Master Of Paradise (19 page)

Mandy had begun to take over some of her mother's duties to fill out her days. Little by little she was taking over the management of the household and even Mammy Lou had begun to look to her for direction in menu planning, and to discuss the problems that continually arose with the house slaves. Through Mammy, Amanda soon knew that Jenny wanted to change the plans for the evening meal.

"It's all right, Mammy. Jenny must want something desperately from papa, and of course Mr. Johnson will visit overnight. Let's listen carefully at supper and see if she drops any hints."

Jennifer looked ethereal and delicate in the rustling black silk. It emphasized her pale hair and the whiteness of her skin. Black of course was out of the question for Amanda because of her age, so she came to the table in a sombre dark gray with white collar and cuffs.

Aunt Billie looked hideous in a rusty black she had dragged from the back of her wardrobe. She'd obviously put on even more weight since the last time she'd worn it, because each time she reached for a dish, it threatened to split at the seams.

Bernard said impatiently, "Where's Nicholas?"

Amanda said, Nicholas dines with us on Fridays, daddy. This is only Thursday."

"It's time we began accepting Nicholas's invitations to dine at Paradise," Jennifer declared. "I know our socializing must be curtailed because of our mourning, but Nicholas is like one of the family."

Brandon winked at Mandy. "It's really an experience to be entertained at Paradise. We play cards there every week. The place is like a palace."

Mandy did not quite know why Brandon was teasing Jenny about Paradise, but when he added lightly, "Going there tonight as a matter of fact," she noticed that Jenny's mouth tightened in fury.

To make conversation, Amanda said, "Nicholas has some new house servants, I hear. He'll be busy training them."

"No fear." Brandon laughed. "Samuel already has them whipped into shape. Never saw a house slave better than Samuel in my life. He could give our Charles a few lessons in keeping servants in line."

Amanda noticed Brandon try to wipe the taunt from his face as he added, "What Nicholas needs is a wife." She saw Jenny flush before she said, "For once I agree with you completely."

Brandon said with glee, "Well, I don't think it will be long before someone snatches him up. Half the females in this county and the next have set their caps for him."

Bernard turned his attention from Mr. Johnson. "Is that so, Brandon?"

"Yes sir. Word of the house on Paradise Hill has spread like wildfire. Every mother hen with a chick to marry off is vying for an invitation to Paradise Plantation. Yes sir, I'd say Nicholas Peacock is South Carolina's most eligible bachelor this season. Too bad your mourning puts you out of the running, Jennifer.

Both Bernard and his elder daughter gave Brandon a black look of reproof that made him change the subject. "Mr. Johnson, I hear Mr. Calhoun has quite a battle on his hands these days?"

"The North is up in arms again about abolition, and of course the North has a majority."

Brandon replied, "I think it all stems from envy of our way of life here in the South. I bet those screaming the loudest about abolition would trade places with a plantation owner fast enough if the opportunity were offered."

Gerrard Johnson chuckled. "Truer words were never uttered.

Mandy puzzled over the nuances of what had been said at the supper table. She couldn't make much sense of it, as most of the conversation had centered on Nicholas. She sought out Mammy Lou and found her outside the kitchen door with Cleo. A sudden silence fell as Mandy approached, but she noticed that Cleo had been crying.

"I know something is wrong because you both shut up tighter than a clam when you saw me. You might as well tell me what's up. Who else is there to take your part around here, now Mother's gone?"

Jennifer pulled her father aside the moment Gerrard Johnson retired for the night. "Daddy, I must speak with you. It's so very, very important."

"What is it honey?"

"Daddy, I know Brandon was teasing me at supper about Nicholas becoming embrangled with all the husband-hunters, but what he said has a lot of truth in it."

"I didn't realize until tonight, but of course they will certainly be laying their traps for him."

"Daddy, I really truly believe he was on the point of proposing to me the day Mother died. Now of course, he wouldn't dream of broaching the subject because of our mourning."

"You want me to speak to him honey? Get things settled?"

"Well, the sooner you get us married off, the sooner you'll be able to go up to Richmond, where you're needed so desperately," she cleverly point out.

"I'll sound him out about getting married. Run along and let me think it all through now."

After breakfast the next morning, Bernard said goodbye to Gerrard Johnson. "Tell Calhoun I can't make any promises, but that I'll be there when I can."

"Good man, Jackson. We'll put out the red carpet for you."

Mandy rode over to Paradise Plantation early. She found Nicholas in the smoke house working alongside Brutus. She beckoned Nick outside, as casually as she could.

"Cleo belongs to Jennifer now, but I have to take care of the servants now that Mother's gone. They're no better than children."

When Nicholas arrived at the Jackson's for dinner, Bernard was waiting for him. "Come into my office Nick, I've a lot of things to discuss with you. I've told them to put supper back a couple of hours." Bernard poured them each a pony of bourbon. "Make yourself comfortable; this will take awhile."

Nicholas offered his host a cigar, and they both lit up and settled back into leather chairs.

"Had a visitor for the last two days from special committee of Congress. Voices growin' louder about abolition."

"The thing that angers me about abolitionists is they're not opposed on moral grounds. It all boils down to money. The Northern farmers complain they can't sell their crops as cheaply as we do, because they can't complete with slave labor."

"Nicholas, I've always been able to say exactly what was on my mind to you. Truth is, I'm itching to get up to Richmond."

"Couldn't you let Brandon run the plantation?" Nick knew full well that would be unsatisfactory.

"Well, the house will be his anyway, but he's got no more interest in this place than joining a church choir. So, if I did go to Congress, I'd want you to take over the land for me-- work my field hands as if they were yours. Whatever way you want to do it is fine with me. I've seen your methods and I know they work."

"Ah, no wonder they're good." Bernard paused, took a deep breath, and plunged ahead. "Nicholas, I've never made it a secret that I wanted you for my son-in-law. Now that your house is built, I assume you'll be contemplating marriage. You know by now my views on girls marrying too young, and I don't fully approve of Jennifer marrying at only eighteen. But I must be practical and realize she will fly in the face of my objections sooner or later and marry someone. I much prefer that someone be you." He added, "The only trouble with marrying my daughter Nicholas, is you'll have to take on the whole damned family while I selfishly take myself off to Richmond."

"I've no objections Bernard. I'll even find room for Aunt Billie, and Paradise Hill couldn't be managed without Mammy Lou."

"You mean when you marry Jenny, you'll have no objections to her sister making her home with you, and you'll even take the servants?" Bernard looked vastly relieved.

"I have no objections at all to my wife's sister living at Paradise Hill with us. There's only one fly in the ointment, Bernard." Nicholas hesitated. "It's little madam I want. It's not Miss Jennifer, it's Miss Amanda I want for my wife."

The older man sank back into the leather chair, his visions of Richmond dissolving before his eyes. He shook his head. "I had no idea, no idea."

Nicholas finished his bourbon slowly, allowing time for Bernard's disappointment to sink in. He exhaled a cloud of blue smoke so that it masked his eyes. "There's still a way."

"It's not unheard of for a girl to marry at sixteen in this country. I give you my word I wouldn't touch her until she was ready, however long it takes."

"It's out of the question," Bernard said angrily. Then he realized Nicholas deserved a fuller explanation of his objections. "Nick, I married Miss Caroline when she was seventeen. By the time she was twenty, she had three babies and was in that damned chair for the rest of her life. I won't see that happen to Amanda."

"Bernard, I'm not asking for Miss Amanda because I need someone to warm my bed. I have a mistress in Charleston," he added quietly. He finished his bourbon. "Bernard, I pledge to you there will be no children until Amanda is a woman."

Nicholas rose to his full height. "I won't stay for supper, Bernard, but think it over. I know I'm asking a lot, but if you give her to me, I will cherish her forever."

Chapter Eleven

Bernard Jackson slept little that night. After twelve hours of soul searching, he came out on the side of expedience. The thing he worried about now was how he would communicate with his children. He shrank from telling Jennifer that Nicholas had rejected her, nor could he bring himself to discuss the intimacies of marriage with Amanda. As well, he did not want a slanging match with Brandon when his son learned he could have the house, but not the plantation that went with it.

Bernard decided to assemble them
en mass
rather than individually, and simply place the facts before them. He also asked his sister Billie and Mammy Lou to be present.

Jackson took a belligerent stance before his assembled family. His expression was forbidding and grim, his mouth compressed into liplessness.

"I've asked you all in here because I have some news that will affect the lives of all of you. I should like to be able to speak without any of the rude interruptions you usually make," he said with a quelling glance.