Subj: PASSION ATE DARK SHADOWS Part Seven
Date: 4/14/00 4:35:26 PM Central Daylight Time
From: N.E. Colllins

Natalie lay in her bedroom where she passionately stroked the tom-cat that had appeared as mysteriosly as Joshua had disappeared. The cat languorously rubbed itself against her breast purring wildly in complete ectasy! The whole world had turned topsy-turvy and gone helter-skelter! It had all started the evening that she had followed Josette out onto the grounds and discovered her in a most compromising position with Jerimiah Collins!

She had gone to Andre and insisted that Josette marry Barnabas right away. For some reason she could not bring herself to critisize Joshua's son, Jerimiah for his inappropriate actions. Andre was not entirely keen on the idea, but he succumbed to Natalie's insistence. And then to all unsuspecting, Josette eloped with Jerimiah right before her wedding to Barnabas. And where was Joshua while all these foul things occurred? He apparently had taken leave right before Josette had.

Now, Josette had returned with Jerimiah as Mrs. Collins. They, along with a large part of the staff,including her personal maid, Angelique, had moved into the new house, Collinwood as it was called. She along with Barnabas and Namoi along with Sarah and her governess, Phyliss, had chosen to stay at the Old House until Joshua's return. Andre had been called away on business and would not return for at least a fortnight. He was not pleased with the turn of events, but he was helpless to do anything about them.

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The next day around mid-afternoon, Abigail Collins returned from Salem, Massachusetts with the Reverand Trask, the infamous "witch hunter" in tow. She had paid him handsomely for this "house visit", and when he discovered that he was the only man in the house what with Joshua's absence and Barnabas' sullen retreat to who knows where, well the good Reverand took to the scene like a cat to the cream.

The two of them were met in the front drawing room by a shocked Naomi, a playful Sarah, and as usual an all but absent Phyllis. The Countess was in her room where she had been for most of the day. She said she wasn't feeling well. In fact, she was longing for Joshua. She was pining away for lack of just seeing him!

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Natalie hugged the cat in a fierce embrace as she spoke to no one in paticuliar. "Oh, where, oh, where can my Joshua be? By all that's holy bring him back to me!" And almost as soon as the words were out of her mouth there was a flash of light and a huge puff of billowy smoke! And there in her arms in her bed was the Master of the house, Joshua Collins, himself!

Natalie drew back in fear! What was going on! Where had he come from? Joshua shook his head dazedly and before she could retreat further he growled low in his throat like a large cat as he all but pounced on her in a mad passion! She did not resist, but joined eagerly in the thrall of the moment!