Part 48 (1/2)
to do his work for him, but we must stop him.”
”I know. Listen, I want you to go back to Barnabas and tell him that I was able to stop Angelique by using that amulet. If he's Barnabas, he'll be grateful. If he's Judah-”
”He'll be furious at your intervention.”
”Not necessarily. He may take it to mean that I suspect Angelique.”
”We need to get the children away -protect them. But David will never go with Roger still in the hospital -”
”Let me handle David. And I'll also talk to Elizabeth about sending Maggie with them to Boston until this is over.”
”Yes. I'll go up and give Elizabeth something to help her relax and then leave.”
”I can give her a pill, Julia. Go on back to the Old House.”
Upstairs, Quentin convinced Elizabeth that David couldn't help his father by staying here, and that the atmosphere wasn't a good one for children at the moment. She agreed that Maggie should take David and Amy to Boston for a week or so, then took the pill Julia had sent up for her.
Quentin was just leaving her room when Maggie came into the hall. She started to turn away, but he stopped her. ”I want to apologize for the things I said, Maggie. Can we talk?”
”I'm not certain we have anything to talk about, Quentin.”
He touched her arm, smiling. ”Hey. At least give me a chance.”
”Are you sure Angelique won't mind?”
”Angelique?”
”You seem to be spending a great deal of time with her, Quentin.”
”That's part of what I have to explain. Please?”
Maggie took a deep breath, knowing that she was probably going to regret this, but turned and led the way to his rooms in the West Wing. Once there, she refused his offered drink and sat down. ”I'm listening.”
.m
”Angelique and Barnabas are having some - problems, and she needs a friend. That's all there is to it.”
”What kind of problems?”
”She's afraid that he's not - stable.”
”What?”
”He's been acting pretty strange since they got married - and Angelique is worried that he might have been possessed by an evil spirit who wants to destroy the Collins family.”
”You're going to have to do better than that, Quentin.”
”It's true. Even Julia's noticed the change. She's concerned that he might harm someone - if he hasn't already -”
”Roger? How could he?”
”Black magic. Maggie, I know this is hard for you to believe, but I'm afraid he might try to hurt you or the kids. Elizabeth's agreed that you should take them to Boston for a few days.”
”Boston? David won't go with his father ill,” she said.
Quentin sat beside her. ”Please, Maggie. I'll talk to him. I want you out of here. I don't want to give him any opportunity to hurt you.” He touched her cheek. ”You mean too much to me for me to let that happen.”
”That's not what you said the other night.”