Page 100 of Master of Paradise
He was angry now and mocked, "Go down to thelobby and pick one up. I seem to recall you got an offer while youwere flaunting yourself down there."
"It's over!" she shouted. "I'll never sleepwith you again."
"You are behaving like a child."
She drew herself up to her full height. Thenin a perfectly controlled voice she said, "That's your own fault.You shouldn't have married a child."
He stiffened at the insult, turned on hisheel and left. He procured another bedchamber for himself and lefther alone to stew in her own juice.
The atmosphere was subdued the next day aseveryone traveled back to Paradise. The silence was only broken byPhilip and Nicholas occasionally. The women sat in stonysilence.
At home, Nicholas half-expected Amanda toremove herself to her old bedchamber, but she liked the privacy ofthe West wing and requested in a cool voice that he chose anotherroom until he sailed for England.
"Well, I'll be damned," he said hotly."Amanda, you will discover that a woman who demands all her own wayends up being miserable. I'd like to put an end to this sillynonsense before I sail, but obviously you are too willful andspoiled to forgive and forget."
Amanda was glad he was going away. It wouldgive her a chance to sort out her chaotic feelings.
She turned away from him, and hurt, he groundout, "Apparently Paradise isn't big enough for both of us. I'llleave as soon as possible."
Lady Pamela gave every excuse in the book fornot wanting to return to England. Finally she swallowed her prideand asked Nicholas if he would let her stay at Paradise for thetime being.
He gave his permission.She'll go backsoon enough once Philip's wealth has been restored, he thoughtcynically.
Amanda and Philip walked down by thereflecting lake to say their goodbyes. Finally, Philip took bothher hands and swung her toward him. "I know you and Nicholas havehad a rift, and if I thought for one minute it was permanentbetween you two, I'd stay here and try to win you. I'd say to hellwith England, the title, everything."
Mandy's smile was both sweet and sad."Dearest Philip, you must return and I must stay here. We both knowthat."
"At least promise me that someday you'll cometo England for a visit?" he pressed.
She looked at him closely, observing thegolden lashes and the earnest turquoise eyes that showed so clearlythe tenderness he felt toward her. She placed her hand on his armand pressed it warmly. "I will promise you that much, Philip, but Idon't know when it will be. You must promise me that you'll be thefinest Lord Peacock that England has ever had."
Philip grinned at her, then pulled her to himand kissed her.
"Goodbye and God bless," she whisperedagainst his lips, before she slipped away from him beneath theshadows of the magnolia trees.
Hidden from his view she leaned against thebole of a tree and listened as the trees sighed and murmur to oneanother. In that calm, leafy solitude she felt melancholy. She hada pain in her throat from holding back her tears. For days she hadwanted to cry to ease the pain of Nicholas's philandering, but sheknew that once the tears started, they would be torrential.
She felt as if she could literally cry herheart out, but she would not give him the satisfaction of seeingthat she was a poor defeated female with hideously swollen, redeyes. When he was on the high seas, let him remember her anger orher cool indifference. A man had no patience with a weeping woman.One tear slipped down her cheek to fall upon her hand. Angrily, shepicked up her skirts and ran toward the house.
In the morning she was not there to see thetravelers on their way. From the driveway Nicholas glanced up andscanned the gallery of the West wing hopefully. When she did notappear, the muscle in his jaw clenched tightly. Philip joined himand they departed.
If Amanda had wanted to bid farewell to herhusband, she could not have done so. At the moment of hisleave-taking she lay with her head over the edge of the bed beingviolently sick. The nausea had consumed her the moment she tried torise from bed, and it seemed the vomiting and retching would nevercease.
Mammy Lou shook her head and pressed her lipstogether. "Mandy, honeychile, looks like yo' done got yoself in afix."
Mandy groaned. "Go away."
"Ma lambie-pie, let Mammy do for yo'." Shebathed Amanda's face with cool water and brought a clean,lavender-scented nightgown. Then she brought her some chamomile teaand a warm brick for her feet. Mandy felt considerably better nowthat Mammy had taken over and coddled her a little.
Amanda spent her evenings alone in the Westwing, and Mammy moved into the room next to hers to keep a closewatch on the young mother-to-be.
Mandy now had all the time and solitude sheneeded to sort out her feelings for Nicholas. Each day brought homethe realization that she missed him, that she needed him, and sheloved him deeply for all time. After a month had passed, shecounted the hours until Nicholas returned. She couldn't wait totell him the news about their baby.
Beau Hampden left for Virginia with GeneralBeauregard and it seemed that not a day passed without recruitsfrom South Carolina and Georgia stopping at Paradise for a meal orprovisions to carry on their long trek through North Carolina toVirginia where General Robert E. Lee commanded the ConfederateArmy.
The first major battle took place at ManassasJunction, which became known as the Battle of Bull Run. There wereterrible losses to both sides before the Confederates under GeneralBeauregard drove the Union Troops back across the Potomac River toWashington.
The South went mad with the victory. Everyhouse threw open its doors to anyone in uniform. Two young cavalryofficers, who had visited Paradise previously with Beau, turned upand brought others with them.
