A/N: Hello, hello! How are you, loves?

I want to thank my reviewers: hannahhobnob, samanthatm, MissMisc3, SecretSparrowTodd, smiling steph, Jandra1969, Ruella Roses, Little Dandelion, Nucky Thompson, Makrciana, IgnitingFireworks, Dionne dance, StarShipEnterprise, Leyshla Gisel, Ravenclaw Slytherin, Sagacious Rouge, GloomDusk, 88dragon06, XantheXV, ForeverACharmedOne, CharlieCats, TinkerbellxO, Jay D. Moore and AqoCJeyBee.

You are all amazing!

Disclaimer: I do not own Dark Shadows.

Chapter 6

Ms. Du Pres was dazzling in her beautiful dark emerald dress. Her shiny golden hair was styled into ringlets and a pair of small silver earrings was adorning her ears. Her pale skin looked healthy and luminous and her eyes were shining as she was happily conversing with Master Barnabas.

They were sitting side by side in the settee by the window and the young Master could not take his eyes off of her. His hand from time to time was touching her hand or a lock of her hair and his eyes were alight with fascination as he spoke with her.

Samantha watched as she sat by the corner, wine pitcher in hand, while the Collins conversed with the Du Pres family. Angelique was standing next to her, her face seemingly neutral but Samantha could see how the woman's eyes would flash from time to time with sheer jealousy and despair.

Samantha lowered her eyes but when her gaze shifted to the happy couple in the settee, she averted it and focused on the pitcher in her hand. She wanted nothing more than to see Master Barnabas happy but why did it unsettle her so much that he was gazing at Ms. Du Pres with such fondness? It was ridiculous. Perhaps she had spent too much time with him. She was not his equal. She was a mere servant girl.

Raising her chin, she set her mouth in determination. She would not follow Angelique's footsteps. She was just in the receiving end of his kindness and charity. She was not his friend or anything of that sort.

"Samantha!" Lady Collins' voice broke her from her reverie and she looked up.

"Ma'am?" she smiled and placed the pitcher on the table as the other woman beckoned her closer. Angelique watched like a hawk but Samantha decided to ignore her as she approached Lady Collins.

"Go and treat Josette with some of the dessert you helped make this evening." She winked and Samantha smiled.

"Of course." She nodded as she picked up a plate and put a piece of the strawberry cake in it.

"It's amazing. Do you like it, Mr. Theo?" Lady Collins gushed at Mr. Du Pres as he too ate from the dessert.

"Tasty indeed, madam." He smiled and Master Joshua smiled in agreement.

Samantha placed the plate and fork on a tray and then headed in silence for the settee.

Ms. Du Pres looked up when she approached and smiled at her, her expression warm and inviting.

"Oh, what a lovely braid." She gushed as she placed a hand on her chest and looked at Samantha's hair in wonder.

"Thank you, Miss." Samantha inclined her head and extended the tray.

Ms. Du Pres picked up the plate and smelled it, "It smells delicious." She smiled and Samantha returned it.

"Is there any left for me?" Master Barnabas spoke up, his voice teasing, and while Samantha had done a great job in avoiding looking at him, she had to turn towards him now.

Big mistake because when she locked eyes with him she felt her hands shaking madly.

"O-of course, sir." She stammered and immediately looked away, causing him to frown.

"I'll be right back." She stepped back and her leg bumped against the armchair's foot, causing her to stumble. She gasped and Master Barnabas leaped forward as if to catch her but she managed to stay upright. He settled back down, frown still in place.

"Sorry, sir." She muttered quickly before she turned and headed back to the buffet to get his dessert.

As she did so, she silently cursed herself for being such a monumental fool.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Mr. Du Pres and Master Joshua had retired in Mr. Joshua's study to talk, while Mrs. Collins had retired for the evening.

Samantha was in the parlor, tidying up from dinner while Angelique was fluffing the pillows of the couch and armchairs. Her gaze was fixated towards the large French doors however, and her cheeks were pale as she stared hard.

Samantha followed her line of vision and she realized why the dark haired woman was staring with such intensity.

Master Barnabas was out in the balcony and he had his hand on Ms. Du Pres' back as he talked. His free hand was raised and as Samantha looked closer she realized that he was showing her the constellations on the night sky.

Master Barnabas chuckled and shook his head, "Capricornus, my dear. It means sea goat." He said and Samantha looked up as well. Fair enough the image was there and she smiled as she stepped closer to listen.

"Curious about stars, little Samantha?" Angelique's voice was dripping with disdain and Samantha sighed.

"I'm always curious about things." She muttered as she kept looking at the sky while standing near the French doors.

"He likes that." Angelique muttered before she kept on with her task.

Samantha ignored her though and tried to listen to Master Barnabas' words.

"It's very ancient… And that is Cassiopeia. She was the queen of Ethiopia but she was a vein woman. She believed that she and her daughter, Andromeda, were the most stunning creatures on earth. She even went as far as to compare herself with the Nereids. Poseidon, the God of the Sea, got angry and decided to punish the Kingdom of Ethiopia. He ordered Cetus to rise and they had to sacrifice Andromeda to the hungry creature in order to save themselves. Perseus saved Andromeda from her grim fate and Poseidon decided to imprison Cassiopeia up in heavens as a form of punishment. He chained her to a chair and she has to hang upside down for all eternity." He finished and Samantha blinked, mesmerized.

"How interesting. It's beautiful." Ms. Du Pres whispered and Samantha looked at them.

She took a step back just as Master Barnabas leaned down and pressed his lips against her cheek in a soft kiss.

Samantha looked away and headed back inside just as a loud crush erupted in the parlor.

The couple broke apart and gazed inside while Samantha gasped.

Angelique had just smashed one of the family's vases.

"Oh, my God! Are you alright?" Samantha asked as Angelique wrapped her bleeding finger in the material of her apron.

"I'm fine. I don't need your help." Angelique said angrily as she pushed Samantha's helping hand away.

Samantha stepped back and glared at the other woman just as Master Barnabas walked in and approached them.

"Everything alright? What happened?" he asked as his gaze fell on Angelique who was refusing to look at him.

"It was my mistake, Master. I will clean and replace the vase immediately." Angelique replied as she leaned down to pick up the broken pieces.

Samantha leaned down to help her and this time Angelique did not object at being offered help.

"You couldn't possibly replace the vase, Angelique." Master Barnabas spoke up and M. Du Pres came to stand next to him, "It doesn't matter though." He murmured and Samantha looked up.

He didn't seem angry.

"Come on, Josette. I shall take you to your father." He said and he led the blonde woman away without looking back.

Once they were gone, Angelique glared at the direction they had headed to and stood up. She shot a glance at Samantha who was still picking up the pieces and placing them in her apron before she sneered and promptly walked away.

"Angelique?" Samantha called with a frown but the other woman didn't look back, "Am I supposed to clean this alone? Angelique!" she called again and then sighed.

"Great." She muttered before she carried on.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Samantha pulled at the sheet and then tucked the silk material under the mattress, securing it over the bed. She placed the pillows side by side at the head of the bed and then picked up the lavish covers. She shook them out a bit and then proceeded to drape them over the freshly made bed.

When she was done she stepped back and regarded her work before she nodded in satisfaction.

She emptied the old water from the basin and fetched some fresh before she restocked the towels in Master Barnabas' washroom. She made sure there was enough soap and when she was done she let the windows open to ventilate the room.

When she returned to the laundry room with the dirty sheets she was surprised to find it empty.

"Maria?" she called.

The back door was open and from where she stood she could hear commotion outside.

Curious, she abandoned the sheets and headed for the back garden through the back door.

As soon as she stepped outside she heard the worried voice of Lady Collins. She frowned but as she approached the group of people at the far entrance of the house, she realized the reason behind all the yelling.

Master Barnabas' horse was standing a few feet away from them but his master was lying in the grass. Mr. Collins was leaning over his son, gently checking his wrist.

Maria was standing a bit behind them, holding a hand over her mouth while Angelique was several feet behind Maria, staring intently, a strange glimmer in her eyes.

"What happened, son?" Master Joshua asked.

"I am not sure, father. I was just getting back and all of the sudden the horse went mad. It threw me off. I think it's just a sprain." Master Barnabas said with a wince as he cradled his hand close to his chest.

"Let's take you inside and wrap it up." Lady Collins said as they helped their son stand.

Samantha watched and Master Barnabas looked at her as they walked. He smiled and shrugged and she nodded at him.

"I'll bring cold water." Angelique startled everyone by speaking up but Master Barnabas stiffened at the sound of her voice.

"No. Samantha, come." He called and Samantha tried not to cower as Angelique glared at her.

She hurried after them and headed straight for the kitchen to get the water.

She returned to the young Master's bedchamber with it and handed it over to Lady Collins who soaked a cloth with it and ran it over her son's bruised wrist.

"You shall not ride that horse again. I told you it was not tamed enough." Master Joshua announced and Master Barnabas looked up at him sharply.

"It was not the horse, father! It was…" he trailed off and Samantha looked at him intently, "It was something else… As if a force pushed the horse, forcing it to drop me, to throw me off."

Lady Collins paused and looked at her husband worriedly.

Master Joshua looked at his son for a long time before he turned and walked out of the bedchamber.

"Samantha, please finish this." Lady Collins said as she patted her son's arm and followed after her husband.

Samantha timidly sat down next to her master and carried on bandaging his wrist.

"Perhaps you ought to be more careful, sir?" she questioned hesitantly and he huffed.

"You don't believe me either, do you, Samantha?" he asked her angrily and she gulped.

"I believe you, sir…But what could this force be? Who would want to hurt you?" she asked him honestly.

He looked away and narrowed his eyes, "I am not sure yet." He muttered as she finished with the bandage and stood up.

"Do you need anything, sir?" she asked and he blinked, breaking out of his reverie.

"No. I shall be waiting for you tonight." He told her and his voice was firm and resolute.

"But you-…"

"I am fine. We shall write words tonight. Be here at eleven sharp." He told her with determination and she sighed.

"Very well, sir. I'll be here." She smiled and he nodded with satisfaction.

She left shortly after. A pair of ice blue eyes watched her as she walked away.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

"Again." Master Barnabas commanded and she started writing the word again.

"Good. Now copy this one." He pointed at the list of words he had composed for her and smiled when she did so with little difficulty.

"Can you pronounce it?" he asked with a quirked eyebrow and Samantha cleared her throat.

"Ambiguous." She said softly and he smiled.

"Meaning?" he asked and she blinked.

"Confusing."

"Well done. Keep going." He motioned for her to keep writing as he paced up and down behind her.

After a moment he walked to his bookshelf and produced a volume, "You will read this when we have practiced some more." He said as he placed the volume next to her.

"What is it?"

"Homer."

"Oh." She tried hard not to look completely ignorant but he chuckled as reached out to brush her hair from her shoulder.

"A Greek, ancient author. He wrote Iliad and Odyssey. Epic works. You have to read them." He gently tapped the book and smiled down at her.

"I can't yet." She murmured and he nodded soberly.

"Of course not. We'll practice your reading more. But now we have to perfect your spelling." He motioned to the papers in front of her, "Keep going, please."

Samantha looked down again and she distantly heard him moving around in the background.

She vaguely heard him opening a drawer behind her and she was extremely startled when he placed his hands on her shoulders.

She paused in her writing and her eyes widened when he gathered her hair back and started fumbling with it.

"Just tying it back so it won't bother you while working." He said quietly as he secured her hair with a dark blue ribbon. He made a bow and then let her hair flow down her back.

"Thank you." She said as she tried hard not to flush.

"You're welcome." He smiled and then went to stand by the window.

Samantha gazed at him and cleared her throat, "Um, how is your hand, sir?"

He looked down at his bandaged wrist, "Better." He frowned.

"Thank God you didn't break anything, sir." She said as she shivered and looked down at her writing.

"Yes…" he muttered distantly, his eyes looking out the window before he turned to her, "Samantha."

She looked up, "Master?"

He paused and slowly approached her, "Do you believe in the supernatural?" he cocked an eyebrow and she put down her quill.

"Um, what do you mean exactly?" she asked and he licked his lips.

"Magic, curses…witchcraft?" he motioned around with his hands and she sat up in her seat.

"Perhaps…I haven't seen anything yet so…Have you seen anything, sir?"

He turned away from her, "I am not sure. Samantha?" he whispered and she nodded.

"Yes?"

"Stay away from Angelique." He said with his voice low.

Samantha gulped, "Angelique?"

"Yes. Don't provoke her or anything of the sort, my dear. I don't…" he trailed off and she stood up and approached him, "I don't like her gaze." He finished as he ran a hand over his face and sighed, "You must think I am insane." He chuckled and she shook her head.

"No, sir. Do you think she has anything to do with your accident?" she finally voiced the question that had been eating her up since she had seen Angelique's eyes that morning.

"I honestly cannot tell." He said as he reached out and brushed a finger over the small golden cross that hung from her pale neck. She shivered when his hand brushed over her skin as well.

"Keep this close." He muttered and when he realized that the atmosphere had changed, he closed his eyes, shook his head and then smiled at her.

"Enough with all this. Let's get back to business." He extended a hand towards her and she took it as he led her back to her chair. This time he sat down next to her and watched her as she worked.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Days later…

"What!?" Samantha exclaimed and Maria clasped a hand over her mouth to silence her as they walked towards her room.

"Shh!"

"You cannot be serious!" she whispered aghast.

"Oh, I am. I saw her with my own eyes. She was mumbling something…I couldn't tell what it was but it was certainly not good." Maria whispered.

"So she just…"

"Stood over a boiling pot, muttering words…I couldn't possibly hear what all of them were but they were not good." Maria finished and swallowed thickly.

"So, what are you trying to tell me?" Samantha asked as they came to stand in front of Maria's room.

"I am only telling you what I saw. But who locks himself up in a room with a bubbling pot, muttering about curses and…bonds and all that?"

Samantha stared at her in shock, "God. I never believed in those things until…" she trailed off as she recalled Master Barnabas' words.

"Until what?" Maria encouraged and Samantha shook her head.

"Nothing. Anyway, I've got to run. I need to prepare some things for lunch tomorrow in the kitchen." She said and Maria nodded.

"Alright. Be careful. I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight…" Maria muttered as she walked in her room and shut and locked the door.

Samantha lingered before she turned and walked back towards the kitchen.

On her way there, she heard a loud thump coming from the parlor and she paused.

"Hello?" she called but when no one answered she decided to go there and check what that noise in the middle of the night was.

She arrived at the parlor and that is when she saw what the noise was.

Master Barnabas was sitting idly in the pianoforte seat, an empty glass in his hand.

"Master?" she asked as she stepped forward.

He turned to look at her and he smiled immediately, "Samantha! Come join me for a drink!" he exclaimed and she immediately shushed him.

"Sir, it's after midnight." She told him as she took in his appearance.

He was in his waistcoat, shirt and breeches and his cravat was loosened and hanging down his neck.

"I am aware of that. I couldn't sleep." He shrugged before he reached over and grasped her hand. He pulled her down on the seat next to him and her eyes widened when he threw an arm around her shoulders.

"Drink?" he grinned as he presented her with his empty glass. He frowned when he realized that the glass he was offering was empty.

"Won't do. Hang on." He tried to sit up but she grasped the hand that was around her shoulders and secured him down.

"I think you should go to bed, sir." She said and he turned to her, his eyes glazed over.

"Will you join me? On my bed? It's a huge bed. A comfortable bed." He smiled at her as his eyes traveled down to her parted from shock lips.

"Master, I think you are officially drunk." She announced as she stood up and pulled him upwards as well.

"Officially, unofficially! I am drunk indeed." He grinned as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and followed her to his chamber.

"Why did you get drunk, sir?" she asked and he frowned, his lips formed a perfect pout.

"I am confused." He muttered as he looked at her as they climbed up the stairs.

"About?" she asked as she tried not groan out loud. He didn't try to walk; he was simply shuffling his feet and leaning most of his weight on her. He was surely drunk for her master would never behave so rudely while sober.

"Life…love…fate." He sighed and she frowned. She almost sighed with relief when they arrived at his door.

"In you go, sir." She said as she opened the door.

He grasped her arm as she made to let go of him, "Won't you come in for our lesson?" he asked and she blinked.

"We didn't have a lesson today, sir. I have work to do tonight."

"But now you can read. I want you to recite for me. I've found the perfect poem for you." He breathed as he twirled a lock of her hair around his finger and gazed at her intently, "Appropriate to describe your beauty." He leaned down towards her, his breath fanning over her lips as he ran the back of his fingers down her cheek.

"Master…" she tried to move back but it was in vein because a moment later he pressed his soft lips against hers in a soft kiss.

Samantha gasped as he grasped the side of her neck and pulled her closer to him, pressing harder against his mouth. The kiss, that had started soft and timid, turned into a hungry one as he backed her against the wall by his door. The moment her back collided with the solid surface, she got her senses back and quickly placed her hands on his warm chest, pushing him away.

He released her lips with a soft pop and opened his eyes to gaze down at her. The moment he saw her horrified face he immediately backed away and placed a hand over his lips.

"I am so sorry, Samantha." He breathed as some reason had returned into his brown gaze, "I apologize." He said hastily before he walked into his room and shut the door, leaving her shocked and flustered.

Samantha quickly turned on her heel and walked away, her eyes wide, her lips tingling.

As she rounded the corner and disappeared, Angelique walked out of the shadowed alcove and glared hard at Master Barnabas' closed door.

End of chapter 6

Author's note: Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed it and want more then please review! Feedback is my only payment!

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Go and check my newest story as well if you're in interested in the Libertine. ;o)

Xxx Lina :)