In the aftermath of the horrors of Barnabas Collins, a new housekeeper was hired to replace Mrs. Johnson at Collinwood. Her name was Carlotta Drake. The job must have been a fairly easy one, for the only two family members left alive were Mrs. Stoddard and young David Collins. In addition, her knowledge of the estate should have helped her tremendously.
For Carlotta had been at Collinwood before - in 1810. She was the reincarnation of Sarah Castle, the daughter of the housekeeper then. Little Sarah had been devoted to the beautiful Angelique Collins, who was condemned to hang as a witch. But Angelique told the girl that her love would keep her alive. So when Sarah returned over 160 years later, Angelique's spirit was reawakened. (Carlotta's comment that she was the daughter of the housekeeper at Collinwood must refer to this previous life. Otherwise, Angelique's ghost would have been around a lot longer.)
Carlotta soon became a servant of her ghostly mistress once again. Her nephew, Gerard Styles, became the handyman on the estate, and fulfilled Angelique's desire for "male companionship." For more reasons than someone had to keep up the house and grounds, Carlotta and Gerard remained at Collinwood upon Mrs. Stoddard's death. (One has to wonder if Carlotta and Gerard had anything to do with this, and what happened to David is completely unknown.)
Word soon came from heir Quentin Collins that he would arrive shortly with his new bride, Tracy. But he had offered the use of one of the many cottages on the grounds to his writer friends, Alex and Clair Jenkins, who would be there first. Carlotta could not have been happy about this, for they would interfere with Angelique's plans. Also, Alex's questions about ghosts at Collinwood struck too close to home. She distinctly kept her distance from the couple.
It was two weeks later that Quentin and Tracy arrived. Carlotta noticed the resemblance immediately, but as she gave the newlyweds a tour of the great house, it became more obvious that Quentin was the reincarnation of Charles Collins, Angelique's lover from so long ago. That evening, an unconscious Quentin rendezvoused with the seductive ghost, and Carlotta knew things would be different from then on.
Despite Gerard's jealousy at being usurped by Quentin, Carlotta continued to serve Angelique's interests. While still appearing to be the dutiful housekeeper, she subtly worked to bring Quentin into the ghost's influence. When he asked her to suggest a room to work in, she led him to the tower. This was the room Charles used to have his studio in, and where the spirit's power seemed to be the strongest. Slowly, Quentin began to turn into Charles. Though Carlotta may have had second thought about it when the possessed Quentin almost killed her nephew.
The change in Quentin did not go unnoticed by his wife, however. Tracy asked him to stop painting in the tower, and to Carlotta's dismay, he agreed. He began working in the gallery, and even removed Angelique's portrait, claiming it distracted him. Carlotta tried to return to picture to its proper place, subtly suggesting he return to the tower. But Quentin finally saw through her act. He realized that she knew why he was having strange dreams and visions. Confronted, Carlotta told him the truth. Relating the story of Angelique's final day, she said that the ghost wanted her lover back, and Mrs. Collins would have to go. As Quentin's angry reaction, she advised him to leave Collinwood - if he could.
It turned out that Quentin was no match for Angelique and his previous incarnation. He moved back to the tower as Charles took control more often. With Quentin taken care of, Carlotta turned her attention to getting rid of Tracy. She did everything she could to make Tracy feel unwanted, even saying it to her at one point. When she discovered Tracy had broken into the tower, she immediately told Quentin to widen the gap between them.
One night, Alex Jenkins came banging on the door. Though Carlotta tried to keep him out, he barged in claiming Quentin had tried to kill Tracy. Quentin ran to her room panicked, but soon returned, seemingly unconcerned that Tracy was missing. Realizing Charles was now in complete control, Carlotta sent Gerard to kill the others.
Somehow, Quentin was able to regain control of himself, and forced Carlotta to tell him what Gerard was going. She watched him run off to try to save his wife and friends, doubting he would be successful.
But he did succeed, as Carlotta discovered when she found the four of them holding a séance. Horrified that they were trying to get rid of her beloved Angelique, she broke in on the ritual, hoping to keep the spirit with her. Then she fled, pursued by Alex, to the roof of the tower. Looking down, she saw Angelique on the lawn, calling to her. Perhaps she thought her mistress would protect her, and she threw herself off the parapet. But she was wrong. Her broken body lying on the ground, Carlotta finally joined her beloved Angelique in death.
