Part 38 (2/2)
”Not if we start immediately. Let's make our plans, and we can talk to Barnabas about them this evening.”
”Great!”
Amy caught Barnabas at the door. We have to talk.”
”About what?”
”About the Old House. Angelique and I have talked about it -”
”And what did you decide?” he asked.
”You admitted when I first arrived that some work needed to be done, do you remember?”
”I do.”
”Well, Angelique and I have drawn up some plans for that work.”
”I'm sure they'll be fine, Amy,” he a.s.sured her with an indulgent smile. ”May I a.s.sume from this conversation that you approve of my plans?”
”Marrying Angelique? Of course. We're going to Bangor tomorrow to do some shopping.”
”I see.”
She gave him a kiss on the cheek. ”I have some school work to finish. Goodnight.”
”Goodnight.” He turned and went into the drawing room, finding Angelique sitting beside Elizabeth. Under the family's approving eyes, he bent to give her a very chaste kiss. ”Good-evening.”
Her eyes told him how much she'd missed him as Roger spoke, offering him a sherry. ”I would have brought up some73.
champagne, but Liz convinced me to wait until the wedding. Congratulations, Barnabas.”
”Thank you, Roger. I'm a very lucky man.”
”Yes, indeed. Second chances don't come along every day, do they? I know my second chance at marriage - ” he broke off, looking closely at Angelique.
”Is something wrong, Uncle Roger?”
”I was just thinking about Ca.s.sandra - my last wife,” he explained to Angelique, ”and it suddenly struck me how much you resemble her.” Barnabas moved nearer Angelique's side, placing a hand on her shoulder. ”Don't any of you see it? Except for the colour and style of her hair, they could be twins.”
”You're right, Roger,” Elizabeth said in agreement. ”That's who you reminded me of when we first met, Angelique: Ca.s.sandra.”
Barnabas, concerned for Angelique, began to speak, but she cut him off. ”There's no reason to hide it any longer, darling. I should have known that the truth would out sooner or later.”
”Angelique -”
Her eyes met his. ”I can handle it, Barnabas.” She looked at Roger and Elizabeth. ”There is a reason why I look like Ca.s.sandra. She and I are twins, regrettably. In fact, I'm somewhat responsible for her ever coming to Collinwood.”
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