Page 74 of Master of Paradise
Her eyes searched the shadowy trees to noavail, then as she looked along the darkened gallery, she saw herhusband's cheroot glowing in the blackness. She felt an initialpanic whether he could see her or not, then realized that he must,as her lamplight through the open doors illuminated this part ofthe balcony. The light started moving toward her and she knew shemust prevent him from coming along to this wing of the house wereBillie or Mammy Lou would overhear them. She ran quickly along theshadowed gallery until she stood before him breathless, heedless ofher state of undress.
"If only there was a moon tonight to revealyour loveliness."
"Nicholas, you must come no further," shewhispered unevenly.
"You met me halfway, as it should be," hemurmured softly. His voice hinted of passion, yet still he did nottouch her.
They drew closer, unable to control theattraction their bodies held for each other. He opened his robe andtook her inside against his body.
She gasped as the shock of his hard nakednesscame against her warm, soft flesh. The wisp of material was noprotection for the hot length of him pressed tightly against herdelicate body.
"Sweet, sweet..." he begged, and suddenly shefelt his hard shaft rise up and begin to throb and probe againsther thighs.
Panic seized her. "No, please don't dothat."
His hands slid beneath the shortenednightgown to hold her hips against him, and now he brought hismouth down on hers to silence her protests.
She struggled to free herself, and her sharplittle teeth sank into his lip. When his hand left her body andwent to his injured mouth, she pulled her trembling body away fromhis demanding torso and fled back to the sanctuary of her room andlocked the balcony doors. After what seemed an eternity, her heartbeneath her breasts slowed its tumult and she was able to catch herbreath.
She slid beneath the covers and the tearsslipped down her cheeks and fell onto her pillow. Amanda examinedher feelings for him. She was sure she loved him, trusted him, buttonight had frightened her. He was such a big man, so mature, withan age gap of almost ten years between them. It made her feeltimid, and shy, like a child. Just thinking of the physical demandshis body made on hers caused her to tremble. The following day,Amanda avoided her husband, and when they did chance to meet on thestairs, her lashes swept her cheeks and she dare not meet hiseyes.
That night, he waited in the gazebo, but shedid not come, and he knew their idyll in the garden had come to anend.
Every day Jennifer asked Brandon if hisslaves had arrived from Blackville. It wasn't until the end of theweek that he confirmed they had arrived at the Jackson Plantation,and he was expecting the slave buyer from Charleston the nextafternoon.
The following morning, Jennifer arose earlyand gathered together five of the house servants her mother hadleft her in the will. "Cleo, Fanny, and Aphrodite, I want you overat the Jackson Plantation today. Charles and Porter too. As soon asyou're finished morning chores, we'll all go over theretogether."
"Yass Miz Jennifer," they chorused, notreally curious about why they were needed back at the other house,and glad really that they would be reunited for a gossip with theJackson servants who hadn't been brought to Paradise.
When Jennifer arrived, Brandon raised hiseyebrows when he saw the group of servants she had brought withher. A suspicion crossed his mind that he could hardly credit.
"Could I speak with you in private, Brandon?"Jenny asked at her very sweetest, and his suspicions were instantlyconfirmed.
Alone, outside the house, Jennifer said, "I'mselling them. The buyer can take them on consignment and whenthey're sold you can collect my money for me and pay him hiscommission."
"But Jen... they served Mother... you can'tdo this!"
"I can and I will, Brandon. Paradise hasdozens of servants. Why should Nicholas Peacock have the use of myslaves, pray tell me? I'm not a Simon-pure fool, Brandon. Here aretheir papers. Take care of it for me."
"And if I refuse?" he demanded, stilloutraged.
"Why then I'd have to tell Daddy about youtakin' me to that terrible place, and how you took your pleasure ona wench in the very next room where my poor ears were exposed toevery vile thing that went on."
Brandon's mouth tightened as he took theownership papers from her.
Jim, Brandon's body servant grasped what washappening. A great fear took hold of him. If they were selling Cleoand Porter, who had carried ol' Miz Caroline about so faithfully,then perhaps he would be next. He followed Miz Jennifer back toParadise, making sure he kept a healthy distance between them. Hehung about the back door of the house until he spotted Samuel.
"Hello Jim. Mast' Brandon wid yo' today?"Samuel asked.
"Naw sir, Sam. Ah wants t'tell y'all sumpin,but ah don't wants to be in no trouble."
"Spit it out boy," Samuel ordered. He was aman not easily disobeyed and Jim spilled out his fears to the olderman.
"You tellin' me de trufe boy? Git home beforeanybody see yo'. Ah'll take care o' dis."
When Samuel found Nicholas he was supervisingthe digging of drainage ditches on his low-lying land. As soon asthe field hands spotted Samuel, there was good-hearted kidding thatthe house servant would get dirty if he'd come to help themdig.
Nicholas stopped laughing when he saw thedistress evident in Samuel's face. He took him aside and asked himwhat was amiss. Before Samuel finished his tale, Nicholas lookedhaggard. A white-hot searing anger took hold of him.
