Page 50 of Master of Paradise
She went farther down the east wing to theend and opened the bedchamber door. It was the delicately femininepale green room, and she knew the moment she stepped inside. "Iknow I'll be happy here. The windows face the east and I love themorning sun."
"There's a bathing room beside this one, andMammy Lou can have the room on the other side of it," Nicholas saiddecisively.
Mandy groaned. "Mammy is like a watchdog.Must I have her so close? She'll even know every time I breathe inand out."
"I'm afraid you're going to have to put upwith Mammy for chaperone. We have to observe the conventionswhether you like it or not."
"I'm sorry; I didn't realize." She opened thedoors and stepped out onto the verandah and he followed her. "Thegardens are breathtaking from here."
"I do believe there's roses and wisteriaplanted below. They should cover this part of the gallery by nextspring. In the meantime, that pomegranate tree will shade out thehot sun.
She re-entered the bedroom and caught aglimpse of herself in the mirror. "Great balls of fire, I look likethe wild woman of Borneo." She sighed. "Mammy Lou will never beable to make me look like a respectable married lady. It'shopeless."
She has no idea how erotic and desirableshe is with her slanting golden eyes and tempting mouth that dropstantalizing curse words so guilelessly.His flesh rose up andbetrayed his need. He was hungry for her, and longed to gather hersoftness to him, and lay her on the great bed that stretched sotemptingly before them. He ruthlessly crushed his desire. "Do youlike the furnishings in this room, or would you rather have yourown things from home about you?"
"Oh I think it will be lovely to have all newfurniture. I have some beautiful linen Mother put away for me, butother than that I'll just bring a few personal items and myclothes."
"I'll buy you new clothes. We'll go on ashopping trip to Charleston."
Mandy laughed. "We can't go alone, and thatwill mean new clothes for all the women you are inheriting alongwith me. You don't need to do that, Nicholas."
"It would give me pleasure," he insisted.
She closed her eyes and whispered, "Livinghere, truly will be like living in Paradise." She opened her eyesand caught an expression on his face she didn't understand. It wasso fierce and intense, it frightened her. She put her hand to herthroat and stepped back.
He realized he had alarmed her. "Let's go andsee your father and get all the details settled."
When Nicholas placed his hand at the small ofMandy's back to urge her into her father's office, Bernard gave aquick frown. Nick immediately overruled his objection. "Ourbusiness is centered on Amanda. She should be present."
Bernard poured Nicholas his usual drink."I've sent a note for my lawyer to come and prepare the papers.There will be a marriage contract spelling out the arrangementexactly. and if you work the land for the two years until Amanda iseighteen and the marriage is consummated , it automatically becomesyours. That's the way I want it, because you value it more than anyother would."
When Nicholas nodded his acceptance, Bernardturned to his daughter. "Amanda, I think Saturday would be a goodtime for the ceremony. That way I can travel up to Richmond and beready to go to work Monday."
"Yes, Father. Could I be married at Paradise?There are no sad memories connected with it."
"I think that's a fine idea." He hesitated."I want you to understand fully what the arrangement will beAmanda. Until you are eighteen you will be married to Nicholas inname only. You will live with your sister and your Aunt Billie. Youwill even have your own household servants."
Mandy looked across her father to Nicholasand her eyes sparkled with mischief as he said, "You will maintainentirely separate households. Do you understand, Amanda?"
She turned an innocent face toward him andsaid, "Oh purely and absolutely!"
When the young bucks of the county gatheredat Paradise for their weekly indulgence of gambling, Brandon waiteduntil a game with high stakes was underway, then he raised hisglass. "Nicholas here is about to become my brother-in-law."
Wesley Davis said, "God Almighty, didJennifer Joy finally accept a man's proposal?"
Beau Hampden jumped up from the card game,face red, fists clenched, mad as hell.
"No, Wesley," Nick said smoothly, "I'mmarrying Amanda Virginia."
Ty Caldwell looked furious. "That's a damnedunderhanded trick, Peacock, to steal her from the cradle. Hell,I've been waiting for Amanda to grow up for years."
Kingsley Vickers challenged Ty immediately."You lyin' son-of-a-bitch, Caldwell. Well hell, everyone in theseparts knew I had her marked out for myself. Ask Duke here, he'lltell you. Why, we only spoke of it recently."
"Was that before or after you shot him?"Nickolas inquired blandly.
King had the decency to grin sheepishly.
Stuart Beverly was the only one with enoughmoral courage to say with conviction, "Well, personally, I thinkshe's too young to be anyone's wife."
