Part 44 (1/2)
”I will.”
Barnabas watched Julia talk to the ambulance attendant. He was troubled by Roger's sudden illness. Julia returned to where he stood with Elizabeth and Carolyn. ”I'm sorry, Elizabeth. I still don't know what's causing Roger's illness. Perhaps the tests at the hospital will tell me more. I'll call you when they're done or if his condition changes.”
”I still think I should go.”
”We've already discussed this, Elizabeth. You'll be better off here.”
”Julia's right, Elizabeth. You need to rest. Would you go with your mother, Carolyn and make sure that she takes that sleeping pill Julia left for her? I want to talk to Julia for a moment.”
”All right. Come on, Mother.”
”Thank you for being here, Barnabas.”
”Where else would I be? Try to rest.” He waited until they were inside the house. ”You haven't any idea what is responsible for this, Julia?”
”I wish I did,” she sighed.
”Perhaps instead of what, I should have said who.”
”What do you mean?”
”Come now, Julia. The facts speak for themselves. Roger is a healthy man, with no physical problems. Suddenly he's stricken with a mysterious ailment -”
”You're not suggesting - no. I don't believe it. Besides, Angelique gave up her powers. And what reason would she have?”
”What reason has she ever needed to hurt people?”
”I still don't believe it. I'm sure that the tests will show some reason - some medical reason - for Roger's condition.”
”I hope you're right, Julia. But if those tests show nothing, then I would advise you to think about what I have said.”
”I'd better get to the hospital. I'll talk to you tomorrow.”
After Willie woke her, Angelique put on her coat and left the house, telling Willie82.
not to let Barnabas know that she had gone out. Walking swiftly, she went to the Eagle Hill Cemetery and hid beside the Collins Family mausoleum, a spot which gave her an un.o.bstructed view of the lone grave on the opposite edge of the graveyard. She knew that Judah's skull had been buried there in 1840 after she had exposed him to save Quentin and Desmond Collins. It had been hoped that a proper burial would help him rest in peace. She had been so certain that he had been destroyed with Gerard Stiles. Could she have been wrong? If what she suspected was true, would she be able to stop him again?
A figure moved into the graveyard, and Angelique forced herself to remain still and quiet as Barnabas moved directly to stand at Judah's grave and stood there, head bowed.
Angelique watched in terrified silence until he finally turned and then she ran from her hiding place taking a short-cut back to the Old House.
She was in the drawing room, waiting, when he arrived. ”I was beginning to worry. it's getting late.”
”I have plenty of time. Is it ready?”
”Yes.” She waited for him to roll up his sleeve, then gave him the shot.
”Well done. You evidently haven't forgotten how to do that,” he said, referring to her a.s.sisting Julia in curing him in 1897.
”No. I haven't. How is Roger?”