Winds Of Eternity Part 30

"This - this has happened before."

"Oh?" It had, Barnabas thought. Many years ago, on Martinique.

"I don't know when - I suppose I'm just tired, being very silly -"

"Not at all. It's quite possible," he told her.

"Mr. Collins, I have to know the truth."

"Is it so important? Why dwell on the past when the future can be so much more interesting?"

"Do you really believe that?"

"With all my heart," he said, placing a finger beneath her chin to raise her face toward the moonlight. "Don't think about the past nor the future. Only now. That is all that matters." As his lips touched hers, he felt her respond, yet purposefully held his emotions in check.

"Barnabas?" she said, her eyes s.h.i.+ning softly.

"Don't say anything," he whispered, pulling her head down to rest on his

shoulder, exposing the vulnerable curve of her neck. He couldn't allow Quentin or anyone else to take her away from him again, he thought. She moaned softly as he sank his fangs into that soft skin.

She didn't attempt to fight him, and when she collapsed against him, Barnabas realized with a sense of self-loathing what he had done. In silence, he carried her back to her room and laid her gently on the bed. Looking down at her pale features, he was surprised when her eyes fluttered open.

"Barnabas."

"I am here. Rest. I will see you tomorrow night."

"Yes. Tomorrow night." She relaxed into a light sleep.

Barnabas watched her for a few minutes, then left, promising himself that he would not do this again.

Julia was called to the hospital in Collinsport for an emergency, so she wasn't at breakfast the next morning to notice Miranda's preoccupation. She greeted Roger, Maggie, and the children, carried on a conversation, but Quentin sensed that she was only doing what was expected of her. Going through the motions.

He found her in the study soon after breakfast. "Working hard?"

"Not really. Mrs. Stoddard just left, if you're looking for her."

"I'm not. I saw her leave for town." He sat on the edge of the desk. "How about a coffee break?"

"It's too early."

"Then we'll talk."

Miranda adjusted the scarf around her throat. "About anything in particular?"

"No. How did you sleep last night?"

"Never better."

"Nothing disturbed you?"

"Such as?"

Quentin lifted his shoulders. "This is an old house. It makes all sorts of noises."

"I didn't hear any."59.

"I'm glad. What did you think of Barnabas?"

Again she touched the scarf. "B-Bar-nabas?"

"My cousin," he prompted.

"He seemed very - nice. Excuse me, but I have work to do."

"Sure. I'll go - if you agree to go for a walk with me after dinner this evening."

"Yes. Anything. Just - please let me get this done."

"Anything you say, Miranda." He had decided to take a few days away from the cannery to give Carolyn a chance to settle in, and to keep an eye on Miranda. Maggie hadn't understood when he had told her about his decision.

"Why do you have to keep an eye on her, Quentin? Barnabas is the one who should be -"

"But he can't, Maggie. Not right now. And I promised him I'd do it - make sure I was around in case she starts remembering." She had still been angry. "Hey," he'd said, turning her into his arms. "I don't intend to ignore you, you know. Tell you what, how about a late supper tonight?" She'd been mollified, and now Quentin began to worry that he might not be able to keep that date.

Julia returned later, then left again for the Old House, but Quentin didn't tell her about his suspicions. After all, he had no real proof, not even when he saw Miranda standing at the portrait of Barnabas. She seemed mesmerized by the eyes. Quentin was about to speak when Amy said, "h.e.l.lo, Miranda."

"Oh, Amy. I didn't hear you."

"I just came down. That's a nice painting, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"The resemblance is really amazing."

"Resemblance?"

"That's the first Barnabas. He left Collinwood in 1795 for England. My Barnabas is his descendant."

"I admit that I wondered about the clothing. You're right about the resemblance. They could be the same man."

"Barnabas had one painted of himself in that same pose. It's at the Old House."

"The Old House," Miranda repeated. "Of course. Carolyn did say it was the original Collinwood."

"You have to get Barnabas to show it to you. Especially in the evening. Candlelight turns it into a really beautiful place."

"He uses candles?"