Part 20 (1/2)
”What are you talking about?”
”Maggie. She was here today, Barnabas.”
”Oh?”
”She was acting strange. Like it was four years ago.” He told Barnabas about finding Maggie in Josette's room. ”Julia hypnotized her and she and Quentin took her back to Collinwood.”
”I can always trust Julia to handle the situation,” he said, his tone wry.
”You better be grateful to her, Barnabas. If it wasn't for Julia, Maggie might've remembered everything again. And they'd be coming for you.”
”Who's to say that that might not be preferable?”
”Com'on, Barnabas. You don't mean that.”
Julia spoke from the stairs. ”I think he does, Willie.” His words only confirmed her suspicions, and made her sure she had made the right decision.
”Julia. I trust you took care of everything with your usual efficiency?”
”I hypnotized her and made her forget again, then Quentin and I took her out,
told her they'd been out walking and met me, that she'd never come here at all. I brought her out of it, and sent her back to Collinwood with Quentin. He's very angry with you, by the way.”
”A simple 'yes' would have been sufficient, Julia.”
”I called Wyndecliffe from Collinwood and made some arrangements -”
”What sort of arrangements?” he asked, his eyes narrowed.
Julia's eyes never left Barnabas' as she spoke. ”Willie, I want you to put Barnabas' coffin in the station wagon.”
”What for?”
”Just do it, Willie.”
Now Barnabas asked the question. ”Why?”
”I'm taking you to Wyndecliffe.”
”Wyndecliffe?”
”I can keep a closer watch on you there - make sure you don't do something like this again - although I don't think Quentin would be likely to leave Maggie alone with you here. And I might be able to isolate a serum easier there.”
”And what will you tell the family?”
”I spoke to Elizabeth. She understands that you're depressed as a result of Angelique's death and need some time away from here.” His look was uncertain. ”Barnabas, I'm doing this for your own good. If you don't agree to leave now, I'll simply wait until tomorrow morning when you're in your coffin.”
”It seems I have no choice.”
”No. You don't.”