Subj: What if Julia instead of Vicki?
Date: 5/21/99 12:35:57 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Beverly LaCroix

Ch. 2

1967 Collinwood

"What's happening?" Vicki questioned in a panicked tone.

"Barnabas, get the lights," Roger said exasperrated.

Barnabas did not want to turn the lights on. He could see who was in the room, and fear coursed through his very being. If his heart beat, it would have been racing from panic. But he had no choice, his cousins were waiting.

Turning on the lights, the two faced one another, one with horror etched on her face, the other with anxiety sketched on his countennance.

"Barnabas!" the word was heard by all, looking in askance at Barnabas.

"Aunt Abigail!" Barnabas mouthed the words.

"Barnabas! Do you know this woman?" Elizabeth asked sternly.

"Elizabeth!" Barnabas replied.

1795 Old House

Julia had regained her composure, still not sure what was going on, but decided on silence as the best weapon for now.

It had taken some ingenuity on her part, but she had convinced the Collins family that she was here to supervise and teach young Sarah Collins until her permanent governess arrived, which could be any day now. It had been real touch and go at the beginning, having to explain her clothing, her short hair, but she had done it, both, convincing them she was not a witch, and she was a teacher of sorts. They didn't linger on her oddities long, because something else had their attention, a family member was missing; Abigail Collins!

Joshua Collins insisted a search be conducted, but could not give all his attention to the matter, business must go on as usual, and the DuPres family were expected to arrive any day. Naomi Collins did not seem to mind that her dour sister-in-law had vanished into the ethers. Barnabas gave the expected amount of concern, but his mind was elsewhere, on the arrival of his beautiful fiance, and their wedding. Sarah was too young, and she had always been afraid of her aunt anyway, so she hoped she wouldn't return for a long time. Her mother seemed happier with her mean aunt gone, and that was fine with Sarah.

Julia had finished the day's lessons with Sarah, and was going to prepare to go downstairs and get her sewing basket, and that's when she encountered Angelique for the first time. It had been rain and storming fiercely all morning, when a visitor had arrived in the person of Angelique Bouchard, the Countess DuPres' personal maid, and would be acting as personal servant to Josette DuPres until after the wedding, and then would return to Martinique.

What Julia had really wanted was a cigarette, but she had to be careful about smoking, remembering the first time she had lit up out of nervous habit. It was the initial meeting with Barnabas, and she had been happy to discover she had three packs of cigarettes in her pockets, and was going to light one with her new lighter. She noticed Barnabas staring at her with an almost frightened look on his face, and she had mumbled something about new inventions, and knowing a lady shouldn't smoke, and shoved the items back in her pockets. That has been close.

Standing at the top of the staircase, she had witnessed the embrace between the blond woman and Barnabas. Julia knew this was not Josette, but Barnabas seemed to know her -- intimately! They pulled apart when Barnabas' father had entered the room, and made arrangements to go retrieve the Countess DuPres. After they were gone, Julia went down to the kitchen, and made a hasty retreat out the back door, and looked towards the stables, and was able to make out the two retreating figures as they entered the building. Damn! Why does it have to be raining so hard Julia thought. Oh well, throwing caution to the wind, she ran towards the stables, being as quiet as she could, she saw them! They were embraced in a lover's embrace, clutching and clawing at one another, tearing each other clothes off, and finally rolling around on the hay like a couple of weasels in heat. Julia was thoroughly disgusted, and walked away from the scene.

Julia figured it out very quickly! Barnabas had trifled with a servant who took it seriously, and that servant had hailed from Martinque, an island in the Carribean that was a nest of black magic, voodoo, witches, and casting spells were little more than child's play.

Julia had the advantage here! She knew Barnabas too well to know that he would never marry girl that easy with her affections. And also Joshua Collins would have never allowed it, his heir marrying a servant. Never! She wondered was this girl responsible for the curse on Barnabas? She was going to watch her every move.

Back at the Old House, everybody was in an uproar, the Countess DuPres had arrived. Making biting and scathing remarks, Joshua Collins was very irritated, and wished this obnoxious woman who insisted on her title being used when addressed, was gone!

The Countess with her feathered hat ensemble, looked around the drawing room with disgust at this uncivilized place that her delicate niece was expected to spend her life, well she would see about that -- her expression changed quickly, when Joshua introduced her to Julia!

The two women looked at one another in astonishment! It was like looking in a mirror.

To be continued --