Winds Of Eternity Part 50

"As a matter of fact, I do, Cousin. Julia called me from the hospital and told me that good news. I thought I'd come over and help celebrate."

Angelique's blue eyes flew to her husband. Of course. Why hadn't she seen it herself? He was cured. Giving silent thanks, she decided the only way to hide her happiness was in anger. "You're cured? And you didn't tell me?"

"I wasn't sure you would care one way or the other. You have so many - " he glanced pointedly at Quentin, "other interests lately."

"That's unfair, Barnabas. You know I want you to be free of the curse."

"Really? You certainly couldn't prove it by the amount of interest you've shown in the last week."

Quentin moved nearer Angelique. "Come on, Cousin. She's right. You're not being very fair."

"Stay out of this, Quentin. You've done enough, don't you think? I will remind you once more that she is my wife. I think you had better go now."

"Not without Angelique."

Glancing at Barnabas' set expression, Angelique spoke softly. "I think I should stay, Quentin."

"You're sure?"

"She said she was staying, Quentin. She knows where she belongs."

"At least walk me to the door?" he asked.

She walked cautiously around her husband with Quentin at her side. At the door, he whispered, "Meet me later. My room."

"If I can get away."

"You will, my dear. I know you."

She returned to the parlour and started to question Barnabas, only to be motioned to silence. Understanding that Quentin might be outside listening, she heard Barnabas say, "I told you to stay away from Quentin."

"I may be your wife, Barnabas, but that doesn't mean you can order me to stay away from my friends. Why didn't you tell me that the serum had taken effect?"

"Would you really have cared?" he asked coldly.

"Of course -"

"Spare me more of your lies, Angelique. I don't believe them anymore. Excuse me. I have to make sure that Willie is airing a room for me upstairs."

Angelique poured herself a gla.s.s of port, lifted it in a silent toast to the portrait of Barnabas over the mantle. And you once complimented me on my acting, she thought. She was just finishing the drink when Willie came down the stairs. "I'm going to my room for awhile, Willie."

"Okay. It's good news, isn't it, Angelique? About Barnabas, I mean."

"Yes. Yes, it is."

Barnabas was standing beneath her portrait, looking up at it. "Barnabas."

He turned and held out his arms in silent invitation. She went into them without hesitation. "I'm sorry for not telling you about the curse being finished, my darling. So much was happening -"

"I understand. The portrait?"

He moved away from her. "It's not in the room. Since there are only two keys, mine and Quentin's, it's safe to a.s.sume that he already has it hidden away somewhere."92.

"Yes. I could go to him, say that I'm afraid you might use the portrait to harm him and suggest that we get it first. He'll have to admit having taken it and I might get a clue as to where he's hidden it."

Barnabas was already shaking his head. "No. I don't want you to be alone with him. Judah is far too dangerous. And I won't risk losing you again. Not now. I have a great many things to apologize for. I should never had accused you -"

She placed a hand to his mouth. "Don't. I have just as much to apologize for. Just hold me, Barnabas."

"Gladly, my darling wife. Gladly."

Later, Angelique was at the dressing table, brushing her hair into some semblance of order as Barnabas watched her from the bed. There was a light tap on the door. "Barnabas?"

"Yes, Willie?" he responded, his eyes never leaving his wife.

"Julia's downstairs. She says it's important."

"We'll be right there." He rose from the bed and bent to kiss Angelique's bare shoulder. "I love you."

"And I love you. And if you don't stop that, Julia will wonder what's happened to us."

"She's a doctor. I'm sure she could guess."

"Barnabas."

"Very well." He began to b.u.t.ton his shirt.

Julia wasn't really surprised that Judah had possessed Quentin. "That's why I'm here, actually. Something he said on the telephone set me to thinking, and I decided to come back and make sure everything was alright."

Barnabas kissed Angelique's hand before answering. "As you can see, it is. Our problem now is to find some way to get rid of Judah and free Quentin."

Julia paced the room. "If only there was someone that Judah was afraid of. But I know that's impossible," Julia sighed.

"There was someone, Julia." Angelique said, her eyes on Barnabas. "A sea captain who practiced white magic. His ship docked in Bedford one day. When Judah heard he was in town, he was frightened. I'd never seen him like that before. Judah wouldn't tell me why he was afraid of the Captain. But I know that his powers were stronger than Judah's."

"Could we call him back?" Barnabas asked. "Have a seance?"

Angelique stood there, her inner turmoil evident. Then she made her decision. It was the only way now. "That won't be necessary, Barnabas. Wait right here. I'll just be a moment."

She went upstairs to her old room on the third floor. There, under a loose brick in the hearth, she took a cloth wrapped object from it's hiding place. "It is time, talisman. You have job to do." She left the room quick-

"What do you suppose she's up to?" Julia asked.

"After all these years, Julia," Barnabas said, sitting down, "I won't even try to guess."

Angelique entered and knelt before Barnabas' chair. "I hid this in my room the day Trask performed his exorcism to find the witch. I suddenly realized that if you found it, you might become even angrier than you later became."

"What is it?" he asked.