Page 116 of Master of Paradise
He had removed his shirt, and her eyes weredrawn irresistibly to his left nipple. His breast had been piercedlike a woman's ear and he wore a gold earring threaded through. Itwas so blatantly erotic, she gasped. Her eyes widened at hiscloseness. She pushed him away from her horrified. "You're nothingbut a bloody pirate! You may have Nicholas's diamonds, but youwon't get his wife!"
"Amanda, bellissima. Take the necklace back;just stay with me tonight?"
"The diamonds are to pay for our passage.That is all I want from you. Goodnight, Rafe."
In her cabin, she curled against the warmbody of her son in the little bunk and drenched her pillow withsilent tears.I don't want Rafe or anyone like him. I wantNicholas.
On the third day at sea Jennifer revived, andfrom the fourth day forward, Amanda had nothing to worry about asfar as Rafe Collins was concerned. Jennifer occupied all his sparemoments, and arrived back at the cabin later and later eachnight.
At first, Mandy worried that Jenny might gethurt. She didn't believe Rafe had marriage in mind. But when shesaw her sister sporting a pair of ruby earrings, she realized thatJenny was likely getting what she wanted from the relationship, soshe stopped worrying about her.
They arrived in England a few days afterChristmas, and the weather was so cold there was snow on theground. Amanda hated it, but Nicholas was delighted with the cold,white stuff.
Rafe Collins was gallant enough to see themsafely to Peacock Hall in Kent.
Amanda held her hand out to him as they saidtheir goodbyes.
"There is a sadness in my heart for whatcould have been, Amanda." Rafe brought her hand to his lips.
The dimples appeared as she smiled at him."Rafe Collins, you are a philanderer and an incurable ladies' man.Any woman who gave her heart to you would lead a lonely life, foryou never stay in one place long enough to put down roots."
"You're right of course," he said with awink, "and who knows, our paths may cross again some day."
"If you go back to Charleston, please tellthem at Paradise that you delivered us safely." She left him to sayhis goodbyes to Jennifer, and she stepped away from the carriage,took hold of her son's hand, and gazed with wonder at this greatancestral home where Nicholas had spent his boyhood. She wasrelieved when she saw Philip come down the front steps to welcomeher.
"Mandy, thank God you are here. Come in andget warm." He ushered her into a magnificently furnished room witha roaring fire that threw off its warmth into every far corner. TheChristmas decorations of holly and mistletoe still adorned themantel and the doorways, and the whole house gave off a richsplendor of security. It had stood for a hundred years and wouldstand there in all its glory for at least another hundred.
The sight of each other loosened theirtongues. Philip and Amanda couldn't stop talking and asking eachother questions. They spoke of Nicholas, and he told her how he hadhired men to investigate the incident of the two ships sinking, buttheir search was in vain.
She told him how she had sent Samuel tosearch for him, but he had never returned. Then she told him howfinally she had received the letter from Lady Pamela.
"I've never heard from my mother since theday I left Paradise. I want you to tell me how you survived allthis time through the long months of war."
"And I want you to tell me how you managed tobuild a new life for yourself, once you took the reins of yourestate into your own hands."
Philip and young Nicholas liked each otherinstantly, and Philip made such a fuss of him, Amanda knew he wouldbe spoiled terribly.
Jennifer was in seventh heaven. There weremaids to do everything from the moment she opened her eyes in themorning, to turning down her bed at night, with a warming panbetween the sheets.
There was a curiosity among Philip'sneighbors and friends to meet the young American ladies, but beforethey could meet anyone, both girls needed complete newwardrobes.
Philip took Amanda to see Mr. Gardiner ofGardiner & Higgins to see if she could draw some of her latehusband's money. Mr. Gardiner said it would all take time, butassured Amanda he would do whatever he could for her. Philipestablished a line of credit for her until some of Nicholas's fundswere turned over to her, and subsequently all three of them weremeasured for new clothes suitable to the climate and the socialcircle in which they would now move.
Jennifer took to her new life like a ducktakes to water. She was much sought after and became something of asocial butterfly. She was found on a different man's arm almostevery night of the week.
Amanda was slower to adjust to her new life.She spent long hours with her son, and a lot of the time Philipjoined them. Once the sting left the winter and a hint of earlyspring could be felt in the air, Amanda spent time around Philip'swell-stocked stables. She took a great interest in the horses, asdid Philip, and it was a strong bond they shared.
Philip promised that once the war was overand the blockade lifted, he would send for her beloved Miss Louise.Amanda was never as optimistic as Philip. She believed that Fatetook a strong hand in your life, and often things never worked outas you wished.
Philip knew he wanted Amanda for his wife,but he also knew he must go about it very slowly and subtly. Shewas like a well-bred, high-strung filly who would shy off if hemoved too quickly, or if he said the wrong word. He had to becontent with her friendship, and gradually lead her to somethingdeeper. Philip selected a special pony for Nicholas, and he andAmanda spent happy hours trotting him about the grounds that werenow carpeted with daffodils.
Amanda loved nothing better than arisingearly, saddling up at dawn and taking a solitary gallop out intothe Weald of Kent. In places, it was still wild country and sheimagined it as it had been long ago, filled with wild horsesleaving their hoof prints in the deep green sod where man had neveryet ventured.
The English spring was invigorating, filledwith a shimmering green like nowhere else on earth. Its weather wasever changing, filled with quick drenching showers, followed bybrisk winds that blew away the bed-sheet clouds to reveal brightsunshine, then almost immediately the cycle would repeatitself.
The news from America said the South wasgoing to surrender. Jennifer and Amanda had some sharp words overit. "I'm glad I'm not there to see it. I'm shamed to the boneswhenever I think of bowing to the North," Jennifer declared.
"I'm in favor of anything that will savelives. There's been far too much bloodshed because the South wastoo proud to admit it was wrong," Amanda said quietly.
