Page 99 of Master of Paradise
Mandy looked across the room at Nicholas andfor the first time became aware of the woman who engaged him inanimated conversation at the buffet table. As Jennifer's wordspenetrated her consciousness and their meaning became clear, shenoticed the woman reach up her hand in a familiar way to adjustNicholas's cravat.
Amanda felt as if a large, ugly hand weretrying to pluck her heart from her breast; as though the sun hadgone out and left the world cold and bleak.Is this what the endof the world feels like?
"Who is she?" she heard herself ask, low.
"Lady Margo Stafford." Jennifer was unable tokeep the note of satisfaction from her voice.
Amanda's pride was mauled and hung in shreds.She stood transfixed for a moment as anger, jealousy, and painraged within her for supremacy. Anger won, hands down.
She closed her fan with a snap and walked adirect path through the crowded ballroom to Lady Margo. In a voiceraised high enough to cause a stir in any crowd, Amanda said, "Stayaway from my husband!"
Maggie looked at the young beauty before herand wanted to strike her, but the golden fury that blazed in hereyes made her afraid. She said between her teeth, "Americanbitch!"
The wild streak in Amanda was immediatelyunleashed. She drew her hand back and crashed it into Maggie'sface. "English whore!" she shouted.
A shocked gasp went around the room andpeople moved back away from them. Never had they heard such a badword from the mouth of a lady.
Nicholas, at such a disadvantage, was unsureof himself for the first time in his life.
Virginia rushed forward, appalled at thebehavior of her niece. She was almost incoherent. "How dare youoffer Lady Margot such an insult? How could you deliberately ruinsuch an important evening? You are a wicked girl! You have alwaysbeen uncivilized."
Mandy, seething now, her eyes shooting offgolden sparks like an erupting firecracker, cried, "Uncivilized?I'll show you uncivilized!" She took hold of the banquet tableclothin front of the enormous crystal punchbowl and smashed everythingto the floor in an ecstasy of magnificent waste.
Virginia was speechless and on the point ofcollapse. She could only fling her arm out at Nicholas to get hiswife out.
Nicholas propelled Amanda through the door."Very pretty behavior."
She met the remark with stony silence as shesailed down the front steps and along the Battery.
He had to quicken his pace to keep up withher. "Where are you off to Miss High and Mighty? Do you propose towalk all the way back to Paradise?
Silence.
He made an impatient noise and hailed an opencarriage. When it stopped for them, she ignored it and kept onwalking.
Nicholas slipped one arm across her back andthe other beneath her knees and neatly lifted her into thecarriage.
"Don't touch me!" she spat.
He ignored the venom and told the driver totake them to the Planter's Inn. When they arrived the sidewalkoutside and the lobby were filled with attachés of the army, eachescorting what looked to be a loose woman. Drunken mirth mixed witharguments created an atmosphere of disorder, so the couple at oddswith each other went almost unnoticed as Nicholas procured a keyfor the largest chamber. A soldier offered Amanda a ribaldsuggestion, and she swept past him with her chin in the air.
As Nicholas locked the door, Amanda threw herfan and reticule onto the bed, then went over to the window,presenting her back to him.
"Amanda, let me explain," he began.
"Don't speak to me," she hissed.
He went up behind her and gently cupped hershoulders in his hands. "Mandy..."
"Don't touch me! Ever!" she addedemphatically.
"Damn it, it was before we were ever married.You were just a young girl when I visited Maggie. You can't punishme for something that happened then. The moment we exchanged vows,I ended it."
She turned to face him, hands on hips, eyesblazing. "I forgave you Solange, but you forgot to mention thisone. How many more are there Nicholas?"
"Obviously you havenotforgiven me oryou wouldn't throw it in my face," he said quietly.
"My God, men are beasts. I shall pay you backand see how you like it. I shall find myself another man and beunfaithful to you!" she threatened wildly.
