Secrets Past chp 14
Date: 6/26/98
From: barnster
The next day, when Julia awoke, she was alone. For a horrifying second, she thought she that
she'd had nothing more than an extremely vivid dream.
But as she stared bleary-eyed around the room, she came to full wakefulness, as she realised, that
this wasn't her room, at Collinwood; or her bed!
So, last night had really happened!
With reality came the remembrance of his touch, as he had explored her naked body, with great
gentleness.
The feel of his breath, hot against her neck, as he whispered fervently the four words, she had
never dared hope she'd hear; 'I love you, Julia.'
Just lying there, thinking about him made her tremble with anticipation.
'No wonder Angelique had been so reluctant to give him up!' she thought to herself, with a hint
of jealousy. Then immediately pushed the thought away; the least said about her, the better.
As she dressed, her spirits rose, at the prospect of seeing him again. But as she made her way
downstairs, she had a momentary twinge of doubt. What if he hadn't meant half of what he'd said,
last night? She banished the thought quickly.
"Aunt Julia!" cried the twins, in surprised unison, when she entered the dining room.
Barnabas, Jr, looked up from his as yet untouched breakfast, with a scowl, but said nothing. He
stared at her a moment, and then at his father. There was something different about them, he
thought. But what? He looked back a Julia, with an almost feral look, then turned back to his
plate, with a look of revulsion.
Julia thought he looked pale and tired. Too pale, perhaps. And she hoped desperately, that he
wasn't coming down with the same illness as Sarah.
Barnabas standing by the window looked at her briefly, over his coffee mug. "Morning, Julia.
Sleep well?" he asked, rather too casually she thought.
"Soundly," she said. 'As if you needed to ask!' she thought to herself. But her high spirits
dwindled, as he turned his back on her, and stared moodily out the window.
She had expected some kind of a reaction, but nothing like this! It was almost as if last night had
never happened. Again, she found herself wondering if, he had meant anything he had said. Hurt
by his reaction, she took a sip of the coffee that Willie offered her.
Putting the mug down, she said, "Well, this won't get me to Wyndcliffe. I'll let myself out," and
she turned to leave the room.
"Julia, can I have a word?" asked Barnabas, turning to face her again. Trying to hide her anger,
she said, "Can't it wait, Barnabas? I'd really like to get those medical supplies."
"I really need to talk to you. Will you wait in the study? I'd like to talk to Barnabas, first."
Against her better judgement, she said, "All right, but I really need to leave as soon as possible."
***
In the study, Julia whirled on him in anger. "You can stand there and ask me what's wrong, when
your acting like nothing happened last night!" she seethed.
A regretful look crossed his face. "I had thought, that continuing as if nothing had changed
between us, at least around the children, might have been a wise idea. I can see now, that was
insensitive of me. I'm sorry, Julia," he said contritely, with great sincerity.
Julia's green eyes flashed, angrily. "Don't you mean, around Barnabas? Sarah and Daniel are well
aware of how we feel. Or at least, how I feel."
"I meant everything I said, last night," he insisted. "And did," he added with meaning, his eyes
glittering with the memory.
"You really expect me to believe that?"
"I don't blame you, for being sceptical," he said with a heavy sigh. "I know it's taken some time to
realise how I feel_"
"*That's* putting it mildly," said Julia, cutting in.
"Julia, please!" he begged, in a pained tone.
"I'm sorry, Barnabas," she said, her anger vanishing. "Now I really must go," she said, walking
over to the door.
He'd been leaning against the door, since he'd entered the room, but even now, he made no effort
to move.
He looked at her, seriously. "I meant it, when I asked you to marry me," was all he said.
"Don't you think, things are going a little too fast?" she asked him, in mock reprove.
"That's not what you said last night," he responded, with a sly grin.
"Barnabas!" she tried to protest, seriously. But the sultry smile testified to her true sentiments.
He moved from the door, and came over to her. His arms snaked around her waist, and his eyes
burned into hers. "Marry me, Julia!" he said intently.
"I think a little caution would be wise," she protested, trying to free herself from his embrace.
"You never said *that* either!" he said with a crafty grin.
Then he pressed his lips to hers, in a kiss that took her breath away.
"What was that for?" she gasped, when the kiss ended, and he'd released her.
"To help you decide."
"You're impossible," she shot back.
He grinned. "That's what you love about me."
"Don't flatter yourself, Romeo."
***
It was 1:00, when Julia got back from Wyndcliffe, with the medical supplies and equipment, she
needed. A room had already been picked, from which she could work.
Barnabas returned from the cannery, at 1:45, and after a few moments with the twins, he made
his way to the laboratory.
"Have you seen Barnabas, yet?" was his first question.
"No, isn't he in the sewing room, with Paige?"
He shook his head. "She hasn't seen him, all day. After I had a talk with him, I left him there.
Willie said Sabre's not in the kitchen. In fact, he hasn't seen the dog all day."
"Perhaps he's not feeling well. I noticed he looked rather pale, this morning."
"So you noticed it, too?" he asked with a frown. "You don't suppose..?"
"There's only one way to find out," said Julia, grabbing her black bag.
***
Outside Barnabas. Jr's room, Sabre lay curled up, seemingly asleep. But as Barnabas and Julia
approached the room, he became fully awake.
"Sabre!" gasped Barnabas in surprise "What's he doing here?" he continued, turning to Julia.
"Barnabas knows he's forbidden to have him up here."
The dog had risen to its feet, at their approach. Now, with hackles raised, Sabre bared his teeth,
in a vicious snarl. A low, ominous growl, began deep in his throat, growing louder and louder.....
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