Subj: Angelique Meets Somone Part 4
Date: 5/16/99 1:45:22 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Rosemary

Chapter 4

Barnabas seeks some answers.

Barnabas came into Collinwood and raced up the stairs to where he knew Angelique would be. For some reason, Joshua had given her one of the main guest rooms. Feeling as though he had some rights, Barnabas did not knock, but just stepped inside. She was not there. He then turned and just as he was about to leave, there she was, entering her bedroom door.

"Barnabas? What are you doing here?" She asked, slightly shocked to see him.

"I came because..." he stammered. Then felt bold enough to continue. "Angelique, I want to know what Duncan is doing around you, and why has father allowed you to remain here, in Collinwood?"

Angelique looked at him, as only she could, smiled and said. "My dear Barnabas, you ask of me what I cannot tell you."

"I don't believe you," he replied. "It's your witchcraft working again, isn't it?" He said with anger and passion rising inside of him. He couldn't understand why he was reacting so and she was not making it any better denying it, he thought.

"Barnabas, all I can tell you, you already know. I know not why Duncan has taken an interest in me, nor do I know why your father has allowed me to stay here, after all that I have done. I am as perplexed as you are. You will have to ask your father and Duncan for those answers."

She flirted around the bedroom, towards the table with a mirror, and began combing her hair which she had conveniently let down. He watched as she sat down and began to slowly comb and then brush her golden hair. All the while remembering the nights in Martinique. He could smell the sweet scent of her cologne as her arms passed with each stroke. He suddenly felt himself caught up in the moment.

"You are doing it again." He said through gritted teeth.

Angelique turned and looked at him, sternly. "Doing what Barnabas? I am doing nothing. There is no witchcraft being used by me on Duncan. He came to me, as I was about to...." She stopped herself, not wanting to let him know she almost sacrificed her life over losing him to Josette.

"You were about to do what?" He asked, inquisitively, knowing it had to be something sinister. She took a deep breath and continued. "It doesn't matter. What does matter is, I didn't ask you to come to my room, you came here on your on volition!" She was now becoming more upset by his accusatory remarks. "I can't understand what interest it is of yours in my seeing Duncan, or any other. You are a married man, now, are you not? Married to your sweet Josette. Isn't that what you wanted? What does it matter to you who I see or why? I am getting upset now and if it's all the same to you, I would like you to leave now, Duncan is taking me out in a short while." She turned and continued to make ready.

Not being able to stand this rejection, Barnabas could take no more. He took a step towards her as she sat, hoisted her up and brought her to him. In a gruff voice he spoke, "No! I will not leave because you are mine and no one else will have you! Not Duncan Macleod, nor any other mortal man can change what we have shared between us." Looking deep into her crystal blue eyes, he spoke. "Angelique." With that he kissed her roughly at first, then the roughness eroded away into a deep passion. The same passion he felt while in Martinique. Angelique was under Barnabas' spell. She failed miserably at resisting what she so badly wanted for so long. She didn't know anything else to do but return what was being thrust upon her.

Downstairs, Duncan and Josette had returned. They came to Collinwood because Barnabas was not at The Old House, and Duncan was to meet Angelique. "Mon Cher?" Josette cried out. "Oh I am sure he is around somewhere Duncan. Thank you so much for the lovely ride though the country. I didn't know you were so familiar with Collinsport too. Now tell me, how do you know so much about it?" She smiled sweetly up at him.

Duncan, familiar with coming up with quick alibis replied, "Well Josette, I am a man of many talents and travels. I was in Collinsport not too long ago, and I became familiar not only with the terrain, but also with the family than owns it." He said while flashing that Duncan smile, all the while wanting to go to Angelique.

Giggling Josette replied "Duncan you never cease to amaze me. However have
you gone so long and never married? I am sure there is some lucky girl out there waiting to have you as her beau." Duncan turned away but managed to stay upbeat, and not allow Josette to see the painful expression on his face. For he wanted no one to know how he did love, and marry the woman of his dreams. But like so many things, he out lived her, and wanted not to go through that loss again. But something inside him made him feel as if Angelique was different.

He turned and smiled again at Josette. "Aye Lassie, but what woman could compare to your loveliness? None I tell you, and now even you have been taken by another." He said with a chuckle as he kissed her hand sweetly. "He is a lucky man, that Barnabas, to have one so fair as you."

Josette blushed and chided him. "Duncan you are a madman. But one of the nicest gentlemen I have known, outside my husband, Barnabas."

"Yes, he is a very lucky man." Duncan said. "Very lucky indeed."

Little did they both know how long that luck would last.......