Subj: The Letter, Part 15
Date: 8/5/01 11:05:17 PM Central Daylight Time
From: R J Jamison

“I can’t face it, I’ll never accept it!” Barnabas Collins laid in the drug induced stupor in the Brazilian rain forest watching a man, similar in appearance to himself but younger. His younger self screamed at another man. He recognized the man as Amadeus Collins. The man who would sentence Judah Zachary to death with the assistance of Miranda Du Val.

Amadeus grumbled. “Braden, I can sympathize with you. I too lost a wife but you can not mourn Althia forever.”

Braden looked up in anger. “Dear Brother, I only just learned three months ago that my wife was dead. I hardly think I’ve been mourning forever!”

“You haven’t seen her in nearly four years!” Amadeus brushed off his brother’s rage and left the room. Braden continued to stare at the fire in the hearth. He overhead Amadeus speaking to his wife. The house they shared in New Bedford was small.

“He will mourn her for the rest of his days.” Amadeus lamented.

“You said that Althia and Braden have loved one another since they were children. That is very rare. You should be more understanding.” A kind voice spoke for him from the other room.

“Their love for one another was distracting!” Amadeus yelled, knowing he would be heard. “They mooned over one another for years until her Father finally let them marry.”

“Let them?”

“Althia was from a landed family, we were not. Her Father had hoped to arrange a more advantageous marriage. But when her fiancé died of influenza she demanded to marry Braden.” Amadeus made stomping noises from his location. “And her father, so under her spell, allowed it!”

Braden rose from the chair before the fire and entered the room where his brother and sister-in-law were conversing. “That marriage is what allowed us to create this new start need I remind you of that? We had not enough money to start this venture.” He glared at his ungrateful brother. “Althia was my wife and I demand respect for her memory from you, Amadeus.
You will not degrade or defame her memory in my presence or outside it. If I ever hear you say such things again I will end our partnership!”

“He did not mean it Braden!” Amadeus’s wife rose to try and find peace between the brothers. “The loss of another ship is what he is truly reacting to.”

“I have been looking for an opportunity to tell you that I shall be moving out and now seems the appropriate time.” Braden eyed his brother. “I shall be moving into the house I had built for Althia and myself.”

Amadeus looked up at his brother. “I thought we were all to move into the house.”

“Given the current state of our relationship, I believe it would be better if we had some distance between us. When I feel,” Braden noted the stricken look on his sister-in-law’s face. “when I feel more myself, I will welcome you into my home but for now, I need to be alone to mourn my wife.”

“But who will look after you? Who will run your household?” She asked.

“I’ve already engaged a young woman from the village.”

“What woman? I should review her references Braden, it’s not appropriate for you to have a young woman in the house.” Amadeus and his wife exchanged shocked looks.

“She will cook and clean during the day. She will not be boarding there. Her mother is in town and quite elderly. She will continue to reside with her mother.”

“But who is she, who referred her?”

“Judah, their families are friendly.” Braden moved to leave the room and end the inquisition.

“I apologize for my outburst Brother.” Amadeus offered without sentiment.

Braden did not look at his brother nor respond, he simply left the room.

Braden Collins moved into the home he had built for his wife, Althia, and the family they had wanted. He often walked the empty rooms. He had not the will nor desire to furnish anything but the small study he used, the one bedroom he slept in and the kitchen which his housemaid occupied. His housemaid often found Braden day dreaming, staring into the empty air or crackling fire. His sad eyes longing for a wife he had left behind in England nearly four years ago.

“Was she beautiful?” The housemaid asked. Braden had not known he had secured the services of the most brazen young woman in New Bedford.

“What?”

“Your wife, Althia, was she beautiful?”

Braden looked at his servant. While some might think it inappropriate their discussing his dead wife, he saw the kindness in her eyes and her desire to be helpful. He did want to talk with someone about his suffering. “Yes, to me she was very beautiful. She was more beautiful than most people, where it counted.” Braden touched his chest. “She was the most beautiful here.”

“I am sorry for your suffering.” She moved closer to Braden. “I too lost someone very important to me and wished to have someone to talk with. No one really understood how I cared for him.”

Braden smiled. “My brother certainly would be in the category of not understanding. He never understood my relationship with Althia, even when we were children. He mourned the loss of his first wife for thirty minutes and then moved on to find another.”

“That is not uncommon, Mr. Collins.” She pointed out. “Love in marriage is not a common thing. Marriage is for survival, convenience—“

“You are rather outspoken for one so young.” Braden laughed.

She nodded her head. She had said too much, too soon. “I was raised in a rather untraditional manner, I apologize if I’ve given offense.”

“No, not at all, it reminds me very much of my wife.”

She looked up and smiled. She had known working for Mr. Braden Collins would be an enjoyable experience. He was different than the other men she had worked for.

“Tell me, do you read?” He asked. He noted her eyes flash open in great surprise.

“Mr. Collins, that is hardly acceptable behavior for a woman.”

Braden shook his head. She had just said the most amazing things and then had fallen into a traditional place. “While that might be the opinion of some, it is not mine. Do you read, would you like to read?” Braden had noted the girl fingering the few books he’d had in his study. She did not answer him for several moments, with her head bent she nodded. “Come
Miranda, let’s continue your unconventional upbringing.”

“I read a little and wish that I could read more. I would like to be able to read the Bible to understand what Jesus did say.”

“My, my, you are unconventional. I’ve not even read much of that.” Braden stood and went to his desk. He pulled out an old book which had been Althia’s. “This was my wife’s book, her first book. We will start with it.”

“Start with it?” Again the eyes were wide with amazement.

“Yes, you said you wanted to learn to read. I would like to teach you, I need something to do rather than spend entire days mourning.”

“Mr. Collins, I can not tell you how much I would appreciate what you offer but—“

Braden held up his hand. “No, we will start tomorrow evening after dinner. We will spend one hour daily on your lessons. Ensure that you plan your chores with this in mind.” Braden handed her the small, hand bound book.

“Thank you, Mr. Collins.” She accepted the book as if it were a glass angel.

“No need to thank me just yet.” Braden returned to his chair by the fire. He looked up and watched as his servant continued to stare at the book in her hands. “That will be all Miranda.”

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.