Page 53 of Master of Paradise
She heard him repeat, "I, Nicholas Peacock,take thee Amanda Virginia Jackson to my wedded wife, to have and tohold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer forpoorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, tilldeath us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto Iplight thee my troth."
She knew she also made the vow, but all shecould remember saying wasto love and to cherishandIplight thee my troth.She watched Brandon step forward to placea golden wedding band upon the prayer book. The minister gave it toNicholas, who lifted her left hand and slipped the ring halfwaydown her fourth finger. Then his deep voice washed over her.
"With this ring I thee wed, with my body Ithee honor, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow."
Jennifer Joy flinched at the words and hopedit would soon be over.
Many prayers followed before the couple wasfinally pronounced man and wife. When the minister concluded bysaying, "You may now kiss the bride," Mandy had a moment of panic,but Nicholas bent down and placed a chaste kiss upon her brow, andthey moved over to a side table to sign the certificate.
In spite of all the friction that had goneinto its preparation, the meal that followed could be called aresounding success. Samuel had only just begun to establish apecking order with the new cook and house servants of Paradise whenanother lot of servants was thrust upon him from the JacksonPlantation. Samuel welcomed Nicholas's new bride, but could notmuster the same feelings toward Amanda's sister and aunt. He openlyresented Mammy Lou and her entourage of house servants, with theexception of Brute's woman, Cleo.
Samuel was determined to rule the householdwith an iron hand. He knew exactly what his master liked anddisliked, and Paradise was going to remain a place where themaster's wishes were paramount, despite the passel of women thathad just descended.
Mammy Lou on the other hand knew all hermistress's pleasures and displeasures, and was determined that thenew Mistress of Paradise would have every small whim satisfied,which of course would elevate her own status. She had enjoyed fullsway in the Jackson household for so long, she was not about torelinquish her authority at this stage in life.
So Samuel had seen to it that Nicholas hadhis shrimp creole with mounds of their own fluffy white rice, andMammy had insisted on Mandy's favorite stuffed crab cakes. Samuelhad supervised the duck in wine sauce, while Mammy had overseen thedecorating of thepetit fors.As a result of this dualsupervision, there was too much food. Aunt Billie decided her newhome was aptly named. This was the closest to Paradise she was everlikely to get.
Brandon proposed as many toasts as he dared,which helped to ease the tension and smooth over any awkwardmoments.
Shortly after the meal, Bernard, anxious tostart out on the long journey to Richmond, gave his family a shortfarewell speech. "I hate to break up the party, but I must make astart. I have no qualms whatsoever in leaving my ladies underNicholas's protection. I am honored to have him as a son-in-law."He looked at his son. "Brandon, for the first time, will have ahouse to run. Let's hope he doesn't run amok." His small attempt athumor was followed by polite laughter.
There was a distinct feeling of relief afterBernard had departed.
Brandon helped himself to a double bourbon."You two newlyweds won't mind if I desert you, will you now? I mustmake a head start on the wild life I am going to commence."
Nicholas smiled. "I'll walk to the stableswith you, if the ladies will excuse me."
Mammy Lou bustled forward. "It's time y'allhad yore nap Miz Mandy. Yo' mus be plumb tuckered out in dis heat.Up to yore bed dis minute."
Nicholas said, "Why don't you put your feetup for awhile Lou? You've been working since daybreak."
Mammy Lou's mouth fell open. This was thefirst time in her recollection anyone had cared how she felt.Nicholas was the only one who had ever referred to her as anythingbut Mammy. She was a woman with a name, and Nicholas acknowledgedit.
Amanda shooed the servants from her bedroom.She removed the white dress, washed her hands and face, and slippedinto a cream linen riding skirt. She ran her brush through her hairquickly, not bothering with a mirror. As she descended the curvedstaircase that led from the east wing, she saw that Nicholas wasgoing downstairs also, from the west wing. Gone was the white suit.He now wore a cool shirt and serviceable riding breeches.
"Hello darlin', off on an adventure?" hecalled across to her.
"I'm going to see if Miss Louise likes yourstables." She noticed that he no longer had the clipped Britishaccent he had had when they first met, but a pleasant slow drawl.I love the way he said Hello Darlin' like it was acaress.
When they reached the bottom, he asked,"Amanda Virginia Peacock-- does it sound strange to you?"
She shook her head. "It seems right andnatural," she assured him. Mandy wasn't really ready to be a wife,but the sudden thought that someone else might have caught him forher husband and ended up at Paradise made her weak at the knees.Suddenly she was very, very glad that they were legally married andhad exchanged vows that would bind them forever.
Before they reached the stables, Nicholaspaused in the shade of an oak and took her hand. "I never want youto regret this day, Amanda." He brushed a tress of long dark hairback from her shoulder and it curled possessively around hisfingers.
"I hope you never have regrets,Nicholas."
If you only knew. I'm already regrettingthe promises I made to your father.The texture of her hair waslike satin between his fingers.
She laughed self-consciously. "I'm a marriedwoman, yet I'm not old enough to wear my hair up."
"When you put your hair up for the firsttime, I want the pleasure of taking it down."Damn, I must stoptouching her and saying these intimate things that spring to mylips the moment I'm near her.He had imagined his desire forher was a thing of the future that could be controlled, not thisimmediately, demanding need that set his blood on fire. Nicholasstepped away from her. "I'm putting in new water steps at theriver. I'm having a boat built for us to sail back and forth toCharleston. If you sail with the tide, it only takes an hour,whereas it takes almost three on horseback."
"It once took us five hours by carriage. Itwas a nightmare of a trip."
"Would you believe that yesterday thepaddle-wheeler that goes up and down the Ashley stopped at ourlanding so the people could tour our beautiful gardens?"
"Did you let them?"
