Subj: PASSION ATE DARK SHADOWS Part Ten
Date: 4/29/00 7:29:26 AM Central Daylight Time
From: N.E. Collins

Natalie and Joshua stole what time they could although it seemed less and less to her. They could not get away enough in her opinion, and even when they did she often felt that she was still alone as Joshua was so preoccupied with other tragic events.

They had taken to meeting secretly at a cottage on the estate. It was risky at best to be meeting anywhere and Joshua had considered running of to Boston with Natalie, but thought better of it as that would only draw more attention to their sin. He wondered if anyone suspected as Phyliss Wicke knew of their indiscretion, and he pondered on the problem of her continued silence while Natalie rambled on about her past and her late husband, the Count.

"Sergei Niccoli duPres! He was a quite a conniving devil that one! He was half-brother to Andre having been born of his father's first union with a woman of Russian descent. I believe her name was Veronica, but that is unclear, as many things of his life were to me. We did not love as you and I do, my dearest! No, it was more a social alliance and advantageous to us both, for a time that is. Niccoli had "the goods" on both Marie Antoinette and Louis! But then Niccoli had a talent for gathering secret information about those in positions of power, and he was equally well endowed at obtaining their favors for his omission of that knowledge." Natalie chuckled softy as she reminisced. She looked at Joshua and knew he was a thousand miles away and hadn't heard a word she had said, but she forgave him for she loved him and could not do otherwise.

Joshua was thinking back to the other day when his sister, Abigail and the Reverend Trask were going on and on about "the witch!" and how they would not rest until her destruction was complete and so on and so forth! It was madness, he thought! But how else could he himself explain all the strange and odd occurrences of the past few weeks? Josette's sudden infidelity and marriage to his brother, Jerimiah; Sarah's sudden illness and even more miraculous healing; his brother's tragic death and all the women swearing that they had seen his ghost! And now Barnabas, his only son had defide him and married a servant girl! It was all madness and he was drowning in a sea of sorrows! And what, what was he going to do about Phyliss Wicke?

Natalie had developed an uncanny instinct for knowing Joshua's very thoughts and feelings. She knew he did not think of her, but the spell made her not mind. She was pleasured beyond words that she was privy to her lovers' private musings and she intended to see that his wounds would be healed by her hand.

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The woman fashioned the clay likeness of a woman decorating it with personal items as she had the several other dolls that were arranged around the room. She worked by candle light and quietly so as not to disturb or be disturbed, but she carelessly knocked over a porcelain figurine which crashed to the floor, waking Joshua Collins instantly. "What are you doing, woman?" he asked gruffly being roused from his nap.

Natalie lay a scarf over her design and spoke without turning, "I'm just getting some things together to deliver a surprise to someone. Nothing more." She blew out the candle and went to him again.

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The next day, Phyliss Wicke was dragged from Collinwood kicking and screaming that she was innocent! She didn't know where those dolls, those abominations had come from, that had been found in her room among her things! They were not hers! She was not a witch! She was a good Christian! Oh, why would no one believe her!

The Reverend Trask and Abigail watched with great satisfaction as "the witch" was led away by the authorities. Naomi stood with her arms protectively around Sarah who couldn't stop crying. Joshua couldn't believe his good fortune! Now that the governess had been proven to be the culprit all his worries about her other knowledge simply vanished! It wouldn't matter what she said now as every word she uttered would work against her!

Angelique, who should have been happy with the turn of events, was worried. She didn't know who had set this woman up to be the accused and she burned within herself at not having been the one! It wasn't enough for her that she was now Mrs. Barnabas Collins and had triumphed over her former mistress, no. She had to be in complete charge of all affairs!

Natalie stood back in the shadows and breath a sign of relief. Her game of deception had worked and she and Joshua were safe from all prying eyes that she knew of. She felt elated, but then she felt a great dizziness come over her! She collapsed in a heap!