Chapter 17

Collinwood was in a hurried state of excitement and anticipation. Word had arrived a ship had landed and that Mr. Barnabas was on his way with his beautiful bride Josette. Vicki had managed to avoid Jeremiah for the past week, since he had decided a certain housemaid was more preferable to his attention.

Which for Vicki was a blessed relief. However upon the word of Barnabas arrival and the house staff bustling about to prepare for his arrival had brought Jeremiah's attention back to his wife and to the household staff itself.

Jeremiah stood in the drawing room bellowing that he wanted the entire family and staff assembled in the main ballroom of the grand house. He demanded that his wife be found and escorted to him poste haste. Vicki had taken the time to escape the madness that had over taken the house like one of the summer's tumultuous storms, which by the looks of the bay one was brewing out to sea and would make land fall by dusk.

Moving away from windows hill she walked at a meandering pace and had not realized that out of habit she had found herself on the path back to the old house. Now the old house seemed very sad and abandoned which seemed a shame because it was such a magnificent old house that deserved the sound of laughter and children's voices to echo the halls instead of the stillness and silence.

Moving up the wide expanse of the colonial style mansion she opened the door and entered the foyer to the sound of complete silence and the smell of staleness and desertion. Then she heard the sound it was a small sound much like a foot had scraped the floor and she paused. Then she heard her voice, soft and entreating. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

Vicki moved further into the room and paused, standing in front of the large fireplace in the drawing room was a figure of a female, beautifully dressed in traveling cloak her hair held neatly beneath a bonnet, the blond curls falling to her shoulders and her wide china blue eyes peering back at Vicki. The smile was charming and immediate upon seeing Vicki enter the room. Vicki felt a wave of shook roll through her body as she peered on at a woman she had grown to fear, hate and resent. "Angelique!"

The woman cocked her head and a slight look of concern crossed her features and she shook her head. "No, I know of no one named Angelique. I was informed that a maid had been acquired for my use. Perhaps that is her name. However, I am Josette Collins."

Vicki was stunned this reality had really done a flip-flop of personalities. Looking around she wondered what Angelique would look like and the determined that if things continued on the same venue they had so far that perhaps she would more than likely look like Maggie Evans. So much was alike yet so much was different and she frowned. Josette cocked her head and waited for Vicki to introduce her self and feeling somewhat embarrassed by her lack of good manners curtsied low.

"I am sorry Mrs. Collins, I am Victoria Collins, Jeremiah's wife." Josette looked confused her brow furrowed with her confusion.

"I thought Jeremiah married a Katharine?"

Vicki took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "I am Victoria Katherine and it is a pleasure to meet you."

From over head the sound of boot falls could be heard. Angelique smiled and peered up the staircase. Moving down the stairs and pausing upon seeing Vicki the image of Willie Loomis paused and with anticipation waited for an introduction.

"Barnabas, may I present Jeremiah's wife Victoria." Vicki was stunned Willie was Barnabas in this timeline and much younger. No wonder Joshua thought Naomi had been unfaithful there was no resemblance to the Collins family in the bloodline of this man.

Vicki turned to face this man who was Barnabas in this universe and dropped him a curtsy.

"Hello my dear it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I understand my Uncle would not wish us to stay at the big house and has decided we shall during our stay be living here."

Vicki stood and smiled she turned to peer over at a now flushing Josette. "Oui Mon petite, it is the decision that will make me happier to be here than under his roof."

Barnabas moved down the stairs and stood next to his wife and draped a familiar affectionate arm around her shoulders. "We hope that it will not prevent you from joining my mother and sister in visiting us here. I understand Jeremiah has given them permission to continue to live in Collinwood until you are with child?"

Vicki moved to the drawing room and looked over a room that had been her sanctuary in another lifetime and now was going to be occupied in this timeline with the loving couple that was Barnabas and Josette.

Vicki smiled, "I would be honored to visit with you here. I am glad you have returned to Collinsport, I understood that you had moved to Martinique to avoid nasty rumors and hate from Jeremiah?"

Barnabas looked down and then felt the soft touch of his wife clutching his hand with a squeezed. "Yes, well we thought it appropriate. Now however, since he has taken a new wife and is living in Collinwood, we thought to return home and entice my mother and sister to move to the island with us."

Vicki was glad to hear that Naomi would have her son back but was worried at the way that Jeremiah was reacting to the return of Josette. Barnabas smiled widely, "Plus we have grand news. My wife is going to bless me with a child. She is pregnant and we are very happy."

Vicki sighed with relief hearing that Barnabas and Josette would have children. "Your mother will be thrilled I am sure."

The two young lovers peered into each other's gaze and nodded, "We will be most happy to begin another chapter in the Collins family life with the arrival of our child and we hope that you and Jeremiah will be equally blessed and happy in due course."

Vicki moved uncomfortably to the window and peered out. "Yes, I am sure that Jeremiah would be happy as well. So, when shall we expect you at the big house?"

She turned having composed her self and peered at the two. Barnabas sighed. "Well we were given permission to come for supper, we thought to check out the old family house before sending our luggage here. I will of course need to hire servants but it is as I remember and shall be happy to reside here and as I am sure my mother will be happy to eventually move back here with us."

Vicki nodded and thought that should this happen before she was rescued or sent back she would miss the presence and comfort of Naomi. She just hoped that Jeremiah would continue to be interested in Lenore and not her. Smiling at the loving couple she turned and headed to the door. "I suppose I should be returning to Collinwood, I do look forward to receiving you in residence here and welcome you home."

Josette moved forward and hugged Vicki. "I am glad you are a part of our lives here my dear. I look forward to getting to know you better and becoming like sisters with each other." Vicki was completely overwhelmed by the kindness this woman showed her smiled shyly in return and returned a warm tight hug.

In the time she had known Angelique there had only been resentment and hatred towards her by the woman she knew as Angelique. All the Angelique's she had come to know in alternate realities were evil and had followed the dark arts and practiced witchcraft. She was faced with a sinking feeling that if the woman she had known as Josette and later as Maggie was Angelique in this realty she would be heart sicken.

Because of the flow of time and the outcome would be this Josette and Barnabas would face tragedy and heart ache and this Barnabas was going to be transformed into something so hideous and frightening that it would ultimately reach out to the Collins family in the twentieth century.

Noting that in the distance she could hear the sound of thunder she broke her hug with Josette and stepped back. "Well I will see you for dinner. I must go before the storm arrives."

Barnabas moved forward and smiled. "Yes, my dear do go on and we shall look forward to our next meeting. My love, we should be away as well, I shall go get the carriage."

Vicki moved to the door and down the steps. She made the pathway back to Collinwood, she noted that a covered buggy with a single horse had moved in front of the old house and she watched how with gentle care Barnabas helped Josette into the carriage.

Feeling the first splatter of raindrops she moaned inwardly. She was going to get drenched before getting back to Collinwood. Perhaps if she were lucky she could sneak in through the kitchen and go up the servant's staircase and change. Making a head long dash along the rutted pathway in the long heavy dress that was becoming even more weighted with the soaking rain she moved to the rear of the house and entered the kitchen to come up short and covering a startled gasp.

There she saw Jeremiah locked in a passionate embrace but not with Lenore, but another woman and from the rear she could see from the way the woman clung to him that she plainly had staked her claim on him and was determined to make this man hers wholly and completely.

A woman knows when another woman wants a man and does not intend to share him with another. The way is always in how she positions her body to the man's and how she presses into him almost trying to melt into him. Stepping back into the alcove she peered around and watched Jeremiah pressed into the woman and grabbed her roughly to bring her close to him and take liberties with her body by moving her clothing around inching her dress up so he could have access to the more private parts.

Vicki could see from the way that her dress top slide over her shoulders that she or he had loosened her top and had given him access to the pleasures of the upper part of her body. "Oh Angelique you drive men crazy with your wanton ways."

Vicki covered her mouth to keep from gasping out loud and tried to peak around to see who this woman was and when she caught her image she was heart sicken, she was Maggie or Josette from her timeline. The woman was shameless as unbinding his pants fighting to release his manhood to guide him to her body.

Vicki heard him pick her up and carry her to the preparation table and that was it, Vicki moved back out into the driving rain and dashed around the house and into the foyer to once again run headlong up the stairs to her room and to slide the bolt across her door and lean against it. "My God!" She huffed.

The gall of the man having a sexual encounter with that woman in the kitchen, did he have no shame? Moving into the room she quickly divested her self of her wet clothing draping them over the chair to drip-dry and moved to put another day dress on.

Moving to the window she stood and watched the storm washed over the outside making the world turn grey and wet. This was a new twist on the way things went in her timeline along with a new cast of Collins characters to accent the play of madness that was being performed on this stage. Moving to the window seat she sat down and pressed her fingertips to the latch and cracked the window and pressed her face forward to feel the splash of the wind and rain wash over her. "Oh my dearest Barnabas, how could things have gotten so twisted in this time line?" She sighed deeply as she closed her eyes and fought back her own tears and then stiffened.

It was the sound of her door handled being tried that caused her to stiffen and freeze in place. Then the banging of the door and she tensed hearing Jeremiah's voice called through the door. "Victoria! Opened the damn door now!"

Vicki sat quietly hoping that he would think the door was stuck and that she was not in the room. Again there came another round of loud rapping at the door; accompanied by loud curses and then the sound of a body hitting the door trying to knock it down. Vicki stood petrified and to her amazement she watched as a panel next to her fireplace in her bedroom moved and the figure of Naomi Collins appeared and put her hand to her lips in a shushing manner.

She motioned with her finger for Vicki to come to her. On silent footfalls Vicki rushed forward to feel Naomi grab her arm and shove her into the secret passageway, then pause and smile. Vicki watched Naomi tiptoed over to the door and listened satisfied that Jeremiah was not at the door, she gently and silently slid the bolt back and then moved quickly back to the secret passage and entered closing the door behind her.

Vicki watched Naomi lift the lantern and move on silent footsteps down the narrow passage, following the secret passage in its twists and turns she ended up at a wall and smiled, pulling a lever she watched another panel slide back and Vicki was ushered into the large drawing room.

The double doors were closed and the room was empty. Naomi placed the lantern down and closed the panel. "Joshua rather enjoyed his secret passages and had many installed in both houses along with secret rooms. We used them to hide gun powder and weapons during the Revolutionary War."

Vicki moved to sit by the fireplace on the fireside bench and sighed. "He was angry."

Naomi nodded, "He was caught having an indiscrete sexual encounter with the vixen Angelique in the kitchen. I knew he would blame you so I came searching for you and when I heard him beating on your door surmised you had hidden in there."

Naomi smiled coyly. "For future references that passage leads to several places in the house and will serve you well should you need it. The sconce on the wall will opened the panel in your room and a lever on the opposite of the wall will close you in. Do be careful because the tunnels are very extensive and intricate and you could end of wandering for days before finding a way out."

The doors thrust open and Jeremiah came charging into the room to come up short and blink in surprise. "How long have you been here."

Vicki looked down at her hands folded demurely in her lap. She only chanced a brief sideways glance to Naomi who answered, "We have been here for about an hour Jeremiah, where have you been? I understand from the gossip that the kitchen has caught your interest."

Jeremiah blustered and frowned, "That is not your concern dear sister, now wife where were you earlier, I ordered all to assemble in the ballroom and you were notably absent."

Vicki sighed deeply and glanced up at the man that was her husband. "I went for a walk to widows hill and then to the old house."

Jeremiah had moved to tower over her to show his irritation with her and her lack of immediate response to his question. "Were you in your room earlier?"

Vicki sighed softly and glanced to Naomi. "She was there when I found her and invited her down to the drawing room. Why?" Naomi moved to sit next to Vicki watching Jeremiah shoot a glare at her.

"Because I went to your room and your door was locked, did you lock yourself away from me?"

Vicki raised her wide innocent gaze to the man that towered menacingly over her and shook her head. "Why would I lock myself away from you?"

Jeremiah snaked his hand forward and grabbed her arm painfully jerking her to her feet and next to his body. "I found the door locked."

Naomi sighed dramatically, "Jeremiah, why would you say its locked? The only way to secure that door is to bolt it from the inside and I am sure that if she were down here there is no way she could have bolted that door against you."

Jeremiah snarled at Naomi, "I tell you it was secured and I was unable to open the door."

Naomi patiently stood up and smiled, "Then let us go and investigate your assertion the door is secured."

The three of them moved into the foyer and up the grand staircase to the hallway and down it. Naomi to make her point stepped in front of Jeremiah and moved to the door and turned the knob and then shifted her weight leaning her shoulder to the door and opened the door.

Jeremiah shoved Naomi aside and frowned stepping into the room to look around and see that there was a dress over a chair drying and then that the door was not bolted from the inside. Moving to the wet gown he frowned.

"How did this happen?" Vicki stepped in, and moved to her dress, "I told you I went for a walk and got caught in the rain, I changed and then met Naomi in the drawing room."

Naomi nodded, "Yes, I saw her come in and offered to have a warm cup of tea waiting for her when she returned to the drawing room. However, the downstairs maid said you ordered them from the kitchen because you were occupied with Angelique."

Jeremiah scowled by being reminded of his indiscretion and being caught by the other servants. "Yes, well we shall not discuss that now shall we?"

He moved to the sideboard and found the brandy decanter. Pouring himself a generous portion of the drink he slammed it down and then turned and glared at Vicki. "You seem to be very quiet my love why I would wonder would hold your tongue so?"

Vicki sighed softly, "I suppose it is I do not know what you wish me to say Mr. Collins."

He laughed outright and shook his head. "My, my you are being the docile creature are you not? Well my dear sister in law just told you I was having a relationship of a sexual nature with one of the maids in the kitchen and all you choose not to offer n opinion?"

Vicki stood and moved to the piano and sighed deeply studying the beauty of the piece and then looked to the window. "I believe that you have a right to do as you see fit" For some reason only known to Jeremiah he felt her comment was not sincere and she was being flippant with him, moving to her he grabbed her by the wrist and jerked her to the doorway.

"We shall discuss this further later Naomi, for now my wife and I are not to be disturbed is that abundantly clear?"

Naomi shot Vicki a look of sympathy as she lowered her own gaze to her folded hands and the floor. "As you wish brother in law."

Jeremiah jerked Vicki forcefully up the stairs and down the hallway to his bedroom and threw her across his bed. "You will stay here until I send for you."

He turned and took the key to the door from the inside lock and then closed the door and locked it and pocketing the key he smiled. "Well you want to play games then we shall play the games."

He could not get the thought of the hot whore Angelique from his mind she had dared him to take her in the kitchen and he had obliged her but found that the experience with her was not that filling. He loved the way Victoria made him feel when he took her and she fought him at first then gave in to avoid being beaten.

However he had to admit that it was much more satisfying when he took her and she did not resist him but just reacted to his touch and his kisses. The woman incited him to extremes from revulsion to hatred to excitement than finally to completion.

Moving down the hallway he pitched the key into the air and then caught it to pocket it. Moving down to the drawing room he looked around grateful that Naomi was gone. Moving to the sideboard he poured himself another drink and downed it then set the glass down and looked around. This place was beginning to wear on him and he needed to ride in to the Eagles Nest.

Moving out of the house to the stables he waited patiently while a horse was saddled. Mounting up Jeremiah whipped the horse into a run towards Collinsport and the Eagles Nest; perhaps here he could find a town wench that could full fill him. The whole time he was riding into town he kept comparing the women in his life.

He had known that Angelique was responsible for Josette running to that milk toast and rather obtuse whelp of Joshua's. Barnabas. He snarled his lip thinking about Barnabas the poet by nature and a good businessman but he was no match for Jeremiah when it came to hard labor and working the shipping business for his use.

Truth be told he was glad that Josette had run to Barnabas' arms, her crying and swooning every time he wanted to exert his husbandly rights over her was only wanting him to wrap his hands around that white tender throat and choke the life out of her.

Angelique was a fiery red haired vixen that had sparked the savage beast in him. Her sexual appetites had been limitless and in the beginning challenging and when Josette had heard the staff speaking of him with another woman in his bed she had run to Barnabas crying and wanting to find the soft rather pathetic love that he could offer her and she craved.

Jeremiah had found her love making obligatory and unsatisfying and was secretly happy she had decided to run off with Barnabas. Then there was Katharine. The woman that had shown up under obligation by her father arrived with her wide innocent gaze and her timidity to his touch he had become angry but felt that he was being guided by something darker and not under his control.

That is when he had found Angelique in her room practicing the dark arts and had accused her of being a witch. To which she had laughed at him and mocked him. She told him then she would eventually have him and he would belong to her and her only. Angelique was very threatening when she informed him that he would regret it if he ever thought to leave her.

Horse and rider rounded the muddy roadway that lead to the town proper Jeremiah was just as certain that Angelique was the reason he had killed the original Katharine and had buried her in the woods. This started to burn in his mind that he needed to do something about this witch and her desires to control him.

He was just as certain that his feelings he was having now towards this woman that he knew as Victoria was beginning to turn and he did not want so much to control her but to own her and mold her into what he felt would be the perfect match and mate for him. Reigning in the horse at the Eagles Nest he slid off into the muddied streets and handed the horse's reins over to the stable hand that took care of the citizens mounts. Leading the beast to a stable and out of the weather. Stomping into the inn he stopped and his gaze froze as it landed on the two occupants that sat at a table near the fireplace.

"Barnabas." Jeremiah spoke and the room became charged with tension as Barnabas glanced up and looked at Jeremiah. "Uncle."

He stood and put a protective hand on Josette's shoulder. "Welcome home nephew."

Barnabas looked to Jeremiah then to his wife, "Thank you Uncle, I hope you are being sincere about those sentiments."

Jeremiah moved to his nephew and offered his hand, and shook Barnabas' hand and then he looked down at Josette who squirmed under his scrutiny. "And your whore you have brought her home."

Barnabas brow furrowed and moved to defend only to feel Angelique's hand rest on his arms. "You have your say Jeremiah, and I understand your feelings and you know I am no whore so please do not let this become a contest of beating on your chest and name calling."

She watched anxiously his hand tightened over his blunderbuss and she held her breath knowing his temper so well and wondering if in the next few minutes one of them would be dead.