Part 37 (1/2)
Barnabas paced across the room to stand under the portrait. ”I have explained that. How many times must I do so? I was wrong. I admit it. I should never have left you behind.”
Angelique was off the bed and headed for the door. ”This will never work. There are too many harsh words between us. We still argue constantly.”
Barnabas was the door before her, locking it, pocketing the key. ”Neither of us70.
is leaving this room until we finish this - or dawn, whichever comes first.”
”You're impossible!”
”No. I - am - in - love,” he stated slowly, emphasizing every word. ”With you. And I will not allow you to walk out of my life. Our destinies were joined those nights on Martinique,” he said, using her words of long ago against her, ”and all of the things that have happened since only joined them more tightly together. Angelique, I was forced to deny my feelings to prevent your throwing your life away on someone who could never have been yours. But things are different now. We are both free, and as soon as Julia's serum ends the Leviathan curse, you will marry me.”
Surprised by his forcefulness, Angelique went still. ”I want to, Barnabas, but all we ever seem to do is quarrel.”
”This quarrel will be settled.”
”I don't even know what we're quarrelling about this time,” she protested.
He lifted her chin to see her face. ”Are you still jealous of Josette?”
”No. I can't honestly say that I could have shared you with her indefinitely. I believe that you would have been forced to choose between us sooner or later - but no. I'm no longer jealous of her. Nor of Roxanne - or Vicki Winters.”
”Good. Because you've no reason to be jealous.” He let her go and watched as she went to the window. ”I'm not so sure that I haven't reason to be, however.”
She looked at him. ”What are you talking about?”
”I accepted your reason for the interest in Quentin in 1897, and your marriage as Ca.s.sandra to Roger was only a means to return to Collinwood. But I would like an explanation for why you married Sky Rumsen. Now.”
Unsure, Angelique turned back to the window. ”I don't owe you an explanation for that.”
His hands grasped her shoulders roughly and turned her to face him. The sight of jealous fury in his eyes frightened
Angelique, and she began to struggle against his grip. ”Why?” she cried out.
Barnabas' grip loosened, his hands beginning to caress her bruised shoulders. ”Because every time I think of you with him, in his arms, like this - ” he pressed his lips to hers and wasn't really surprised by her pa.s.sionate response. ”Oh, Angelique,” he told her at last. ”I love you so much that the mere thought of another man having touched you -”
She smiled seductively. ”You're the only one who ever really touched my heart, my darling. I had given up on your ever loving me. When I met Sky, I saw a chance to start over. He - reminded me of you in some ways. I really loved him, just as you loved Josette, I suppose. But when you came to Little Windward to ask my help, I knew I hadn't been honest with myself. I still loved you, but I would have stayed with Sky - because nothing had changed. You are the only man I have ever truly loved, Barnabas. There's no need for you to be jealous Sky - of anyone.” This time, she pulled his head down to meet her waiting lips...
Angelique woke to a light knock on the door. She was alone, and a glance at the windows told why. It was after dawn. The knocking became more insistent, so she pulled on the robe that Barnabas had thoughtfully left for her, and opened the door. Julia stood in the hall with a tray of food.
”Willie fixed breakfast for us. I thought we might as well have it up here.”
”Come in, Julia.” She looked at her watch. ”It's later than I realized.”
”I thought you might need your rest.”
”Thank you. Did you see Barnabas this morning?”
”I had to give him his injection - he told me you had fully recovered your memory.”
”I thought he might. Julia, how much longer will it be until he's cured?”71.