Page 77 of Master of Paradise
"Nuthin wrong wid dat. When yo' in love, yo'go crazy if'n yo' don't lie together."
"Does it hurt?"
"Furst time, it hurts if'n he a big man. Ahain't gonna lie to yo'."
"And after that?" Amanda prompted
"Sometime it hurt. Sometime yo' like it tohurt," Cleo said with a grin, "but mostly it so wonnerful it likenuthin' else in de whole world. Yo' hasta find out for yoself, itain't nuthin' nobody else can tell yo' about."
Amanda was embarrassed at her own ignoranceand busied herself with her packing. Both girls decided to forgotaking personal maids since Aunt Virginia's household was run likeclockwork and she had six upstairs personal lady's maids to takecare of herself and two daughters.
The large enclosed carriage stood at thefront door of Paradise awaiting its passengers. Jason, who'd beenchosen to drive wore a smart new suit of clothes, since Nicholasdid not care for livery. Jason had been up since dawn polishing thelarge black vehicle and currying the coats of the four matchingcarriage horses. Servants from the house had brought out whatseemed a ton of baggage and strapped it to the roof of thecarriage.
Jennifer, on time for once, stepped into thecarriage and took the seat that would ensure she face the directionin which the coach would be traveling. Amanda followed and satopposite her sister. Mammy Lou stood outside the carriage, issuinglast minute instructions on how to conduct themselves at the finehomes they would be visiting in Charleston.
"Remember, Amanda Virginia, don't toss yorehead an' put up yore chin in dat willful way when somebody saysomethin' yo' disagrees wid." Without taking a breath she turned tothe elder girl, "An Jennifer Joy, don't yo' dast to wear nothin'but mourning colors, elsewise folks gonna talk somethin'scandalous!"
Nicholas gave last minute instructions toSamuel, then climbed into the coach and deliberately sat downbeside Jennifer. She had to gather up her traveling dress that wasspread across the velvet coach seat to accommodate him.
Nick's glance roamed with pleasure over hiswife, who felt shy under his admiring glances. She looked out thewindow pretending an interest in the passing scene, yet she couldfeel his eyes upon her all the while, and it made her breathless asif a hundred butterfly wings fluttered beneath her breasts.
"I declare there is nothing so fatiguing astravel, and no matter what, you always arrive hot and rumpled,"Jennifer declared. Amanda murmured a reply, and Jennifer chattedon, yet her younger sister could not have repeated one word of herconversation. Nicholas silently overwhelmed her with his presenceand whenever she dared to steal a glimpse of him, he was caressingher with his eyes.
Now he fastened them on her mouth and, try asshe might, all she could think of was the taste and feel of hislips on hers. His glance traveled to her breasts, so prettilydisplayed in the demure gray traveling dress, then he raised hiseyes to hers and enjoyed her blush.
Then he had the audacity to wink at her, andshe felt the corners of her mouth go up, and he knew the elusivedimples would appear.
Nicholas was filled with some kind ofmischievous devilry today and he flirted outrageously with herunder her sister's very nose, without Jenny being the least awareof what was going on.
After about an hour, when Jennifer lapsedinto a cat nap, Nicholas stretched out his long legs, slid downslightly against the squabs, his hat tipped down over his eyes.
Gradually, Amanda relaxed and breathedeasier. After a little while she got up enough courage to observeher husband.How handsome he is when he's dressed up. That navyblue coat shows off his shoulders that are surely wider than anyman's I've ever seen.The pleated shirt with its snowy stockcontrasted sharply with his deeply tanned skin and crisp black haircurling against his neck. His elegant boots shone so you could seeyour face in them, and above the boots, his thighs encased incream-colored breeches were hard as whipcord with saddlemuscles.
Her eyes lifted from the swell in theskintight breeches, and she was appalled to see that he was notasleep after all, but had been watching her appraisal from beneaththe brim of his hat. He removed the hat and grinned wickedly.
A small "Oh" escaped her, and Jennifer openedher eyes and yawned prettily.
"How much further do you reckon?"
"We'll stop at the River Inn for lunch, thatwill break up the journey. It's still a couple of hours toCharleston."
After the lunch stop, the girls climbed backinto the carriage and took the same seats they had occupied before.This time, however, Nicholas chose to sit next to Amanda instead offacing her.
She was relieved that his eyes would not beboldly teasing her for the rest of the journey, however she soonrealized that he could make his presence felt in a way that couldnot be ignored. She tried to ease away from his large form, but toher dismay found herself anchored firmly close as he was sitting onthe folds of her dress. She glanced up at him and his lips twitchedin amusement at her plight.
Their bodies were so close she could feel theheat of him clean through the fine material of her gown. The coachjostled them together as it careened down the river road on itsjourney to Charleston. His arm brushed against the swell of herbreast, but when she raised pleading eyes to his, he pressedhimself even closer. His long thigh, hard and well-muscled, layagainst hers and when he flexed that muscle, it sent a sensationthrough the flesh of her own soft thigh.
He was enjoying himself and there was nothingshe could do without alerting Jennifer. When she relaxed a littleand he knew she had accepted his attentions, he slipped her smallhand into his, undercover of her voluminous skirt. His thumbstroked her wrist and felt the wildly beating pulse, and he knewwithout a doubt how much her heart was involved.
"Would you mind dropping me off at my friend,Sue Ann Winwood's house? She lives at the northernmost part of townand Lord knows if I'll get up here again once I get to AuntVirginia's. You can tell her I'll get Sue Ann's coachman to driveme to the Battery in a couple of hours.
"I'll tell Jason, if you'll give me theaddress." Nicholas for once did not object to Jennifer's plans.
"It's the third, no I believe the fourthhouse on Rutledge Avenue, if you'd be so kind. Mandy, if AuntVirginia makes any kind of fuss, tell her I'll be there in time forsupper."
When the smart equipage drew up in front ofthe large house on Rutledge, Nicholas jumped out and handedJennifer from the coach. She told Jason to take her baggage alongto Aunt Virginia's, and Nicholas escorted her up to the door tomake sure the young woman she wanted to visit was at home, then hereturned to the carriage with all speed.
He did not take the empty seat, but threw hisweight down beside Amanda and said huskily, "Alone at last. My Godmadam, the world conspires against us so we are never private." Hescooped her up and sat her firmly on his knee before she couldvoice any protest, then his arms slipped about her and his headbent to steal a kiss.
