Subj: Kate chapter 9
Date: 4/30/00 9:56:09 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Karen
Kate and Barnabas walked into the dining room of Collinwood. The family were already
seated for breakfast. Kate walked to the chair next to David. He jumped up and
held out her chair. Kate sat down, smiling widely at him. David sat down with
a sigh of contentment. Elizabeth watched this little play with amusement. She
turned to Barnabas and said, "Please sit down, Barnabas. Mrs. Johnson, bring another
cup and place setting for Barnabas."
Before Mrs. Johnson could obey, Barnabas put out his hand. "That isn’t necessary,
Mrs. Johnson. Just a cup of coffee, please." he said. He sat down next to Carolyn,
who was eating eggs and toast.
Roger looked down the table at Kate. ‘Well, if she can get David to show some
manners, maybe she won’t be so awful to have around here.’ he thought to himself.
Aloud, he said, "David, I take it you have met your new cousin."
David quickly said, "Yes, Father. We met this morning. I took her to Widow’s Hill
to see the sunrise. Kate likes mornings, too!" He beamed in Kate’s direction.
Roger looked at his son’s face. He had never seen David take so quickly to someone
before. He looked at Elizabeth. She had noticed the same thing, judging by the
expression on her face.
Kate and David were chatting happily about astronomy. Kate was asking David about
the stars he could see here compared to the west coast. David was talking to her
so animatedly that Roger wondered whether this was the usually sullen boy he saw
every day. Roger decided to talk to Liz about David as soon as breakfast was over.
Perhaps Kate could be persuaded to tutor David while she was here. He knew she
was intelligent and David certainly liked her. What a perfect solution to the
governess problem! Kate could still do her research and teach David, too. Roger
slammed his fist on the table, startling everyone.
"Roger, what is the matter?", Elizabeth asked, alarmed at the crash.
Roger looked embarrassed. "Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I just thought
of something and I put my fist down without thinking. Liz, I want to discuss something
with you after breakfast. In the study, if possible." he said.
Elizabeth looked at him quizzically and nodded. "Of course, Roger. I am finished
now. I will meet you in the study when you finish your coffee." She got up from
her chair and walked out of the room. Carolyn followed her out. Roger drank the
rest of his coffee and headed towards the door, as well. He nodded to Barnabas,
who nodded back. With that, he left the room.
Barnabas looked at Kate and David, still talking animatedly. He was eager to get
back to the Old House to show Kate the letter he had found. Barnabas didn’t like
to interrupt them, but his impatience got the better of him. He cleared his throat.
No response from either Kate or David. He cleared his throat more loudly. Still
no response. Barnabas felt that Kate was deliberately ignoring him. He could almost
see her eyes shift to his ever so slightly acknowledging his presence; but not
wanting to pay attention to him. Barnabas was not used to being ignored; especially
by a woman. His eyes bored into Kate’s head until she finally got the message:
Pay attention to me!
Kate turned to Barnabas and said nonchalantly, "Did you want something, Barnabas?
David and I are having such a fascinating conversation that I forgot you were
even here!" Ignoring the hurt look on his face, Kate said to David, "Look, bud,
let’s make a date for star-gazing, okay? You can show me all that you know. How
does that sound?"
David’s eyes lit up. "You bet! Maybe we could do it tonight. The sky should be
clear." he exclaimed enthusiastically. Kate nodded her head in response. David
almost pushed his chair over, he got up so quickly. "I am going to find my star
book for tonight. See you later, Kate. Bye, Barnabas!" David said as he hurried
from the room.
Barnabas looked at Kate with wonder in his eyes. "I don’t think I have seen David
this excited in a very long time. You have quite a way with young boys, Kate.
Do you have the same way with men?" His eyes gleamed wickedly.
Kate looked at him innocently. "You tell me, Mr. Collins?"
Barnabas laughed and said, "Touché! Now shall we go to the Old House and look
at the letter I found? I am most anxious for you to see it." He stood up, walked
around the table and pulled Kate’s chair out for her.
She laughed. Barnabas looked at her quizzically. "I guess you haven’t heard of
the Women’s Liberation Movement, have you, Barnabas? Women don’t like it when
men treat them like helpless females." Kate laughed again at the pained expression
on his face. "It’s okay, Barnabas. You can do all those polite things men do for
women. Just never underestimate the power of a woman!" she said.
Barnabas grimaced. As if he could forget Angelique’s power, after all these years.
Nor could he forget the strength he had seen in the many women he had encountered
in his long life. No, Barnabas Collins would never underestimate any woman’s power!
They walked out into the foyer and headed for the door. Just as they were leaving,
Julia started walking down the stairs. She was going to call out to Barnabas,
but he seemed to be completely immersed in conversation with Kate. ‘I wonder what
she is up to’, thought Julia. "I also wonder what the strange light I saw this
morning was. I think a little investigation into Miss Kate Collins should be my
first order of business." Nodding to herself, Julia walked downstairs to see what
she could find out.
Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.