"I'll go find Barnabas," Quentin decided.

I'll walk you to the door." She told him to bring a vial of serum so she could give Barnabas his injection.

"I will. She is going to be all right, isn't she, Julia?"

"I'm sure of it. Her injuries aren't life threatening at the moment. Or they won't be after surgery. Make sure Barnabas knows that."

"I will. I'm not sure what he'd do if he lost her now."

"I am sure."

Quentin glanced out at the darkening sky. "By the time I get there, it should be almost dark. See you."

Amy was alone again, sitting on the bed when Julia came in. "I wish you would try to rest, Amy. You need to rest."

"Not until Barnabas get here. I have to explain."

"He won't blame you, Amy. It wasn't your fault."

Amy wasn't listening, and Julia knew she was remembering Sabrina's death, her inability to prevent it, and Chris' reaction. "Why isn't he here?"

"He will be soon. Quentin's on his way to the Old House."77.

Quentin had retrieved the serum and had just finished a brandy when Barnabas entered the parlour. "Quentin. Where is Julia?"

"In Collinsport."

Barnabas could read his expression too well. "Something has happened."

"There's been an accident. Julia sent me to get you."

Barnabas let Amy cry until she had calmed. As he listened to her narrative of the accident, Barnabas tried not to think about *what was happening in the operating room down the corridor. He was extremely grateful that Amy's injuries weren't more severe. "Julia tells me you refused to go to sleep."

"I wanted to see you. You're not angry with me, are you?"

"Of course not. You and Angelique are the most important things in my life, Amy. Will you try and rest now?"

"Yes."

"I'll see you later, then." He kissed her forehead lightly and went out to where Julia was waiting in the hall.

"How is she?"

"I think she'll sleep now."

"Angelique is in Recovery, Barnabas. The surgery went well. You can go in for a minute."

She looked so pale, he thought. There was a bandage on her forehead, along with a few bruises. Taking her hand in his, Barnabas gently brushed her hair back from her face. "Oh, my beautiful Angelique. You must recover. To lose you now, just when we've found each other -I couldn't stand it. I love you. I need you."

It was almost two a.m. before Angelique stirred and opened her eyes. She had been transferred to a private room an hour earlier, and hearing her move, Barnabas turned from the window to go to the bed. "Barnabas. Where - the fog. Amy. Where is Amy?"

"She's in another room, resting. She's all right."

She managed a weak smile. "I seem to have done it again, haven't I?"

"You're all right now. That is all that I care about, my darling."

He saw her wince in pain, and said, I'll go get Julia."

Barnabas stayed as long as he could at the hospital before returning to the Old House. He had come to a decision during those long hours at Angelique's bedside, but the evening was the earliest that he could make that decision known.

Julia was waiting to give him the injection when he rose at dusk. "Amy's back at Collinwood," she told him. "And Angelique is making a remarkable recovery."

"You said last night that she would have to stay in the hospital for at least a week?"

"Yes, and then she'll need another week to regain her strength. She was very lucky, Barnabas."

"How much longer do you estimate it will be before I am cured?"

"Around four weeks, why? What are you planning, Barnabas?"

"Why do you think I'm planning anything, Julia?"

"Because I know you. You haven't looked me in the eyes once this evening, and that always means that you're going to do something that you think I won't approve of your doing. Now, why don't you just save us both some time and aggravation and tell me what's going on?"

"You'll see, Julia," was his only response.

He stopped by Collinwood to see Amy, and after speaking with her alone, left for the village. Angelique's eyes were closed when he entered the room, and for a moment, he thought her to be asleep, and78.

reached out to touch her cheek. She smiled. "I've been waiting for you."

"I went to see Amy. There was something I needed to discuss with her."

She indicated the crystal vase filled almost to overflowing with red blooms. "Thank you for the roses."

"I sent Willie to order them. I remember once your mentioning that you liked flowers."

"Yes," she said, recalling that she had said it to his mother after their wedding so long ago. "You look very pleased with yourself this evening."

"I think I have reason to be. Amy is well, you will soon be out of here and where you belong."

"At Collinwood?"

"For a week," he agreed. "After that -"

"Barnabas, what are you talking about?"

"After you've recovered there for a week, you'll be moving into the Old House."