Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (40 page)

"I think he'll be thrilled"

"That isn't what I meant. I meant should I tell him, or

would he take it better from you?"

Stacy thought. "Why don't we tell him together? He's

awfully little, but I think I can make it clear for him. If you

were there also, you would know firsthand if he understood."

"At bedtime then," Tanner said, but Stacy feared it would

only excite him and cause an hour of work to get him to sleep.

"I think dinnertime would be better."

Tanner stared at her. It was such a surprise to have her

contradict him in any way. There had been no heat, but he

could see that she was adamant. Not for any other reason did

Stacy stand up to him. He suddenly remembered how much

trouble he'd been in over the banister, and for the first time in

weeks knew a desperate urge to please his wife.

"Dinner it is. What time would you say is best?"

"Drew usually eats at six."

"Six o'clock then."

Drew began to stir, so the adults fell silent, Stacy kept her

eyes on her son until he settled again, but the conversation did

not resume.

"Lord Richardson asked me to give you this, my lady."

Stacy took the paper from Price's hand. It was an itinerary

laid out for the next few days. According to the schedule she

had an appointment with Madame Angelica for the following

day. She was to be fitted for a summer, fall, and winter

wardrobe.

Drew had an appointment with the tailor two days after

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that, but Stacy thankfully saw that the tailor would be comfcj

to the town house.^

"If you have any questions, my lady, just ring for me.

would be happy to explain."

"How long will we be here, Price?"

"Probably not as long as you might think," he took the

liberty of telling her. "Your clothing can be picked up by one]

of the coachmen and delivered to Winslow."

Stacy breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Price. He had

read her concern so accurately. London was always a trial for

her, and if she had needed to wait for three wardrobes, they

could have been there for weeks.

Price went on his way after that, and Stacy settled down to

write Lucinda. If she'd read the schedule correctly, she had a

day between her own fitting and Drew's. With a bit of maneuvering

she could get a visit in with her aunt and uncle.

The meal that evening was very relaxing. Tanner was most

charming, and he made Stacy and Drew laugh on more than

one occasion. When it seemed that Drew was finished with

his dinner, Stacy petitioned God for help one last time and

plunged in,

"I have something special to tell you tonight, Drew," Stacy

began, knowing she had to do this in her own way. Only her

fear that Drew would be hurt in some way by the news gave

her the boldness to handle it as she saw fit.

"Do you remember my telling you about baby Moses?"

"He went in the water."

"That's right. Did Moses have a mother and a father?"

"I think so."

"Yes, he did, because that's God's way. How about Adam

and Eve in the garden? They had children, didn't they? A

mother, a father, and children make a family.

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Stacy paused when Drew needed a drink, and then asked,

7ho is your mother, Drew?"

"You, Mumma." He smiled as though she were making a

ime.

"That's right. Who is your father?"

i Stacy didn't know which was more heartbreaking, the

confusion in her son's eyes or the yearning in her husband's.

"Lord Richardson has the same name as you, doesn't he,

Drew?" The little boy looked at Tanner and then back at Stacy.

"His name is Tanner Richardson and your name is Andrew

Tanner Richardson. That's because Lord Richardson is your

papa."

"What about mumma?"

"I'm still your mumma," Stacy swiftly assured him. "I

always will be, but now you have a papa too."

When Drew looked back at Tanner, the duke smiled at

him. Drew smiled in return, and Tanner reached forward and

brushed the hair over his forehead. Drew's grin broadened,

although Stacy wasn't certain he actually understood. Stacy

doubted that Tanner was as calm outside as he appeared, but

she was thrilled with the way it had gone.

Conversation started up again among the three of them,

and whenever Drew started to call Tanner sir or lord, someone

would gently correct him. Stacy wasn't certain as to how

much he was beginning to understand until it was bedtime.

"Would you like Papa to carry you to bed?" she asked.

Drew's eyes flew to Tanner's, and Stacy's smile was huge

as he swung his small son up into his arms.

"Off we go, son." It was as if it happened all the time.

Stacy nearly floated into Drew's bedroom. They were

going to be a family! Tanner was not what you'd call warm to

her, but he didn't seem quite so angry.

Thank You, Lord, Stacy silently prayed. Thank You for

giving us another chance. Please help us to make the best of it.

287*eim

madame angelica, london's premier dressmaker, rattled

off a string of sentences in rapid French to Tanner, Stacy had

to hold her mouth shut as Tanner replied back in French.

When pleasure and something akin to greed lit the woman's

eyes, it wasn't hard to figure out that Tanner had told her what

he sought.

"Come in, my lady," Angelica nearly cooed She had dozens

of seamstresses and assistants, but this was a duchess, and for

this reason Angelica would see to the fittings herself.

"Thank you."

Stacy and Tanner followed her, Stacy noticing as they

walked that she had the disconcerting habit of muttering to

herself in French. Stacy wondered what the dressmaker was

saying as they were led into the private dressing room.

"I need my tape," Madame Angelica explained briskly and

rushed off still muttering to herself. Stacy looked to Tanner.

"She's quite taken with your figure, but she says your

dress, one of her own magnificent creations, is sadly out of

date." Tanner's voice was so bored as he recited this that Stacy

blushed.

She found herself wishing that Sunny had never mentioned

Tanner's pride. He was only doing this for himself,

because it was shaming his reputation to have his wife seen in

outdated clothes. Stacy felt resentment rising within her.

287

"Now then." The dressmaker was back. "I will help you out

of this gown," she began, and then the rest was in French. Just

moments passed before Stacy found herself in her underclothes,

being measured from head to foot.

"Now, I have a dress, the latest style and almost complete,

but the fabric, you see, is flawed. I would like you to try it just

for fit."

Stacy agreed with a nod of her head, and the older woman

was gone and back in record time, carrying a gold creation

over her arm. The dress was slipped over Stacy's shoulders,

settled around her hips, and buttoned up the back. Madame

Angelica had forgotten yet one more thing, and as she rushed

off, Stacy was given her first full look in the mirror. She was

horrified by what she saw... why not even her shift was that

low!

Stacy told herself not to overreact; maybe there hadbeen a

mistake. But as she studied herself in the mirror, she knew

there had been no error. Her hand came slowly to her mouth

as her stomach churned

Oh please, Stacy silently begged her husband. Please don't

make me go into public this way.

Stacy was so shaken that tears filled her eyes. Knowing

that Tanner was somewhere behind and to the side of her,

Stacy carefully moved her face away from him as well as her

own image in the mirror. She racked her brain for a solution,

but she was too much in a panic and none came. Tanner would

be furious if she made a scene in the dress shop.

A chance glance in the mirror told her that Tanner had

moved until he could study her face in the reflection. Stacy

swiftly turned her tear-filled eyes away, but the hand she'd

placed over the missing material told Tanner all he needed to

know.

"Now then." Angelica was back.

"The dress is too low," Tanner interrupted before she

could say another word.

"But Lord Richardson," Madame Angelica replied, clearly

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shocked, "it is the latest style, and your wife's figure, ooh la

la--it is perfection. How can--"

"It's too low," Tanner stated again, and this time his voice

did not invite Angelica to argue.

With a heartfelt sigh, she asked, "What is it you wish?"

"Lady Richardson will show you."

Stacy was still shaking, but she managed to show Angelica

what she had in mind. The plump dressmaker was not at all

happy, but she gave no further argument.

Just a short time later Stacy was back in her own dress, and

the process of choosing patterns and fabrics began. She

learned that Tanner had magnificent taste, and Stacy had to

do little more than nod while he, Angelica, and all her helpers

sorted their way through patterns and bolts of cloth.

It wasn't until they were back in the carriage that Stacy was

given a chance to thank Tanner. He frowned at her as though

the words were not necessary, so Stacy let the subject drop as

well as her eyes.

289

Middlesbrough, which is where I suspect Stacy will go if

Tanner ever sends her away again."

Luanda's brow furrowed. She had thought of this, but it

was not something of which she approved. Roddy saw the

stubborn look on her face and frowned in concern. Lucinda

had been running people's lives for years, and even though

she said little to Stacy, Roddy knew she still wanted to run hers

as well.

From time to time Roddy had worried over his wife's

busyness, but never like he did now. When it came to Stacy,

and most especially Drew, she was like a woman possessed.

Roddy had tried to talk with her on a number of occasions, but

she always grew very agitated and he would let the matter

drop.

He contemplated bringing it up now but hesitated, feeling

a coward Another hour passed. Just as he was finally ready to

say something, Tanner and Stacy arrived. Even though he was

grateful, he felt cowardly for his relief.

"I've never been tempted toward criminal actions before,"

Lucinda told her husband. "But I want to steal this child."

Roddy laughed. He certainly knew how she felt. Drew had

been spending the day with them, and even though they had

known he should have a nap, the time had just flown. Now he

was asleep in Roddy's lap, and the two adults present could

not keep their eyes off of him.

"I love the way his face flushes when he sleeps," Roddy

murmured.