A More Consistent Origin -- Part 27 & 28
From: Whitey Pale

Jacques lay on his bed with his arm draped over his eyes. It was a Sunday afternoon and he was very bored. While the Du Pres were not very religious, most of their servants were, so except for the cooking staff and personal maids, Sunday was a day of rest at the plantation.

Of course, for a changeling demon, as Jacques was, he didn't have much use for Sundays. That particular Sunday, Jacques was especially restless because it was the next to last day of his mission, and he was hoping that the last event to further Judah Zachary's master plan would occur.

Had Jacques said Sunday prayers, they would have been answered, for at that moment there was a knock on his door. "Who's there?" Jacques growled.

"Angelique Bouchard," said the familiar voice.

Jacques leaped out of bed and opened the door. He began to play his part. "Angelique!" He embraced her as she dropped her bag. "How good to see you again! How are you?"

Angelique seemed subdued. She too had a mission. "I'm very well, Jacques. And yourself?"

"A little sore as always, but fine. We've all missed you very much." Jacques thought to ask Angelique about her bag, but instead decided to get right to the point.

"Mademoiselle Josette keeps asking me to go into town to try and find out where you were placed. But I always have to disappoint her because Monsieur Dawson has left town without a forwarding address. Now I can bring her better news."

"Mademoiselle Josette has returned?" Angelique asked.

"Yes. She returned a little over a week ago," Jacques said, eyeing her carefully. "Would you like to see her?"

Angelique sighed deeply. "Of course, I would. But first I must tell you something, Jacques. I have had a horrible experience!"

Jacques replied in a sympathetic tone, "Yes, we all miss your mother very much, although, of course, our loss is not the same as yours."

Angelique turned away nervously. "No, Jacques I am not referring to my mother. I am talking about what happened to me after Gavroche left me at Monsieur Dawson's."

Jacques had hoped that he would get to hear the lie that Angelique made up to explain her experiences of the previous two weeks. "What happened?" he asked.

Suddenly, Angelique was seized with a nervous thought and quickly tuned around. "I almost forgot to ask. How is Gavroche?"

Jacques tried hard to keep from laughing. He knew that Angelique was not concerned about Gavroche, but whether Gavroche might have told a story that was different than hers, a possibility that she was now clumsily trying to remedy.

For a moment, Jacques thought of tormenting her with this thought, maybe even leading Angelique to think that Gavroche had betrayed her, but decided against it because time was short. Instead, looking directly at her, Jacques said, "Gavroche is dead."

"What?" Angelique exclaimed, her face bearing the slightest expression of relief. "How did it happen? When did it happen?"

"I killed him just like I killed your mother" Jacques thought. But he replied, "Gavroche was apparently robbed and killed by highwaymen on his way back from town. They took Monsieur Du Pres' coach and any money that Gavroche had left on him. I found the body on my way into town to investigate his late return. Because we were not sure of whether Dawson had left before you got to town, we were afraid that you were caught in the robbery. Were you?"

Angelique turned around and breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that robbers had solved all of her problems concerning Gavroche and any story he would have told about the missing coach, horses and money. If there were robbers. Angelique was suddenly seized with a terrible thought and turned again to face Jacques. "Are you quite sure?" she exclaimed.

Jacques knew that Angelique really wanted to know whether Gavroche had been killed by the "monster" that, unbeknownst to her, was right in front of her. "Well, he had a bullet in the head and his body was on the side of the road with no sign of the coach or anything. Gavroche had no gun on him."

Angelique again looked relieved. Jacques thought that it was lucky that Angelique had talked with him first, otherwise she would certainly have aroused suspicion. "You didn't answer my question, Angelique. Did you know anything about the robbery and Gavroche's death?"

"No!" Angelique blurted out. "No, I did not! Although now I realize that, while my experiences have been bad, they could have been far worse."

"What happened?" Jacques inquired.

Angelique began to weave her lie. "When I saw Monsieur Dawson, he said that he could not help me. He said that he had to close up his business unexpectedly and had to leave town immediately. I begged with him to help me because I had nowhere else to turn. I could not come back to the Du Pres after what happened with my mother. Finally, Dawson said that I could come along with him and that he would employ me until he found me a position. I agreed and sent back Gavroche." Angelique thought that it was now safe to add Gavroche as a witness to this tale.

She continued, "but after we left town, I found out the horrible truth about Monsieur Dawson. Yes, he found positions for troubled women with respectable households, but he also kept some of those women for himself or to sell them as prostitutes! He had to leave town unexpectedly because his neighbors were starting to suspect."

Jacques listened impassively, but thought that the bit about the neighbors was a nice touch, as he had overheard the conversation Angelique and Gavroche had with the landlord while Jacques was stalking them.

Angelique continued her rehearsed story. "At first, I resisted. Monsieur Dawson was polite until we were far away. Then he threatened me. He said that if I did not submit to him, then he would leave me on the road, helpless, for robbers and wolves. I had no choice!"

She ran to Jacques and embraced him with a show of tears. "He--he--had his way with me. I am no longer a virgin!" Jacques thought that this was a nice touch too, as it could be checked, thanks to Barnabas Collins.

Angelique pulled her body from Jacques but still held his massive shoulders tightly. "This--this went on for a few days. Then he wanted to share me with other men and--and I could not do it! I would not do it! I had seen a village nearby so I ran away. Before I got to the village though, I came across a man on a horse, his name was Phillipe. He was the kindest gentleman. He actually hired a carriage for me to take me back here. I asked him for his full name, but he would not give it to me. He said that he did not want to be rewarded. Oh, Jacques! I am so glad to be back!" She embraced him again.

Jacques thought that he should applaud this performance, but decided to play his part instead. "Poor Angelique! What a horrible experience! You were right to return here."

Angelique broke the embrace and looked at Jacques pleadingly, "Do you think Monsieur Du Pres will take me back?"

Jacques put his large right hand on Angelique's shoulder. "I'm sure he will. He said so, before you left didn't he?"

Once again, Angelique embraced him. "Oh Jacques! Jacques! You were always my best friend in the world! I knew that you would make me feel better!"

Jacques thought that Angelique would have felt differently had she known that Judah Zachary had sent him to keep an eye on her for most of her life. He thought of how beautiful Angelique was, and thought for a moment of taking advantage of her himself. But it was a fleeting thought because he knew that he would be severely punished if he tried.

"Dry your tears, Angelique. It is almost four-o-clock. Josette will be back at the stables any moment from her afternoon ride. You can surprise her. She'll be very glad to see you."

Angelique was surprised. "Mademoiselle Josette riding on a Sunday?"

Jacques bit his lip. He wanted to wait for the full effect to spring the surprise. "I'm not sure if the Countess knows," he responded conspiratorially.

Angelique left her things in Jacques' room and they went to the stables to wait for Josette. After about fifteen minutes of small talk, they heard the hoofbeats of horses in the distance.

Angelique was puzzled at who the identity of the other rider could be. Michel, the riding instructor, would not work on a Sunday. With the dust and gathering dusk, she could not make out the other figure until the horses were almost upon her. But soon her eyes widened as she recognized the other horseman as Barnabas Collins.

"Angelique! Mon Dieu! How are you!" Josette exclaimed as she hurriedly dismounted and embraced her. Angelique returned the embrace, but looked straight at Barnabas Collins, who returned her stare with a stricken, embarrassed gaze. Jacques smiled to himself. Now his mission was finished.

Part 28

Barnabas Collins was flushed with embarrassment. He saw and heard Josette and Angelique talking with each other, but could not listen to them. All Barnabas noticed was Angelique's stare right through him, which he felt was part surprise and part anger.

Barnabas had thought that he would never see Angelique again, that she and her mother had left the Du Pres plantation for good. For the previous week Barnabas had spent most of his free time with Josette, who he had grown more and more attracted to each day.

Barnabas was frustrated that he could not tell if Josette felt the same way about him. Josette seemed receptive, but she might have just been being polite. Unlike Angelique, who Barnabas thought radiated sexuality, Josette seemed to represent purity, gentility and a sense of vulnerability that Barnabas found very attractive.

Barnabas had been agonizing all day about whether to express his feelings to Josette before he sailed for Collinsport the next day. Now who should arrive but the woman who had dominated his thoughts on his first few days--and nights--on the island.

"Barnabas!" Josette exclaimed, snapping Barnabas out of his reverie, "I am sorry to have been so rude. I would like to introduce you to my former servant Angelique. Angelique, this is Monsieur Barnabas Collins from the United States. He has just completed negotiating a business deal with Father and is leaving tomorrow morning." At Josette's words that Barnabas would be leaving the next day, the expression on Angelique's face changed to concern.

Barnabas squared his jaw and said tersely, but politely, "We have met. I met Angelique when I first came here and found her to be a most delightful person."

Turning to Angelique, but avoiding eye contact, Barnabas continued, "I heard that you and your mother have found a new position elsewhere on the island. I hope that you are both well."

Josette was horrified. Angelique furrowed her brow in amazement and puzzlement. Josette quickly chimed, "Barnabas, my family told me to keep silent, but I obviously cannot do so any longer. The truth of the matter is that Angelique's mother was killed on the estate by a wild animal two weeks ago, and Angelique immediately left because she could not bear to stay any longer.

Josette continued, "Father and Aunt Nathalie did not want you to know so that you would not fear for your safety and leave before completing your business deal. When I found out about this I was upset, but I promised Aunt Nathalie that I would not say the truth. But obviously now I must."

Barnabas was stunned. He remembered that on their last night together, Angelique had told him that she had quarreled with her mother about her relationship with him and that her mother had chased Angelique from their room. While they had made love, Angelique's mother had met her death.

Barnabas thought of how Angelique must have felt when she learned of her mother's death and felt sick to his stomach. He blurted, "I'm--I'm sorry, Mademoiselle Bouchard. I--I did not know. Please accept my apologies--and my sincerest condolences."

At the word "Mademoiselle", Angelique could not help but break into a slight smile. "There is no need to apologize Monsieur Collins. You obviously did not know. I accept your condolences."

"Angelique is going to ask Father if she can resume her position here. Things apparently did not work out with her last placement. I hope that Father will allow her to stay." Josette chirped excitedly. Angelique had no inclination to tell Josette the fabricated story she had told Jacques about her experiences, not with Barnabas Collins surprisingly before her.

"Well, if that is what you both wish, I am sure that Monsieur Du Pres will allow it. Now if you ladies will excuse me, I imagine that you have some catching up to do and I must wash and dress for dinner. It is my last night here and I want to leave everyone with a good impression."

The women nodded, and Barnabas quickly returned his horse to the stables and retreated.

That evening, Angelique returned to the gazebo where she and Barnabas had shared their nights of passion two weeks earlier. She knew that Barnabas would come to her.

At first Angelique had been surprised, jealous and angry to see her beloved Barnabas with Josette, who she saw as a serious rival. But as Angelique thought more about the matter, her heart softened towards her beloved. After all, Angelique reasoned, she had left the Du Pres plantation without giving Barnabas an explanation. Barnabas had been told that she and her mother had left voluntarily.

Angelique reasoned that Barnabas must have thought that she had jilted him and would never see him again. The blame properly lay with herself and the Du Pres, not her beloved Barnabas. Now that she was back, Barnabas would definitely come--especially on his last night in Martinique.

Angelique waited for a half an hour after which she could make out the figure of a man walking down the gazebo path. From the gleam of the silver head of his walking stick, Angelique could tell that it was Barnabas Collins. Angelique ran to Barnabas and squeezed him tightly to her breasts, locking her lips firmly onto his. Barnabas succumbed.

After several seconds, Angelique's lips broke free. "Oh Barnabas! Barnabas, my love! I thought that I would never see you again!" Her lips firmly pressed against his again.

Barnabas broke his lips free and said somewhat reservedly, "Angelique, I never dreamed that I would see you again either. I had to see to you again before I leave."

Angelique tried to return her lips to Barnabas for another round of kissing, but this time Barnabas firmly held her away. "I wanted to tell you how deeply sorry I am to hear about your mother. The Du Pres should have told me. I truly thought that you had left the Du Pres under different circumstances."

Angelique responded, "Yes. I was scared when my mother was killed. So I ran away. I panicked. I did not even have time to tell you. Oh, my poor darling! You must have thought that I had deserted you." She began to smother him with more kisses.

Barnabas longed to give in to Angelique, but he knew that he must not. The situation had not changed from before, a marriage with Angelique was out of the question. And now he had fallen in love with Josette, a much more acceptable woman. Barnabas had imagined that he had returned to the gazebo out of guilt, but he also had to admit to himself that he wanted to see Angelique again before he left.

"Angelique," Barnabas began carefully, "I have missed you these past two weeks. After you had told me the last night I saw you that your mother was angry at our relationship, I assumed that she had forced you to leave the Du Pres."

"Oh, Barnabas!" Angelique cooed, "I would never let anyone stand between us. Not even my mother. When mother was killed, I was scared. I could have been killed as well. I panicked. I had to leave. But when I returned I was surprised to see that you were still here." Angelique did not say "with Josette" aloud, but they both knew that this was what she was getting at.

Barnabas responded, "The business deal I was negotiating with Monsieur Du Pres took longer than I had anticipated. We just finished the deal a few days ago and I booked passage on the earliest ship I could find. I met Mademoiselle Du Pres a week ago when she returned from visiting relatives."

Angelique tentatively replied, "Josette is very attractive, no?"

Barnabas' first inclination was to be discreet, but then he realized that he had his first opportunity to break the truth to Angelique. "Yes, she is very attractive." Barnabas responded.

Angelique scowled. "More attractive than I?"

Barnabas could not bring himself to answer "yes." "No, Angelique, you are very different than Josette," Barnabas replied diplomatically.

"I have known Josette all of her life," Angelique began determinedly. "We grew up together. For awhile we were educated together before the Countess put a stop to it. She is not the woman for you Barnabas. She is weak and you are strong. She is a woman that you put under glass or cultivate like a fair flower. Josette cannot give you what I can give you!" And with that Angelique again pressed her lips against Barnabas' and began vigorously massaging his shoulders, back and buttocks.

Barnabas could resist no longer. He voraciously returned Angelique's kisses and soon they were furiously doing the kisses the French are famous for. Within ten minutes, Barnabas and Angelique had stripped off each others' clothes and were writhing on the grass, clutching, writhing, heaving, time and again.

After two hours, Angelique lay on Barnabas' naked body, her breasts firmly against his chest, her lips gently nibbling his ear. "Take me with you, Barnabas! Let us go to America and be married."

With those words, Barnabas' pleasure turned instantly to misery. "Angelique I cannot do that. My father would object to such a marriage and he would disinherit me."

Angelique's face darkened and she let go of Barnabas. "Are you saying that you do not wish to marry me?"

Barnabas immediately realized his position and was ashamed. He tried to diplomatically extricate himself. "What I am saying Angelique is that if I bring you back to America with me, it would go very badly for us. My father is a difficult, stubborn and arrogant man. If he were to come around at all, it would have to be through subtle persuasion over time. Not by bringing you into his drawing room and suddenly introducing you as my fiancee."

Angelique's expression softened and Barnabas sensed that he was getting through to her. She responded, "But how will I see you again? I have just found you, I do not want to lose you again."

"I have heard that Monsieur Du Pres is letting you regain your position in the household. Monsieur Du Pres will be coming to America next year to cement the business deal I have negotiated with him. Afterwards, I will likely have to return to Martinique to implement it. So, it is likely we will see each other again."

"Oh, Barnabas! I shall count the days!" Angelique exclaimed as she went down on him again and they began another round of lovemaking.

The next morning Barnabas Collins left the Du Pres estate for town and a ship back to Collinsport. Before Barnabas left, Josette made him promise that he would write to her from America. Barnabas quickly agreed.

As Barnabas rode in the carriage leaving the Du Pres plantation, he thought of his passionate nights with Angelique, but also thought of how much simpler it would be if Josette felt towards him as he felt towards her. Barnabas had not promised to write to Angelique. How could he have? But Barnabas was very relieved to get away from Angelique and the problems that their relationship could cause. He began instead to think of what would be the subject of his first letter to Josette.

Epilogue (This is where the series picks up the story):

And the rest, faithful reader, you already know--or can surmise.

Barnabas Collins returned to Collinsport and began a passionate correspondence with Josette, during which time he learned that Josette reciprocated his feelings towards her. They became engaged and scheduled a wedding in Collinsport to coincide with Andre Du Pres's arrival to cement the business deal Barnabas had begun negotiating in Martinique.

The postal courtship was aided by the fact that, while Andre Du Pres allowed Angelique to return to his family's service, he insisted that Angelique become the Countess Du Pres's maid instead of returning to her prior position as Josette's servant. Andre Du Pres had heard that Angelique had taken a liking to Barnabas Collins, and he did not want Angelique to sabotage the courtship by destroying letters before they reached their intended recipients.

After the deed was done, and Barnabas and Josette were engaged to be married, Andre and Nathalie Du Pres thought nothing of bringing Angelique with them to America. After all, a lowly maid would not be able to sabotage the wedding. Moreover, Andre Du Pres's experience with Barnabas in Martinique had led him to conclude that Barnabas was an honorable man who would not humiliate Josette by taking Angelique as a mistress.

News was spotty in the Orient, where Judah Zachary and Evan Dawson had traveled, because of the immense distance. Zachary eventually learned from Dawson's agents that Barnabas and Angelique had both died shortly after they were married, news which pleased Judah Zachary immensely. However, Zachary did not know that both Barnabas and Angelique had survived their deaths.

Judah Zachary, along with Evan Dawson and his descendants Albert and Charles, searched for reanimation remedies in the Orient until Desmond Collins fortuitously (for Zachary) found the head and returned it to Collinsport.

Jacques, the Du Pres's gardener who was in reality a changeling, "mysteriously disappeared" after the Du Pres wedding party left for America.

If you can remember back that far, you may recall that the purpose of my story was to provide "a more consistent origin" for Angelique. Originally the Dark Shadows writers portrayed the 1795 Angelique as a naive servant girl born in the 1770s. Later, the writers made the 1795 Angelique into a remarkably preserved 100 + year old refugee from Judah Zachary's coven, named Miranda DuVal. As the tone of my last sentence indicates, I think that the latter explanation is ridiculous. (why would Miranda Du Val be masquerading as a lowly servant girl in Martinique anyway?) My story takes the position that Angelique is the reincarnation of Miranda DuVal, not Miranda Du Val herself.

My story's purpose was also to make the 1840 ending, when Barnabas concludes that Angelique is the only woman he ever loved, make sense. Here is how I would wrap up the 1840 storyline based on the facts that I set out in my story:

When Judah Zachary as Gerard sees Valerie Collins for the first time, he recognizes her as the reincarnation of Miranda DuVal, not as Miranda herself. Remember, he never saw Angelique as an adult and thinks that Angelique is dead. However, Valerie looks just like Miranda, so Judah/Gerard casts a spell so that Valerie will see a vision of Amadeus Collins.

The vision of Amadeus Collins awakens within Angelique the memories of her past life as Miranda DuVal, just as seeing Barnabas and Angelique awakened the memories of Lady Hampshire/Kitty Soames in 1897, of her past life as Josette in 1897.

When Judah/Gerard sees the reaction of recognition from Valerie, he concludes that Valerie is the reincarnation of Miranda Du Val. In the meantime, Valerie/Angelique is puzzled and frightened that she recognized the vision of a man that she is certain she never met.

Over the next few weeks, Angelique slowly recalls more memories of her past life as Miranda (just like the Kitty/Josette story) --especially when she learns of the presence of Judah Zachary in Collinsport. During the same time, Judah/Gerard begins to suspect that Barnabas Collins is a vampire, which would likely make his wife Valerie the actual Angelique. Dramatic tension mounts.

Finally, Angelique remembers everything about Miranda DuVal's relationship with Judah Zachary. She recalls her own experiences growing up in Martinique, especially the final argument with her mother and her search for Judah Zachary while Barnabas was meeting Josette. Angelique finally realizes that she has been an unwitting pawn in an elaborate revenge scheme by Judah Zachary against her and the Collins family.

Embarrassed and angry, Angelique decides to lift the vampire curse from Barnabas Collins and tells him everything she has learned about Judah Zachary and his plan. Barnabas does not entirely believe Angelique, but realizes that her story does make sense out of the things that Angelique told him on their second night together and concerning Angelique's mysterious two week disappearance thereafter.

While Barnabas more or less believes Angelique's story, he does not trust her. After all, just a few weeks earlier Angelique had killed Roxanne and nearly caused Julia to be turned into a vampire. Barnabas and Angelique form an uneasy alliance to fight Judah Zachary.

But Barnabas cannot help but think about the implications of Angelique's story. He realizes that Judah Zachary, without using witchcraft to compel their feelings or actions, had set himself and Angelique up so that their stubborn pride would do them both in. Zachary knew of Miranda Du Val's stubborn pride which would be replicated in her future lives, and counted on Barnabas to inherit his family's stubborn pride.

Thinking back to the events in Martinique, Barnabas begins to understand that he and Angelique were set up. That their actions towards each other, while not dictated, were anticipated. Barnabas also remembers his initial captivation with Angelique, and how after she temporarily left the Du Pres, he had found in Josette a woman that had some of Angelique's qualities (education, deportment), but was more acceptable status wise. Barnabas realizes that, while he loved Josette, he had initially used Angelique as a model of comparison, and that it was Josette's social status that won out.

Of course, Angelique's subsequent terrible actions, while anticipated by Zachary, were still her own, so Barnabas refuses to follow his thoughts to their logical conclusion until after Angelique proves that she can be selfless and gets herself killed. With Angelique no longer a threat, Barnabas admits that he truly loved Angelique more than anyone else.

You may not agree with my story, but I hope, at least, that you have enjoyed it.