Page 79 of Master of Paradise
When Amanda opened her eyes, the pain in themwas hard for Nicholas to bear. They burned with accusation, and herface had gone so deathly pale, he feared for her.
He did not carry her, but he assisted herupstairs to his room. He could feel her small back was rigid andunyielding to his arm that tried to give her support. Quickly, hepoured a small amount of brandy into a glass and held it to herlips.
With one sweeping gesture Amanda knocked theglass away and it shattered into a thousand shards. She flew athim, and with clenched fists that hammered into his chest, cried,"Damn you, damn you, damn you!"
He caught her hands firmly and said sharply,"Amanda, stop it. It happened before I ever met you."
"My God," she cried aghast, "you don't evenattempt to deny it!"
"That would be rather gutless of me."
"I thought you were different, but you're thesame as all the other men. Exactly the same! You have the morals ofa libertine." She struggled fiercely until he freed her. "You werea hero to me. I've worshipped you for over four years,since I wasthirteen, and this is how you repay me."
He tried to take hold of her arms in aneffort to calm her.
"Don't touch me!" she cried passionately, herfury growing along with the volume of her voice.
"Keep your voice down, Amanda, you'rebecoming hysterical," he ordered.
"I have every right to be hysterical, and Ishall not keep my voice down. I want everyone to know you'vebetrayed me with a black woman, and that you have a yardchild."
"Don't you dare to call Nicole a yard child,"he shouted, his anger rising rapidly.
"Nicole?Nicole by God!The name thatshould have been reserved for our child. How could you?" She dashedthe tears from her eyes with angry fists, and Nicholas decided thatenough was enough.
He lifted her feet off the floor and sat herupon the high bed that stood in the center of the room. "You willbe silent while I explain the situation to you. I seldom explainmyself Amanda, but for you I will make an exception, thisonce."
She set her chin at a very aggressive angleand glared at him.
"I bought the female slave Solange and freedher the same day. She came to my bed one time only, and much to myshame I got her with child. I do not love Solange, I have neverloved Solange, but I do love my child. I have accepted theunfortunate situation, and you will have to do the same."
She jumped down from the bed. "Are youfinished, sir?" she demanded, showing that her anger had notlessened by one jot. "When I married you,in name only,"sheemphasized sarcastically, "you assured me that if I was not happy,and changed my mind, I could get the marriage... annulled... Ibelieve the word was. I shall write to my father and tell him Iwish the marriage dissolved."
I have no choice now. I will have toconsummate the marriage so that an annulment will beimpossible.The intensity of her anger showed him clearly howdeeply she felt for him, and he was elated that she loved him andcould not conceal it from him.
He decided his best course of action would beto divert her. If he gave her something else to worry about, hertemper would cool over the other matter. He took off his coat andturned down the bed.
She eyed him with suspicion. "What are youdoing?"
"My dear, you fainted on the street. The onlyplace for you is in bed. You need to be coddled. I'll send down forsome chamomile tea. Come, let me undo your gown."
"I'm perfectly well. I just had a shock... ashock I might add that will last the rest of my life!"
He removed his cravat and began to unbuttonhis shirt, then in his most persuasive voice invited, "Come, I'lllie down with you."
She put the width of the bed between them andwarned, "Stay away from me, Nicholas Peacock."
He shrugged. "You may as well get used toit-- we will be sharing the bed tonight."
"Are you mad?" she cried, "I shall go back toAunt Virginia's of course."
"Not,of course,Mandy. Only if Ichoose to let you." He was around the bed in a flash and she wasenveloped in his arms. He took her down to the bed with him, halfrolled her onto her back and commenced to kiss her thoroughly anddeeply. She fought him, but his strength pitted against herprevented her from freeing her body in any way. While he had herunder his control he caressed and stroked her breasts until hernipples stood out like hard little spears.
"Please, Nicholas, don't."
"Ah, so it's 'please Nicholas'now, isit?" He looked deeply into her eyes and saw that in spite of herprotests, her eyes were dilated because her body was receivingpleasure. "If I only wanted you physically, I could have taken youany night in the garden, but I want more than that Amanda."
Her lashes swept down and she refused to lookat him.
