Part 42 (1/2)

”Indeed?”

Barnabas sat carefully on the edge of the bed and took her left hand in his. ”I don't want to wait for Julia's serum to take effect. I want us to be married as soon as possible.”

”But - the curse -”

”I know. It's unfair to you, but I will not take the chance of losing you.”

”You're forgetting Amy. If we marry, won't she expect to move into the Old House as well?”

”Remember that I told you I spoke to Amy? She understands my reason for wanting to marry you as soon as possible. And she suggested that we might appreciate some time alone together before she moves in. It will also give you the chance to personally oversee the work being done on the house. Now, have you any other obstacles to put in our path?”

”It sounds wonderful, my darling, but we must be sensible.”

”Why? I've done what was expected of me for too long, Angelique. Not this time. I refuse to live by someone else's rules any longer.” He pulled a square, black velvet box

from his pocket. ”This is for you. I placed the order with the jeweler the day after you arrived in Collinsport. Willie picked it up this morning.”

Angelique's eyes grew wide as he opened the box to reveal a smaller version of his own black onyx ring. ”Oh, Barnabas.”

”Shall I put it on?”

”Y-Yes,” she said, her voice a whisper.

He slid the ring onto her finger. ”It looks right there.” His kiss was a promise. ”No more obstacles?”

”No,” she said, smiling. ”No more obstacles.” She touched his face. It was a change, having him so in charge. He reminded her more of Aaron now than he ever had before. ”I'll marry you whenever you want me to.”

Julia had other ideas, however. She tried every argument she could think of to convince Barnabas to wait until he was cured, but he refused to listen. She even tried to recruit Quentin to help, but he wouldn't do so. ”They're grown ups, Julia,” he'd said. ”They're both aware of the danger of what they're planning, and they're willing to take that risk because they love each other. Leave them alone.”

In the end, Julia gave up and did all she could to help with the wedding preparations.

During that week at Collinwood, Elizabeth, Carolyn, Julia, Maggie and Amy helped to plan a small ceremony at the Old House. So it was that - two weeks after the accident - Angelique again became Mrs. Barnabas Collins.

But this time there were differences. The entire family was present, approving this marriage. And the room was filled with fresh-cut flowers. Barnabas admitted that it had been his idea, once everyone had gone.

”I wanted this time to be different,” he told her. ”A happy memory to erase the old one.”79.

”It is a happy memory, Barnabas. Thank you.”

Willie came down the stairs as Barnabas ended the kiss. ”Excuse me. Everything's ready.”

”Thank you, Willie.”

Willie had extinguished all but a few candles in the bedroom. When she entered, Angelique felt for a moment that the clock had somehow been turned back almost 200 years. Their wedding night then had been spoiled by her jealousy. Not this time, she vowed. This time, there was no music-box- she gasped upon seeing the beribboned box on the dressing table. ”What is - that?” she asked uncertainly.

”My wedding gift to you. Open it.”

She did so, lifting the silver box from inside. ”it's - lovely.” When the lid was opened to reveal the red-velvet interior, the music-box mechanism began to play a tune she recalled hearing the Countess play on the harpsichord the night after she and Barnabas had become lovers on Martinique.

”Do you like it?”