Winds Of Eternity Part 18

"It's not futile, Barnabas. Don't be cynical. I did as much as I could without you here."

"Do you really believe you will isolate a serum?"

"Eventually. But the most important part of any cure will be your att.i.tude."

"Is there some problem with my att.i.tude, Doctor?"

Julia clenched her fist to control her temper. "Don't call me that."

"But it's what you are."

Knowing she would get nowhere by continuing this conversation, Julia sighed deeply. "Are you coming down?"

He didn't answer, just walked over to the door and down the hall. Julia followed with a heavy heart.

Maggie noticed the two small marks on her neck the next morning, but dismissed them as insect bites. She raised a hand to gently touch them. They weren't painful.39.

"That's what you get for leaving the window open, Maggie," she said to herself. Still she found a scarf that matched her dress and tied it around her neck, covering the marks. No sense worrying the others.

She was on her way out after lunch with David when Quentin came in. "Going somewhere?" he asked.

"To the beach," David told him. "I'm going to look for some more rocks and sh.e.l.ls for my collection. You want to come?"

"Why not? I was planning to play hookey from work anyway."

"Great!"

"Go on ahead, David. We're right behind you," Maggie said, smiling at her charge's eagerness. "He's very fond of you."

"He's a good boy."

"I think sometimes he's closer to you than he is to his own father."

"Roger's not an easy man to talk to. Especially for David. But they're getting closer, I think." He took her arm to guide her around a fallen tree branch.

"Quentin," she said, "I should apologize for what I said last night -"

"Don't. You were right."

Maggie pursed her lips in frustration. He really was impossible.

They watched David while sitting on a large rock. "I can't believe that Carolyn's really back in college."

"She is. She's taking all the required business courses."

"To what end?"

"My job," he said, leaning back on one elbow.

"And what will you do?"

"Oh, I don't know. Travel, probably." He winked a blue eye at her, the twinkle in his eyes a little wicked. "Care to join me?"

"Thanks, but no thanks," she said with a laugh. "I got all desire for traveling out of my system when I went to Europe."

Quentin found himself wishing that he had been the one tyD show her that continent. "Fair enough. Then how about dinner this evening?"

"I'd like to Quentin, but I just got back yesterday. I have to read David's workbooks -"

"Do it tomorrow."

"Honestly, Quentin. You're as bad as a little boy yourself. A very spoiled little boy who doesn't like being alone."

"I think I've heard that somewhere before. So give in to me and make me happy."

"I wish I could," she said with a shake of her head.

"Tomorrow night, then. It's Friday -"

She smiled. "I'll let you know."

"I'll make sure you do."

Her laughter suddenly trailed off as she looked toward the base of the cliff.

"Maggie?" he asked, concerned. "Is something wrong?"

"No. Could you make sure that David gets back to Collinwood for dinner, Quentin?"

"Sure, but -" he slid to his feet as she did. "Where are you going?"

"There's something that I have to do," she said, sounding distant, as if she were in a trance - Quentin's eyes narrowed, finally noticing the scarf around her neck. "Something I'd forgotten. Excuse me." She moved away before Quentin could stop her.

David, seeing her leave, called her name a few times, but she didn't acknowledge his attempt. "What's wrong with Maggie, Quentin?"

"I'm - not sure, David. Are you ready to go back to Collinwood?" He wanted to get the boy back so he could find Maggie. If what he suspected was true - then Cousin Barnabas was going to be very sorry.

"I guess so." He lifted the bag in his hand. "I got some really neat sh.e.l.ls."

Quentin glanced in the direction that Maggie had gone. "We'll look at them later."

Julia was about to enter the cellar when the sound of music stopped her. "Josette's music box," she said softly as Willie came out of the parlour.40.

"Someone's up there," he said in a shaky voice.

"Have you been upstairs?"

"Not since this mornin'. I've been busy down here all afternoon. Who do you think it might be, Julia?"