Winds Of Eternity Part 17

"Tell you what," Quentin said, putting his gla.s.s down. "I'll go and give you some help." He took the keys Maggie held out, then the two of them left the room.

"David's grown so much these last six months. Where is Hallie?"

"Eliot decided to take her to Europe for a couple of months. She's been accepted by a school in New York."

"I'm glad for her. She never liked leaving there in the first place." Julia asked Maggie a question about Paris, and Elizabeth noticed that Barnabas had moved to stare out the window, oblivious to the conversa-37.

tion. She went over to stand beside him. "Barnabas. I'm glad you came over this evening. I don't like the idea of your being alone right now. Why don't you move to Collinwood for a few weeks? We would be glad to have you."

"Thank you, Elizabeth, but I would prefer to remain at the Old House. But I do appreciate the offer."

"I didn't know Angelique well, but she must have been very special."

"She was. Excuse me, Elizabeth. I have somewhere I must go."

"Of course." She followed his departure with worried eyes.

Julia followed him as quickly as she could, and Maggie turned to Elizabeth. "Is something wrong with Barnabas, Mrs. Stod-dard?"

"Do you remember Angelique Rumsen?"

"Of course."

"Barnabas found out a few days ago that she died in France."

"I saw the report in the Paris paper," Maggie said. "I knew that they had known one another, but Barnabas' reaction -"

"During the last months, he came to the realization that he loved her."

"Oh." There didn't seem to be anything else to say.

Later, on the terrace, Maggie recalled Elizabeth's words. Barnabas was such a kind, sensitive man, who deserved to be happy. She had tried to understand the strange - connection, for want of a better word - between she and Barnabas, but hadn't been able to.

Barnabas knew that Julia was waiting at the Old House, but he stood at the edge of the terrace watching Maggie. Her physical resemblance to Josette had drawn him to her so long ago, but now he saw only Maggie Evans as he stepped forward.

"h.e.l.lo, Maggie."

She turned. "Oh. Barnabas. You startled me."

"I didn't mean to. Why are you out so late?"

"I wanted some air before going to bed. I thought you had gone back to the Old House."

"I started to, but I discovered that I wasn't ready to go home just yet."

"I can understand that. After Pop died, I avoided going back to the cottage by myself." The look in his eyes was strangely familiar, and it touched something very deep in Maggie's subconscious mind. Something terrifying. She turned nervously away. "I - I'm glad you're here, actually."

"Are you?"

"Yes. I wanted to offer my condolences about Angelique."

"Thank you."

Maggie moved away. "We've both changed a great deal since last summer," she said.

"Yes. Yes, we have."

"I know things could never be the way they were between us - but I hope we're still friends."

"We will always be friends, Maggie," he told her earnestly.

"Good If you ever need someone to talk to. I'm right here."

"That's a very generous offer, Maggie." She turned to look at him - and went totally still. "What's wrong?" Barnabas asked, seeing the expression of fear bordering on terror.

"The -the way you're looking at me."

Now Barnabas turned away just as Quentin's voice said, "Am I interrupting something?"

Barnabas avoided his cousin's eyes. "No. I was just leaving. I wouldn't stay out too much longer, Maggie."

"I won't. Goodnight, Barnabas."

Once he was gone, Quentin touched Maggie's arm. "Hey. You're shivering. Cold?" He took her in his arms.

"No. I -I don't know why, but I was frightened of Barnabas, Quentin."

"Frightened?"38.

She nodded. "Something about him -" She seemed to realize that his arms were around her, and gently pushed away. "I'd better go inside."

"I'll walk you up -" "That's alright. You don't have to -" "I want to. And I want to give you some advice. Stay away from Barnabas right now, Maggie. He's hurting - and he just might hurt you without meaning to."

He had given her a similar warning once before - just before they had begun to see each other as more than friends. Now, Maggie shook her head. "I can't believe that Barnabas would hurt me."

"I'm serious, Maggie." "At least you can be serious about something," she countered. Seeing the way his blue eyes hardened at her jibe, she turned away. "It's late, and I've had a long day. Goodnight."

Quentin stood on the terrace for a long moment, allowing his temper to cool. He was going to have to have a talk with his Cousin Barnabas.

Maggie knew she shouldn't have baited Quentin as she had, but his inability to make any move in her direction had been one of the reasons she had chosen to leave with Sebastian. She'd hoped that it would cause Quentin to declare his feelings - but it hadn't seemed to affect him at all. She dressed for bed, then went to the window to look down at the terrace. He was gone, probably into town to have a few drinks. She sighed, and since the night was warm enough, she left the windows open. Within minutes, she was asleep.

She didn't hear the soft sound of wings, nor see Barnabas appear at the foot of her bed. He stood there, watching her sleep, indecision mingling with need on his face. How can I consider this? I don't want to. If I go into Collinsport, Julia will be more likely to discover what I've done. She would never suspect that I would use Maggie. Just this once. And Quentin won't know. Looking down at her, he

saw again her resemblance to Josette, knew that resemblance had nothing to do with this. She was not Josette - and never could be. But he needed blood. Why not Maggie's? She turned her head, still asleep, and the soft, vulnerable skin of her neck was exposed to the moonlight that filtered into the room. Barnabas could hesitate only a moment longer before bending over her to sink his fangs into that white flesh.

Julia was pacing the drawing room nervously when Barnabas entered. She knew better than to question his whereabouts. "I was beginning to worry. Quentin stopped by and said you had left Collinwood some time ago."

"I went for a walk," he told her. It was impossible for him to meet her eyes, afraid that she would see what he had done, and he decided that his best defense was to attack. "Why aren't you down in your laboratory? Or have you decided that your search for a cure is futile?"