"No. The storm is in the opposite direction."

"Come in, Miranda -"

"He will return, Marie."

Marie pursed her lips in concern. The woman refused to believe the Tarofs prediction. Considering her condition, Marie thought it best to humor her. "Until he does, ma chere, you must think of the child."

Henri, suffering from shock, exposure, and a mortal wound in his leg, was plucked from the water a day later by an English ship bound for the island. He was delirious, and his wild claims of a mutiny on the Sea Witch were dismissed as the mad ravings of a dying man. It was widely known that Forsythe's crew was among the most loyal on the seas. But when the debris was spotted later that day, the story spread rapidly throughout the islands.

Miranda's son was still-born, three months premature. For weeks after, Marie sat with her mistress, concerned for her life and sanity. The one thing which seemed to calm Miranda was the golden chain and it's molded replica of the Sea Witch. "It is my only link to him now," she told Marie. "He knew it would happen. Knew."

"We must leave this place, Miranda." Marie's tone was serious.

"Leave Belle Mer? I cannot leave. Aaron will come to me here. He promised."

"It is not safe for you, Madame. I saw it in the cards. There is danger here for you. Unless you leave Martinique, you will die."

"How?"

"The cards did not reveal that. But the same enemy that stalked Aaron now stalks you."

"I no longer care, Marie."

Marie had known she would speak like that. "But you must. If - If Aaron is to return to you, you must be alive to welcome him."

"But, if I leave -"

"He will find you no matter where you are."18.

r-

Miranda's face set in thought. "Very well. I will sell Belle Mer. What was that man's name? The one who made the offer last month?"

"du Pres, Madame. Count du Pres."

"Yes. Send a message that I will accept his offer."

"Where will we go?"

"To - England, I think. I would like to meet my in-laws."

Philip Forsythe, the third Earl of Har-risbee, felt a twinge of conscience upon being informed of his brother's death, and allowed Miranda and her companion to reside in one of the family's houses. There, Miranda spent most of her time before the fire, the talisman in her hands.

After Marie died in 1738, Miranda made a decision. She made the decision to return to Martinique. She sent an agent to buy Belle Mer from the du Pres family, but they refused to sell.

When Miranda Duval Forsythe died on a rainy day in 1770, and was buried in the Forsythe family graveyard, the family felt

sad that she had never been able to return to her beloved Martinique.

Angelique Bouchard was born in Martinique in 1775, the daughter of a local folk healer and pract.i.tioner of voodoo. Angelique recalled her past life on the island at an early age, surprising her mother with her knowledge of the island - and of the du Pres plantation. At the age of fifteen, when her mother died, the Countess Natalie du Pres took pity on the child and hired Angelique to be her maid.

She was back at Belle Mer.

The only problem was that she had to play servant to the Countess and her niece, Josette. The two girls were the same age, each beautiful in their own ways. Josette was courted quite fiercely, ofttimes because of her father's great wealth. Using her powers, Angelique began to enjoy secretly stealing the auburn beauty's suitors.

But no one ever suspected that dear, quiet, helpful, Angelique was a witch.

Chapter Three

Martinique, 1795.

Angelique Bouchard was straightening the room of her employer, the Countess, when the woman said, "We will be having a visitor soon, Angelique."

"A visitor, Countess?"

"Actually, he is coming to see my brother on business, but since Andre is still in Paris with Josette," she said of her niece, "and not due for another two months, it falls to me to keep him entertained."

"Is he important?"

"No doubt you have heard Josette speak of him. Barnabas Collins."

"The man with whom she has been corresponding for a year?"

"That is the one. His letters have helped her English, do you not agree?"

"Yes. Mademoiselle Josette believes she is in love with him," Angelique confided.

"I know. With a man she has never seen. But Josette was always the romantic. Still, a marriage to this Barnabas might not be a bad thing. I shall read the Tarot cards."

Angelique turned to hide her smile. There were many times when her mistress reminded her of dear Marie. Especially now, her head bent over the cards. Pretending ignorance, Angelique asked, "What do they say, Countess?"

"They are - unclear. Perhaps once I meet Monsieur Collins, I will see the answer."

When Barnabas Collins arrived, Angelique was on the landing with a clear view of the foyer. When she saw the tall, dark-haired man with hazel eyes, Angelique felt light- headed. Aaron, she thought, watching him greet the Countess. You did return. Just as you promised you would.

He looked up and their eyes met. But there was no recognition in them, only a quickly veiled admiration for a beautiful

woman. Following his gaze, the Countess spoke. "Ah. Angelique. Come down and be introduced to my guest. Mr. Collins, my maid, Angelique."

Knowing it was expected, Angelique curtseyed, feeling his eyes on her. He is attracted to me, she thought, but kept her eyes down. "M'sieu."

"Make certain that Mr. Collins' room is ready, Angelique."

"But of course, Countess." She turned and started back upstairs as the Countess slipped her hand through Barnabas' arm.

"Let us go into the drawing room, m'sieu, and I will tell you about my brother -and Josette."