Page 16 of Master of Paradise

During the month that had flown past since the day Miss Caroline had been buried, Nicholas had harvested his own cotton and then turned around and repeated the process over at the Jackson Plantation.

Bernard had lost his overseer and never replaced him, and Brandon was less than useless when it came to running a plantation.

Nicholas still had to gin both crops in his mill before he could get Rafe to ship it and, naturally, any plans he had tentatively made to go with the cotton to Liverpool had to be canceled.

Over at the Jackson Plantation, nothing seemed the same without Caroline Jackson, yet all was exactly the same.

The household ran as smooth as silk because the slaves had been so well trained in their duties.

Miss Caroline's will had been read, and the things she had brought when she married Bernard were now bequeathed to her children.

Jennifer Joy and Amanda Virginia were left the house slaves, which totaled sixteen in all.

The will stipulated very clearly which eight were to go to Jennifer and which eight to Amanda.

Her mother had left Mammy Lou to Amanda because she was the baby and still needed a deal of looking after.

Brandon received a small farm that was his mother's property, even though Bernard had had the running of it since she married him.

It was located inland at Blackville, on the south fork of the Edisto River.

This time Brandon refused point blank to return to military academy and Bernard, for once, did not insist.

In fact Bernard seemed to rattle about the place and couldn't seem to put his heart into anything.

Jennifer was most annoyed with Brandon because of her mother's will.

"It is most disturbin' Brandon that Mother 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. Never saw the place-- don't even know if it's worth anything,"

he placated.

"Nevertheless brother, I feel in my bones I've been cheated, an' I won't be satisfied until I've seen that farm with my own eyes."

"That's because you're an acquisitive little bitch, scared to death one of us might get more than you."

"Brandon Jackson I demand your abject apology for such a remark, or I will inform Father."

"Go whistle up a hollow stump, Jennifer."

She said slyly.

"If I could get a look at this farm, I might be willing to trade some of the wenches for it. I own Cleo and Fanny and that pretty Aphrodite you're always after."

Brandon snorted.

"I don't need your permission 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 you pleasure his wenches!"

Brandon began to laugh at where her ambitions lay.

"Don't you dare to laugh at me,"

she hissed.

"A truce Jenny, a truce,"

he begged, still filled with mirth.

"First chance we get, we'll visit that lil' ol' farm at Blackville and see what's what. Don't say anything to Father. I already broached the subject and he fobbed me off. Almost forbid me to go up there."

Jennifer Joy positively chafed at the bit, and she found she could complain to her heart's content to Brandon and it wouldn't go any farther than his ears. If indeed he allowed it 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 whole world. 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 positively catch a husband when I'm supposed to be in mourning?"

Brandon, only giving her part of his attention 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 seriously interested in Nicholas Peacock."

"You must have seen the house on Paradise Hill."

"That is the wickedest thing I've ever heard you say. My feelings have absolutely nothing whatsomehowever to do with a house."

"Whatever gives you the idea he'll have you?"

he asked mildly.

"I don't have to stand here and be insulted by you, sir. Why everyone knows you're just an idle young lay-about with no more ambition to get a plantation than fly over the moon."

"I don't need to get one when there's one here 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's the need for name-calling?"

"Well, all right then, I won't let this conversation degenerate into a fight. I want advice from you, Bran."

"Advice about what?"

"Will you pull the cotton out of your ears, Brandon? I want to get married, but I'm in mourning!"

"Daddy won't have any objections to Nicholas. He'll be over-anxious, if anything. All you have to do is convince him old Nick will get stolen from under your nose if you have to wait another year."

"Brandon, you are brilliant!"

"A minute ago I was a lay-about."

She pulled her face and went off to find her father. She found him in his office with a visitor. She tried to retreat the moment she realized it was men's business.

"Come in, darlin',"

called Bernard when he spotted her.

She went forward to greet the stranger who was about the same age as her father.

Bernard said with pride.

"I'd like you to meet my lovely daughter, Jennifer Joy. Jenny this is Gerrard Johnson, he's on a special committee for John Calhoun who you've hard me talk about so much."

Gerrard stood and bowed.

"A distinct pleasure, Miss Jennifer. I'm trying my best to persuade your father that we need him up in Richmond."

Bernard waved his hand to prevent her from entering into the discussion.

"You just run along now, sweetheart, we have government business to discuss."

Jennifer dropped an obedient curtsy, but when she left, she made sure the door was open a crack so she could listen to their conversation.

"She is one of the reasons I'm not in Richmond this very moment. I've two young daughters, motherless now. It makes leaving very difficult."

"Bernard, if you could only hear the voices growing louder and louder, demanding abolition, you wouldn't hesitate. When John Calhoun of this very State of South Carolina took over the political leadership, we thought we were safe. Representation shifted rightly to the cotton states, because all the world cried out for cotton. There's such an insatiable demand, it's become a cotton culture."

"You're right there,"

Bernard agreed.

"I heard we exported four and a half million bales last year."

"Well I don't see how it can last much longer. Abolitionists are everywhere. This fellow Lincoln running for the Presidency is a sworn abolitionist, you know."

"Without slaves there is no cotton. Every planter knows that. Haven't we been subsidizing Northern industry for years with the damned tax they levied at Southern expense?"

"The only local autonomy we have is to exercise our veto over National Policy. The veto gives us parity in Congress, and believe me, only with Congressional power can the South hold onto the institution of slavery."

Jennifer was not interested in politics or slavery or the North's power versus the South's.

From their conversation however, she did learn that her father wished to be free of his responsibilities at home, so that he could go back to Richmond.

What better way is there for a father to transfer his responsibilities than onto the shoulders of a husband? She began to hum a little tune as she went off to find Mammy Lou to ensure that some of her father's favorite dishes were prepared for supper.

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?"

Mammy compressed her lips.

"Cleo has gone an got herself in a fix."

Cleo looked at Mandy with saucer-like eyes.

Mandy looked blank.

"What sort of a fix?"

Mammy explained.

"She bin goin' off meetin' that Brutus belong Marse Nick. Now she gone an' got wiv chile!"

"Oh, I see."

Mandy realized for the first time what it meant when women whispered they'd gotten themselves in a fix.

"Stupid wench, got no more pride than to lie wiv a field hand,"

Mammy scathed.

Mandy blushed.

"Hush up Mammy. I think Brute is a very nice man."

"Ah thank God yore sweet mother can't see dis shame that's bein' brought on us. We'll have t'git rid o' it."

"We will do no such thing, Mammy Lou. I absolutely forbid it! Cleo, does Brute know about the child?"

"Yes, ma'am. He want me to go an' live in his cabin."

"Yo caint' go livin' in no cabin wiv no field hand. Yo' is a house servant!"

Mammy said, outraged.

"Perhaps Nicholas would buy you, and you could move over to Paradise and marry Brute."

"Oh Miz Mandy, would yo' speak to Marse Nick fo' us?"

Cleo begged.

"Yes, of course I will."

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.

He smiled down at her.

"You've got me curious. What's up?"

"Has Brute said anything to you about our Cleo?"

"No. Should he have?"

"He's got her in a fix and Mammy Lou is playing hell. Would you be willing to buy her for Brute?"

"Honey, you shouldn't know about such things. Your father will skin me alive one of these days."

"Would you buy her?"

she persisted.

"I would, if he wants her."

"Well you'd better find out quick and speak to Daddy before Mammy gets rid of the child that's coming."

His mouth hardened at her words.

"I'll take care of it, Mandy. Don't go messing into such things."

"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 went back into the smokehouse, he said to Brutus.

"Is that your child Cleo's carrying?"

"It shore as hell better be,"

Brute said with a grin.

"Why didn't you ask me to buy her for you?"

"Brutus's grin widened.

"When yo' marry dat Jackson gal, yo' gits Cleo for free."

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."

"That's very generous of you, Bernard."

"Hold the thanks 'till you've heard all of it. These are excellent cigars by the way. Local tobacco?"

Nicholas shook his head. "Cuban."

"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 looked aghast.

"Mandy?"

he asked incredulously.

"Amanda Virginia is only a girl!"

"Nobody is more aware of that than I, Bernard,"

he said drily.

"But Jennifer told me you were about to propose to her."

"Not so, Bernard. It's always been Amanda, right from the first day."

Bernard raised his voice.

"It's disgusting! You know how I feel about girls marrying too young."

"I do know, Bernard. That's why I've been prepared to wait for her."

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."

Bernard looked up sharply, all attention.

"We could be married in name only. I'll wait until she's eighteen to consummate the marriage."

"She's only sixteen!"

Bernard stormed.

"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."