Chapter 13

Vicki stood dressed in the most demure dress of the softest shade of green she awaited her 'husband's' arrival in the foyer. She glanced around at the old house and found it not too different from what she remembered it from her time. She at least had fortitude to not make the same mistakes she had made before with her innocent beliefs that most the people she knew in the future were of the same mind set as those of the past.

So, keeping her chin tucked and her thoughts sheltered behind a subtle fall of lashes to hide any concern her gaze may portray she waited patiently for Jeremiah to come down the steps. Soon enough he tripped in his confident and arrogant manner down the steps to stop before her and capture her chin with his fingers to lift her gaze to his.

"My how so like the demure kitten you look my dear are you afraid I might eat you up?" He leaned over and lightly brushed his lips over her mouth and then chuckled as he felt her recoil. "Good at least you know I mean what I say. Now come along we do not wish to keep Naomi waiting now do we?"

He was so much like in so many ways like Quentin with his attitude of superiority over those around him and then he was also the darker side of Jeremiah. Gone was the sensitivity that was what she remembered was Jeremiah. What perplexed her was why was Barnabas missing from this reality.

Moving sedately and in silent pose to the door she waited for him to open the door. "So quiet my dear?" He chuckled, "I am not so sure I like this so demure and docile nature. The other was a lot more filled with fire and passion. Tell me ice maiden do you have passion?"

He whispered in her ear as she moved through the door. With only the slightest flick of her lashes she slide her gaze up to his and he saw she was only pretending to be demure and docile and this intrigued him. "Come Collinwood awaits!" He led her to the carriage and opened the door for her. Lifting her skirt's hem to step up she felt an all to familiar touch to her bottom. He pushed her into the carriage.

A sharp gasp from her and she turned eyes wide and filled with shock. "Well a husband has his rights and privileged and I like Joshua feel I have my rights to touch your person since you are my wife."

She slid back into the carriage and tried to put distance from him. He sat next to her, she shifted and sat across from him glaring her anger and distrust to him. "Oh now my dear how is that for a bride to act on her honeymoon?" He laughed and it annoyed Vicki and grated her nerves to hear such a hateful sound emitting from the man.

Turning her chin to present her profile to him he sat there with his index finger rubbing over his top lip he was thoughtfully studying her. "You really believe you are from the future?"

Again with her own superior attitude she glanced back at him and nodded. "I am from the future, not your future but the future of another reality. In that realty I am married to Barnabas Collins and we have children."

Jeremiah laughed, "Oh my dear you are so delusional, in this time you would be branded a witch and burned or hanged for your claims so bear in mind that all this you are divulging to me can and will be used against you should you try to thwart my plans."

Vicki leaned forward and looked him dead in the eye, her resolve set and her manner resolved. "I promise you Jeremiah the Jeremiah of my time and my past was NOTHING like you and should you try to harm me in any way you will be visited upon by those of your future who are I am sure at this moment trying to resolve this anomalies that has occurred to stop a cascade failure and terminating all our existences and then I shall not have to worry about burning at the stake or hanging. You and I will cease to exist. Chew on that for a while and know this. The other was NOTHING like me."

Jeremiah rather liked her spunk and her gall to challenge him and he sat back and watched the countryside while the carriage made it laboriously long haul up the main road to the front of Collinwood. He had to think about what she had said. The passion she showed with those words indicated to him she had a deeper passion he had yet to tap into and bring to the surface. Perhaps he would watch her a little more carefully.

Vicki withdrew into herself and relished the rest of the ride without his tormenting tones annoying her. The carriage made its halt outside of Collinwood's main entrance under the Porte Concher he moved to open the door and step down and then helped her from the carriage extending his hand.

"Come I am sure that Naomi has our accommodations ready for us." Just because she did not wish to fall flat on her face she allowed the hand to help her down and then she smoothed her long gown down and looked up to the freshly made and commanding structure that had been her home for five years until she and Barnabas had married.

Approaching the building the doors opened automatically by a female servant dressed in a long black dress with a pristine white apron covering her front and a mobcap. She bobbed a proper curtsy and extended her hand. "M'lord Jeremiah and Mrs. Collins this way please."

She led them to the grand drawing room and opened the double doors allowing them access in where Millicent and Naomi sat by the fireplace waiting for their entrance. "Jeremiah, my dear Katharine please join me by the fire, I know the day dawned chilled and this transition must be very wearing on you."

Vicki smiled at Naomi, the woman whom bore such a strong resemblance to her own mother in her time she moved to accept a chaste motherly kiss to her cheek and then moved to sit on the settee before the fireplace. Removing her hat she set the large contrivance in her lap and folded her hands under the brim. "Now Jeremiah, until you are ready to assume the head of the house position, you will be assigned a room in the east wing that is every bit as opulent as the master suite and I have placed your wife down the hall from you." Vicki was so grateful to hear she would not be placed in his room with him.

She chanced a glance in his direction he obviously had assumed he would be taking over the Master Suite and then to hear he was not being given that honor his face tensed and he frowned.

"I am sure Mrs. Collins that whatever accommodations are given that any room no mater the intended designation could be considered the master suite. You said yourself that he has an opulent room, why not then change tradition and allow that room to carry the name of Master Suite for I am sure you have a tie to the current master suite as it holds many memories for you that you shared those with your beloved Joshua."

Vicki's words were wise and uttered with the most polite intent. She glanced back to Jeremiah to see if she saw the meaning that a master suite did not demote the current master as the head of the household and it added an extra velvet touch and hint at respect for Naomi as the wife of the former master of the domicile.

She had the desired affect when the thought began to move around in his brain and settle in that he was head he just had to rename the master's suite as his from where Naomi had shared her husband's bed.

"Of course dear sister how remise of me to realize you wished to hold onto your memories you shared so tenderly with my brother."

He smiled and there was no humor in that smile as he looked at his sister in law then to his wife. "I too shall be making memories with my own beloved in our master suite."

Naomi stood agitated listening to the veiled threat that had been hidden in his words. She stood and moved to stand in front of the fireplace. "Yes, well I would think your wife would also require her own room so that she may not disturb you on your late nights so she had been assigned a room close to your rooms."

She looked apologetically to Vicki who nodded slowly and softly uttered, "My thanks Mrs. Collins."

Naomi being the gracious lady she was as she was from Vicki's timeline and past smiled her support. "Please call me Naomi, as I would wish to call you . . . "

Vicki stood, "Well my name is actually Victoria Katherine so if you would you may call me Victoria, I know that name so much more than the one that Mr. Collins designated for me."

Naomi blinked in surprise, "Victoria is so much more noble, I would be honored to call you Victoria."

She moved to hug her gently and whisper, "We shall talk more after you have settled in." Vicki nodded and stepped back and then glared defiantly to Jeremiah to challenge her right to use her own name.

Jeremiah smirked, "I call you Mrs. Collins, you wish to be called by your given first birth name so be it, from hence forth you shall be called Victoria."

Vicki nodded and felt a small victory. "Now I am sure you wish to unpack your things, I have had them delivered to your rooms. If you wish the servants to unpack them, I am sure we can afford you that courtesy as well."

Vicki stood back and looked around the room and sighed. "It is so lovely here and I am not afraid to unpack my things Naomi, I would not like to be an added burden on your staff."

Jeremiah frowned, "Well since you are so inclined you after you unpack you may come to my rooms and unpack my things Victoria."

The way he had stressed her name had sent a chill up her spine and she turned and bowed her head to him. "I would be honored to serve my husband as he sees fit. Now if you don't mind Naomi, my rooms?"

This was going to be a cat and mouse game she was not sure how she was going to come out on top but she knew she had to be on her toes. Naomi moved to the side of the fireplace and pulled on a long brocade pull cord with a fringed attached to the bottom. "This summons the servants from the lower area of the manor house. These are in your rooms, so if you need assistance just go and tug."

Vicki smiled she had seen such devices used in old movies and found it quaint knowing tha each bell cord was attached to a row of bells in the servants kitchen with names written over the bell. "Thank you Naomi." The small pretty maid moved into the room and dropped a polite curtsy and Vicki immediately saw the interests she evoked in Jeremiah, looking her up and down.

"Grace, please take Mrs. Collins to her rooms. Grace will be your personal maid while in residence here Victoria."

Vicki smiled at the lovely young girl and rather thrilled that Jeremiah was showing an interest in her and that might mean he would not demand her time. Then she also had those ambivalent feelings of sorrow for the young girl for she was sure Jeremiah's appetites were somewhat twisted and perverse at times. She just did not wish to find out how perverted or twisted.

Vicki felt a feeling of familiar as she was led down the same hallway she had been led when she had first arrived at Collinwood. Then to be taken to the same room she had called hers was almost a godsend. Standing I the room, she pitched her bonnet to the canopy bed and moved into the room with a sense of security.

This was her room and she felt she was home and no longer afraid of what the 'morrow would bring. Moving to the bay window and window seat she sat on the edge and looked out to the same familiar setting she had when she lived in Collinwood.

A sense of sadness edged her mind as she thought back to that night she was first shown in this room and how Elizabeth had said it had been her room when she was growing up.

Pressing practiced fingertips to the window latch she pushed the window open and felt the sea breeze blow over her closing her eyes to remember a time from her past she allowed a small smile to play at the corner of her lips.

"Would Malady wish me to unpack her trucks?"

Vicki turned to see three large trunks had been set in the room. "No, I can unpack them Grace, thank you though."

Grace moved to open the trunk and began to lift the various gowns out of the trunks, "It would be no bother Mrs. Collins, and truly I would enjoy unpacking your trunks."

Vicki nodded, "If you want, but I really need to be shown to my husband's rooms so I may unpack his trunks."

Grace laid the gowns with a tender appreciation on the bed. "Oh my lady his trunks were being unpacked by George as soon as you arrived and they were put in his room. George will be his man to help him."

Vicki was not sure how she was going to handle all this pampering but figured as long as she did not have to deal with Jeremiah she would be more the happier over the situation. "So Grace where are Mrs. Collins rooms and Millicent?"

She began to pull off her traveling cloak and folded it neatly to the bed and turned to look at Grace. Such a pretty girl she was with her flaxen hair and her china doll blue eyes that missed very little and showed there was a bright mind behind the fall of light lashes.

"Oh Mrs. Naomi's rooms are down the hallway and to the left of the hallway, Miss Millicent is right down from her room."

Vicki nodded knowing she had described where Carolyn's room had been and her mother's room. "Thank you, so what are the rules for this house?"

Grace stopped in mid fold and turned a curious gaze to Vicki, "Rules Malady? What do you mean by rules?"

Vicki moved to her and helped her put the dresses on the oddly made wooden hangers. "Breakfast times, mid day meal times, the supper times, where we are allowed to go and where we are not allowed to go and what is expected of us as your charges?"

Vicki's request had obviously caught Grace by surprise. "Madam Collins, you are the one in charge, you set your own rules."

Vicki smiled and sighed softly, "I suppose I am not used to being the grand lady so maybe you would do me the kindness to help me with this transition. Tell me Grace can you read?"

She moved to the small delicate writing table that had become a well loved spot for her in her early days in Collinwood and let her fingers glide over the highly polished surface and admired the newness of the piece that in her time was pocketed mark and had suffered some denting and pitting over the years.

She turned back to look at the lovely young lady. Who now afforded her a soft flush of embarrassment? "No ma'am. I was never allowed to learn the reading ritting and rithmetic."

Vicki moved to place a gentle hand to her shoulder. "Then I shall teach you the basics and perhaps some day you may find it will help you."

She watched the girls face transition from an embarrassed apologetic look to a look of pure wonder and joy. "Oh my lady Victoria, that would be so wonderful!"

Vicki smiled, "Then we begin tomorrow after break fast and then we will continue as long as you wish."

From the doorway the sardonic tones of her husband emitted his curiosity. "Oh and what is this that would be so wonderful my dear wife?"

Vicki turned shielding the girl behind her. "She will learn to read and write and count her numbers so that she may assist me with my correspondences and the likes but that is of course if M'lord will permit it." She bowed her head tucking her chin slightly she inclined her head to peer at Jeremiah.

"Do you think you will have time with your other duties?" He sauntered into her room and Grace quietly withdrew from the room leaving them alone a look of disappointment had edged her pretty features.

"I will have time if I may dedicate but one hour a day to the girl and any other that may wish to further their education. I find educated people are a lot more easier to deal with than those left in ignorance."

Jeremiah could not argue that point so nodded. "As long as you are available to me when I have need of you my dear. I came to tell you that my man George has taken care of my trunks and your services to unpack mine would not be needed after all. As for the rest of today I suggest you take the day to get acquainted with your new home and Naomi tells me evening meal will be served at 8:00 p.m."

Vicki turned her back on Jeremiah and nodded. "Do we dress for dinner?"

Jeremiah moved to her bed then flopping down he laid across it and crossed his ankles, rolling to his side to support his head with elbow bent and palm pressed to his cheek he smiled as he watched her move about the room trying to put distance between them. "My dearest Victoria do you realize the minute I get near a bed you suddenly become reticent and nervous. Do you think I plan to exert my husbandly rights each time I rest upon a bed?"

Vicki moved to the bay window and sat nervously on the edge of the window seat. "I think you do it to make me nervous so you may sadistically enjoy my discomfiture."

Jeremiah laughed out right. "My dear I sought comfort of the bed's surface to watch my beautiful wife as she went about her duties of unpacking."

Vicki moved to the bed to tug on a dress he now laid on and felt her wrist grabbed and she was thrust under him pinning her to the bed. "I might like to explore that passion I know must be hidden more than below the surface."

Vicki looked into his eyes and there she saw what she knew she feared the most. The darkness that had consumed him was near the surface and she could feel the evil that had taken him over. "What happened to Barnabas?"

The question caught him off guard. "Oh of course you would not know would you." He smiled and Vicki felt she was about to be enlightened with news she was not prepared to hear and braced herself.

"Barnabas married my ex-wife Josette and they are living in Martinique. I understand he may be making a trip back here shortly to try and usurp me from my claim. However as the oldest heir apparent with a new wife that would be fertile enough to bare me an heir I shall usurp him and his mother from their position."

"I thought they had fallen off of widows hill?" She was sure that was what she had been originally told.

Vicki was physically sickened by such a thought with him being the head of the Collins family. But if that Barnabas were coming back and perhaps that Barnabas would be able to stop this over throw of power within the Collins family regime. Then his words sunk in to her and she blinked curious.

"Your ex-wife Josette?" I thought Josette threw herself off of Widows Hill?" Jeremiah's face was so close to hers she could feel the warmth of his breath on her face while he spoke his words contrived to be soft and deadly with their intent.

"We could have hoped, but no the silly woman sought a divorce from me and gained it and she and Barnabas eloped to Martinique. I understand that she is now with child."

Vicki smiled, "He got his Josette in this time frame." Her voice was soft and filled with wonder and joy for the Barnabas of this time frame. Of course this statement caused Jeremiah to look curiously at her as she spoke those words.

"What do you mean he got his Josette in this time frame are you prattling on about that nonsense you hoped to convenience me of that you are from another reality or time?"

Vicki tried to squirm out from under his hold but found his body had her pinned beneath him and he was curiously becoming aroused with her trying to squirm away from him. Realizing she was exciting him she lay still. "Oh no you don't my dear you started this and now I plan to finish it."

Fighting her clothing to raise her skirts and his own clothing while he pinned her beneath him he took her savagely and without great zeal laying beneath him. The bed and the room she had sought to use as her sanctuary had now been violated and Jeremiah laughed at her puny efforts to fight him.

After it was all said and done and he had risen from her adjusting his clothing and looking dispassionately over to her he smiled. "I like it when you struggle you show more life in that action than just submitting. Perhaps I shall decide to take you and surprise you more often."

He had cleaned himself with the edge of her dress, adjusted his breeches and sneered down at her now curled into a ball of shame. "You must learn Victoria, you are my wife, I shall have my way with you when and where I want. After supper tonight you will join me in my bed chamber and there you will remain until I give you permission to leave, do I make myself understood?"

Vicki nodded hiding her face from him for fear he would have seen the tears that had threatened her and were now soaking her face. A silent part of her called out to the cosmos and to whomever might be listening to help her to come and rescue her from this night mare world that had become hers not by choice.

Another part of her wanted to draw on what she had learned to use the powers of the white witch and the forces of the elements against him. But out of her element Vicki was not sure she had access to them here and she was most certainly not prepared to spend her dying days locked here and away from the loving touch of her husband and family.

Her family surely must know she had slipped into a time stream and would be coming to rescue her from this reality so that the cascade effect would be stopped. Even now she could feel the subtle change her arrival here had caused with her own mental thoughts slowly becoming lost and ebbing with basic spells she had learned so long ago.

The other side of this conundrum was where was Angelique? Where was Daniel? Sarah was dead she knew or was she? She had thought she had heard Naomi order Sarah's maid to bring the governess to her so that they could go over her lesson plan for the day.

That would have been Phyllis Wick in her time frame but here she was no longer sure whom or where they were. For the Jeremiah from this reality was Quentin in her time frame and this man was evil to the core. For Vicki, her world as she knew it was beginning to ebb in her memory and she was becoming more attuned to this world than her own.

Closing her eyes she took a deep breath and tried to meditate. Surely, her own children with the help of SHADOWS operations were on the ball and would be searching for her. Then again, why was there no such agency in this time frame? She closed her eyes and gave in to her exhaustion and found herself falling into a fitful sleep. Where or what had happen in this time frame that had screwed things up so badly? She allowed time and her own body to rest and think of this as she slept fitfully