Subj: Beneath the Dark Shadows Part Seven
Date: 10/5/00 5:21:43 AM Central Daylight Time
From: N.E. Collins

Elizabeth sat alone in the half light coming off of the flames of the fireplace in the drawing room of the great house. She stared at the fire without seeing the blaze or feeling the heat as her mind went back to all the tragedies that followed the birth of Betty Hanscomb's daughter. "I mustn't do this again. I mustn't allow myself to live through all that again." She actually spoke the words outloud to no one, but herself, and just like always when she found herself faced with the sad memories of the past she did not listen; not even to her own advice. She stared beyond the flames of the roaring fire as she returned to that time before now.

Jessica gave the vial of medicinal potion to Nora Collins with the proper instruction as to it's correct dosage. "Administer half of it now, and the other half when and if her fever rises. And allow her no water for, at least, 8 hours. Water will dilute the potion, and we wouldn't want that." Her aunt had taken the bottle from the midwife and was about to turn to give it to Betty when Jessica pulled out some papers and a pen. "Now, if you will just sign this document, and this copy of the same document, Mistress Collins, our business will be concluded." Jessica placed the papers on a nearby table and held the pen out for Nora to sign. Nora hastily took the pen and quickly put her name to the papers, then Jessica added her own signatures. Nora went on to the girl, while Jessica wrapped herself up in her dark cloak and gathered up her few things. Elizabeth escorted her to the door and bid her farewell and thanked her for all she had done. Jessica gave her a momentary glance filled with doubt and wonder. "Don't thank me just yet, dear. One never knows about these things. One never knows." And with these strange parting words she was gone. Elizabeth's eyes fell over the papers that the midwife had left for her aunt. She read over the document, but the words were a jumble in her mind. Her gaze went to the signatures at the bottom of the page. On the right was her aunt's and on the left was that of Jessica Zacherey's. It was all quite legal.

Betty had never gotten much better before she died. Aunt Nora had given her the medicine just as the midwife had instructed and all the poor girl had gotten was worse and worse, and before anything could be done she had died, but not before she had held her only daughter in her arms and said these last precious words. "Her name is Victoria. I cannot take care of her." And then she had laid her head back and the gleam had gone out of her eyes. Her breath had been ragged, but now it came more easy and then it was gone. Her eyes closed and did not open ever again. Her friend was dead. Her best friend was dead. Victoria cried as if she knew that her mother was dead. She was only a newborn babe, but somehow she seemed to know that her mother was no more.

Nora had sent the money necessary for George and Barbara Hanscomb to make the trip to attend the funeral, and she had placed the child in a foundling home in the city. She had told the Hanscombs that both the mother and child had died, and she had told Elizabeth that it was the Hanscomb's wish that the child be placed in an orphanage to avoid any futher scandal. Elizabeth was to discover this lie, but not until later and by then her aunt had successfully relocated the couple away where Elizabeth had not ever been able to find them.

Elizabeth had placed the baby on the steps of the foundling home herself and it was she who placed the note of the last words her mother, Betty Hanscomb had spoken before she died. It was Elizabeth who set up the monthly financial arrangements for Victoria. It was Elizabeth who kept this most tenuous connection with the only child of her former best friend. After she found out that her aunt had lied to her she did not take her into her counsel ever again, but once Nora discovered some receipts concerning the monthly payments to the child and she warned her niece that she was courting disaster! "Keep away from that child and keep her away from here! You must carry out my wishes as if they were my last request!" Nora stated this emphatically. Elizabeth chuckled to herself at this point when she recalled what her aunt's last request had been. Right before Nora had died she had lost all sense of who she was and reverted back to a small girl, and she asked for a bedtime story.

Elizabeth returned to the present moment just as she heard the soft knock on the front door of the great house. She glided across the floor in her long sweeping house dress and the hem sailed around her like a gossamer cloud. She took a deep breath right before she opened the doors. A young girl stood before her with wonderment in her eyes as she took in the majesty that was Collinwood. Liz welcomed her. "Do come in, and welcome to Collinwood, Miss Winters."

The ghost of Nora Collins whispered a warning in Liz's ear. "You will be so sorry that you have gone against my wishes. I will see to that!"

The End

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.