Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (34 page)

Sunny stared at her friend and thought furiously how sbe\ could help her. This was awful, but what should she say? She

was still thinking when Stacy asked, "Should I stay here,

Sunny?"

"Are you afraid to stay?"

"I am afraid, but not for the reasons you might think. I'm

afraid of being swallowed up by Tanner because I won't stand

up to him. I'm afraid he'll take Drew from me. Oh, not actually

remove him from Winslow, but take his affections until he

won't remember that he has a mother. I think I can stand many

things, Sunny, but not that."

Sunny was about to reply, but the door opened again.

Sunny was ready herself to tell the servants to leave them

alone, but it was Tanner. He crossed the room in long-legged

strides so like Brandon's that she smiled to herself.

"I'm sorry to bother you, ladies, but Price told me Sunny

was here. Would you mind giving these to Hawk? Tell him I'll

be over in the next few days to discuss them."

"I'll make sure he receives them."

"Thank you, Sunny." Tanner's tone was congenial, his eyes

kind, but as he transferred this gaze to his wife, his look

became intense.

"Did you need something, Stacy? Shall I send Jeffrey in?"

"No, thank you, Tanner. We're fine."

"All right." The words sounded like he was through, but he

continued to stand and study his wife's face.

"Did you get my message from Price?" Tanner's voice had

changed and become intimate and low.

"Yes, thank you. This evening, seven o'clock."

"Good." Tanner spent another few seconds studying her

as though to memorize her features, then bowed to both

ladies and went on his way. It had appeared as though he was

searching for something in her expression. Both women

wondered if he found what he'd been looking for.

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"I didn't know what to tell you before he came in here,

;y, but right now I think you should try to stay."

Stacy was beginning to agree, but she still asked, "What

fxfaanged your mind?"

"His face, more specifically, his eyes. He still believes

you've duped him in some way, but he's so drawn to you he

can't stand it. I believe he would have joined you on this settee

had I not been here."

They continued to talk for another 20 minutes and then

Sunny said she had to be leaving. Stacy hated to see her go, but

she praised God for the visit. Sunny left her with some words

of encouragement.

"Read the third chapter of First Peter, Stacy. Please don't

mistake it for saying that you should stay here no matter what

happens to you or Drew, but it might help you to know how to

pray.

"If you need to talk and you can't come to me, send word

with a servant. I'll come to you. Outside of that, pray, and I

hope God will lay it on my heart to come to you."

"Thanks, Sunny. I hope I can come to Bracken soon. Drew

would love to play with your boys."

"Oh, Stacy," Sunny sparked. "I didn't even think of it!

Please come sometime soon. I know my boys will love Drew."

The women hugged, and Stacy stood in the front yard even

after the Hawkesbury carriage was out of sight. Wishing she

could go for a walk, she gazed out over the landscape and then

realized there was no reason she couldn't. Drew was somewhere

with Hettie, and a stroll, even a short one, in the

springtime sun would do her good

Watching her from the study window, Tanner wondered at

her thoughts as she walked slowly toward the garden. He was

still studying her when a small boy darted out from the side of

the mansion. That Stacy was surprised and thrilled to see him

was obvious with the way she scooped him into her arms and

began to swing around. Another woman, presumably Hettie,

had come behind the boy, and Tanner saw the three of them

heading off into the gardens and out of sight.

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How did a man tell his wife that he was willing to forgh

her past indiscretion, but that he wanted nothing to do wit her illegitimate child? He wanted her back in his life, but nt,

the boy. He would have to tread carefully for a time. Tonight

probably would be too soon, but in time he would find a way to

have Stacy again and on his own terms.

Stacy's dinner with Tanner was on her mind as she put her

son to bed, and even though she read him a story, she was

terribly preoccupied; preoccupied until Drew decided to pull

one of his question-and-answer sessions.

"How tali will I be?"

"I'm not sure."

"Taller than Hettie?"

"Probably."

"As tall as you?"

"You might be."

"Will my hair get long?"

"Well, we'll have to keep it cut. Do you want it to get long?"

"No, I don't like it on my neck. Do you like it on your neck?"

"I don't mind too much, unless it gets very hot. You need to

go to sleep now."

"Where is Grandpapa?"

"In heaven. Remember we talked about that just yesterday.

When we believe in Jesus Christ, we die and go to heaven and

live with God"

"Tell me about heaven, Mumma."

"You are stalling, Andrew. Now go to sleep."

"What's stalling?"

Stacy shook her head. "Sleep." She couldn't stop the smile

that threatened, however, and Drew grinned back at her when

it burst into full bloom on her mouth. She cuddled him close

for a time, kissing his soft, warm cheek and telling him he was

her little love. He was nearly asleep when she rose.

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I' Hettie went to the door with her, and Stacy paused, know-j

ing that something was on the woman's mind.

"Drew asked me about dying just the other day. Do you

want me to tell him what you just said?"

I "I tell Drew that, Hettie, because it's what God's Word

| says, so he can believe it's true. So to answer your question,

yes, I would. Would you like me to show you the verses in the

Bible that tell us that?"

Hettie nodded. "Sometime, yes, but I'm tired tonight."

"All right. Goodnight, Hettie."

"Will you be in your room in the morning?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, should Drew come and find you if you're not in

your own room tomorrow morning?"

Stacy didn't know how to answer her. Suddenly the way

Tanner looked at her earlier that day gave her pause. Why

hadn't it occurred to her before? Not until Stacy had gained her

room did she remember she hadn't answered Hettie's question.

"If you're not in your own room."

The words kept sounding in Stacy's head as her hands

fluttered nervously over her hair. She checked her dress, a

peach silk creation covered in thin black stripes that she had

saved for special occasions, repeatedly before going down

the stairs. Even though she looked wonderful, her stomach

was in knots. She adjusted the lace at her wrist and neckline at

least six times, acting as if this was her coming out and not

merely dinner with her spouse.

Stacy had almost convinced herself to calm down when

she spotted Tanner waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs.

He looked gorgeous and larger than life in black evening

dress. Stacy was so busy gawking at him that she missed the

last step.

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Her eyes were the size of saucers when she found hei

falling and then caught up tight against Tanner's chest. St

looked up into his passion-filled eyes and couldn't speak. She^

felt panic coming on. She was not ready for this.

"I'm hungry," she suddenly blurted, her eyes still huge in

her face.

Stacy's vulnerability touched that spot in Tanner's heart

that was so often affected when Stacy was near.

"Shall we go into dinner?" Tanner asked softly as he set

her gently away from him.

"Yes, please." Stacy's voice was quiet with gratitude, and

Tanner offered her his arm and led her to the dining room.

Stacy had no idea what the evening would bring.

(jJJA-o/w

hours later stacy lay alone in her bed and recounted her

dinner conversation with Tanner. It had been a disaster.

"I saw you walking toward the garden today."

"I couldn't resist. After Sunny left I was drawn almost

against my will." Tanner was being his most charming, and

Stacy was fairly relaxed. "Your gardeners do a wonderful job."

"They would probably appreciate your praise."

Stacy was thinking that they wouldn't want her anywhere

near them when Tanner asked, "How is your meal?'1

"Everything is delicious, thank you."

"Are you settled in your room?"

"Yes. It's a beautiful room."

"Well, I hope you don't get too comfortable."

Stacy's eyes flew to her husband at the other end of the

table, but he was bent over his plate and didn't notice. Stacy

took a deep breath and forced herself to speak.

"If you don't plan on my staying at Winslow very long,

maybe it would be best if I left right away."

Tanner frowned at her for just an instant. When his face

cleared, he explained.

"I wasn't referring to your moving from Winslow, only

from your bedroom."

245

Suddenly Stacy wasn't hungry anymore. It didn't matter

that half of her meal was still on the plate, she knew she was

246

i

through. Stacy still loved her husband, but she was having]

hard time forgetting that he thought she'd had another man*

child. With this in mind, she found it hard to believe that hu

desired her at all. Even if he did, would it last? Or would hcl

grow angry again and push her away at a moment's notice. t "Doesn't the idea appeal to you?" Tanner asked, having1 carefully watched Stacy's face.

"It's not that."

"What is it?"

Tanner's tone had become slightly impatient, and Stacy

wished she'd kept her mouth closed.

"I asked you a question, Anastasia."

"You've made it quite clear that you desire me, Tanner, but

I doubt if desire is enough to build a marriage on."

"Meaning?" He was angry now, and Stacy's stomach

churned.

"Meaning that as soon as you think I've betrayed you again,

I'll be sent away once more."

It was the worst thing she could have said. Tanner was so

furious his face pushed.

"You make it sound as though I imagined the events at the

Cradwells'."

Stacy couldn't answer.

"I was there, Stacy." Tanner now stood, his voice tight with

rage. "I saw Lord Stanley's hands on you." He stopped and

tried to control himself before going on in a cold voice. "I

think you might be right. Whatever is left between us is

probably not enough to work with."

He had left the room then, and after a moment Stacy

herself had gotten slowly to her feet.

Now Stacy lay and tried to think of how she could have

handled the evening differently. After just moments she realized