Subj: Winds of Change Part 4
Date: 6/26/99 12:23:25 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Mysterious Millicent

Winds of Change Part 4

Barnabas looked out of the tiny window in the tower room to the lighted house below. How he longed to see his mother and his father. If only he could be as he once was. Not this horrid monster he had become. If only he had listened in the first place none of this would have happened. All that had taken place at Collinwood was his fault. Josette would not have fallen in love with Jeremiah and neither would have died.

Barnabas sighed. And being here in the tower like this, like some caged animal. Yes, a caged animal. For that is just what he had become. And how would he fight off his urges to take blood? What had he done to become this monster!

"You know the answer to that question Barnabas"

"Angelique! Can you never leave me alone? Why do you constantly torment me?"

"Do you think I have no reason to torment you? Alright, then I will leave."

"No!" Barnabas stopped short for a second. Why did he say that? He didn't want her here. No, that wasn't true. He welcomed her. In fact, he really needed her. Oh how loathesome it was to admit. But he did need her. "Please don't go, Angelique!"

"You want me to stay? Very well, then I will. For a short time." Angelique replied.

Barnabas was confused. He really did not want her here and yet something inside of him cried out for her. Lusted for her. Needed her. "I....I know that we have hated each other, but I...."

"You what? You are going to tell me the same lies as you did all those years ago in Martinique?"

"Angelique! They were not lies. What I said to you then was how I felt at the moment. I could not help what I felt. But, I had no idea you would use it against me." Barnabas replied

"Use it against you? Is that what you think?" Angelique said looking at Barnabas curiously.

"Well, didn't you? You hurt me, you hurt my sister, you put my uncle and my love under a spell, you caused the death of my sister, my uncle, my family! And you didn't use what I said as a motive?"

Angelique smiled and said, "Oh, Barnabas. We are too much alike you and I are we not? Perhaps that is the reason we hurt each other so!"

Barnabas looked at Angelique and a realization suddenly came to him. Angelique was right. Their passion for each other was so great it could not be extinguished. Like a hugh forest fire that kept burning and burning, never to be quenched. They burned each other, consumed each other and then as the forest again rebuilds, they would start over and always come back to the same thing. That passionate fire! How much longer was this to go on?

Barnabas walked over to Angelique, looked into her eyes and said, "Angelique, I no longer know what to say. I am truly sorry that I hurt you so much."

"Please, Barnabas. I don't want to hear how sorry you are. For all you want now is for me to lift the curse." Angelique replied.

"No, that is not why I said that. Why must you always think I have some other reason other than what I say to you?" Barnabas said in a voice beginning to show a great deal of anger.

"Because you have lied to me before. When we were in Martinique! Do you remember what you said? Do you?"

Barnabas thought back to another time long ago on a beautiful tropical island in the Caribbean.

1793 Saint Pierre, Martinique---

The ocean waves that crashed on the shores were not so violent as those in his homeland, and the breakers not so intense.. There were no large rocks along the shore for the water to be forced around and the scent in the air was less moldy and musky as that he was used too. There was rather a sweet aroma that came from the shore which mixed with salty water was most pleasant and even had a touch of the erotic. No wonder the French had claimed this island, Barnabas thought. So much beauty and lovliness here that any romantic would treasure. Even the women here were exquisitely beautiful,. as the woman that was at his side. Blonde hair that framed her face and long curled tresses that flowed down her back, and very large, expressive blue eyes that took in his very soul with each gaze.

Barnabas walked along the shore with Angelique Buchard, his hand in hers and felt himself a very lucky man indeed. He had come here to help set up negotiations with the local businessmen for shipping rights to their rum and sugar cane and wound up at the home of Andre' du Pres, one of the largest producers of those products.

There he had met his daughter Josette, a young girl of 17, who was not only beautiful, but had such a sweet, caring nature that he was lost in her the moment he laid eyes on her. But, Josette had then been promised to another young man, Pierre Le Carbet from France. It was an arranged marriage by the du Pres and Le Carbet families and not one that Josette preferred, but she was a duty bound daughter and would do anything to please her father. Le Carbet was arrogant, proud, self-centered and boastful, and Barnabas took an immediate dislike to the fellow. Josette spent many nights with Barnabas talking about what her future held and how she wished she could be free of Le Carbet somehow. Even the Countess, her aunt was not pleased with this union. Yet she, as her brother Andre knew, it would be the proper route for their Josette. The Le Carbet family had built quite a business on cabinet making and were well known for their exquisite designs. A very wealthy and powerful family in Paris, and one that would be able to provide well for the then young Josette du Pres and guarentee her future as a Lady of France. But, Josette, although completely wishing to please her father and her future did not like Pierre in any way. She much preferred the company of this Barnabas Collins from the Colonies.

Josette and Barnabas had spent many nights on the veranda speaking of Josette's new life in France and her desire to truly be free of Pierre. She also had asked Barnabas to teach her English, which was not an easy task. Josette truly wished to learn, but would often burst into laughter when Barnabas would try to explain the meaning of the "rules" that some words could be used at "certain" times and not at others. Exceptions to the rules were so numerous that Josette would eventually begin to laugh and Barnabas would throw his arms up in frustration and then join in laughing himself.

Barnabas found himself truly attached to this dark-haired beauty! He knew that he was falling in love with her, but he knew there was no chance that he would be able to court her properly. Many nights they would not be able to talk, because there would be other business for Barnabas to attend to for his Father's business and Josette would have affairs to attend to regarding her impending marriage to Pierre. It was during these times that he met the blonde maid, Angelique with the fiery passion!

Angelique had admired Barnabas from afar as she watched him with her mistress Josette. She found him gorgeous, humorous, wise, and RICH, and ever so handsome. Each time she found him walking the beach alone outside the plantation she would follow him and find a way to strike up a conversation. Barnabas was a wonderful man, caring, attentive, and full of surprises! So many times, in the past Josette had been called upon to meet a would-be-suitor set upon her by either Andre or the Countess in an effort to see to her future taken care of. Angelique would inwardly be jealous of the men Josette would simply toss aside because they did not suit her. How foolish the woman was. Angelique would then meet with the suitors privately and find out for herself how 'right' Josette's instincts were for Angelique would find them equally boring. But this man, was so different.

About two months after Barnabas arrived in Martinique, Josette was forced to go to Paris, France to meet with the Le Carbet family. She told Barnabas that she wished he could go to accompany her, and she would miss him while she was gone. Barnabas told Josette that he too wished that she didn't have to go to France, but that it was in her best interest to do all her Father had wished. So Josette left for Paris and Barnabas found himself alone on many nights. It was at this time that Angelique always
managed to be where he was. She was a real comfort to him, and was a very good listener. She would sit for hours and listen to him tell her of his homeland, far away in the Colonies, and of all the pompous ideas of his Father regarding the Family Business.

Angelique was a woman like no other Barnabas had met. Understanding, intelligent for a servant, very feminine, and ever so passionate. She seemed to understand his inner needs and many nights were spent in fiery passionate love-making. He could not resist her charms, and did not wish to. She complimented his soul, and understood him like no woman he had known. Not even Josette du Pres with her beauty and soft feminine charms could come close to the passion and fire he felt when he was with Angelique.

Once, on a nightly visit, Angelique and Barnabas had gone for a walk along the beach, (which turned out to be another adventure), she showed him that she had miraculuous abilities in medicine as well as her other virtues. Barnabas, being then barefoot had stepped on a jellyfish which had washed up on shore. The sting and pain from the jellyfish was excruciating and Barnabas could hardly walk. But upon getting back to the house, Angelique went to a cabinet and removed some herbs, placing them on his foot and the pain was gone instantly, as well as the welts and burns into his flesh. He was totally awed. Angelique had simply dismissed this as one of the local customs she had learned from his mother, but Barnabas knew there was more to this than she told.

Angelique seemd to be able to read his mind and know what he was thinking before he said anything to her. She was always there to lend a comforting ear when he spoke of his sorrow at the loss of Josette and he would completely forget the girl and could only think of this mysterious blonde who had captured his heart.

On a clear, balmy evening in March, with the ocean wind at their backs, Barnabas and Angelique walked along the shore hand in hand as they had done so many times since Josette's departure. Barnabas knew that he could not let this woman go, he needed her ever so much. He was not sure if Josette would ever return, and he could not imagine life without his Angelique.

Barnabas stopped walking and took Angelique into his arms, kissing her very passionately. When they broke from the kiss, Angelique smiled and said, "You wish more entertainment tonight, Barnabas?"

Barnabas smiled and said, "I wish for that entertainment to last forever, Angelique. I want you with me always. I do not want to ever lose you. I love you!"

Angelique stared into Barnabas' eyes and said, "You are proposing marriage to me, Monsieur Barnabas?"

Barnabas then realized what would happen if he brought Angelique to his home and told his father of his desire to marry a servant. "No, Angelique. I do not want to marry anyone, I only want for you to never leave me."

Angelique broke from the embrace and continued to look at Barnabas. Then she lowered her head. "It is because I am only a servant is it not, Monsieur?"

Barnabas pulled Angelique closer to him. "Yes, Angelique. But if I had my own way, I would marry you! Because I love you and you are the only woman who cares about what is important to me. I won't lose you. But I cannot marry you. I am so sorry, my darling."

Angelique smiled and looked up at Barnabas. "I understand, Monsieur Barnabas. You cannot help that you are of the aristocrat and I am of the servant. Perhaps some kind of arrangement can be made. I do not care if I am married to you, or am merely your servant, if I can only be at your side, each day."

Barnabas looked at Angelique with total love in his eyes. "I do not want you as my servant Angelique. You are no man's slave! And I don't believe in slavery! That is one of my Father's virtues!"

Angelique smiled and said softly, "Then perhaps I could be your mistress, Monsieur Barnabas. I would never ask of you what you cannot give me freely."

Barnabas held Angelique closer and said, "I promise you, Angelique, that when I return to my home, you will come with me. I will find a way for you to be with me always. This I promise you on the name of the Collins Family!"

The couple kissed again passionately and both vowed at that time they would always be pledged one to the other. That is, until Josette du Pres returned from France with news for her Father Andre. She told him that the Le Carbet family was not as wealthy and powerful as they had once been told and that the family was almost completely in debt. If she were to marry Pierre it would be her own family's money that would support her and she had called off the marriage. Andre was not pleased with how this had turned out at all. The deception was more than he could bare.

Josette then turned again to Barnabas, but this time she was able to be free with how she truly felt and Barnabas now knew that she was the woman he wanted as his wife. He wrote to his parents in the Colonies of his intention to marry Josette and told them of the business of the du Pres family. His father was very pleased and wrote a letter to Monsieur du Pres telling him of the Collins Family and assuring him they were indeed wealthy enough so that Josette would continue to enjoy the lifestyle she was accustomed to at that time. Andre (who verified this information first), was pleased to find out that this was indeed the case. The Collins Family was the richest family in the whole of the Commonwealth of Massachusettes. Andre then decided to strike up a deal with Joshua Collins to ensure the good name and fortune for his daughter.

Angelique watched this with envious eyes, but when Barnabas spoke with her the day he was to leave Martinique, he again renewed his vow to her, that she would be with him always. And Angelique, although jealous of Josette's wealth and power knew that she was the one who possessed his heart.

----------------------------------

Barnabas turned to Angelique and said, "It is true. I did promise you that you would be with me always and that I would never let you go. And I was wrong to reject you in the way I did Angelique. But I knew how my Father would take it if I even saw you alone for any reason! And I also knew I could not keep up the charade! But I do love you Angelique. In spite of everything that has happened between us, God help me, I still love you!"

Angelique walked over closer to Barnabas. "That is all I ever wanted from you Barnabas." And they embraced in a passionate kiss that was reminiscent of those nights so long ago in Martinique.

(to be continued....