Winds Of Eternity Part 32

"d.a.m.n it, you know how dangerous it could be."

"Yes. And it won't happen again."

"I don't believe that. You called her here tonight. If I hadn't been with her - what might've happened?"

"Nothing. I knew she was with you. Julia told me that you had gone for a walk."

"So your jealousy got the better of you. My G.o.d, if it wasn't so frightening, I'd laugh."

"What is that supposed to mean?"61.

"You and Angelique. Her jealousy was one of the things about her that you hated. And now you're just as jealous as she ever was."

"I told you to stay away from her last night - "

"And to insure that if I didn't she wouldn't have anything to do with me, you-that's the reason, isn't it?"

"Perhaps. I was afraid of losing her. I can't risk that happening again."

"But to -"

"Don't you think I regretted it?! The moment I realized what I had done, I swore it wouldn't happen again. But tonight, when Julia told me you were together, I - lost control."

Quentin poured himself a brandy and downed it in one swallow. "Look, I can promise not to come between you - except to protect her."

"Yes. Until Julia can isolate the serum, she must be protected."

"Should I take her back to Collinwood with me - or can I leave her here safely?"

"Leave her. Willie and Julia are both here. You have MY word, Quentin. No further harm will come to her."

"Then I'll be going."

Willie came to the bottom step as the door closed behind Quentin. He'd overheard the conversation - not that he'd needed to figure out what was wrong with -Miranda. "Do you want me to bring her back down here?"

"No. I'll see to it."

"Barnabas, should I tell Julia she's here?"

"Not just yet, Willie." He climbed the stairs slowly.

Miranda was looking up at Josette's portrait over the fireplace when he entered the room. "Is everything all right now?"

"Yes. Quentin agreed that I should see you back to Collinwood later."

"Who was she?" Miranda asked, looking up at the portrait again.

Watching her closely, Barnabas answered. "Her name was Josette du Pres. She came here in 1795 to marry my ancestor."

"The one whose portrait was at Collinwood?"

"Yes. She married his uncle instead, so he left for England."

"He must have loved her very much."

"So the family history says."

She looked at him. "Do you doubt it?"

"Not that he loved Josette. I'm sure he did. But from my research I've discovered that there was - someone else."

"Really?"

"When that Barnabas first arrived in Martinique to talk to the Count du Pres about business, the Count and his daughter, Josette, were en route from Paris. Josette's aunt Natalie welcomed him warmly. Her maid was a beautiful young woman with whom Barnabas fell in love. They were quite happy until Josette's return. The Count saw a match between the du Pres and Collins families as good for business - and Josette had fallen quite in love with Barnabas."

"What about his feelings?"

"He was - confused. He knew that his father would gladly welcome Josette - and her father's business - into the family. But a lady's maid? Never. So he chose Josette."

"He sounds rather cold-blooded," she said, bringing a gleam of amus.e.m.e.nt to Barnabas' eyes. "What happened to the maid?"

"She came to Collinwood for the wedding, refusing to believe Barnabas when he told her he loved Josette. When Josette eloped with his Uncle Jeremiah, Barnabas -who by this time had convinced himself that he truly loved Josette - was heart broken."

"Did he marry the maid?"

"Yes, over his father's objections, as he had feared. In fact, Joshua Collins threatened to disinherit him if he did so. But Barnabas mother gave them this house in the hope that her son and husband would reconcile."

"And did they?"62.

"Not really. They had never been close to begin with. The marriage did not fare well either."

"Why not?"

"There were many reasons. His wife's jealousy of Josette did not end, if anything, it intensified. She became suspicious of his every move. He couldn't pay a call on his mother without his wife accusing him of secretly meeting Josette. Barnabas felt trapped by the marriage, and being disinherited did not help. So he left."

"And his wife?"

"She followed soon after. They settled in England where Barnabas became a successful businessman and they had two children, a son and a daughter."

"Were they any happier there?"

"No. They were too much alike, both intense, quick-tempered, proud. She was still jealous of any other woman in Barnabas' life - even their daughter."

"Such a sad story. What about Josette?"

"Jeremiah died soon after the marriage and she took poison upon discovering that she had no chance of a future with Barnabas."

"What a tragic end for such a beautiful woman."