Page 118 of Master of Paradise
Her heart began to hammer wildly.Oh God,am I dreaming? Are my eyes playing a cruel trick on me?
With a cry, Mandy dropped the brush, rusheddown the stairs, and out through the front doors. She picked up herskirts and, blind to everything and everyone, began to run acrossthe lawns to the deer park. Her hair lost all its pins as she ranlike the wind, headlong into the path of the rider.
He was off his horse in a minute, enfoldingher in arms that would never let her go again.
Tears streamed down her face and her throatclosed, making it impossible for her to speak.
Nicholas held her away from him to gaze downon the beloved face.
Her eyes were drenched with tears so that hisimage was blurred, but there was no mistaking the feel of him, orthe sound of his rich deep voice. "Sweet, sweet-- you are so youngit pierces my heart."
She could only cling to him, trembling. Helifted her up before him on his horse and gently urged the animalforward. Amanda found her voice. "No, no, don't go to the house. Ican't bear to share you-- not yet."
They took off into the Weald where they couldenjoy a private reunion. Nicholas found a secluded riverbank wherethe forget-me-nots bloomed in profusion and they let the horsewander at leisure to crop the sweet grass while they knelt to faceeach other. He kissed away her tears.
"I cannot bear to think of you imprisoned allthis time," she cried, the tears welling up again.
"Mandy, there was so much to do, so many sickmen to nurse, the time went by quickly."
"You're only saying that to make me feelbetter. Pamela wrote and told me you died of smallpox. I wanted todie too, so that I could be with you."
Nicholas didn't tell her of his encounterwith the woman. He didn't trust himself to utter her name. "Samuelfound me at the prison in Illinois. It took him a while, but hefinally got a job there. I wanted to send him home with a messagefor you, but he wouldn't go. He insisted you'd want him to stay byme. It's a good thing he did. When I got sick, he nursed me back tohealth."
"You took him back to Paradise? Was my fatherall right and Mammy?"
"Everyone is fine, Mandy. Even Brandon ishome safe. One of the wings of Paradise was damaged by fire, but agreat storm came up and put it out before it gutted the mainhouse." He smoothed the wild tangles back from her forehead andbrushed his lips across her temples. "Lou told me how brave youwere when you had my son."
"Oh Nicholas! You haven't seen Nicholas! He'sexactly like you." She sprang up and pulled at his hands urgently."Come quickly while I show him to you."
A great stir had gone up among the invitedguests when Philip's bride-to-be had run off into the deer park tomeet the rider. Philip realized immediately that it must beNicholas. He was beside himself with happiness over his brother'sreturn, yet sad over the loss of Amanda, all at the same time.
Philip quietly explained the situation asbest he could, and by the time Amanda and Nicholas rode up to thehall, the invited guests were taking their leave.
Amanda's eyes sought out Philip's in a muteplea, and he responded with a look of understanding that told herwas happy for her joy. The two brother's embraced, and Jenniferwith a look of disbelief, began the barrage of questions andanswers that filled in some of the gaps of the past two-and-a-halfyears.
Amanda took her son by the hand and broughthim to his father. "Nicholas, this is your daddy." The little boystood silently, solemnly, in front of the big man and looked at himfor a long time. Finally, he asked, "Did you build my swing?"
Nicholas glanced at Amanda who nodded herhead. Nicholas looked at his son. "Yes, I built the swing atParadise." His eyes filled with tears as he watched his son, andthe child asked, "Why are you crying?"
Nicholas grinned down at him. "Because I'm sohappy!"
The buffet table laid out with uneaten foodfor the guests prompted Philip. "Why don't you take some foodupstairs with you. I know you'll want to be alone the rest of theevening."
Nicholas nodded his gratitude to his brotherand he and Amanda filled two plates and started up the staircasewith young Nicky scrambling up before them.
They weren't really hungry for food, theywere hungry for news of each other, but young Nicholas soon madeinroads of the delicacies piled on the plates.
Amanda laughed. "He has an enormous appetite.He'll soon be as big as you."
They talked non-stop for two hours untildarkness fell unheeded. When they looked down at their son, theysaw he had fallen asleep while sitting on the floor leaning againsthis father's knee. Very gently, Amanda picked him up and went tofind Mary. She left him with his nursemaid and hurried back to herhusband.
Nicholas was half undressed, and suddenly shewas shy and covered with blushes. He came to her and took her inhis arms. "I can see I shall have to woo you all over again. Youare shy as a bride," he whispered. He turned her about, patted herbustle and undid her gown. "Do you realize Amanda Virginia thatI've made love to you more often in my dreams than I have inreality? I am about to begin to rectify all that," he said withpurpose as he stripped off his breeches and lay back in the bigbed.
She felt herself trembling and suddenly tookan interest in the food they'd brought upstairs. She nibbled on apiece of cheese and knelt on the bed in her chemise to offer theplatter to Nicholas.
"Mmm, looks good. Why were all the peoplehere today?"
She sat back on her heels with round eyes. "Idon't want to tell you," she said softly. "But if I don't, someoneelse will."
