Chapter 20: Fall from Grace
"My name is Victoria Winters. A tiny ship sailed across the horizon; the sky was clear, and the sea was smooth as glass. Everything was peaceful and serene. Suddenly, without warning, a storm came up and dashed the little craft against the rocks, smashing it to pieces. But perhaps there was a warning, for things are always calmest before the fury breaks."
SCENE 1
The early morning sun shone through the kitchen window as Vicki sat drinking a cup of coffee. She looked out at what a beautiful day it was. Things had been so calm lately, she reflected. It was hard to believe that just a week ago, everyone had been in such an uproar over the return of Laura Collins. But now that Roger's wife had settled into the cottage, things had more or less returned to normal.
A knock came on the outside door. It startled Vicki for a moment, since no one really used that door much. Access to and from the road was much easier from the front door. Then she realized who it must be. The caretaker's cottage was behind the house, and this would be the nearest of Collinwood's entrances. Her logic was vindicated when she opened the door to see Laura standing there. "Good morning, Mrs. Collins. I was just thinking of you."
Laura smiled. "Only good things, I hope."
Vicki smiled back, but decided to avoid the question. "Come in, Mrs. Collins," she moved back so Laura could enter. "Can I get you a cup of coffee?"
"That would be wonderful, Vicki, thank you," she said as she sat at the kitchen table. "And please, call me Laura. 'Mrs. Collins' sounds so formal. Besides, I won't be Mrs. Collins much longer."
Again Vicki kept quiet as she poured the coffee. No sooner had she finished, than Laura lifted the cup to her lips and drank deeply. Vicki noticed that she took it black.
Laura set down her cup. "Vicki, I'm glad I ran into you. I've been wanting to talk to you about David."
The governess sat down at the table with a fresh cup of coffee for herself. She was a bit surprised at Laura's request. "Of course, Mrs. - Laura," she corrected herself as she added sugar to her cup. "What did you want to know?" She poured cream in as well.
"You seem to be pretty close to David. Do you know why he is always avoiding me?"
Vicki looked down into her cup, stirring it idly. "I'm afraid I don't have any idea. He's had some disturbing dreams, I know, but his reactions still seem a bit extreme." She sipped her coffee, but winced as the hot liquid burned her tongue.
Laura shook her head. "I don't understand it. David and I used to be so close. Now, it's almost as if he's frightened of me." The pain in her voice was palpable.
"I'm sorry, Laura." Vicki was sympathetic. She thought of her own mother, and wondered if she had ever agonized like this. "I wish there was something I could do to help."
"I know if I just had some time with David alone, I could get through to him. Show him how much I love him. But I've never gotten the chance." Tears welled in her eyes. "Elizabeth keeps me away from him. I know she means well; David seems to get so upset when I'm around. But if I can't talk to him, how can I calm his fears?"
Maggie's warning about Laura Collins flashed swiftly through Vicki's mind. Yet it was hard to believe this vulnerable woman was the evil monster Maggie had described. She got an idea. She didn't like going behind Mrs. Stoddard's back, but still…Vicki came to a quick decision. "Maybe there is something I can do."
Laura's eyes brightened with hope. "What did you have in mind?"
Vicki leaned forward, excited by her plan. "Can you be at the top of Widow's Hill at three o'clock this afternoon?"
"Of course I can. I'll do anything if you think it will get David to talk to me."
"I can't make any promises, of course, but here's what we'll do…"
SCENE 2
Julia was sitting in the drawing room of the Old House when Barnabas came in. "Julia," he said, almost cheerfully, "it's good to have you back. How was New York?" He sat in the armchair across from her.
"Crowded and noisy, as it always is. I think I've gotten used to this little town. It's becoming a chore to go into the city." She sighed in frustration. "Let's not talk about New York. It's depressing." She noticed the glint in his eyes. "But you seem to be in a pleasant mood."
Barnabas shrugged. "Why shouldn't I be? I've never felt better."
"But Lang did say that his treatments would begin to wear off." Julia hated to change his good mood, but she always needed to be realistic.
"There's been no sign of that yet." He got up and went to the window. "No bloodlust, and I enjoy the sun every day." The ex-vampire turned to her. "Perhaps my present condition is not permanent, but I plan to make what I can of the time I have."
"Has Dr. Lang mentioned any more about this experiment of his? The one he said might free you from the curse for good?"
Barnabas tensed slightly, but calmly answered, "No, he hasn't." Just then, Willie walked in, and Barnabas turned his attention to him. "Willie, what are you doing here? I thought you would have left by now."
"I'm on my way. I just came in to tell you I was goin'." He saw Julia sitting on the sofa. "Hey, Dr. Hoffman. I didn't know you were back."
"I just got back this morning, Willie." She silently noticed his nervous manner, and the pointed look Barnabas was giving him.
Willie shuffled in place. "How was your trip?" he asked, trying to delay leaving.
Julia opened her mouth to answer, but Barnabas interrupted. "Don't you need to be going, Willie? You don't want to be late." His voice carried a veiled threat.
The servant looked at Barnabas reluctantly, then back to Julia. "Alright, Barnabas, if you say so." He headed slowly to the door, in no hurry to leave. Barnabas watched him the whole time, until he was out the door and gone.
"Where is Willie going that is so important?"
Barnabas focused on Julia again. He kept his voice light. "He is going to Dr. Lang's." At Julia's puzzled expression, he explained, "Dr. Lang's assistant quit, so I asked Willie to lend him a hand. I wanted to help him out because of everything he's done for me."
"Jeff Clark quit working for Dr. Lang? Why?"
"I don't know the details," he lied glibly. "Personally, I'm glad he is not there any longer. Mr. Clark has been getting too close to Victoria for him to be so involved in anything concerning my secret."
Julia shook her head. "Be careful, Barnabas. I don't trust Eric Lang. I think you should be very wary of how involved you get with him."
A mischievous smile played at the edges of Barnabas' mouth. "Are you sure you aren't upset because Lang succeeded where you failed? That he was able to cure me when you couldn't?"
She became defensive. "Certainly not. First of all, Lang's treatment is merely an arresting of your condition, so he can hardly have been said to cure you. Second, we have no idea what the results of my serum would have been had you not insisted on accelerating the process against my advice."
Her words were harsh, but Barnabas accepted them calmly. His demeanor gave her the distinct impression that he knew something she didn't. Something about Lang's experiment, perhaps? She didn't know why, but Dr. Hoffman knew Barnabas wasn't telling her something. And she was determined to find out what.
