Winds Of Eternity Part 28

"Why did you leave?"

"Because I knew I would never find out who I am if I didn't. I had to be from America. The label on my slip was from a store in Portland."

"So you think you may be from there?"

"Not Portland itself, perhaps, but the general area."

"How long were you in Portland?"

"About a month. I didn't have any luck, and my funds were running low."

Elizabeth had already made her decision. "Will the salary I mentioned in my letter be satisfactory?"

"Oh, yes. More than enough."

"Then the job is yours. Your duties will be light, sending answers to correspondence and such, arranging my calendar, et cetera. You will have week-ends and evenings off, and you're welcome to live here at Collinwood. Do you have any questions?"

Julia saw the change in Barnabas when she entered the drawing room. "Where is she?"

"In the study with Elizabeth."

"She is Angelique?" Quentin asked.

"Yes."

"Are you sure, Barnabas?"

"Quite sure, Julia. For some reason, she doesn't remember me, or anyone else, it seems. But it is her."

Elizabeth entered, followed by the blonde woman. "Good. You're still here, Barnabas. Miranda had some cases in her car. Would you mind - ?"

"Not at all. Which room shall I put them in?"

"The one next to Julia's I think."55.

"Excuse me," he said, taking the keys Miranda held out.

"Miranda, my daughter, Carolyn Stoddard Hawkes; another cousin, Quentin Collins; and Dr. Julia Hoffman. This is Miranda du Bois, my new secretary."

"Miss du Bois."

"How do you do?"

"Mrs. Hawkes, Doctor. Mr. Collins."

"Make it Quentin. There are three 'Mr. Collins' around here and it can get pretty confusing." He poured himself a brandy. "Will any of you ladies join me?" Elizabeth, Julia and Carolyn accepted sherries. "How about you, Miranda? Sherry? Or - ?"

"Port, if you have any."

"Ah. A woman after my own heart." He poured a gla.s.s with a flourish. "Port for m'lady," he said, bowing to her. He was still in that position when Barnabas returned. "Sherry, Cousin?"

"No, thank you. Your things are in your room, Miss du Bois."

"Thank you."

"I'll be going now, Elizabeth. Goodnight, all."

He had turned to go when Miranda spoke hurriedly, as if to detain him for a moment. "Mr. Collins, thank you again for your help."

Their eyes met, and locked for a moment as he said, "It was entirely my pleasure. Welcome to Collinwood." He turned and left.

Realizing that he was gone, Miranda said, "Mr. Collins doesn't live here?"

"No," Carolyn told her. "He has another house on the property. It was the original Collinwood."

"Oh." She tried to stifle a yawn, unsuccessfully. "Excuse me. I suppose the drive this evening tired me."

"I'll show you to your room," Carolyn offered, telling the others, "I'll be right back."

The room was the one in which Angelique had stayed during her visit to Collinwood. Carolyn stood in the doorway,

watching her closely, but could see no sign of recognition. "Breakfast is at eight, although Mrs. Johnson usually keeps the buffet set up until nine. Miranda -"

"Yes, Mrs. Hawkes?"

"Call me Carolyn. And don't let the family put you off. There are a lot of us, but we're not ogres."

Miranda smiled. "I never thought you were. How many others are there?"

"Well, there's my uncle Roger, his son David. And then Amy Jennings, she's Barnabas' ward, but she lives here. And Maggie Evans is the children's governess."

"And Mrs. Johnson is the housekeeper."

"Exactly. I'll go now so you can go to bed. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Once Carolyn rejoined them, Elizabeth told them Miranda's story. Julia paid particular attention to the name of the doctor in France.

"She must be Angelique," Carolyn exclaimed.

"But her car went into a lake," Quentin reminded her.

"Of course, and they did find a body that was tentatively identified as Angelique a month later -"

"It had to have been a mistake," Elizabeth agreed. "Julia? You've been very quiet."

"I'm going to try to contact that doctor she told you about. He might be able to tell me something more." She stood, smoothing her skirt. "Right now, I'm going to talk to Barnabas."