Page 78 of Master of Paradise
As she gasped and turned her face from him,he leisurely enjoyed the soft blush on her creamy cheek. Hiscloseness prevented her from breathing, and she feared thatobservers from the busy streets would see the carryings-on insidethe coach. "Nicholas you mustn't," she whispered desperately."People will see."
"You are my wife, Amanda. I don't really gavea damn if the world sees."
The dark, gold-tipped lashes self-consciouslyfluttered to her cheeks.
His hand came up to cup her chin and its firmpressure slowly turned her face to his.
When his lips captured hers in a thrillingkiss, it ignited a tiny spark of desire to be his. She reached upto caress his neck where the crisp hair curled darkly, and hepressed her back until she was lying on the seat.
As his weight came down to hold her captive,she realized what was happening and pressed both hands against hisbroad chest.
"My darling love, how you've enjoyed teasingme this long journey, now when I have the opportunity to make alittle love to you, you would deny me and say me nay," he teased.His lips came down on hers in a searing, crushing kiss, demandingthat she say yea.
She gave herself up to the pleasure of hisarms and without hesitation he reached up her skirts, allowing hishand to caress the bare flesh of her upper thigh that stretchedabove her stocking. She struggled, but it was in vain. She beggedhim to stop, but he laughed at her.
With a deft movement, he pulled down herstocking and slipped it from her leg.
In desperation she realized the big carriagehad drawn up before Aunt Virginia's house.
Nicholas kissed the filmy stocking and tuckedit into his breast pocket. "You wouldn't deny me a keepsake, wouldyou?" he whispered.
Amanda was scandalized. "I can't go inwearing only one stocking."
"Of course you can. No one will see, andevery step you take will remind you of me."
The corners of her mouth went up at hisoutrageous behavior.He is a bold man to undress me in acarriage.
Nicholas did not simply drop her off onVirginia's doorstep, but suffered politely through afternoon tea,while the baggage was unloaded from the carriage and takenupstairs.
All the while Amanda sipped her tea andlistened to her husband exchange pleasantries with her aunt and herdaughters, she was acutely aware of her bared leg beneath her gown.Her blush would not subside and whenever she glanced at him, hegave her a knowing wink.
As he rose to leave he said, "Remember if youshould need to get a message to me, I'll be at the PlantersInn."
Amanda spent the rest of the day dreamy-eyed,while her cousins pumped her for details of her devastatinglyhandsome husband.
No entertainments were planned for theirfirst evening in Charleston, as it was rightly assumed they wouldneed to rest from the rigors of the journey. The following dayhowever was given up to the pleasure of shopping, so while AuntVirginia planned the details of the party she was giving thatevening, her daughters escorted Jennifer and Amanda on a tour ofsome of the delightful shops.
Amanda bought with Nicholas in mind. Shewanted dresses that would not only flatter her tawny coloring, butwould also please a man's eye. She bought a pretty creation with alow, square neckline and the barest hint of a sleeve. The color wasdelightful. Above the waist it was butter-cream, then the skirtdeepened into a golden yellow. The other was a ball gown. It wasthe subtlest shade of peach with the bustline petal-shaped to cupand flatter the breasts; a most eye-catching detail of design.
She bought slippers and underpinnings tomatch, and then the party moved along to Church Street to a veryfashionable milliner's shop that sold the prettiest bonnets intown. The girls sat in front of mirrors trying on one chapeau afteranother. Amanda had seen one in the window that was very elegant.She moved toward the display, and there in the street was herhusband.
"Nicholas just went past the shop, I wonderif he's looking for us?" she remarked to Jennifer. She darted outthe door just in time to see him turn the corner onto Tradd Street.When she reached the corner, he was entering the third house fromthe corner.
She called, "Nicholas!" but he did not hearher, and she felt rather self-conscious shouting down the street.She quickened her steps, wondering whose house it was, as sheclimbed the brick steps and tapped timidly on the door.
A young black woman opened it and held itwide. There stood Nicholas in the entrance way with a child in hisarms. The beautiful little girl between two and three years old waslaughing excitedly.
Amanda stepped forward with a puzzled look onher face, then as the light from the open doorway fell upon the manand child, Amanda saw that the little girl had aqua-colored eyes,the same unusual shade as her husband.
For one unreal moment the world swung upsidedown for Amanda. She backed away from him, then turned and ranblindly back toward the shop or anywhere that would get her awayfrom him.
Nicholas, alarmed, quickly handed the childback to Solange and strode after his wife.
The moment Amanda entered the milliner'sshop, the walls swam together and the floor came up to hit her inthe face.
Nicholas had her in his arms instantly. Hesaid shortly to Jennifer, "She's unwell, I'm taking her back to thePlanters Inn."
He strode out into the street and hailed acarriage to carry them the short distance.
