Page 15 of Master of Paradise
Amanda declared with passion, "Mammy Lou, youruin my whole life! Never run, never shout, never cuss, neverfrown, never interrupt, never, never, never!"
"I haven't told you what I think of you,yet," Nicholas said lightly.
She turned bright, expectant eyes upon himand said hopefully, "Shocking? Unmanageable?"
"Childish," he said bluntly.
Mammy put and end to the altercation bygrabbing Mandy by the scruff of the neck and hauling her off tobed.
Nicholas returned to the house just in timeto see Jennifer Joy's crinoline disappear up the staircase. Nodoubt about it, he lost his heart that very first night.
Before Nicholas Peacock departed the JacksonPlantation he had acquired three hundred acres, fifty of which werealready cleared and plowed, ready for planting. Bernard Jacksonthrew in all the cotton seed he would ever need.
He learned that Jackson did not own the landon top of the escarpment known as Paradise Hill. It was still ownedby the county, and he knew that by the time he'd purchased a dozenfield hands and plows, mules, shovels, and axes he'd need to clearthe land, he would have exhausted his supply of gold. Nicholashowever was determined to acquire Paradise Hill and a few hundredacres on the plateau, so the first thing he would do when he gotback to Charleston would be mortgage the land he had just purchasedfrom Jackson, to get the money to buy more land.
Amanda had been hanging about outside herfather's office and at mention of Paradise Hill, she burst in onthe two men and shouted wildly, "Father, you know Paradise Hill ismine! Don't you dare let Mr. Peacock get his hands on it!"
"Amanda Virginia, ah am shocked that youwould listen to our business discussion. Go to your room at once,little madam!"
"I will not!" She stamped her foot willfullyand gave Nicholas a look that almost burned him with the battlefire in her yes. "If you sell him Paradise, I shall killmyself!"
"Ah'm sure our guest will overlook yourdramatics, but he can hardly forgive your appalling lack ofmanners."
Nicholas gave her one of his amused glancesand she swept from the room like a goddess about to mete out someterrible revenge to any poor mortal who dared to cross herpath.
Bernard cleared his throat. "Ah mustapologize for my daughter's odd behavior, Nicholas. She's been toomuch indulged ah'm afraid and the result is she is somewhat, er,eccentric."
As Samuel and Nicholas saddled up prior totheir leave-taking, Amanda brought sugar lumps for the horse andthe mule, and fondled the animals' muzzles.
"Mandy, don't be angry at your father. Hecan't sell me Paradise Hill because he doesn't own it."
"I know that," she said stubbornly, "it'smine."
"Amanda, I'm being serious. You'd better getused to the idea that I am going to own it."
"Then if it's the last thing I do, I shallget it back from you!" she declared passionately.
"The only way you could do that would be tomarry me," he jested.
Her eyes went wide and she suppressed ashudder of revulsion. "Oh, I shall never marry. Didn't anyone tellyou that I have sworn a vow never to marry and never to havechildren?"
"No, it didn't happen to come up. Why wouldyou do such a thing?" he asked, disconcerted at the mysteries thatwent on in the girl's head.
"Men do unspeakable things to their wives,"she murmured and lowered her lashes shyly.
The whole family came out for Nick'sleave-taking as if they were seeing off a favorite son. He thankedthem for their kind and generous hospitality. "I'm very lucky tohave such a family for my nearest neighbors. After three or fouryears' crops, I hope to build my own plantation house, and thenI'll know where to come looking for a wife."
As they watched Nicholas and his servant rideaway, Jennifer Joy said, "Well, I do declare. I believe I've had myfirst proposal."
Amanda Virginia said, "I beg to differ! Thegentleman clearly meant me!"
Her family all went off into peals oflaughter as if she'd just said the most comical thing. Even hergentle, sweet mother was wiping a tear of laughter from hereye.
Mandy put up her chin, dropped a curtsy andswept from the room. When she was alone, she said aloud, "He didmean me. Purely and Absolutely!"
Chapter Four
Before they visited the slave market, Samuelgave Nicholas invaluable tips about what he wanted in a good fieldhand. Perhaps more importantly he told him what he did notwant.
