Sleep left her suddenly and Natalie sat up in bed, startled, confused,

frightened. Where was she? This was not her room, not her bed. She took a deep breath and slowly became aware of warmth beside her. Cautiously she looked to her side and tried to suppress a loud gasp. Joshua... No! Dear God, No! It had been real. It had not been a dream like so many other nights, but real. She was in Joshua Collins' room and the desires of her dreams had become actions of reality. Natalie was certain of it. She'd not had a lover in many, many years, but time did not erase the memories of afterglow. How had this happened? Both had agreed the marriage was not to be consummated and yet, here she was, the morning after her marriage to him, in his bed.

Sliding from the bed, Natalie cast her gaze about the room, looking for her clothing. She found it where she vaguely recalled Joshua dropping it after she had allowed him to undress her. She let him! Dressing quickly, Natalie quietly hurried toward the door. She was about to open it when she heard Joshua sit up in bed with a startled gasp. She froze, hoping he would go back to sleep, but that was not to be.

"... Madame..."

His voice held more puzzlement and confusion than harshness, and Natalie slowly turned around to face him. Joshua had gotten out of bed and was pulling his dressing gown around him as he turned to face her.

They simply started at each other. The night before they had not needed words, and now words evaded both of them. Finally Joshua took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"I had thought, perhaps, it to have been a very vivid, detailed dream, but I can see that hope was a vain one. Have you an explanation, Natalie?"

She shook her head as she stepped toward Joshua.

"I too thought it to be a very... realistic dream, until I awakened here, to the reality of the situation."

"Are you certain we..."

"Consummated our marriage? I am certain, Joshua."

"How did this happen, Natalie? We agreed..."

"I don't know, Joshua, but it has happened and there is nothing we can do to change that."

"Will you forgive me, Natalie?"

"For what? I do not have clear memories of last night, but I do know we were both most... eager to accomplish the deed. You did not force me, Joshua, any more than I forced you."

"That is true..."

Again he took a deep breath and dared to close the distance between himself and Natalie. He reached out to take her hand and she allowed it. Their gazes met and Joshua refused to look away. He would accept responsibility for his own actions.

"I seem to recall some rather... enthusiastic activity, Natalie. Are you all right?"

"Yes, Joshua, I am fine. You did not harm me."

"I still do not understand how this could have happened! I was perfectly content to respect your wishes, I had every intention of doing so, but..."

Natalie shook her head. It occurred to her that perhaps someone else, for some reason, did not want them to remain celibate, but she would not voice that suspicion to Joshua.

"Perhaps... our hearts are trying to tell us something which our minds do not recognize."

Joshua stared at her for a moment, then bristled as he snorted his disagreement and dropped her hand.

"That is the kind of romantic nonsense I would have expected from Barnabas, not from a mature, intelligent woman such as yourself. Are you trying to tell me there is... love involved?"

Natalie shook her head as she sighed heavily.

"I do not know what I am trying to tell you, Joshua. I merely offered it as a possible explanation for something we can neither explain or understand."

Joshua's expression softened as he turned away, considering his words. When he turned back toward Natalie, his eyes reflected fear and dread.

"Natalie, we are sure - absolutely certain - that the witch, Angelique, is gone form us? I know Barnabas said he killed her, strangled her, but... would that be enough? She did make an appearance at Miss Winters' trial..."

"Are you thinking we are under a spell of some kind?"

"I do not know."

"The idea did occur to me, Joshua, but I have seen no evidence of a spell such as the one she used on your brother and my niece."

"I should hope the woman would have more sense than to use such an obvious method a second time... No, never mind, I would put nothing past her. But why?"

Natalie was shaking her head. These were all questions she had asked

herself several times and had found no answers to them.

"Perhaps for no reason other than she can do it, if even from beyond the grave. Joshua, we have no proof we are under a spell."

"Have you another explanation?"

"I have not been able to explain anything since I arrived here..."

Joshua once again reached for Natalie's hand and met her gaze when she looked up at him.

"Perhaps there is no explanation, I no longer know... Natalie,... what are we to do about... the events of last night?"

A bit startled by the question, Natalie blinked, then shook her head.

"What is there to do? We could hate each other and blame each other for the rest of our lives, but that will accomplish nothing except to make us both miserable. Perhaps we should simply agree to put it behind us and make every effort to be sure it does not happen again."

Collins studied her for a long moment, struck by her mature beauty. His pulse quickened with the vague memories he had of the night before, and he felt a sadness, an emptiness at the prospect of never sharing his bed with Natalie again, but he nodded his agreement. Natalie had agreed to the marriage to prevent her brother's financial ruin. She wanted nothing else out of the union, and he would respect her wishes.

"Agreed."

Joshua raised Natalie's hand, which he still held, bent over it and kissed the back of it. As he straightened, their gazes met and Natalie felt a spark of desire and regret that she would never again experience Joshua Collins' passion.