Restoration -- 2
Date: 9/11/98
From: Krystina

Little Windward Island, Two weeks later

Angelique reclined in a chaise lounge on the terrace of her house at Little Windward Island, looking out at the sea and pondering the turn her life had taken during the last two weeks. The Rumsons' faithful butler and chauffeur, Simms, had brought Angelique to Little Windward one week before, after Dr. Jones had released her from the hospital. Since then, Angelique had given a very convincing performance of the young well-to-do widow returning to her posh home, but all the time Angelique had been frightened and confused. She still was not sure how she had come to awaken in the 20th century--the only thing she could come up with was that when she had died in 1841 her life force had traveled through time and entered the host body she had had in 1971. Angelique was determined to get to the bottom of the strange events that had brought her to the future, but first she had a more important task in mind, to adapt herself to the brave new world that was the 20th century.

One thing that had helped Angelique enormously was that due to her weakened condition she could plead forgetfulness at times. It also helped that that mansion on Little Windward had a sizable staff who were obviously devoted to their mistress and who could not do enough to help her, so Angelique had not had to do very much for herself, which was a help while she adapted to 20th century clothing and 20th century inventions, such as electric lights and the telephone. Fortunately Angelique had always been good at reinventing herself, so she looked on what was happening to her as more of an adventure than as a nightmare.

Angelique had tried to do a few minor spells to see if she had recovered her powers in her trip through time, but, alas, the powers Judah had removed from her remained gone.

Angelique had also gone through every file and collection of papers she could find in the house, and from them she had come to have some idea of the life the Rumsons had lead. She had even found some photographs of Sky and Angelique Rumson. What she found was an attractive, if somewhat weak-chinned man in his mid-thirties. Angelique wondered what had made her marry him--he did not seem to possess any of Barnabas' charm and appeal.

Barnabas--Angelique's thoughts never strayed very far from him. She wondered if he and Julia had ever made it back to 1971--she knew Little Windward was not that far from Collinsport.

As she gazed out to the sea, Angelique thought, someday, Barnabas, once I have become more at ease in your 20th century, I will try and find you....one day....

And with that, Angelique dozed in her chair...

To be continued...