Subj: Grammar Story -- 10
Date: 6/28/00 4:49:14 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Beverly LaCroix

Entering Collinwood, Jeremiah held Victoria tightly to him, making sure the blanket was secured, they heard the angry voices of Joshua, Naomi, and Abigail from the drawing room. Jeremiah motioned for Victoria to go to her room, he would deal with Abigail and her accusations of her being a witch. He heard Victoria's sharp intake of breath, and looked to see what had surprised her, and saw Angelique flat against the wall right by the double doors of the drawing room, trying to hear what was being said. She didn't see them, and obviously hadn't heard them come in, due to the storm and the loud voices. Jeremiah put his finger to his mouth indicating for Victoria to be quiet, and he again motioned for her to go to her room.

Watching her go, he did not want Angelique to see her or even to suspect that Victoria knew or even had a whisper of suspicion that Angelique was a witch.

Walking back to the front doors, he opened them, and slammed them as hard as he could, and shouted, " damn it, where is everyone?"

He heard Angelique scurrying away from her less than enviable position of eavesdropping.

"Angelique," Jeremiah said smiling at her, and walked over to her, and embraced her.

"Monsieur?" Angelique questioned.

"Angelique, I am sorry for your loss. I know how close you and Josette were. It must have been the most devastating for you. After all you had known her since you were both girls; isn't that right? Forgive me, if I've made an error, but I believe I had heard Barnabas say that once."

"You are right, Monsieur. The loss is unbearable. I fear for her poor father once he's heard about her death." Angelique said through quiet sobs.

"There, there," Jeremiah said soothing the seemingly distraught girl.

When she had settled down, and composed herself, she eased out of his embrace, and he took her shoulders, and said, "And, Angelique, you don't know how grateful I am that you found my sister, and brought her home."

"I was glad I found her. Poor little thing all alone in a city like Boston. She never told me how she got there, and every time I would ask her, she would get upset. So, I decided to bring her home, and let her father and mother handle it." Angelique said, a small smile beginning to form.

The loud voices from the drawing room quickly took their minds from what they were talking about, and they were stunned into silence by what Joshua said.

"What is that foreign girl still doing here?" Joshua demanded.

"Joshua!" Naomi said startled by his lack of manners.

"Joshua, Angelique is here because she brought your daughter home when Josette proved incapable of caring for her."

"That's enough!" Joshua roared. "I will not have you speaking of Josette that way. She's not cold in her grave and you are starting your spitefulness. Where were you, Sister! She was Barnabas' wife, and I will thank you to remember that, and keep your tongue, or I will send you away from here without a penny to your name." Joshua said in a voice that frightened Abigail.

"What about the witch? What do you intend to do about her?" Abigail said, in a turn about face.

"Naomi has informed me that you, with that foreign girl standing right behind you, upset her so badly she went running out into the storm. Is that true, Abigail?" Joshua queried, this time his voice was deadly.

"It's true, Joshua," Naomi said shortly, looking around for her half-empty glass of brandy.

"One more thing while we're on the subject. Josette's personal maid, Angelique has to leave here. It isn't proper, and it is not necessary for her to remain here. Josette is dead now, and there is no earthly reason for her to be here. She was in Boston, wasn't she, waiting for the Countess DuPrés, so they could continue on to Martinique. She is the Countess' personal maid, she was not Josette's to begin with, so she needs to leave." Joshua said in a tone that left no room for argument.