He groaned and pulled her into his arms. "OhMandy, I love you so much-- why do you try my patience to its verylimits?"
"Nicholas, I don't mean to, but perhaps it'sfor the sheer pleasure of having you forgive me." Her arms wentabout him tightly and she lifted her half-parted mouth to his. Whenhe drew back to search her face, she swore, "This was the firstevening I've spent downstairs since you went away. I had no ideawhat was going on."
"Thank God." He felt an enormous relief. "IfI'd left Samuel in charge here, none of this would have happened."He turned her around and undid the fastenings at the back of hergown. "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Come to bed andlet me hold you close. When I'm away from you, sometimes I fearI'll never get to hold you again."
They almost melted with tenderness now thatthey lay heart to heart in the great bed. "The trouble is that bothof us go insane with jealousy. You actually shot a hole in theceiling you know."
"I don't see where that's any worse thansmashing a priceless crystal punchbowl." He buried his lips betweenher breasts.
Much later as they lay curled together,exhausted by love, she whispered into the darkness, "PoorJennifer."
In the pink light of dawn as the sunshinestole across their bed, he thought she possessed all the lovelinessof a dew-kissed rose. He caught her gaze and held it until sheblushed. His strong arms reached for her to lift her atop of him,when suddenly she moaned and rolled away, just in time to hang herhead over the side of the bed and retch miserably into thechamberpot. At that moment Mammy Lou came in with a breakfasttray.
"Mandy's ill," he said distractedly. "My God,what's caused this?"
"Yo' did." Mammy laughed. "Ah better git disfood outta here or she never stop." Lou turned and left with thetray.
"What is it?" He jumped from the bed toassist her.
"I'm having a baby." She smiled weakly.
"Oh my God, I knew it. You're only a babyyourself," he said distractedly.
She lay back against the pillows and lookedinto his eyes. "Nicholas, don't be angry with me. It's my heart'sdesire."
He took her hand gently. Honey love, I'm notangry with you, only worried for you. If I'd known about this Iwouldn't have arranged to sail to England again. How can I go offand leave you in this condition?
She laughed softly. "Have you any idea howmany men are off to war leaving their wives in this condition?"
"That doesn't make it right, Amanda." Hesmoothed back the tendrils from her brow. "That settles it. This isthe last trip I'll make. Rafe can get somebody else to captain theRattlesnake. Actually, I'd feel better if I got you to England outof this war altogether, but I'm afraid it's too dangerous at themoment. We got hit by a couple of shells running the blockade thistime. She's being patched up right now."
She put her fingers over his lips. "Don'ttell me about it. I go mad with worry when you're a few dayslate."
He frowned. "Perhaps I shouldn't have thrownJennifer out last night. I hate to think you'll be alone, but atleast I know Lou will look after you properly."
Amanda smiled. "You know Jennifer Joy will beback in a couple of days as if nothing had happened."
"Well, that's up to you. Paradise is yours,and you may have her here if you wish, but I'll be damned if theother two are coming back," he warned.
"I don't want them either. It will be muchmore tranquil to have Paradise to ourselves."
Mammy Lou came back with a bowl of rosewaterand towels to clean up Mandy.
Nicholas grinned with irony at his wife. "Onething we can sure as hell count on around here. The minute I getexcited, Lou walks in and I have to cool my play."
Lou chuckled. "Masta Nick, yo' sure say somescandlous things."
He teased, "You should hear some of thescandalous things Amanda comes out with. Do you know what shesuggested we do last night?"
Mandy gasped. "Nicholas you stop that lewdtalk!"
He took the rosewater from Mammy, then bathedher and changed her nightgown. He even brought her brush andlovingly untangled her dark hair until it fell in a silken massacross her pillow.
Amanda sighed contentedly. She loved himtotally, completely.I will love and trust him to the lastbreath in my body.
The value of Confederate money completelycollapsed, and the price of any foodstuff or clothing rosealarmingly. White flour disappeared and was replaced by corn flour,if you were lucky enough to get any at all. A horrible-tastingsubstitute for coffee was made from parched corn and dried sweetpotatoes, and since material of any kind could not be purchased,people brought out old fashioned hand-looms and made homespuncloth.
Folks were asked to donate everything for theCause, not only gold and jewelery, but sheets and table linen forbandages. Iron railings, gates, and cooking pots were turned intocannon.
