"I love you," he said low, "but Mandy, I cannot allow myself to fall in love with you until you are older. Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?"
"No," she said imply, and her body quivered against his.
He sighed heavily. "You are cold. We'll go up to the house and get dry." As he carried her over the threshold of Paradise, her words came back to him, and he grinned down at her.
She brushed her eyelashes and tremulously returned his smile.
"That's better." He gave her a reassuring squeeze before he set her down.. "Samuel, fetch a blanket! Light a fire!" He called orders and Samuel carried them out without lifting an eyebrow.
Nick poured a glass of wine and came to the fireplace with it. "Drink this down while I'm watching you," he instructed.
She obeyed, slowly.
"I'm going up to change. I promised your father I'd ride into Charleston tonight. When I go upstairs, I want you to take off your wet clothes and wrap yourself in this blanket. Dry whatever you can. Put your shoes right onto the hearth, that's right. I'll try to find something of mine you can put on until we get you home. Don't worry, I've given orders that no one is to come in here."
She smiled apologetically at the trouble she was causing. "Thank you for helping me, Nicholas."
When he came back with various items of apparel over his arm, she accepted she shirt, but shook her head over the trousers. "I'll put my skirt back on. It's only damp now."
He turned his back so she could dress.
"You may turn around now," she said softly. She struggled into her damp shoes and bundled her bedraggled stockings and underwear into her discarded camisole. "I wish I didn't have to go back." Her lips began to tremble.
"The next few days are going to be hard, Amanda. They will take all the courage you have."
She straightened her back. "I know. I'm ready now."
"Good girl." He wrapped one of his jackets about her shoulders. "Let's go."
Her mounted Sunblood and gently lifted her up before him in the saddle. The heat from his body soon stopped the shivery feeling she had, and she relaxed back against him, thankful that she had someone like Nicholas to lean upon.
He knew a great need to protect her. She was too young, too small, and far too sensitive to shoulder the burden life was thrusting upon her. His arms tightened about the slight figure and he willed some of the misery in her to drain away into his own powerful frame.
He wished he could stay with her all night and allow his strength to sustain her, yet he was sure that within Amanda Virginia there were deep mysterious reservoirs of strength. Though it wasn't physical, it was a strength of the spirit, which in the long run might prove more enduring.
When they came close to the Jackson Plantation, keening could be heard coming from the slave quarters. Mixed with the sounds of the tree frogs and crickets, it sounded eerie indeed. He drew rein and lifted Amanda to the ground. He held onto her shoulder with one hand, and lifted her chin with the other. "You'll find it easier to bear if you talk to your mother. That's what I did when my father died. Still do, sometimes. I don't know if she can hear you, love, but just pretend that she can, and I guarantee you'll feel comforted." He bent and kissed her brow. "I'll watch 'till you get to the door, and I'll see you tomorrow."
Chapter Ten
During the month that had flown past since the day Miss Caroline had been buried, Nicholas had harvested his own cotton and then turned around and repeated the process over at the Jackson Plantation. Bernard had lost his overseer and never replaced him, and Brandon was less than useless when it came to running a plantation. Nicholas still had to gin both crops in his mill before he could get Rafe to ship it and, naturally, any plans he had tentatively made to go with the cotton to Liverpool had to be canceled.
Over at the Jackson Plantation, nothing seemed the same without Caroline Jackson, yet all was exactly the same. The household ran as smooth as silk because the slaves had been so well trained in their duties. Miss Caroline's will had been read, and the things she had brought when she married Bernard were now bequeathed to her children. Jennifer Joy and Amanda Virginia were left the house slaves, which totaled sixteen in all. The will stipulated very clearly which eight were to go to Jennifer and which eight to Amanda. Her mother had left Mammy Lou to Amanda because she was the baby and still needed a deal of looking after.
Brandon received a small farm that was his mother's property, even though Bernard had had the running of it since she married him. It was located inland at Blackville, on the south fork of the Edisto River. This time Brandon refused point blank to return to military academy and Bernard, for once, did not insist. In fact Bernard seemed to rattle about the place and couldn't seem to put his heart into anything.
Jennifer was most annoyed with Brandon because of her mother's will. "It is most disturbin' Brandon that Mother left you property, while I get some slothy house servants. Those are the rewards for bein' a female in this world!"
"Jenny, honey, it's only an ol' farm. Never saw the place-- don't even know if it's worth anything," he placated.
"Nevertheless brother, I feel in my bones I've been cheated, an' I won't be satisfied until I've seen that farm with my own eyes."
"That's because you're an acquisitive little bitch, scared to death one of us might get more than you."
"Brandon Jackson I demand your abject apology for such a remark, or I will inform Father."
"Go whistle up a hollow stump, Jennifer."
She said slyly, "If I could get a look at this farm, I might be willing to trade some of the wenches for it. I own Cleo and Fanny and that pretty Aphrodite you're always after."
Brandon snorted. "I don't need your permission to pleasure Dite or any of the wenches."
"When I marry, I shall take them with me, then they'll belong to Nicholas Peacock. See if he'll let you pleasure his wenches!"
Brandon began to laugh at where her ambitions lay.
"Don't you dare to laugh at me," she hissed.
"A truce Jenny, a truce," he begged, still filled with mirth. "First chance we get, we'll visit that lil' ol' farm at Blackville and see what's what. Don't say anything to Father. I already broached the subject and he fobbed me off. Almost forbid me to go up there."
Jennifer Joy positively chafed at the bit, and she found she could complain to her heart's content to Brandon and it wouldn't go any farther than his ears. If indeed he allowed it to reach that far. "I don't mean to be disrespectful to Mother, but honestly Brandon, I swear I'm the unluckiest girl in the whole world. Why did she have to pass away at the height of my Season? I'm only eighteen once in my entire life. How can I positively catch a husband when I'm supposed to be in mourning?"
Brandon, only giving her part of his attention said, "Beau Hampden's fancy already strayin' is it?"
"Beau Hampden?" Jenny stamped her foot. "Don't you ever pay me no mind, Brandon Jackson? I am seriously interested in Nicholas Peacock."
"You must have seen the house on Paradise Hill."
"That is the wickedest thing I've ever heard you say. My feelings have absolutely nothing whatsomehowever to do with a house."
"Whatever gives you the idea he'll have you?" he asked mildly.
"I don't have to stand here and be insulted by you, sir. Why everyone knows you're just an idle young lay-about with no more ambition to get a plantation than fly over the moon."
"I don't need to get one when there's one here ready made for me, and you don't need to get one do you Jenny? All you have to do is marry one. So you see, we are alike. Where's the need for name-calling?"
"Well, all right then, I won't let this conversation degenerate into a fight. I want advice from you, Bran."
"Advice about what?"
"Will you pull the cotton out of your ears, Brandon? I want to get married, but I'm in mourning!"
"Daddy won't have any objections to Nicholas. He'll be over-anxious, if anything. All you have to do is convince him old Nick will get stolen from under your
nose if you have to wait another year."
"Brandon, you are brilliant!"
"A minute ago I was a lay-about."
She pulled her face and went off to find her father. She found him in his office with a visitor. She tried to retreat the moment she realized it was men's business.
"Come in, darlin'," called Bernard when he spotted her.
She went forward to greet the stranger who was about the same age as her father.
Bernard said with pride, "I'd like you to meet my lovely daughter, Jennifer Joy. Jenny this is Gerrard Johnson, he's on a special committee for John Calhoun who you've hard me talk about so much."
Gerrard stood and bowed. "A distinct pleasure, Miss Jennifer. I'm trying my best to persuade your father that we need him up in Richmond."
Bernard waved his hand to prevent her from entering into the discussion. "You just run along now, sweetheart, we have government business to discuss."
Jennifer dropped an obedient curtsy, but when she left, she made sure the door was open a crack so she could listen to their conversation.
"She is one of the reasons I'm not in Richmond this very moment. I've two young daughters, motherless now. It makes leaving very difficult."
"Bernard, if you could only hear the voices growing louder and louder, demanding abolition, you wouldn't hesitate. When John Calhoun of this very State of South Carolina took over the political leadership, we thought we were safe. Representation shifted rightly to the cotton states, because all the world cried out for cotton. There's such an insatiable demand, it's become a cotton culture."
"You're right there," Bernard agreed. "I heard we exported four and a half million bales last year."
"Well I don't see how it can last much longer. Abolitionists are everywhere. This fellow Lincoln running for the Presidency is a sworn abolitionist, you know."
"Without slaves there is no cotton. Every planter knows that. Haven't we been subsidizing Northern industry for years with the damned tax they levied at Southern expense?"
"The only local autonomy we have is to exercise our veto over National Policy. The veto gives us parity in Congress, and believe me, only with Congressional power can the South hold onto the institution of slavery."
Jennifer was not interested in politics or slavery or the North's power versus the South's. From their conversation however, she did learn that her father wished to be free of his responsibilities at home, so that he could go back to Richmond. What better way is there for a father to transfer his responsibilities than onto the shoulders of a husband? She began to hum a little tune as she went off to find Mammy Lou to ensure that some of her father's favorite dishes were prepared for supper.
Mandy had begun to take over some of her mother's duties to fill out her days. Little by little she was taking over the management of the household and even Mammy Lou had begun to look to her for direction in menu planning, and to discuss the problems that continually arose with the house slaves. Through Mammy, Amanda soon knew that Jenny wanted to change the plans for the evening meal.
"It's all right, Mammy. Jenny must want something desperately from papa, and of course Mr. Johnson will visit overnight. Let's listen carefully at supper and see if she drops any hints."
Jennifer looked ethereal and delicate in the rustling black silk. It emphasized her pale hair and the whiteness of her skin. Black of course was out of the question for Amanda because of her age, so she came to the table in a sombre dark gray with white collar and cuffs.
Aunt Billie looked hideous in a rusty black she had dragged from the back of her wardrobe. She'd obviously put on even more weight since the last time she'd worn it, because each time she reached for a dish, it threatened to split at the seams.
Bernard said impatiently, "Where's Nicholas?"
Amanda said, Nicholas dines with us on Fridays, daddy. This is only Thursday."
"It's time we began accepting Nicholas's invitations to dine at Paradise," Jennifer declared. "I know our socializing must be curtailed because of our mourning, but Nicholas is like one of the family."
Brandon winked at Mandy. "It's really an experience to be entertained at Paradise. We play cards there every week. The place is like a palace."
Mandy did not quite know why Brandon was teasing Jenny about Paradise, but when he added lightly, "Going there tonight as a matter of fact," she noticed that Jenny's mouth tightened in fury.
To make conversation, Amanda said, "Nicholas has some new house servants, I hear. He'll be busy training them."
"No fear." Brandon laughed. "Samuel already has them whipped into shape. Never saw a house slave better than Samuel in my life. He could give our Charles a few lessons in keeping servants in line."
Amanda noticed Brandon try to wipe the taunt from his face as he added, "What Nicholas needs is a wife." She saw Jenny flush before she said, "For once I agree with you completely."
Brandon said with glee, "Well, I don't think it will be long before someone snatches him up. Half the females in this county and the next have set their caps for him."
Bernard turned his attention from Mr. Johnson. "Is that so, Brandon?"
"Yes sir. Word of the house on Paradise Hill has spread like wildfire. Every mother hen with a chick to marry off is vying for an invitation to Paradise Plantation. Yes sir, I'd say Nicholas Peacock is South Carolina's most eligible bachelor this season. Too bad your mourning puts you out of the running, Jennifer.
Both Bernard and his elder daughter gave Brandon a black look of reproof that made him change the subject. "Mr. Johnson, I hear Mr. Calhoun has quite a battle on his hands these days?"
"The North is up in arms again about abolition, and of course the North has a majority."
Brandon replied, "I think it all stems from envy of our way of life here in the South. I bet those screaming the loudest about abolition would trade places with a plantation owner fast enough if the opportunity were offered."
Gerrard Johnson chuckled. "Truer words were never uttered.
Mandy puzzled over the nuances of what had been said at the supper table. She couldn't make much sense of it, as most of the conversation had centered on Nicholas. She sought out Mammy Lou and found her outside the kitchen door with Cleo. A sudden silence fell as Mandy approached, but she noticed that Cleo had been crying.
"I know something is wrong because you both shut up tighter than a clam when you saw me. You might as well tell me what's up. Who else is there to take your part around here, now Mother's gone?"
Mammy compressed her lips. "Cleo has gone an got herself in a fix."
Cleo looked at Mandy with saucer-like eyes.
Mandy looked blank. "What sort of a fix?"
Mammy explained. "She bin goin' off meetin' that Brutus belong Marse Nick. Now she gone an' got wiv chile!"
"Oh, I see." Mandy realized for the first time what it meant when women whispered they'd gotten themselves in a fix.
"Stupid wench, got no more pride than to lie wiv a field hand," Mammy scathed.
Mandy blushed. "Hush up Mammy. I think Brute is a very nice man."
"Ah thank God yore sweet mother can't see dis shame that's bein' brought on us. We'll have t'git rid o' it."
"We will do no such thing, Mammy Lou. I absolutely forbid it! Cleo, does Brute know about the child?"
"Yes, ma'am. He want me to go an' live in his cabin."
"Yo caint' go livin' in no cabin wiv no field hand. Yo' is a house servant!" Mammy said, outraged.
"Perhaps Nicholas would buy you, and you could move over to Paradise and marry Brute."
"Oh Miz Mandy, would yo' speak to Marse Nick fo' us?" Cleo begged.
"Yes, of course I will."
Jennifer pulled her father aside the moment Gerrard Johnson retired for the night. "Daddy, I must speak with you. It's so very, very important."
"What is it honey?"
"Daddy, I know Brandon was teasing me at supper about Nicholas becoming embrangled with all the husband-hunters, but what he said has a lot of truth
in it."
"I didn't realize until tonight, but of course they will certainly be laying their traps for him."
"Daddy, I really truly believe he was on the point of proposing to me the day Mother died. Now of course, he wouldn't dream of broaching the subject because of our mourning."
"You want me to speak to him honey? Get things settled?"
"Well, the sooner you get us married off, the sooner you'll be able to go up to Richmond, where you're needed so desperately," she cleverly point out.
"I'll sound him out about getting married. Run along and let me think it all through now."
After breakfast the next morning, Bernard said goodbye to Gerrard Johnson. "Tell Calhoun I can't make any promises, but that I'll be there when I can."
"Good man, Jackson. We'll put out the red carpet for you."
Mandy rode over to Paradise Plantation early. She found Nicholas in the smoke house working alongside Brutus. She beckoned Nick outside, as casually as she could.
He smiled down at her. "You've got me curious. What's up?"
"Has Brute said anything to you about our Cleo?"
"No. Should he have?"
"He's got her in a fix and Mammy Lou is playing hell. Would you be willing to buy her for Brute?"
"Honey, you shouldn't know about such things. Your father will skin me alive one of these days."
"Would you buy her?" she persisted.
"I would, if he wants her."
"Well you'd better find out quick and speak to Daddy before Mammy gets rid of the child that's coming."