Part 32 (2/2)
”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.”
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