Nicholas's eyes narrowed into a threat as he looked down the table at Jennifer.
Pamela murmured with interest, "I see. I thought your bride was a trifle young, Nicholas, but of course I didn't understand the situation."
Jennifer dared speak again. "He is so honorable they live in separate wings, and are chaperoned at all times."
Philip said the first thing that popped into his head. "Don't you find that inconvenient?"
Nicholas said angrily, "I find it damned inconvenient, as a matter of fact. Every time I wish to say something to my wife, we have an audience." He glanced down the table and caught Amanda's golden eyes dancing with secret amusement. His tone softened, "For instance, I want to tell her how proud I am of her for all the work she's done while I've been away. I know the planting was entirely her doing. I want to tell her she's the most beautiful woman in the entire world." He paused and looked at each person at the table in turn. "And I want to tell all of you that I adore her."
"Hear, hear!" Philip and Brandon gave all their attention to the lovely girl who was rosy with blushes.
The smug look had been wiped from Jennifer's face, and her mouth was now set in a thin line. She decided the moment their father visited, she would tell him that Nicholas had broken his trust and deflowered Mandy.
Mammy Lou announced triumphantly that Paradise had just had its first child born under its roof. "Cleo has a son."
"Oh that's wonderful." Amanda laughed happily and got up from the table. "I must see how she is and see the baby. Please excuse me?"
Amanda was holding the new baby in her arms when Nicholas brought Brutus along to Cleo's room. She gave the baby to his father, who grinned with pride at the fine offspring he had produced.
"Stay here for a few days with Cleo," Nicholas urged Brutus.
"Thanks Masta Nick."
"Soon as Brute finishes extendin' de cabin, ah'd sure love t'take de baby an' go live der instead of in de big house," Cleo said hopefully.
"Of course you may," Amanda assured her.
Nicholas nodded. "You belong together. I don't know how you've managed living apart. I know I can't do it." He looked at Amanda, and she said quickly, "I must go to see Miss Louise now. Goodnight Cleo."
Nicholas caught up with his wife on the way to the stables, in the navy blue dusk. "You're going in the wrong direction, my love," he drawled. The air was humid and heavy with the perfume of a hundred night-blooming plants that seduced the senses.
"What do you mean, sir?" she asked playfully, knowing exactly what he meant.
"You, my darlin', have a rendezvous with destiny. I believe the maze is still on the far side of the rose garden."
"You didn't really expect me to meet you there?" she asked in shocked tones.
"I do believe you're teasing, for which I claim a forfeit."
As they slipped inside the dark green labyrinth, she lifted her skirts and ran. He pursued her with a laugh deep in his throat. Each knew the maze by heart, and soon he had her trapped by the fountain, which suited her purpose exactly as it did his.
His arms went about her and he crushed her to him, and felt the slow curl of heat in his belly.
She lifted her arms high behind his head and fitted her body closely to his. The force and power of his body made her feel totally feminine, and his vital energy and strength made her aware of her own defenselessness against him.
His head came down and his lips took possession of her mouth so fiercely, she thought she would be bruised, but she gave herself up to him, forgetting the pain, in the pleasure his mouth brought her.
"My love, my love, I swear this ache has grown worse each day we've been apart." He freed one soft breast and dipped his head to taste the luscious fruit. "Let me undress you," he begged hoarsely.
She demurred softly. "I'm afraid, Nicholas."
"My honeysuckle, no one will come." He stripped off his shirt and breeches and stood naked before her. The moon was hidden for the most part by sultry clouds, and the maze formed a darkened chamber that enclosed them and shut out the world. He reached for her hands and guided them to caress his bare chest covered with its crisp pelt of curls.
She became more bold, and began to explore his body as she had longed to do. She regretted that she could not see his bronzed magnificence, but she could feel him and smell the clean, masculine skin. Then she licked his nipples that tasted of salt and sunshine. Her hands explored lower to his iron-like thighs, then she slid her hands up and cupped him.
Nicholas groaned with the exquisite sensations her touch brought him. He took her hand. "Let me show you," he whispered. He circled her fingers about his shaft and showed her how to touch him with featherlike strokes.
She made no protest this time as he began to undress her.
He always marveled at her response to him, so rich and passionate. He placed his hands on her thighs and lifted her high above him, then let her slide down his body and onto his throbbing, hard cock.
She moaned at his entrance and wrapped her legs about his back.
He clasped his hands behind her waist to support her back, and whirled her round and round.
The intensity of her climax made her collapse against him, and he went to his knees in the grass and cradled her until she had the strength to move.
Together they went into the fountain, and he cupped the water and lifted it to refresh her heated body. Suddenly the moon came out to silver the water and trace its light across her silken limbs.
The sight of her sent desire flaming through him, and he lifted her from the fountain and tumbled her beneath him. She felt the grassy earth at her back and the hard, flat muscles of his belly pressed against her, and it was a deliciously long, slow loving to bring her to climax again.
A cry came from her throat for all the world like some night bird; the scream of a peacock.
"I want a child," she whispered.
"No! It's out of the question, sweetheart.
She pictured the beautiful little girl with the turquoise eyes, Nicole.
"Nicholas, please?"
"My God, no! I feel guilty enough about you, Mandy. I've shamelessly seduced you, totally disregarding your tender years, but I won't allow you to have my child for a long time yet. Besides, there's a war on. God knows what our future holds. It would be totally irresponsible of me to get you with child."
He sat on the edge of the fountain and helped her to dress. He kissed her ear and whispered, "I brought you a present from England. You'll find it under your pillow. It's doubly precious now it's been smuggled through the blockade."
Amanda smiled a dreamy, secret smile into the shadowy darkness. She knew the present she wanted. She also knew what Nicholas said about a child was perfectly logical, and yet... and yet...
Chapter Nineteen
Brandon's departure for Virginia was a wrenching experience for family and slaves alike. He rode off so eagerly with his body servant, Jim, beside him, that it brought tears to almost every eye.
Amanda patted Mammy Lou to comfort her. "We need our spirits lifting. Why don't we give Jennifer an engagement party before Beau has to leave for Virginia?"
Nicholas seconded her. "I think that's a good idea. Decide when it's to be and I'll carry the invitations today to your father, and to Beau at his headquarters in Charleston."
Amanda was dismayed. "You're going back to Charleston today?"
"Honey, I must sell my cargo; it's entirely made up of military supplies. Probably your father will take it. I also have to find Rafe. He should be back, but he may have made port elsewhere to avoid the patrols. I promise to be back by Thursday."
"Then we'll plan the party for Friday. Bring Daddy and Beau back with you."
Jennifer agreed happily. They would invite the whole county and it would make her engagement official. "A party will dispel all the gloom and worry of the silly old war."
Porter was duly dispatched to all the plantations with the invitations and told to wait for an answer at each house.
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Amanda wanted everything to be special for Jennifer, especially since it was her first opportunity to be a real hostess at Paradise.
She and Philip became instant friends. He found he could talk to her about his innermost feelings without fear of embarrassment. She was a good listener, and when they were together she gave him her undivided attention.
He found himself telling her all about what happened to Nicholas when his father had died, how he had been turned out without a penny, and how he had miraculously returned when Philip needed his help so desperately.
Amanda promised Philip would be surrounded by admiring Southern belles at the coming party, but he doubted he would meet anyone who would capture his heart the way that she had.
Charleston was overflowing with attachés of the army. Military headquarters were at a hotel, and though the streets were merely busy during the daylight hours, at night disorder reigned. Drunken rows and fights broke out nightly, ribald songs and disgusting profanity kept the citizens awake, and the plethora of uniforms attracted an increasing number of prostitutes.
When Nicholas did not return on Thursday as promised, Jennifer began to panic. However, they arrived on the paddle-wheeler early Friday afternoon, in high good humor. Beau had brought a roulette wheel for what he called 'The Gambling Hall of Paradise', and the men spent two hours setting the thing up so it was perfectly balanced.
Jennifer was piqued at their tardiness. She'd had visions of the neighboring plantation owners arriving and finding an engagement party without a prospective bridegroom. She was angered further when Beau began drinking bourbon in the early afternoon. When her voice became shrill and petulant, Mandy tried to distract her.
"Let's go up and you can show me what you're wearing tonight."
Jennifer allowed herself to be persuaded. "It will make the Caldwell girls pea-green with envy. It's a dress I got before we went into that horrid black mourning. It's deep rose color with little silver beads sewn all over. The skirt has just yards and yards. What are you wearing, Mandy?"
"That dress I bought in Charleston with the petal-shaped bodice. It will show off my diamonds perfectly."
"Diamonds?" Jennifer demanded in a shrill voice.
"Nicholas brought them from England for me."
It was the final straw that ruined Jennifer's day. She deliberately sought out her father who was relaxing on the verandah with Nicholas and Philip.
Bernard explained, "Atlanta has been chosen as the chief depot for collecting food and supplies for the army because its railroads link north, south, east, and west."
"Then no matter which port we reach from Wilmington to Savannah, it would be best to ship the cargo directly to Atlanta?" Nick asked.
Bernard nodded. "It's going to be a manufacturing center for pistols, rifles, and cannon. Next trip you make to England, we need designers smuggled through the blockade to set up the machinery to manufacture these guns."
Philip shook his head. "I can't understand why Britain has declared neutrality when their interests lie with the South. Why doesn't Britain smash the blockade to get the cotton it needs?"
Nicholas explained. "If they did that, the North would cut off wheat supplies to Britain and she'd starve to death."
Bernard shook his head. "The South, I'm afraid, placed too much trust in help from Britain. They cannot support us openly."
Jennifer thought she saw an opening in the conversation. "Daddy, what would you do if you placed your trust in someone and he betrayed that trust?" she asked innocently.
Bernard frowned. He knew Jenny was hinting around at some indiscretion and his mind immediately jumped to Brandon. He cleared his throat and laughed. "Well, I suppose I'd consider all the circumstances and try not to be too judgmental."
Nicholas narrowed his eyes in warning to Jennifer, but she ignored him and persisted. "But if this person had promised you something, under oath, then the minute your back was turned he deliberately deceived you?"
Beau Hampden sauntered in and helped himself to another bourbon. "Ah'd like permission to take my fiance for a stroll in the gardens before our guests begin to arrive."
Bernard replied, "By all means you young 'uns go and have a few minutes to yourselves. I'd better go up and change. Doc Caldwell has a habit of arriving at least two hours before everyone else.
Jennifer gave an impatient sigh, but she was determined the moment of truth was only postponed.
Nicholas followed Bernard up the curving staircase to his bedroom. "Bernard, I've something to say that you may totally oppose, but I must say it." He plunged on. "War changes all the rules. None of us knows how much time he has left. I'm deeply in love with Amanda, and I won't wait longer. I want my wife sharing the master bedroom with me where she belongs." He wasn't asking Bernard's permission, he was merely informing him of what was to be.
After a few moments of thought, Bernard nodded his understanding.
Joy and elation lifted Nick's spirits high, and he went downstairs to set his house in order.
Jennifer came rushing indoors. "Daddy was right. Dr. and Mrs. Caldwell just drove up, and I'll die if Romeda an' Lorena see I'm not dressed for the party yet."
Amanda soothed her. "Don't fly into a panic. Mammy here will help you.. Lady Pamela, would you like Fanny to help you dress? Philip, would you be a darling and help Beau entertain our guests until we're ready?"
Just as the Caldwells came in the front door, Nicholas spoke in his deep voice of authority. "Lou, before you help Jennifer, would you see that Amanda's things are changed over from her bedroom in the East wing? Mrs. Peacock will be sharing my room from now on." He gave Jennifer a mocking bow and stretched out a warm hand to welcome the Caldwells.
A hush fell over the room. Amanda looked from Nicholas to Philip, to the Caldwells, to Lady Pamela, and finally to Mammy Lou. Everyone in the room was staring at her. She blushed scarlet and fled upstairs with Mammy following as quickly as she could manage.
Mandy wished the earth would open up and swallow her. She was on the verge of tears. Whatever prompted Nicholas to act as he did? God Almighty, what will happen when Father learns of it? Great balls of fire, how the Caldwells had gaped open-mouthed. And Mammy Lou-- Amanda paled as she imagined what she would have to say to it all!
She turned and realized with a start that Mammy had half emptied her wardrobe and was taking her dresses to Nicholas's bedroom. She lifted her skirts and hurried to the master bedchamber.
What she saw was unbelievable. There stood Nicholas making room in his wardrobe for her things, while Mammy hung up her dresses. Amanda slammed the door shut. Her tears of embarrassment had turned to anger and her temper mounted dangerously.
"How dare you?" She was panting with seething indignation.
Nicholas was surprised and slightly amused at her reaction. "Honeysuckle you know this is long overdue."
"How dare you tell Mammy to put my things in here without consulting me? You arrogant, high-handed bast..." she cut off the word at his dangerous look. "Oh, men are such devils. Take my things back at once, Mammy."
Nicholas warned, "Lou, don't you dare touch those things. They stay here! Why are you so all-fired angry?"
"You... you practically ordered me to share your bed in front of everyone, and you dare ask why I'm angry?" she cried.
"You've shared my bed before this, and enjoyed every minute of it. Why the fuss now?" he demanded.
"Oh!" she gasped, reddening in front of Mammy. "How could you be so indelicate?"
"For God's sake Amanda, you're my wife. Lou knows what goes on in bed between a man and woman."
"Well," Mandy said with icy control, "it isn't going to go on in this bed, between this man and woman." She swooped up her dresses and sailed from the room. She bumped into her father and swept past him without so much as an 'excuse me'.
Bernard chuckled when he saw Nicholas's tight-lipped frustration. "I see little madam still has a mind of her own. I don't think I need worry about her any longer. She's m
ore than a match for you."
Earlier in the day, the furniture in the three main rooms on the lower level had been arranged around the walls to make room for dancing, while the long dining table had been placed against one wall for the buffet supper. The guests could take their refreshments to the tiled patio, the long, sweeping verandahs, or into the many arbors in the flower-shaded gardens.
Though Jennifer had been robbed of her weapon to wound Nicholas and Amanda, she pretended to be the happiest and luckiest female in the South. She was somewhat mollified at the envy of Blanche Davis and Laurel Beverly, and indeed Beau was just about the handsomest young man in the room in his dashing cavalry uniform. But the men kept clustering together to discuss the war, and it was almost hard work to persuade them to dance and forget their cares.
Amanda stubbornly stayed in her room until the hour grew late. Finally Mammy Lou came in to put an end to her nonsense.
"Chile, der ain't no use fussin' over what Masta Nick done. Ah wondered when yo' was gonna wake up an' realize yo' was a woman. If yo' got any brains at all, yo' gonna git dressed an' git downstairs, an' let all dem females know he yores. Der ain't one dat ain't got it bad for Masta Nick, an' dat includes Jennifer Joy an' dat Lady Pamela."
Amanda raised her eyes to Mammy's. "Help me dress. Hurry!"
Mandy caused quite a stir as she descended the curved staircase. She wondered if it was due to her tardy entrance, or her diamonds that caught the light with glittering brilliance.
Actually, it was neither. It was that seemingly overnight Amanda had been transformed from a young girl into a seductive woman with an aura of mystery about her slanting, golden eyes.