Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (23 page)

from home that Price had to clear his throat before answering.

"No, my lady."

"The London town house?" Stacy asked, not thinking

where else to go.

"No, my lady. I'm sorry."

"I don't know where to go." Stacy knew it was not normal

to discuss this with a servant, but she had no one else.

"If I might make a suggestion," Price hesitated, but Stacy

only looked at,him. He went on gently, "I'm sure your Aunt

Lucinda would welcome you."

"Aunt Lucinda? I don't think she and Roddy are back yet."

"I'm sure their staff would make you comfortable."

Stacy looked to Rayna, who nodded, certain of their welcome.

"Come into the coach, my lady. We'll go to London and

see your aunt."

Stacy had no idea how she looked There was no color in

her face, and the servants had watched her sway on her feet

several times. If they didn't act quickly, they'd be forced to lift

her unconscious body into the coach. Price knew that even if

she did faint, it would not soften the master's heart.

Stacy finally nodded. She walked down the steps and

turned to look back at the home she loved. She'd never seen

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brief look, and hoping against hope that she would see it agai

some day, Stacy turned back, allowing Price to assist her int**

the coach. Moments later they were on their way to London!

"Stacy," Lucinda called to her great-niece from the edge of

the bed, waiting for her to awaken. Stacy did stir, but very

slowly. Luanda's heart broke as she watched her smile, eyes

still closed, clearly having forgotten the events of the last

three weeks. Lucinda wanted to break down when the smile

abruptly died and her eyes opened.

"I'm sorry to wake you, dear/' she spoke quickly to cover

her emotions. "I thought you would want to know that Tanner

is in London." Lucinda knew this was abrupt, but believed it to

be best.

Stacy pushed herself into a sitting position, her eyes intent

on her aunt's face.

"Did he come here?" Stacy tried to keep her voice neutral,

but Lucinda caught the note of hope.

"No, dear. Roddy was out last night and saw him at their

club. You were asleep when he came in, and we thought it best

not to wake you."

Stacy nodded, her gaze going to a distant point across the

room. Prior to the last three weeks Stacy had never known the true meaning of pain. The coach ride from Winslow to Brentood

was made in a fog of disillusionment and hurt. The

honeymooners had not arrived, but just as Price had predicted,

the staff welcomed Stacy and made her comfortable.

A week had passed before Roddy and Lucinda made an

appearance, and although they were upset over the fact that

Tanner had sent her away, they were not at all upset that she

had come to them.

The entire story emerged from both sides in the days that

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red. Stacy told Lucinda and Roddy everything that tran-_

and then asked Lucinda point-blank what Tanner had wit when he said he'd never wanted to marry her. The

ing had been hard, but Lucinda started with all she knew of

.mer's first wife, including her infidelity and death. She

n told of Tanner's offer for Stacy.

It had been the hardest thing Stacy had ever faced. For

nths, even before she and Tanner married, Stacy had con-iced

herself that this man loved her but just couldn't say the

rds. Now she knew that the words would never come

:ause he didn't feel them.

"What are you going to do?" Lucinda broke into her reverie.

, Stacy took a deep breath. "I've decided to return to

I Middlesbrough. I was going to tell you today. I'd planned to f write Tanner about my decision, but now that he's in town, I'll

try to see him."

"Are you sure you want to go all the way to Middles-p1 brough, dear?" Lucinda couldn't hide the pain in her voice.

"What if you had a place of your own? I haven't done anything

with my house, and Roddy still has his town house."

Lucinda would have gone on, but Stacy's sweet voice

stopped her. "I can't take London, Aunt Lucinda. The gossip

kills me. I don't feel I can even show my face. And there is

something else."

Stacy hesitated, and Lucinda stared at her.

"I think I might be pregnant."

The older woman's heart sank in her chest. "Will you tell

Tanner?"

"No" was Stacy's soft but immediate reply. "I have found

that I don't really know Tanner at all, but I do know that

even though we've been apart, he still won't want anything

to do with me. There is a remote chance that by telling him

I'm pregnant I might change his mind, but knowing that he

wanted me back only for the baby would put me in agony for

the rest of our marriage. I'm not even positive that I am

expecting, but if there is a baby and Tanner ever wants me, I

166

want it to be for me and not because of our child " This was;

said calmly, but with conviction.

Two hours later Stacy stood in front of Tanner's town

house and tried to breathe normally She was so fearful of his

anger that she wanted to climb back into the coach and return

to Brentwood. One thing was stopping her. Almost everything

had changed in the last weeks, but there was one fact in this

whole ugly mixup that had been unfailing. Stacy was still head

over heels in love with Tanner Richardson.

She wished it wasn't so, but wishing was not going to

inge her heart. So wirh a ff**Hw*f'*'

Lucinda nodded throughout Stacy's explanation and whei

she finished, urged her to follow her heart. Stacy had grownl

up so much in the last months, Lucinda couldn't have been

prouder. When Lucinda left the room so Stacy could dress, the \ feeling of pride still lingered, but so did a feeling of loss, the

loss of Stacy's innocence.

,, .._ .Axuicuuur ana Knocked.

with relief when Price answered the door.

"Hello, Price." Stacy's voice was hesitant, "Is he here?"

Stacy's heart had leaped into her eyes, and even knowing how

Tanner was going to react, Price could not turn her away.

"He's here," Price told her and drew her inside.

"May I see him?" Stacy asked as soon as the door closed.

"He doesn't really care to be disturbed." Price attempted

to soften what Tanner had actually said

"Oh, Price, I'm sorry to put you in this position, but will

you please ask him to see me?"

Price nodded reluctantly, and Stacy stood still as he moved

to a door off the entryway, leaving it open as he let himself

inside.

"I told you I wanted quiet." Tanner's voice was little better

than a growl.

167

"I'm sorry, sir, but Lady Richardson is here and would like

see you."

"Well, I don't care to see her. Tell her to get out."

Stacy had expected nothing more, but she still felt as if

;'d been slapped. She remained still until Price reappeared,

lin leaving the door open. The loyal servant said nothing,

ily looked at Stacy and felt an urge to kick his longtime

ster.

"Maybe I could leave a message for Lord Richardson,"

| Stacy suggested, trying to keep her voice from shaking. Price

nodded and did nothing to stop Stacy when she moved toward

the open portal. Stacy halted just outside where she could see

Tanner at his desk. He never looked up, but she knew he heard

every word. She spoke to Price without ever taking her eyes off

her husband

"Please tell Lord Richardson that I'm taking the train to

Middlesbrough to my grandfather's. Tell him that if he wants

to talk with me, he only needs to send word and I'll return

immediately. I don't plan to come back unless he contacts me,

but, please," Stacy's voice wavered and she hesitated before

going on, "please also tell him that I love him."

Stacy stood for just a moment longer, but Tanner never

looked up. Price, seeing that she had gone deathly pale again,

gently took her arm and led her to the door and down to the

waiting coach. He saw her on her way, silently holding his own

anger in check over the way Tanner had treated her. How Lord

Richardson could think that Stacy was anything like Leslie was

beyond him.

Price hovered nearby for most of the day, hoping that

Tanner would come to his senses and go after her, but the

young duke never left the house. It was with great pain that

Price received word the next morning that Stacy had taken a

northbound train out of London.

169

G/mAo/m

middlesbrough

Six months later

stacy carefully lowered herself into a chair and smiled

at Elena's laughter.

"You can laugh, Elena, but I'm not sure I'm going to live

through this," Stacy said good-naturedly.

"Trust me, you will. And you'll be so thrilled with the little

person God gives you, you'll actually forget all of this discomfort."

"I hope you're right. I can't believe I've two weeks to go."

"You might not go that long," Elena said as she studied

Stacy's huge abdomen. "You certainly look like the baby could

come anytime."

"Tanner is a large man; maybe the baby is just big." Stacy

gently rubbed her stomach as she spoke.

Watching her, Elena felt an ache beyond words for the pain

Stacy had known these last months. But at the same time, she

rejoiced, for it was because of that pain that she'd come to

Christ. Stacy came home from London ill with grief and

exhaustion. She'd been welcomed with open arms by her

grandfather, and they were as close as they'd ever been, but it

was to Elena that Stacy turned for comfort.

169

twas during some of the first days, when Stacy was beside

ielf with anguish, that Elena gently introduced her to the

; who could fill the void in her heart and soothe the pain.

, quiet moment with both Noel and Elena present, Stacy

jndered her life and heart to Jesus Christ. She'd always

^d of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ,

she had never applied any of the facts to herself in a

sonal way.

Elena had pointed out in a tender way that the Bible, God's

rd, says that all have sinned and need a Savior. Stacy read te Bible verses herself and realized for the first time what a

.-apreme act of love God had displayed by sending His Son to

Mie in her place. With a heart aching to be comforted, Stacy

Ireached out in belief to accept Christ's gift of salvation.

"Any word from Tanner?" Elena asked gently, as she often

lid--not to pry, but so Stacy would know how much she cared

"No, no word"

"Do you still write?"

"Every week."

"What do you usually say?" Elena voiced a question she'd

never broached before.

"I tell him about village events and how grandfather is

doing. Sometimes I talk about you and Noel and the children. I

even tell him how I fill my days."