Page 33 of Master of Paradise
"You are ungallant, sir." She slapped his armplayfully with her fan. "How can you compare me with the littlehorror of the county?"
"The only difference between you is that youuse sugar to get what you want. Mandy uses vinegar."
"I see you are far too clever for me tocozen, so I'll ask straight out. Come with me while I ask Daddy ifwe can go on dancing past midnight."
He offered her his arm and escorted her overto Bernard.
"Why darlin' that's up to your mother. Ithink we can carry on 'till about two o'clock, if your mother is upto it," he beamed.
She turned to Nicholas. "I could have donethat part myself. It's Mother I need your influence with."
"And as soon as you've used me, you'll be offin Beau Hamden's arms without a backward glance," he teased.
"You, Nicholas Peacock, know far too much ofwhat goes on in a female's head."
After Miss Caroline reluctantly agreed to letthe dancing carry on until two o'clock, Nick whispered, "You owe meone dance now. I'll be back to collect it presently."
He followed Ty outside and allowed himself tobe persuaded into sharing a drink with him. He took a gamble andsaid, "Mandy shared your secret with me."
"About the horse race tomorrow morning?" Tywas swaying on his feet.
Nicholas was furious. He guessed instantlythat she herself would race Ty. "She won't be there, Ty. Justhaving you on for a joke."
"Little minx."
Brandon ran up from the stables. "Nick, comequick. King Vickers and his brother are having a hell of a fight.You know what King's like when he's liquored up!"
Nicholas arrived in time to hear Duke Vickerssay, "You son-of-a-bitch, King. You knew I was saving that littleDulcie for my next bed wench, and now she's knocked up an' you didit deliberate!"
"Christ Almighty, it wasn't me. You're blindas a bat, Duke. Your body servant, Nate's been screwin' her forweeks," King shouted.
"That true, Nate?" Duke Vickers shouted intothe shadows under the trees.
"Naw suh, Marse Duke Ah knowed yo' had yo'eye on Dulcie."
"She was virgin, King, 'til you busted her,you son-of-a-bitch. Now ah'm going' to kill you!"
King's temper flared out of control andbefore anyone could prevent it, he'd pulled a pistol and shot hisbrother. The ball went into Duke's shoulder.
"Go get Doc Caldwell," Brandon said toNicholas. "I told you this would be a fun night, didn't I?"
Nicholas tried to be as quick and discreet aspossible as he spoke to the doctor. But every lady present knewthere was trouble and that probably someone had been wounded.Parties meant liquor, and liquor meant fighting and oftenshooting.
"Take him upstairs to yourgarconnier.I'll have to dig the ball out and I'll need good light and cleandressings," directed Dr. Caldwell.
"I'll take you up the back way." Brandon halflifted the fainting Duke Vickers. "Nick, go back inside and assurethe ladies that all is well."
All anxiously scanned Nick's face when hereturned to the house, so he smiled reassuringly and asked Jenniferfor the dance she had promised him.
"I made no such promise," she told himarchly, "but if you'll tell me what happened out there..."
"That will cost you more than a dance, mysweet."
Her lashes swept down at his words, but shewent willingly enough into his arms. "Someone said it was theVickers' boys," she whispered. "What were they fighting over?"
"Can't you guess?" He stalled as his mindsought desperately for a topic that was far removed from bedwenches.
"Was it a girl?" she asked breathlessly.
