Subj: Winds of Change Part 13
Date: 8/4/99 4:52:14 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Mysterious Millicent

Winds of Change Part 13

Collinwood---

Joshua Collins returned to Collinwood the night following Vicki's release from jail. He was quite shocked to see both Vicki and Peter sitting in the drawing room with his wife and Millicent laughing and seeming for all purposes quite happy.

Naomi came in from the drawing room to welcome her husband home. She had much to tell him but that could wait for now. "Joshua, Victoria was released from jail yesterday after a suprising testimony from Angelique."

Joshua raised an eyebrow, "Angelique? The real witch?" When Naomi nodded, he walked towards the fireplace in the drawing room and rubbed his chin. He was now very confused. Why would Angelique try to help Victoria when it would appear that she would have wanted her to hang. "This is all beyond me Naomi. I do not understand."

Vicki rose from her chair and said, "Mr. Collins, I know that you really do not like Angelique, and I am not sure that I completely trust her, but if it had not been for her incredible testimony it would be me and not Lt. Forbes and Reverand Trask who now sit in that jail cell awaiting execution for witchcraft."

"Lt Forbes? Reverand Trask? Accused of Witchcraft? Why? How?"

"Angelique told the court that she was the witch and they were in league with her. She actually did an act of kindness, Mr. Collins." Peter spoke up finally.

"I do not understand" Joshua repeated. "But it doesn't matter. You are here and out of jail and for that I am most grateful. I hope that you will continue on to be the governess for my cousin Daniel, Miss Winters. He is very fond of you and he does need educational training."

Vicki looked at Peter and then at Naomi and then spoke, "Yes, Mr. Collins. I would like that very much. As soon as Peter and I are married I will be glad to be Daniel's tutor. I wouldn't be able to spend all my time with him, but I would like to help further his education."

Joshua was not that pleased to hear of the announcement of the marriage of Vicki and Peter, but he had learned recently that it was far better to keep his mouth shut in matters of this nature. He had been severly reprimanded by his wife for not listening to his son earlier and now Barnabas was under a curse because of his lack of love and understanding.

"Thank you, Miss Winters. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. And I do wish you and Mr. Bradford a happy married life." Joshua replied.

'Joshua, we were discussing before you came home how very much I want Victoria and Peter to be married here, at Collinwood. I hope you won't have any objections." Naomi said in a voice of hope and concern over what Joshua's response would be.

Joshua thought carefully for a few minutes and then smiling said, "Yes, of course Naomi. I think that is an excellant idea. This house needs some happiness and this family needs something to celebrate at last. I would be honored for you to be married in my home."

Vicki walked up to Joshua and said, "Thank you Mr. Collins. This means a great deal to both of us."

Joshua looked down at Vicki and said, "It is I who am grateful to you, Miss Winters. You have shown me what true strength and courage is, and how the bond of friendship and love within a family is its strength. I will always be grateful to you for that."

"Good!" Naomi said smiling. "Then it is settled. Victoria and Peter will be married at Collinwood." And they all celebrated with a glass of Sherry.

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A couple of hours after Vicki and Peter had left for the village, Joshua approached Naomi wanting to know where this Angelique was.

"I haven't seen her since I heard of her appearance at the trial. It was said that she vanished into thin air." Naomi replied.

"That is just what a witch would do. Cause chaos and then disappear." Joshua almost shouted. There was a knock at the door and when Joshua opened it a man stood there with a note from Barnabas. Joshua did not let Naomi see who the note was from and told her he had to leave.

"At this hour?" Naomi questioned. "Where are you going?"

"I have business to attend to in town. Now please don't keep me further!" and Joshua left a puzzled and questioning Naomi watching him walking down to the front gates.

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A few minutes later, Joshua stood outside the Old House. He wondered what Barnabas would want and why he was not in the tower room! What was going on? And then he remembered that Angelique had been to the trial earlier and that was why Barnabas was not locked away in the tower. He would somehow have to put a stop to women's evil threats!

As he approached the door and lifted his hand to knock, the door swung open and a female voice called out, "Come in, Mr. Collins."

Joshua recognized Angelique's voice and became all the more irritated. He would force her to release his son if it was the last thing he did! He walked into the house and shut the door behind him. Moving rapidly into the drawing room, Joshua saw Angelique and his son standing near the fireplace.

"My son! Why are you here?" Joshua said in irritation and in puzzlement.

"I am here where I should be Father. I am here with my lawful wife." Barnabas replied. And seeing the irritation that lay on his father's face, he continued. "Father, I love Angelique. I always have. And I think that you should realize that by now.

"Barnabas. I always thought you had learned something in your youth and I always prided myself that I had raised a son who was level headed and could reason between what is right and wrong. Apparently, I was wrong. I wo----" His last statement was cut off quickly by Angelique.

"Mr. Collins you will listen to me. I love Barnabas and he loves me. I tried to tell you that many months ago but you refused to believe that a mere servant could fall in love with your son and not his money! Now, perhaps you can begin to understand that it was not his money I was after. I could have all the money I ever wanted by simply using people." Angelique walked over closer to Joshua and looking directly into his eyes with those large ice-blue ones of her own she said quietly, and yet very firmly. "I will stike a bargain with you Joshua Collins. If you will treat me as a daughter-in-law and the wife of your son, and you will give me the same courtesy and love you give to your own family members, and will respect me and allow Barnabas and I to live a normal life, " and following this there was a brief pause, before Angelique continued with, "I will remove the curse from your son and make him mortal again. The fate of Barnabas now lies within your hands. Choose wisely, Mr. Collins. I can be a very great ally, or I can be a terrifying and formidable foe."

Joshua looked at his son. He wanted Barnabas back as his son, not as the monster that now stood before him. And he had begun to realize of late that perhaps he was just too pompous and arrogant as those who loved him and told him. He had waited until it was too late to show love to his beloved daughter Sarah, and he had not really welcomed Josette into his house. And his brother Jeremiah now lied in the cold grown, instead of walking by his side as co-owner of the Collins Shipping Industry. All because he had not shown love and respect when he should have. Even his dear Naomi had become distant and had taken to drink because of his lack of showing love Perhaps Angelique would leave them all in peace if he allowed her to have what she asked. And she certainly did appear to truly love his son. Barnabas also seemed to love her for god knows whatever reason. Joshua looked again at Barnabas and said, "Do you truly love this woman, my son?"

Barnabas looked deeply into his father's eyes and said softly, "Yes, Father. I do." And Joshua could see that Barnabas was being truthful.

"Very well, Angelique. Since it is quite apparent that you and Barnabas share a love that I can't even understand, and I want my son back as he was, I will accept your terms. You are my daughter-in-law Angelique and I will treat you accordingly. And, if it will be acceptable to you, I will allow you and Barnabas to live in this house as you did in the beginning of your married life." Joshua said at last.

"I do not wish to live in this house, Joshua. I want Barnabas and I to leave Collinwood as soon as possible. However, I promise you that we will come back often to visit." Angelique replied.

Barnabas could see that his father was visibly hurt, but he too agreed with Angelique. Too much had happened for them to remain here in Collinsport. "Father, Angelique is right. With all the.." and he stopped to swallow hard, "murders in the village and the evil that took place, I would like to begin our married life somewhere else as well. I hope you can see fit to accept our proposal.

Joshua looked at his son with tears in his eyes. He did not want any of the family to be away from Collinsport, but he understood the logic of it. "Yes, my son, I do understand. I will try to explain all of this to your mother"

Barnabas and Angelique looked at each other and then Barnabas said, "It's alright Father. She already knows. We were waiting for your return." And then he walked behind Angelique and put his hands on her shoulders and said, "We wanted to wait for your approval Father."

Joshua was taken back by this last statement. He found it very strange that Angelique would wait for his approval at all. And his reply was simply, "Indeed?"

Angelique smiled and said, "You still don't see do you, Mr. Collins?. It is your son that I love, not his name, his money, or his position. I would love him if he were a pauper. And I will make him a good and suitable wife. No one will ever know of my powers and I will renounce them as soon as I lift the curse"

Joshua now finally did understand. This woman truly did love his son. And now he was certain that she would cherish him forever as he should have done with his own Naomi. But he vowed at this time that would change and he would show her all the love he had and be quite the different man. Joshua walked over to Angelique and taking her hand kissed it and said, "Welcome into the family, daughter." And to Barnabas, he hugged his son and said, "May you always have happiness my son." And then after a few brief words of congrads, he left them alone.

When Joshua was gone, Angelique did as she had promised, she lifted the curse from Barnabas and he began to feel quite differently. At first he felt as though he was going to die and thought for a brief moment that Angelique had really killed him. But it was his body's reaction to having a heart beat at a steady much more rapid pace than it was accoustomed to lately. His began to breathe for the first time in many months, and he actually felt much weaker. Angelique brought a cool cloth to him and said, "You will be fine, once your body adjusts my love."

Barnabas smiled at Angelique and said, "Yes. But you know, it will take some getting used to, being weaker than most men. Are you sure you can stand me as a mere human now?"

Angelique kissed her husband and then said, "Oh yes, my love. I have always loved you, vampire or not. And I always will."

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Epilogue to follow---------