Page 65 of Master of Paradise
Nicholas strode into the room and swungAmanda up into his arms. "Excuse me," he muttered and swiftlycarried her upstairs. "Lou!" he called in a tone that brooked nodawdling. He set Amanda down on her bed. "She's as drunk as afiddler's bitch. Undress her and get her to bed."
As Nicholas returned to the library, all heldtheir breath. Even the Vickers boys who were liquored up knew theyhad done wrong and expected a tongue-lashing from the master ofParadise. Nick helped himself to some oysters. "Whose deal?" heasked smoothly.
The next day Amanda waited to be called toaccount for her shocking behavior, but the summons never came. Atdinner she was slightly uncomfortable under Nicholas's scrutiny. Heobserved her from beneath lowered brows as if he were contemplatingwhat to do with her.
As the conversation at table lagged, Jenniferspoke up, "You know the farm that Mother left to Brandon? I've beensimply dying to see the place, so Beau Hampden kindly offered toescort me there next week."
"Impossible," Nicholas said coldly.
Jenny turned wide blue eyes on him,"Sir?"
"It's out of the question, Jennifer. I forbidit."
She was almost speechless. "May I bepermitted to know why?" she asked in a tight voice.
"A young lady with your upbringing shouldknow the reason why. You cannot go careering off on a trip with ayoung man." He looked her directly in the eye, "No matter how wellyou know that young man."
She flung down her fork and it clatteredinelegantly as it hit her plate. She pushed back her chair anddeparted with a tearful, "Excuse me."
Startled, Aunt Billie, eyed Nicholas, andconsumed her dessert with twice she speed she usually ate. "I thinkI'll retire now."
Alone with her husband, Amanda waited for himto turn his wrath upon her. Finally, she dared raise her eyes tohis.
He gave her a brooding look that graduallyturned mocking. "You expect me to play the heavy-handed father, butAmanda I am not your father, I am your husband." His eyes glitteredas he offered a cruel taunt. "I suppose it will be an endlessexercise in patience to wait for you to grow up and become thewoman you look."
Amanda bit back a retort because she knewwhat she had done was childish, and also because she realized thatin any encounter with him, either verbal or physical, he wouldemerge victorious. She stood and put her crumpled napkin on thetable.
He mocked, "Don't let me intimidate you tothe point where you run up to your room."
"You are mistaken, sir. I am going out!" Sheexpected him to forbid her, when only cats were on the prowl, butwhen he did not, she had no option but to leave the house. Outside,the heady scent of the gardens filled her with a longing for...what? She didn't know. Then the throb of the drumbeat came to herand she was irresistibly lured to the Jackson Plantation's slavecabins.
Jessie did not want Amanda to stay. "Ourrites are secret. Yo' no wanna see when the lewd an' lecherous deadcome among us."
"Yes I do, Jessie. You are the priestess. Ifyou say I can stay, the others won't object."
"I am de Mambo. We are havin' water ritestonight by de river. It is strong magic. Ah may be mounted by Ioa--it will only frighten yo'."
"No, no, Jessie, I swear. Give me an amuletfor protection."
After a long silent moment, Jessie took apiece of hogwood bark, wrapped it in wild plum leaves, then put itinto a tiny cloth bag that she hung around Amanda's neck. Then shetook her hand and they slipped from Jessie's cabin into thedarkness.
Amanda was fascinated as the slaves gatheredabout laughing and dancing. Some of the males had white paintedfaces, and they passed around a gourd filled with homemade liquorand hot peppers.
They formed a long line to the river, dancingthe banda with wild contortions of belly and hips Down by the riverthe light from the moon reflected on the group and Mandy wasslightly shocked to see that some of the slaves had cross-dressed.The women wore pants and the men wore dresses. They waded into theshallows then climbed back out.
Suddenly, Jessie became possessed and fell tothe ground. She had taken on the characteristics of a snake andslithered her body along the ground. The crowd went wild; thedrumbeat quickened and the men and women were grabbing eachother.
Amanda, alarmed and a little afraid, decidedshe'd better get back to Paradise while the getting was good.
A tall, dark figure in the shadows, who hadbeen watching her closely, breathed deeply with relief. Nicholaskept to the shadow of the trees as he followed his young wife home.Ten minutes after she entered the house, he went in and sought outSamuel. "Come up, Sam, I have something important to discuss."
Inside Nick's bedroom, Samuel seated himselfin a comfortable armchair and Nicholas sat opposite him. He offeredhim a cigar and lit it for him. "I don't know a lot about voodoo,Sam. Educate me."
"Dat crazy stuff only fo' ignorant slaves.Dey believes illness come from bein' cursed. Dey imagine bad luckcan be washed away in de river. De strong ones prey on desuperstitions of de weak."
"I've known it was going on at this time ofseason for a few years now. I've never put a stop to it because Iconsidered it a form of entertainment-- a way for the slaves torelieve their aggressions and frustrations. It's a form of socialcontrol, and I have no real objection to it."
"Well suh, ah suppose der is a good part toit. Dey have lotsa herbal medicines t'cure sickness, but der's abad part to it. Dey call up de spirits o' de dead an' dey makespotent drinks outa strange plants dat send 'em crazy until dey allwrithin' on de ground an' mountin' each other no better'nanimals."
