He was on the stairs, en route to the stables for a ride when the front doors opened and Andre du Pres entered the house, calling his sister's name loudly. A small, fragile-looking young woman was in his wake, her auburn hair done in the latest23.

.style, her clothes with the mark of a Paris couturier. She looked so small and fragile that Barnabas felt an overwhelming need to protect her. She looked up and saw him, a small smile lighting her already lovely face. "Natalie!!"

"Here I am, Andre. There is no need to shout the house down." She pressed her cheek to his, then turned to her niece. "Josette. Oh, I have missed you, mon enfant." "Aunt Natalie. I missed you too." Her gaze strayed to the man on the stairs once again.

Natalie followed that gaze and smiled satisfactorily. She had been certain that one look at Josette and Barnabas would be smitten. Everyone was. "Barnabas," she said, extending a hand to him in invitation.

"Good morning, Countess." He took the final steps to the bottom.

"Barnabas Collins, my brother, Count Andre du Pres."

"Mr. Collins." "Count du Pres." "Andre, please." "And his daughter, Josette." Barnabas took her hand and bowed over it. Her smile was shy. "I cannot possibly call you other than Barnabas," she said in halting English. "Not after all the letters."

He returned her smile, bowing over her hand. "I agree. You are even lovelier than I imagined you to be."

She blushed prettily, laughing softly. "Thank you."

Angelique watched Barnabas with Josette from the kitchen doorway and fought the tide of jealousy that rose within her. Barnabas had to pay court to Josette for business reasons, she reminded herself, moving forward. "Ma'mselle Josette?"

"Oh, Angelique," she cried, hugging her maid tightly, reverting to French. "I have so much to tell you about Paris."

Natalie smiled. "Why do you not both go upstairs and have your little chat? It will give Barnabas and Andre a chance to talk about business.

Following Josette upstairs, Angelique paused on the landing to see Barnabas still looking up at them. In Josette's room, Angelique dutifully put away her mistress' travelling cloak, then began to repair the hairstyle, listening to Josette's soft voice.

"He is wonderful, is he not?" she asked dreamily, still speaking in French.

Keeping her features carefully held to blank politeness, Angelique responded, "Who, ma'mselle?"

"Barnabas, of course. And so handsome."

"I had not noticed. Tell me about Paris. What is it like?"

"Oh, it is wonderful Perhaps on our next trip, Aunt Natalie will allow you to accompany me." She never realized that her maid had deliberately changed the subject.

Andre liked Barnabas, liked discussing business with the younger man. He had a sharp, quick mind. Most of all, Andre liked the way that Josette had blossomed since meeting him. They rode together every morning - properly chaperoned, of course -and Andre had high hopes for a match between his daughter and Barnabas Collins.

Barnabas' a.s.signations with Angelique became less frequent as his confusion grew. He could easily read the hurt and anger in Angelique's blue eyes when no one else was watching, but he was uncertain of what he should do.

His decision to marry Angelique was no longer as clear as it had been. Josette would be readily accepted by his family -particularly his father. Joshua wanted him to return with a contract between the Collins Shipyards and Andre du Pres, and he did not care what his son did to achieve that goal. Barnabas was fond of Josette. She needed to be protected, and he wanted to give it. He was equally sure that his father would never accept Angelique. She would forever be a penniless servant in his eyes. Barnabas knew how difficult his father could make a person's life. What he and An-25.

gelique felt now would ultimately be poisoned by Joshua's anger. He loved her, but he could not see himself putting her through the h.e.l.l Joshua would make for them at Collinwood.

He reined his horse to a stop and looked around. In the two months since Josette's return, this was the first morning he had ridden alone, and he found that he missed her company. Marriage to her would not be so bad, he thought. As for Angelique, he would put an end to their relationship when he left Martinique. They would never meet again. She would find another - the thought of Angelique in another man's arms caused him great pain, but Barnabas forced himself to bury those feelings. For her sake as well as his.

Angelique went as usual to her hideaway, not really expecting Barnabas to join her. Josette was certain that he planned to speak to the Count soon and ask for Josette's hand. There was fire in Angelique's blue eyes when she opened the door - but it changed from anger to pa.s.sion when she saw Barnabas already there.

"I did not think you would be here," she told him, resting her head against his chest.

He held himself rigid as he spoke. "I had to come. I have made a decision and I wanted to tell you about it before someone else did." There was something about his voice that made Angelique go cold. She lifted her head, eyes questioning.

Unable to tell her while looking into those exquisite eyes, Barnabas pulled away and crossed to the other side of the room. "I am going to ask Josette to marry me," he said quietly.

Angelique folded her arms at her waist, trying to control the pain and anger his words caused. A jealous rage would do no good. "I cannot pretend surprise. After all, how can a mere servant possibly compete with a lady like Miss Josette? I have nothing to give you - except my love. Evidently that is not enough for you."

He turned her to look at him. "Angelique," he said, his voice tortured, "the reasons for my decision are complicated. I am not sure I understand them fully myself. But it is the only decision I can make."

"Of course. What - What will happen to me?"

"Once I have left, you will find someone else. Someone who can give you more than I am free to give."

"I do not want someone else, Barnabas. I want only you."

"Please, Angelique. Do not make this anymore difficult than it is."

She closed her eyes for a moment. "As you wish. Will I - continue to see you until you leave?"

"I don't - " he began, but she interrupted him,

"Oh, I know I should have pride enough not to ask, but I have no pride where you are concerned." She touched his arm. "Is it so much to ask? These last few weeks?"

The soft glitter of tears in her beautiful eyes was Barnabas' undoing. Gently, he drew her into his arms. "No. No, it is not. I will be here when I am able. Stop crying," he said softly, raising her face with the intention of wiping away the tears. But the nearness of her made him lower his mouth fully onto hers...

"You wished to speak to me, Barnabas?" Andre asked.

Barnabas stood before the man's desk. "Yes, sir. I would like to marry your daughter."

"Have you asked her?"

"Not yet. I preferred to speak to you first."

The Count's eyes narrowed. "Why do you want to marry her?"

"Because I love her, sir," he answered. In a way, it was true. What he felt for Josette was love. Oh, not the heart-stopping, soul-destroying feeling he had for Angelique, but a quieter, more comfortable feeling. Perhaps, he considered, it was the better of the two.26.

"It is certainly no secret how she feels about you," Andre said, rising and staring up at the portrait of Josette's mother. "Very well. You have my permission to speak to Josette."

"Thank you, sir."

He heard feminine voices in the garden, and realized that Angelique was there with Josette. Barnabas hesitated before approaching the stone bench where they sat doing needlepoint and talking in French. Two such different women - and he was drawn to both. Angelique glanced up and saw him. She must have read his face, or perhaps she read his mind, for she rose to her feet.

"M'sieu Collins," she said with a curtsey.

"Barnabas," Josette said, turning to see him. "I thought you still locked with Papa in his study."

"I have just come from there." He could not look at Angelique. "Josette, may I speak with you? Alone?"

Angelique gathered up the sewing material and curtseyed again. "I will go and see if the Countess has work for me. Pardon, M'sieu." She slipped past him toward the house.