Part 43 (1/2)
”I'm just - curious. You left several hours before sunrise.”
”I merely went for a walk. Nothing more than that. Satisfied?”
”Where did you walk to?”
”If I didn't know how much you trust me, my dear, I'd say you were checking up on me.”
”That's nonsense! Forget I mentioned it. I'm going to bed.” She was halfway up the stairs when she stopped and looked back at him. He had returned to his contemplation of the fire. ”Are you coming up?”
”Not right now. Later, perhaps.”
She tried to hide her confusion and disappointment. ”I'll say goodnight, then.”
He didn't answer.
Roger was at his desk in the study going over some papers when a sharp pain shot through his chest. He slumped over the desk, unconscious.
Barnabas let a very distraught Carolyn into the Old House a few hours later. ”Oh, Barnabas. I was afraid no one would be up.”
”I was about to go upstairs. Is something wrong, Carolyn?”
”Is Julia here, by any chance?”
”I believe she is - Willie! Is someone ill?”
”It's Uncle Roger.”
Willie came into the room. ”Did you call me, Barnabas? h.e.l.lo, Carolyn.”
”Willie, go see if Julia's still here. Tell her that Roger is ill.”
”Sure.” He disappeared toward the kitchen and the back cellar steps.
”Barnabas? Is something - ” Angelique appeared on the stairs, wearing her robe. ”Carolyn.”
”I came to get Julia. Uncle Roger - I'm afraid he's dying!”
”What?”
”Are you sure, Carolyn?” Barnabas asked calmly. Too calmly for Angelique's peace of mind. Glaring at her husband's lack of real concern, she led Carolyn into the parlour.
”Pour her some brandy, Barnabas. What happened, Carolyn?”
”We don't know. After you left, he went into the study to do some work. When I went in to check why the light was still on, I found him there, unconscious.”
Julia came in and, after hearing Carolyn's story, the two women left immediately. Julia pulled Angelique aside, said that she would try to get back before dawn, but in case she couldn't, everything was ready. Angelique nodded in understanding as she watched them drive away. ”Do you think we should go too,” she asked Barnabas.
”Julia will let us know if we're needed,” he said, sounding much more himself. ”I hope it's nothing serious. Surely it's not. Roger seemed well enough earlier.”
”Yes. Yes, he did, didn't he? I hope Amy sleeps through all of this. She'll be so upset -”