Subject: Consequences of Falling ch. 26
From:  Nicole
Date:  Tue Jul 24, 2001  12:08 am

December 22, 1974, Cottage, 2:00 AM

Angelique sat in the cottage, reading Wuthering Heights for what felt like the millionth time as snow quietly fell outside. She had been invited to Collinwood this evening but she had declined. She had spent too much time there already. Josef seemed to delight in taunting her, lavishing his attention so heavily upon Carolyn that Angelique often had to leave the room to save herself from saying something rude. She had no right to complain. Josef was engaged to Carolyn after all. But she knew he did not love her...at least she hoped he did not. Yet Angelique could never understand Josef. He was much to capricious for her taste. She could not understand why she could not let him go.

When she heard the knock at the door, she expected it to be Constance come to tell her about the dinner, or possibly Barnabas attempting to bring her back to him. Either one would be welcome. She put her book away and answered the door, happy at first but backing slowly away in fear. It was Josef, his broad shoulders covered in the freshly fallen snow. "Can I come in?" he asked softly.

Angelique stepped aside and allowed Josef inside. She could see that he was shivering. Then again, Josef was not well known for dressing warmly. He took a seat in front of the fire, obliviously warming his hands as Angelique paced around him. "Why are you here?" she asked softly.

"We...um...we need to talk."

"About?"

"Everything," he said. He turned his back to the fire and looked up at her. "I want to apologize for the way I've treated you."

"Well, it's about time," chided Angelique. "You've been cruel. I have not deserved to have you through my feelings for you in my face each time we see one another."

"I know," he murmured. "But I didn't know that you still felt for me."

"So you've been provoking me to find out?"

"Well, not just that. Dammit! Carolyn is my fiancée. I have to be...intimate with her. What would people think if I never kissed her, if I never..."

"Shut up! I'm having mental pictures of you making love to her. Just shut up!"

"And that's what I was looking for." Josef bolted up and took a seat on the sofa, his eyes never wavering from Angelique. "I want people to believe that we are one of those giddy couples who can't take their hands off one another. I don't want them to think that I love another."

"So you love me?"

"Of course. How could I forget about you."

Angelique moved toward him, carefully moving into his open arms and onto the sofa. She let him lay her down on the sofa, let him quietly remove her peignoir and toss it to the side. He slipped on top of her, letting his mouth wander down her neck and over her breasts, coaxing each nipple to a firm, painful hardness. She reached in between to find him without underwear and hard, ready for her. For a brief minute, she contemplated her next action. She was about to make love to Carolyn Stoddard's fiancé. If anyone found out, she would have more trouble than she was ready for. Then she remembered that she had known Josef much longer than Carolyn. What was some snotty spoiled girl's fling compared to her affair? Angelique unbuttoned his pants and guided him to the spot.

It felt as if they were starting over, exploring the bodies they had known so well a century before with vigorous interest and desire. They soon fell off the coach and rolled in front of the fireplace. They remained there a good hour, taking only short breaks as they made love. She could remember how she had once felt to be around Josef, remembering how he seemed to create a sense of security, a warmth that never seemed to end. She was pleased to find that Josef had not changed.

Josef covered her once they were through, hugging and cuddling her as Angelique ran her lips along his face. "Did you think we would do that again?" he whispered.

"Not really. Do you realize what we've done?"

"We've consecrated this house for something special." Josef rolled off of her but continued to hold her, lacing his arms around her body as he stared into her eyes. "Do you regret this?"

"No," whispered Angelique. "I don't regret this. I've never regretted what went on between us."

"I know. I've always seen my time with you as being the happiest times in my life. It was great, just you and me."

"And Constance," added Angelique sleepily, burying her face into his chest.

"Yeah, it won't be the same without her, but we'll manage. It'll be great. I've got plans. You'll see what I mean." Josef smiled and kissed her forehead. "I don't want to leave but I have to."

"No you don't! You don't have to go back to her!"

"Yes I do," insisted Josef. "I told Carolyn I was going out for a walk. I've already been gone too long. I'm surprised that she's not gone out looking for me. Carolyn can be a very suspicious woman. If I get caught, it will be trouble for us both. You don't want to get caught do you?"

"No," whispered Angelique. She sat up and kissed his lips. "I love you."

"I love you, too." He kissed her forehead and whispered, "But I have to leave.

Josef threw on his clothes and left the cottage. Angelique only watched him. She could not convince him to stay. He was convinced that he had to do the "right thing." He was attempting to keep up appearances. She remembered how Barnabas had done the same thing, how he would have his way with her and claim to love her only to leave her to bask in the purity he found with Josette. Although Carolyn was a poor substitute for her dead mistress, Angelique could see the parallels. She waited twenty minutes before dressing in something warmer and heading to Collinwood. She would not let another man treat her that way again, starting tonight.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.