Part 38 (1/2)
Carolyn didn't look away from the window as she spoke. ”Someone should tell Amy.”
Angelique watched her. ”Carolyn, I'm sorry if my being here is a painful reminder -”
”No, it's not. I never blamed you for what Sky did. You and he had already separated when he killed Jeb.”
Any further conversation on the subject was lost as Amy came into the room, stopping warily as she noticed all eyes on her. ”What's going on?”
Angelique smiled, then looked at Elizabeth. ”I think it might be best if I speak to her alone.”
”Of course. The study is empty.”
Amy followed her into the room, watching the blonde woman closely. Once the door was closed, she said, ”You know who you are now, don't you?”
”Yes, Amy. I remembered last night.”
”Does Barnabas know?”
”He was there.”
”Are you going to marry him?”
”Do you think I should?”
Amy answered without hesitation. ”Yes. Barnabas loves you. And you love him. I saw that when you were here before.”
”You did?”
”It was obvious. Every time you looked at him. And when two people love each other, they should get married.”
”I agree,” Angelique said, amused by the matter of fact statement. But there was something bothering the girl, and she understood the cause. ”You're worried about what it will mean to you, aren't you?”
”Well, Barnabas is my guardian, and his marrying will affect me.”
”Of course it will. I have to admit, Amy, that I never expected to take even partial responsibility for an adolescent, but the more I think about it, the more I like the idea. Especially if that adolescent is you.”
”Do you mean that?”
”You'll learn very quickly that I seldom say anything that I don't mean, Amy. Think of the fun we can have together: shop-
ping, making plans to semi-modernize the Old House -”
”Will Barnabas agree to that?”
”I'm sure he will. The plumbing is practically non-existent, and the kitchen needs modernization.”
”There's already a gas-powered generator for the kitchen.”
”I know, but I'd rather leave the rest of the house as it is, candles, lamps -”
Amy was in complete agreement. ”The house wasn't meant for electricity.” Her features fell. ”It'll take for ever to finish.”