Page 67 of Master of Paradise
"Yes, it's a hidden spot where a person couldbe alone."
"Where two people could be alone," hesuggested, squeezing her hand. They stood beneath an oak that had awisteria vine, thick as a man's waist twisted about its massivetrunk. The mauve petals were floating on the warm breeze anddropping into the water. One fell and caught in Amanda's hair andas Nicholas reached out to brush it away, a tendril curledpossessively about his fingers.
"One of life's sweetest pleasures is playingwith a beautiful woman's hair," he told her softly.
Amanda felt as if she were melting with love.She couldn't trust herself to speak, as she sighed raggedly.
All logical thoughts fled his mind, but as hereached out his arms to crush her to him, he saw how untried shewas, and forced himself to cool his ardor. He withdrew his arms,and they continued their walk, past the gin mill. The stable'saroma of horses and leather came to their nostrils in a risingmiasma in the heated night.
Amanda had never felt so happy. She wasentranced like a sleepwalker and would have stayed hand-fast withNicholas the whole night through if he desired it.
They ended up back in the rose garden wheretheir tryst had begun. He reached for a bloom, denuded it of thornsand placed it behind her ear. "Perfect for you-- a Maiden's BlushRose." His fingers dipped to the neckline of her gown where heplucked the tiny cloth bag Jessie had given her. "You won't needthis," he murmured.
Again she was wide-eyed with wonder. It wasas if her husband could penetrate her thoughts, her soul. Nicholaswas all the protection she would ever need.
He drew both her hands to his lips andmurmured against them, "Amanda, tonight was for you and I alone.Let's not share it with the others."
She nodded, feeling exactly as he did. It wastheir delicious secret. No one would ever know. "GoodnightNicholas," she breathed.
"Goodnight love."
She carried his words with her to bed.
During the course of the next day neitherNicholas nor Amanda, by look or word, gave any indication thatanything was different than it had been the day before. As usualthey were never alone together, and Nicholas was careful to use theformal address of 'Miss Amanda'.
The summer heat had lasted right into theautumn months this year. If anything, today was hotter thanyesterday, and the night brought little relief.
Jennifer came into the dining room carrying alarge palmetto fan. "Ah declare this heat is just awesome. Can'tsomething be done about it?" She looked coolly pretty in a bluesprigged muslin.
"Paradise is much cooler than our house,"Amanda told her. "And dinner was cooked in the outdoor kitchen. Itcould be much worse."
"Ah don't know how. Nicholas, would youplease get one of the servants to operate the shoo-fly?"
"Of course, Miss Jennifer," he answeredformally. "Samuel, tell Fanny we need the ceiling fan worked,please."
"Yessir, shiftless wench shoulda had it gwinean hour since."
Nicholas smiled at his wife. "When I firstarrived from England, the heat almost felled me, but now I'm soacclimatized, I welcome the warm nights." He caught her gaze andheld it until she blushed and lowered her eyelashes. Nicholas hid asmile.
"I received a note from Mrs. Beverly invitingus to a corn roast tonight. Could we all go?" Jenny askedhopefully.
Nicholas declined. "I had something else inmind for this evening."
Jennifer looked to Amanda. "Your husbandwon't allow me to attend alone. You come with me, Mandy."
Amanda hesitated. "No, I'm sorry Jenny, butLaurel Beverly is a jealous cat and I don't care for hercompany."
With a straight face Nicholas suggestedblithely, "I'd have no objection if Aunt Billie and Mammy Lou wentalong with you."
Jennifer's look of hatred almost pinned himto the wall.
Aunt Billie looked up eagerly from her glass."I'll have to go up and get my wrap."
Amanda jumped up. "I'll get it Aunt Billie.You'll need your reticule with your tonic." Billie always carried aflask when she moved from home in case there was no liquorprovided.
When Amanda left the room, Nicholas askedJenny, "What is the trouble with Mandy and the Beverly girl?"
"Oh you can't blame her for not wanting tovisit her friends, poor little thing. She gets teased somethingpowerful for not being a real wife. I feel so sorry for her." Shequickly put her hand over her mouth to give the impression that sheshouldn't have let that slip out.
