Part 33 (2/2)
The hesitation wasn't lost on him. ”I'll try not to. Will you be much longer?”
”Another two hours, at least.”
”I'll see you later, then. I'm going to walk Miranda back to Collinwood and see Amy.”
”Amy was right about this portrait,” Miranda said. ”The man who sat for this one and the man who sat for the one at Collinwood could be the same man. You must get very tired of people saying that.”
”Not at all. Are you ready to go?”
”Must I?”
”Yes,” he said firmly but gently.
”Then I'm ready.”
Miranda's sleep was disturbed by dreams that night. Strangely vivid dreams of a tropical paradise where she and Barnabas walked and fell in love, content and happy -until the arrival of a dark haired beauty. Barnabas spent more time away from her with Josette, and when he told her of his decision to marry Josette, she had accepted his decision. With his departure from the island, Miranda woke to bright suns.h.i.+ne outside her window. She was convinced that the dream had been more than just the influence of Barnabas' story. It had been too real. The only thing she couldn't recall was her name in the dream. Barnabas hadn't even mentioned the name of the woman who even-
tually married his ancestor. As she began to dress, she noticed that the marks on her neck were fading.
Julia replaced the telephone receiver and looked at the notes before her. The date which Miranda had appeared at Henri du Bois' private clinic was barely a day after the accident in which Angelique had reportedly been killed. Dr. du Bois was sure she had walked quite a distance, and she had been suffering from shock and exposure. The elderly physician had grudgingly admitted that he hadn't tried very hard to discover his patient's ident.i.ty, since she had borne a strong resemblance to his recently deceased daughter. The study door opened.
”Oh. Excuse me, Doctor. I didn't know anyone was in here.” Miranda started back out.
”Don't go, Miranda. I was hoping you'd come in.”
”You were?”
”I'd like to ask you a few questions. Mrs. Stoddard has told me your story. I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned it, but I'm a psychiatrist, and I've handled cases like yours before.”
”I understand.”
”I just spoke to Dr. du Bois. He sent his regards, by the way. He told me what he tried, but I'd like to try some of them again, if you don't mind.”
”I'd welcome any help, Dr. Hoffman.”
”Tell me the first thing you remember.”
”I remember walking, no, stumbling along a road. It seemed I had been walking forever. Suddenly I came up on a building. It looked so warm and welcoming, I went inside.”
”There are no memories prior to that?”
”I'm - not sure, Doctor.”
”What do you mean?”
”Well, the airport in New York. I know I'd been there before. And - Collinsport.”64.
<script>