Page 34 of Master of Paradise
He danced her out into the verandah wheretheir conversation couldn't be overheard.
"Was it me?" she asked hopefully.
He stopped dancing and looked down at hereager, upturned face. He decided to give her something else tothink about. With his arms still holding her, he lifted her up andbent his head to capture her lips. He held her against his body'shardness while his lips explored the pink mouth he held captive. Heset her back down on her feet and dared her to slap him.
She did better than that. She verbally cuthim down to size. "Why Nicky dear, I've been kissed by a dozenother men tonight and I thought I was saving the best 'till last.What a disappointment!"
"You are a little bitch," he growled. He tookher roughly in his arms and kissed her savagely.
Unknown to them, Amanda saw them and fledfrom the party, blinded by quick, hot tears.
As the party was breaking up around twoo'clock, Mammy Lou approached Nicholas reluctantly. "Marse Nick,ah's worried sick. Ma baby gone off somewheres an' ah can't findher."
"Did she go up to bed?"
"Naw suh. Ah's searched everywhich room. Ahhad Cleo search too, an' Charles searched outside. Ah can't tellMiz Caroline her baby run off in de middle of de night. It kill hercertain sure."
"I'll find her, Lou. Don't you worry. Youlook after Miss Caroline and don't let on about Mandy."
"Lawd Gawd, what happen now?" cried Mammy asshe saw a small knot of people gathered about Miss Caroline.
"She's had a bad spell," Bernard said. See ifDr. Caldwell has left yet."
The doctor returned from his carriage to thehouse. After a quick examination, he said briskly, "Let's get herupstairs to bed. It's all been to much for her, I'm afraid."
Bernard picked his wife up out of her chairand carried her carefully up the stairs. Jennifer followed, pale asdeath, and Mammy panted after, wringing her hands with alarm.
Nicholas went outside and made a quick searchof the stables and the out-buildings. He called Mandy's name, butthere was no answering response. He knew then she had gone to herfavorite place on Paradise Hill, and he set out with grimdetermination to find her, and shake some sense into her sillyhead.Running off in the middle of the night is such adangerous, childish thing to do.
His footsteps quickened as he left Jacksonland behind for his own acres. He called her name, but there was noresponse. Nicholas was filled with apprehension, a feeling quitealien to him. Where in hell would he begin to look, he wonderedwildly. Then he saw the white dress in the purple shadows of thetrees. She was on the edge of the riverbank, her knees drawn upunder her chin, one hand trailing in the black water.
He knew without a doubt that she had heardhim calling and had chosen to ignore him. Anger flared within him,while at the same time the relief he felt at finding her safe,almost overwhelmed him.
"God damn it, you deserve a beating forthis!" he exploded.
She didn't move. She acted as if she hadn'theard him, which only goaded him to a fresh outburst.
"Look at me, Mandy! This running wild withoutthought or care for others must cease. What an irresponsible,childish thing to do. Don't you have any comprehension of whatcould happen to you going off alone in the dark?" he demanded. Whenhe still received no response from her, he grasped her by theshoulders and roughly lifted her to her feet.
As she lifted a tear-stained face to him, herplight pierced his heart. He gathered her to him. "My honeysuckle,my little lamb, what is it?" he soothed.
"Nicholas," she whispered, heartbroken, "whydo you treat me like a child?"
Very gently he took her chin in his fingersand lifted her face so they could look into each other's eyes."Listen to me very carefully and I will explain. I treat you as alittle girl because youarea little girl in everyone'seyes, save mine. To me you are ageless, wiser and older than time,but in reality you arefifteen.Try to understand that myonly salvation is in treating you as a child. If I did not, I wouldbe lost. You know how I feel about you without my putting it intowords."
"But if you love me, why did you kissJennifer?"
He said lightly, "Men kiss lots of girls theydon't love. Come now, your mother has been taken ill, and we mustget you home."
She was stricken. "Oh, God no! What have Idone?" Her body began to tremble with fear for her mother. "I don'tmean to be wicked-- why do I always hurt her?"
"Mandy, no. Get these ideas out of your head.It was a debacle from the start. Brandon being expelled, Jenniferinsisting on this birthday ball, King Vickers shooting his brother,as well as certain things between your parents you know nothing of.These brought on your mother's collapse. Only Mammy Lou knows youwere missing, and she had enough good sense to come to me aboutit."
A single tear slipped down her cheek, and hebrushed it away with his thumb. His lips brushed her temple. "Come,we'll hold hands around the dark corners then your fears andapprehensions will scatter before our courage."
She gave him a tremulous smile and put herhand trustingly in his.
In a quiet, firm voice he added, "One morething. I forbid you to race Ty Caldwell."
