Page 43 of Master of Paradise
"Good girl." He wrapped one of his jacketsabout her shoulders. "Let's go."
Her mounted Sunblood and gently lifted her upbefore him in the saddle. The heat from his body soon stopped theshivery feeling she had, and she relaxed back against him, thankfulthat she had someone like Nicholas to lean upon.
He knew a great need to protect her. She wastoo young, too small, and far too sensitive to shoulder the burdenlife was thrusting upon her. His arms tightened about the slightfigure and he willed some of the misery in her to drain away intohis own powerful frame.
He wished he could stay with her all nightand allow his strength to sustain her, yet he was sure that withinAmanda Virginia there were deep mysterious reservoirs of strength.Though it wasn't physical, it was a strength of the spirit, whichin the long run might prove more enduring.
When they came close to the JacksonPlantation, keening could be heard coming from the slave quarters.Mixed with the sounds of the tree frogs and crickets, it soundedeerie indeed. He drew rein and lifted Amanda to the ground. He heldonto her shoulder with one hand, and lifted her chin with theother. "You'll find it easier to bear if you talk to your mother.That's what I did when my father died. Still do, sometimes. I don'tknow if she can hear you, love, but just pretend that she can, andI guarantee you'll feel comforted." He bent and kissed her brow."I'll watch 'till you get to the door, and I'll see youtomorrow."
Chapter Ten
During the month that had flown past sincethe day Miss Caroline had been buried, Nicholas had harvested hisown cotton and then turned around and repeated the process over atthe Jackson Plantation. Bernard had lost his overseer and neverreplaced him, and Brandon was less than useless when it came torunning a plantation. Nicholas still had to gin both crops in hismill before he could get Rafe to ship it and, naturally, any planshe had tentatively made to go with the cotton to Liverpool had tobe canceled.
Over at the Jackson Plantation, nothingseemed the same without Caroline Jackson, yet all was exactly thesame. The household ran as smooth as silk because the slaves hadbeen so well trained in their duties. Miss Caroline's will had beenread, and the things she had brought when she married Bernard werenow bequeathed to her children. Jennifer Joy and Amanda Virginiawere left the house slaves, which totaled sixteen in all. The willstipulated very clearly which eight were to go to Jennifer andwhich eight to Amanda. Her mother had left Mammy Lou to Amandabecause she was the baby and still needed a deal of lookingafter.
Brandon received a small farm that was hismother's property, even though Bernard had had the running of itsince she married him. It was located inland at Blackville, on thesouth fork of the Edisto River. This time Brandon refused pointblank to return to military academy and Bernard, for once, did notinsist. In fact Bernard seemed to rattle about the place andcouldn't seem to put his heart into anything.
Jennifer was most annoyed with Brandonbecause of her mother's will. "It is most disturbin' Brandon thatMother left you property, while I get some slothy house servants.Those are the rewards for bein' a female in this world!"
"Jenny, honey, it's only an ol' farm. Neversaw the place-- don't even know if it's worth anything," heplacated.
"Nevertheless brother, I feel in my bonesI've been cheated, an' I won't be satisfied until I've seen thatfarm with my own eyes."
"That's because you're an acquisitive littlebitch, scared to death one of us might get more than you."
"Brandon Jackson I demand your abject apologyfor such a remark, or I will inform Father."
"Go whistle up a hollow stump, Jennifer."
She said slyly, "If I could get a look atthis farm, I might be willing to trade some of the wenches for it.I own Cleo and Fanny and that pretty Aphrodite you're alwaysafter."
Brandon snorted. "I don't need yourpermission to pleasure Dite or any of the wenches."
"When I marry, I shall take them with me,then they'll belong to Nicholas Peacock. See if he'll let youpleasure his wenches!"
Brandon began to laugh at where her ambitionslay.
"Don't you dare to laugh at me," shehissed.
"A truce Jenny, a truce," he begged, stillfilled with mirth. "First chance we get, we'll visit that lil' ol'farm at Blackville and see what's what. Don't say anything toFather. I already broached the subject and he fobbed me off. Almostforbid me to go up there."
Jennifer Joy positively chafed at the bit,and she found she could complain to her heart's content to Brandonand it wouldn't go any farther than his ears. If indeed he allowedit to reach that far. "I don't mean to be disrespectful to Mother,but honestly Brandon, I swear I'm the unluckiest girl in the wholeworld. Why did she have to pass away at the height of my Season?I'm only eighteen once in my entire life. How can I positivelycatch a husband when I'm supposed to be in mourning?"
Brandon, only giving her part of hisattention said, "Beau Hampden's fancy already strayin' is it?"
"Beau Hampden?" Jenny stamped her foot."Don't you ever pay me no mind, Brandon Jackson? I am seriouslyinterested in Nicholas Peacock."
"You must have seen the house on ParadiseHill."
"That is the wickedest thing I've ever heardyou say. My feelings have absolutely nothing whatsomehowever to dowith a house."
"Whatever gives you the idea he'll have you?"he asked mildly.
"I don't have to stand here and be insultedby you, sir. Why everyone knows you're just an idle young lay-aboutwith no more ambition to get a plantation than fly over themoon."
"I don't need to get one when there's onehere ready made for me, and you don't need to get one do you Jenny?All you have to do is marry one. So you see, we are alike. Where'sthe need for name-calling?"
"Well, all right then, I won't let thisconversation degenerate into a fight. I want advice from you,Bran."
