Page 93 of Master of Paradise
Jennifer gave an impatient sigh, but she wasdetermined the moment of truth was only postponed.
Nicholas followed Bernard up the curvingstaircase to his bedroom. "Bernard, I've something to say that youmay totally oppose, but I must say it." He plunged on. "War changesall the rules. None of us knows how much time he has left. I'mdeeply in love with Amanda, and I won't wait longer. I want my wifesharing the master bedroom with me where she belongs." He wasn'tasking Bernard's permission, he was merely informing him of whatwas to be.
After a few moments of thought, Bernardnodded his understanding.
Joy and elation lifted Nick's spirits high,and he went downstairs to set his house in order.
Jennifer came rushing indoors. "Daddy wasright. Dr. and Mrs. Caldwell just drove up, and I'll die if Romedaan' Lorena see I'm not dressed for the party yet."
Amanda soothed her. "Don't fly into a panic.Mammy here will help you.. Lady Pamela, would you like Fanny tohelp you dress? Philip, would you be a darling and help Beauentertain our guests until we're ready?"
Just as the Caldwells came in the front door,Nicholas spoke in his deep voice of authority. "Lou, before youhelp Jennifer, would you see that Amanda's things are changed overfrom her bedroom in the East wing? Mrs. Peacock will be sharing myroom from now on." He gave Jennifer a mocking bow and stretched outa warm hand to welcome the Caldwells.
A hush fell over the room. Amanda looked fromNicholas to Philip, to the Caldwells, to Lady Pamela, and finallyto Mammy Lou. Everyone in the room was staring at her. She blushedscarlet and fled upstairs with Mammy following as quickly as shecould manage.
Mandy wished the earth would open up andswallow her. She was on the verge of tears.Whatever promptedNicholas to act as he did? God Almighty, what will happen whenFather learns of it? Great balls of fire, how the Caldwells hadgaped open-mouthed. And Mammy Lou--Amanda paled as sheimagined what she would have to say to it all!
She turned and realized with a start thatMammy had half emptied her wardrobe and was taking her dresses toNicholas's bedroom. She lifted her skirts and hurried to the masterbedchamber.
What she saw was unbelievable. There stoodNicholas making room in his wardrobe for her things, while Mammyhung up her dresses. Amanda slammed the door shut. Her tears ofembarrassment had turned to anger and her temper mounteddangerously.
"How dare you?" She was panting with seethingindignation.
Nicholas was surprised and slightly amused ather reaction. "Honeysuckle you know this is long overdue."
"How dare you tell Mammy to put my things inhere without consulting me? You arrogant, high-handed bast..." shecut off the word at his dangerous look. "Oh, men are such devils.Take my things back at once, Mammy."
Nicholas warned, "Lou, don't you dare touchthose things. They stay here! Why are you so all-fired angry?"
"You... you practically ordered me to shareyour bed in front of everyone, and you dare ask why I'm angry?" shecried.
"You've shared my bed before this, andenjoyed every minute of it. Why the fuss now?" he demanded.
"Oh!" she gasped, reddening in front ofMammy. "How could you be so indelicate?"
"For God's sake Amanda, you're my wife. Louknows what goes on in bed between a man and woman."
"Well," Mandy said with icy control, "itisn't going to go on in this bed, between this man and woman." Sheswooped up her dresses and sailed from the room. She bumped intoher father and swept past him without so much as an 'excuseme'.
Bernard chuckled when he saw Nicholas'stight-lipped frustration. "I see little madam still has a mind ofher own. I don't think I need worry about her any longer. She'smore than a match for you."
Earlier in the day, the furniture in thethree main rooms on the lower level had been arranged around thewalls to make room for dancing, while the long dining table hadbeen placed against one wall for the buffet supper. The guestscould take their refreshments to the tiled patio, the long,sweeping verandahs, or into the many arbors in the flower-shadedgardens.
Though Jennifer had been robbed of her weaponto wound Nicholas and Amanda, she pretended to be the happiest andluckiest female in the South. She was somewhat mollified at theenvy of Blanche Davis and Laurel Beverly, and indeed Beau was justabout the handsomest young man in the room in his dashing cavalryuniform. But the men kept clustering together to discuss the war,and it was almost hard work to persuade them to dance and forgettheir cares.
Amanda stubbornly stayed in her room untilthe hour grew late. Finally Mammy Lou came in to put an end to hernonsense.
"Chile, der ain't no use fussin' over whatMasta Nick done. Ah wondered when yo' was gonna wake up an' realizeyo' was a woman. If yo' got any brains at all, yo' gonna gitdressed an' git downstairs, an' let all dem females know he yores.Der ain't one dat ain't got it bad for Masta Nick, an' dat includesJennifer Joy an' dat Lady Pamela."
Amanda raised her eyes to Mammy's. "Help medress. Hurry!"
Mandy caused quite a stir as she descendedthe curved staircase. She wondered if it was due to her tardyentrance, or her diamonds that caught the light with glitteringbrilliance.
Actually, it was neither. It was thatseemingly overnight Amanda had been transformed from a young girlinto a seductive woman with an aura of mystery about her slanting,golden eyes.
Nicholas, who was across the room doing hisduty as host, chose to ignore her.
A secret smile curved her lips and herdimples appeared.
