Part 33 (1/2)
”You're more beautiful than she ever was, Miranda.”
She turned to look at him. ”Do you really think so?”
”Let me show you.” He led her to the dressing table mirror, being careful to remain to the side so that she couldn't see that he had no reflection. ”Look. And tell me what you see.”
Miranda gazed at the reflection of her blonde hair and blue eyes. ”I'm not sure who I see,” she whispered, raising those eyes to his. ”I don't know who Miranda du Bois is. But when I'm with you, it doesn't matter. I just want to be with you. In your arms.” She took a step toward him.
Frightened by the sudden need in himself, Barnabas opened the door. ”Let's go
downstairs. I'll show you some of the house-”
”Barnabas?”
He tensed, knowing that his sudden withdrawal had confused her. ”No, Miranda. If I held you now, I would only hurt you.”
”You would never hurt me.” She placed a hand on his arm. ”I need you to hold me. Just for a moment.”
Her request was so like one so long ago, just after she had removed the curse from him in 1840, that he was unable to resist and drew her into his arms. ”Just for a moment,” he repeated. Having her there, where she belonged, was like the culmination of some impossible dream.
”I feel so safe here. It's as if I've always belonged in your arms.”
”Perhaps you do.”
”I wish I could stay here forever,” she sighed.
There was a way, Barnabas thought, brus.h.i.+ng her hair from her neck. It would be so simple. So easy. And once done, she would once again be his Angelique. As the last strands of hair fell away, Willie's voice reached him from the doorway. ”Barnabas, you're needed downstairs.”
Straightening, Barnabas sent the other man a look of grat.i.tude. ”Thank you, Willie. Will you take Miranda to the parlour and pour her a gla.s.s of port? I'll join you shortly,” he told her.
Julia was bent over a microscope when he entered the makes.h.i.+ft lab. ”Willie said you wanted to see me?”
”I may be onto something here. I knew I was close when you made me stop my research.”
”How soon will you know?”
”By tomorrow evening.” She began straightening some slides. ”Is Miranda with Willie?”
”You know.”
”I know that Quentin brought her here, and why. Don't be angry with Willie,63.
Barnabas. He's just concerned, that's all. Afraid that you'll do something foolish.”
”Meaning what?”
”Do I have to spell it out for you?” she asked, holding his gaze now.
Barnabas looked away. ”No. No, you don't.”
”She may be Miranda right now, but subconsciously, she's still Angelique. When she does start to remember, it could be in bits and pieces - or all at once. Either way, it's going to be a severe shock. And it will be worse if you've - confused her. For both of you.”