the bathing chambers she was not about to invite trouble and allow Henri to think he could just walk in on her while she bathed so she had deftly secured the door and slid the bolt shut locking it tightly against any unwarranted intrusions. Finally she was able to relax and closed her eyes thankful she could go over how she would react when she was told her sister had arrived.

Her muscles screamed from the amount of stress she had placed on them helping Daphne with those trunks and bags filled with clothing and using muscles she had forgotten she had she had lifted them by her self into the bed of the wagon. Hitching the team was like a walk down memory lane, in her past visits she had hitched a team to the wagon on several occasions to make trips into Collinsport. The horses they had used this time were a bit more spirited and something was spooking them. They were less than cooperative and Vicki had to use more force to get them harnessed and hitched.

Daphne had watched her amazed at how adept she had become. "That is really fascinating the way you can handle this, is it because of what you got from Barnabas?"

Vicki nodded, "Yes, and this time I am very grateful I have it." That memory was passing with a pounding on her door. "Mistress Victoria, Mister Joshua and Mister Jeremiah are requesting you in the drawing room. Would you like me to assist you in dressing?"

Vicki slid up and smiled, 'show time.' She thought to herself as she dried her body and turned to unbolt the door and allow Marie into the room.