Subj: Where are the Angels Chapter Nine
Date: 5/18/00 11:25:52 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Melissa
“Why is no one here to met us?” Natalie asked angrily.
Obviously Natalie didn’t get enough sleep. “I sure someone will be here, we are a bit early.”
“That doesn’t matter,” Natalie said sourly.
Just then a man came up to them, “I’m sorry. I’m Ben Stokes, I work for Barnabas Collins. You’re Countess duPrés right?”
“Yes,” Natalie said.
“Let’s get your bags,” he said running off to get some help. The two men loaded the suitcases into the car. “I hope you didn’t have to wait too long?” Ben said.
“Yes, we did wait awhile,” Natalie said.
“We arrived a bit early, we tried to call Collinwood, but no one answered the phone,” Angelique said quickly.
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, I was running late, but I don’t know why no one answered the phone,” he said smiling at Angelique.
Ben talked to Angelique while Natalie paid no attention, by this time she knew that she had found someone to help her with Barnabas. Snores broke into Ben’s conversation, they both turned and saw that the Countess was sleeping, her mouth was open.
They began to laugh, and Angelique put her finger to her mouth. “Is she always like that?” Ben asked.
“Like what?” Angelique asked, then pointed at the sleeping Countess.
“No, like she wanted to bite your head off?”
“Most of the time, except when she’s with Josette.”
“What’s she like? Barnabas has told me about her.”
“I don’t know what to say, I like working for her,” Angelique said.
“Barnabas doesn’t treat me like an employee and that means a lot to me,” Ben said. “Anyway from what he told me about her I hope to meet someone that makes me act like he does.”
“Is that Collinwood?” Angelique asked hoping to change the subject.
“Yeah, every time I see it I can’t believe that it’s real,” he said.
Angelique watched the house as they got closer. It was smaller than the duPrés’ but not by much really. The style of the house was European with a certain American flair to it.
“Welcome to Collinwood Ladies,” Ben said loudly waking the Countess, who then acted as if she hadn’t been asleep.
They walked inside and Angelique caught her breath, it was beautiful. The walls were painted white, with a design painted onto the walls in a darker white. The domed ceiling had a painting of angels on it, and a crystal chandelier hung down. Two hallways were on either side, and one spiral staircase lead to the upstairs. In the center of the entrance hall was a statue of a Greek goddess on a oriental rug.
Through one of the doors Angelique saw paintings on the walls, she walked in. She immediately recognized them as Monet’s, Degas, Van Gogh’s, and a Chagall.
"Is that a Monet,” she asked Ben who had followed her. “It looks like his style, but I’m not familiar with this one.”
“Yes one of the Collins’ met him in France, and from her description of Widow’s Hill, he did this.”
Angelique gazed at the painting for awhile longer, it was one of the most beautiful Monet’s she had ever seen.
When she returned to the entrance hall, a elegant woman was with the Countess, “I’m sorry that you had to wait so long. Welcome to Collinwood, I’m Naomi Collins, and you must be Countess Natalie duPrés.”
"Yes,” Natalie said and kissed Naomi’s cheeks. “And this is Angelique Bouchard, she is Josette’s secretary.”
“Josette asked me to help her prepare for the wedding,” Angelique said.
“How kind of you, well I hope your trip was pleasant.”
“It was thank you.”
“Let me show you to your rooms, you must be tired,” Naomi said, and lead them up the stairs. “I’m sorry Barnabas wasn’t here to met you Countess, he is at the office with his father.” She opened a door and lead them down to an open door, “Here is your room Countess.” Angelique looked in and saw a beautiful dusty pink room, the bed was old fashioned, there was a chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and two open doors. “That’s the bathroom,” Naomi said pointing to one room, “And that is the sitting room. Is there anything I can get for you?”
“Some tea would be nice,” Natalie said.
“I’ll send some up right away. Come with me Angelique,” Naomi said. “I had to put you up on the third floor, I hope that is alright.”
“That’s fine,” Angelique said, she had grown to like Naomi, she saw many of Barnabas’ good qualities in her.
Naomi opened a door and lead her down a hallway and to the second room, she opened the door. This room had blue wall paper with a floral pattern, the bed was similar to the one in Natalie’s room. It was smaller, but it was perfect. There was a desk in the corner of the room, and a large comfortable looking chair.
“It’s beautiful Mrs. Collins,” Angelique said.
“Thank you, I’ll just leave you so you can rest before dinner.” She closed the door behind her. Angelique explored her room, until her bags were brought up. She decided to take a bath before she got dressed. The bathroom was huge, there was a large tub in the center and a shower in the back corner. There was a large mirror on one side of the room. After her bath she went to her suitcase to find something to wear. She finally decided on the red oriental style dress, she remembered that she wore it when she went out with Barnabas for the first time. She redid her makeup and put on some of her lilac perfume.
She looked at herself in the mirror, she pulled her hair up and grabbed a clip and put it up. A few pieces of hair fell around her face, she smiled.
There was a knock on the door, she opened it and saw Ben Stokes. “Hi, Mrs. Collins wanted me to come up and tell you that dinner will be served soon.”
“I thought I might be late.”
“No Mr. Collins and Barnabas haven’t come home yet,” Ben said. “They are on the way.”
“Do you stay here?” she asked.
“Sometimes, they gave me a room, but I have a place in town.”
“It’s nice that they gave you a room,” Angelique said.
“Yeah I guess,” he said, he stopped and turned around and looked at her, “You look really beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Angelique said smiling.
When they got to the drawing room, Angelique saw that Natalie was talking to with Naomi, and that there were three people that she hadn’t seen before.
“Good, thank you Ben. Sarah, this is Angelique Bouchard, Josette’s secretary.
“Hi,” the little girl, about ten, said.
So this was Barnabas’ sister. She didn’t know that she was that much younger than him. “How are you?” she asked.
“Good, thank you.”
“Angelique this is Jeremiah Collins, he’s my husbands brother, and this is Daniel Collins.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Jeremiah said.
Daniel mumbled something and went back to his gameboy.
Jeremiah got up and went to the bar, “Would you like a drink Miss Bouchard?”
“Yes, thank you,” she said sitting down.
“Ben did Barnabas get any response from Sabin and Bond?”
“Yes when I left him this afternoon he was talking to them.”
“Good,” he said handing Angelique the drink.
“Mrs. Collins, dinner is ready,” a woman from the doorway said.
“Thank you Mrs. Johnson. We’ll be in shortly,” Naomi said, “I hope Joshua and Barnabas come home soon.”
The front door opened a few minutes later, “Hello Mother,” Barnabas said kissing his Naomi.
“Hello Barnabas,” she said standing up and kissed her husband. “How was your day dear?”
“It was great. You must be the Countess.”
“Yes how do you do?”
“Very well thank you.”
“Natalie, I’m so glad that your here,” Barnabas said.
Natalie’s whole attitude changed then, “Thank you,” she said taking his hand.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come and met you at the airport.”
“Barnabas that’s alright, you were attending to business, that was more important,” she said beaming.
Angelique couldn’t believe what she had seen. No one had ever had that effect on the Countess except for Josette.
“Barnabas you know Josette’s secretary, Angelique?” Naomi said.
Angelique stood up as Barnabas turned slowly. He hadn’t seen her, “Yes, of course. It’s nice to see you again,” he said.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Is dinner ready,” Joshua asked.
“Yes,” Naomi said.
“Well let’s go in,” he said.
Barnabas stayed behind a moment, he took the drink his uncle held out for him. “I think your going to need this,” he said.
“Thanks,” he said, “I may need more than this.”