by Lori Wick
Tanner's face immediately popped into Stacy's mind, but
she did her best to push it away, smile at her aunt, and give her
one final hug.
Three weeks later Roddy, Lucinda, and Stacy went shopping.
Stacy thought Lucinda amazing as she careered her way
through the day, never seeming to tire or grow too warm. At
the last shop, Stacy had to beg off.
"If I'm going to have any energy left for the Royal Gardens,
I'm going to have to rest."
"I quite agree. Cinda, you're on your own for this one."
Lucinda regarded her companions with a raised brow and
condescending look before sweeping out of the open carriage
and into the shop. Roddy chuckled at her departure and
then looked up to see Stacy studying him.
"That's certainly a serious face," he said with a smile.
Stacy didn't smile. In fact she looked so hesitant that
Roddy sobered.
"What is it, Stacy?"
"It's something that's none of my business."
"Concerning me?"
"Yes," Stacy answered and studied him some more. His
look was so open that she felt emboldened. "Why have you
and Lucinda never married?"
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Roddy nodded and regarded her seriously. When he
spoke, Stacy could tell he'd given the matter great thought.
"I value Lucinda's friendship above all else in the world
Were I to introduce romance between us when she did not
share my feelings, I would ruin everything we have. I simply
can't take that chance."
"But you must know she loves you," Stacy reasoned
"Yes, she does love me, but she isn't in love with me. There
is a difference, you know. I'm her best friend, just as she is
mine. I can go on living with the knowledge that she will
continue to be."
"She is in love with you, Roddy," Stacy told him softly.
Roddy didn't go so far as to shake his head, but his look was
more than a little dubious.
"She's loved you for years. She told me herself."
Roddy stared at Stacy. The intensity in his eyes frightened
her a little. She had started something here, and as much as
she might regret it, she decided to see it through.
"When I first came to London, we talked of it. I asked her
why she wasn't married to you, and she said it was because
you'd never asked."
Stacy watched Roddy's eyes slide shut and felt as if her
insides were being torn in two. She was not easily given to
tears, but this was almost enough to make her sob.
Roddy's gaze turned beyond the carriage then, and Stacy
left him to his thoughts. She knewLucinda would be returning
soon and wondered if she should apologize. As it was, Roddy
quietly thanked her just before Lucinda emerged from the
shop.
Stacy, feeling very much that Roddy and Lucinda needed a
few moments alone, slowed her pace and let them move
ahead. A lovely bloom caught her attention as the path wound
its way back to the carriage, and Stacy stopped to take in its
fragrance. When she looked up, Tanner stood some ten feet
away.
His look was rather stern, but Stacy couldn't mask the
softening of her eyes at just seeing him again. He scared her a
little, and she knew he was not the man for her, but her heart
turned over every time she thought of him.
"Stacy," Roddy's voice suddenly called to her from beyond
the shrubs.
"I'm coming, Roddy," Stacy answered immediately before
looking back at Tanner and a woman beyond him. Even at a
distance and standing in profile, the woman looked lovely.
Stacy met Tanner's eyes as she spoke. "I'm glad you found
someone to go on that stroll with you, Lord Richardson." Stacy
dropped her eyes then and moved away. Tanner did not try to
follow.
The Royal Botanic Gardens were riotous with color during
midsummer. The day was a bit warm for a long stroll, but
they walked leisurely along until Roddy proclaimed that he
would die if they didn't stop for tea.
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"I will not allow you to see her." Lucinda's tone was calm,
but her insides were trembling. "She doesn't want to see you."
"I would like to hear that from Stacy," Tanner challenged,
much as he had been doing for the last half hour.
"There is no need," Lucinda insisted. "As I've said before,
she cannot see you."
"Why?" Growing perilously close to the end of his patience,
Tanner fired the single word at her.
"I'll tell you why, because I know you're not here to ask for
her hand in marriage, and I will not allow you to play games
with my niece's life.
"If in fact I have misread your intent, please correct me,
but unless your intentions toward Stacy are honorable, you
will not socialize with her."
Tanner stood silent, his anger at a boiling point just beneath
the surface. After a moment, Lucinda's brows raised and
her shoulders lifted in a shrug. Her voice was void of accusation
when she spoke.
"Your silence has answered my question, your Grace."
Tanner continued to stand quiet. He grudgingly admired
Lady Warbrook for the way she stood up to him, but he did not
care to be thwarted. He wanted Anastasia Daniels, and Lucinda
had made it very clear that the only way he could have
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her was in marriage. He'd been married once, and he was not
going to fall into that trap again.
If he and Stacy were to form a relationship that was
mutually beneficial to both of them, fine. They didn't need the
confines of marriage to do it. Lucinda had said his intentions
were not honorable, but to him they were. Tanner had never
had a mistress before, but he knew when he finally made
Stacy his own, he would treat her like a queen. He would be
faithful to her, and she would know no humiliation at his
hands. He was one of the wealthiest men in England and well
able to care for her in any style she desired.
And when it was time to end their relationship, not that he
believed there would be a need for many years, there would
be no messy scenes. He would tell her goodbye and give her
enough money to do anything she pleased for the rest of her
life. There was simply no need to marry.
Lucinda watched as Tanner leaned down and picked up
the riding gloves he'd dropped on the table. He turned toward
the door without a word, and Lucinda did not try to speak to
him. His pride had obviously been wounded, and she had no
desire to rub salt in the wound. It was relief enough to see him
go. He must realize now that she meant business concerning
Stacy. Stacy, she reminded herself, must not know that he'd
even been to call.
Across the foyer in the library Stacy chose the book she
desired and moved back toward the door. She hadn't even
bothered to close it, since she'd known just what she was
looking for. Halfway across the carpet, however, she was so
startled that she dropped the
book and simply stared.
Tanner stood in the doorway, his eyes hooded and almost
angry. Unlike the day before in the park, Stacy's gaze didn't
soften; this time his look was too foreboding, and she was too
surprised to find him in Aunt Lucinda's home.
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Stacy watched as his eyes traveled over her dress. It was
the red velvet she'd brought from home. Without moving from
the doorway, he spoke.
"That color is dreadful on you."
Stacy shrugged apologetically and glanced down at the
skirt. "Aunt Lucinda doesn't care for it either."
At the sound of her voice Tanner had to draw nearer; it was
as though he had no choice. He stopped a foot away from her
and, feeling mesmerized, just stared into her wide, blue eyes.
Every woman who's ever meant anything to me has been
full of lies and deceit, he thought. Can this sweetness in her be
real, or does it only last as long as she gets her way?
"I'm not the marrying kind, Stacy," Tanner told her without
preamble.
He spoke the words as though they'd been discussing the
matter, but as abrupt as they seemed, Stacy wasn't surprised to
hear them. She nodded, her eyes regretful but understanding.
It was almost more than Tanner could take. He wanted her
to show her true self, to yell at him or lash out, but instead she
continued to offer him only sweet sensitivity.
Suddenly his hands grasped her upper arms in a grip that
was firm but not bruising. It was as if he needed to be touching
her to make his point.
"I'm not the marrying kind, Stacy, and your aunt is completely
unreasonable."
His grasp had brought her so close that Stacy could feel his
breath. She should have felt frightened, but instead her heart
turned over with love for him. Her voice told him as much.
"I'm not sure what you want of me, but I must do as
Lucinda asks. It's what my grandfather would wish." Stacy
paused before going on, almost talking to herself. "July is
already here. Just a few weeks now, and it will be time for me
to go home. It will be easier then."
Defeat Washed over Tanner. He hadn't really expected her
to leave with him on the spot, but he had halfway hoped she
would at least be open to some discussion. It never once
occurred to him that she didn't even realize he wanted her for
a mistress.
Tanner didn't speak again. He felt he had said it all. As his
hands slowly released her, his eyes moved slowly over her
face, as if to memorize every detail of her lovely features.
When his inspection was complete, he brushed a soft kiss
across her lips, moved to the door without looking back, and
walked away.
Stacy found a chair and sat down hard Her eyes focused
unseeingly on the book she'd dropped on the floor. She sat for
the next hour and stared at it, wondering how she was ever
going to get over Lord Tanner Richardson.
Just four days before Stacy was to leave for Middlesbrough,
she and Roddy took a long ride in the park. As they
rode, Stacy would fall into moments of quiet contemplation.
Roddy knew she was thinking of Tanner. He alone knew that
she'd seen him in Lucinda's library. What Stacy didn't know
was that Tanner had not given up that day. He'd been to see
Lucinda twice more in an attempt to reason with her, explaining
what a wonderful life he could offer Stacy.
Amazingly, Lucinda had not been offended. She had confided
in Roddy that she'd seen a certain vulnerability in
Tanner, one that touched her heart and caused her to put aside
her reservations. It was as though she understood him, when
in fact, she should have been insulted that the man wanted
Stacy for a mistress and not a wife. Roddy knew that she
struggled with how closely he resembled Aubrey, but she had
also admitted that although Aubrey was a rake, Tanner had
shown no such signs.
Roddy .knew her heart was softening, and he was rather
fascinated by her handling of the whole affair. However, he
also knew Lucinda would never settle for less than a proposal
of marriage.
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Roddy's musings were cut off suddenly when a stray dog
rushed from the bushes and snapped at the heels of Stacy's
mount. Roddy called for her to watch herself, but Stacy was
obviously too preoccupied.
Taken unawares, her horse pranced suddenly. Stacy lost
the reins. She was groping frantically for control when the dog
dashed forward again and the horse reared.
Roddy watched in horror as Stacy was thrown. She landed
hard on the grassy turf and lay still even as Roddy jumped
from the back of his mount and rushed to her side. He heard
the pounding of hooves, the rush of feet, and the sound of
someone coming to subdue the dog and catch Stacy's horse,
but Roddy's eyes never left her white face.
"Stacy," he called urgently and placed a hand on her pale
cheek. Roddy's heart pounded in fear when she did not respond
The same heart leaped in relief when someone's hands
joined his own. He watched as they probed gently about her
head and neck.
"We'll take her to Lady Brent's."
Upon hearing that stern voice, Roddy's eyes snapped up.
He shouldn't have been surprised. The Duke of Cambridge
managed to appear wherever Stacy went. There was no thought
of arguing with the younger man; all thoughts were for Stacy's
welfare. And if Tanner's concerned face was any indication-- it looked carved from stone--she would receive the best of
care.
The next minutes passed in a flurry of activity as Tanner
ordered a gawking youth to Featherstone to warn Andrea of
their arrival. Roddy remounted and captured the reins of
Stacy's horse while Tanner lifted Stacy in his arms and swung
abroad his own horse. Featherstone was just moments away,
but it felt like forever to Roddy.
Stacy was unconscious through the transport and the summoning
of the doctor and Aunt Lucinda. In fact nearly 30
minutes passed before she opened painful eyes to find Tanner
bending over her, Roddy hovering in the background
I
Lady Andrea was also in attendance, but Stacy did not notice
her.
"What's happened?" she whispered, her eyes on Tanner's
face.
"You were thrown from your horse. How do you feel?"
She felt horrible but didn't answer. Her head was pounding
and it hurt to blink, but Tanner was there and for the
moment the pain didn't matter. He looked tired to her. Without
thought of place or circumstances Stacy reached and
tenderly brushed the dark hair from his brow.
Tanner caught her hand and held it as though he were
drowning. Roddy's gentle clearing of his throat reminded him
they were not alone. After returning Stacy's hand to the coverlet,
he stood and moved from her side. All of this was accomplished
just before Lucinda swept into the room.
T
anner had little choice in the next minutes but to stand
back and watch as Lucinda talked with Roddy, Andrea, and
then the doctor when he arrived. Stacy lay silent during the
proceedings, and when the doctor said she could be moved,
Tanner held his place as Roddy saw her to Lucinda's waiting
coach. Lucinda was on her way out when she stopped and
turned back to the room. Andrea was by the sofa Stacy had just
vacated, and Tanner was by the mantel, his look guarded
"Thank you for seeing to Stacy," she began to Tanner, but
had to stop and clear her throat. "She means more to me than I
can say, and I am grateful for your assistance.
"I am concerned, however, that she was seen on your
horse. The gossip concerning your visits to the house has
been swiftly escalating. As relieved as I am that she is going to
be fine, I fear this latest incident will destroy what is left of
Stacy's reputation.
"Given a choice I would want you to repeat your actions in
order to ensure her safety, but I find myself rather thankful
that she is scheduled to leave for home in four days' time. She
will be free from the gossiping tongues of London and hopefully
put this painful time behind her."
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The room was utterly silent when Lucinda left, Andrea was
uncertain what she should do or say, and Tanner's face, although
impassive, had drained of color during Lucinda's
speech.
Andrea knew all the signs--Tanner and Stacy were in love.
Tanner, however, had worked at his reputation as a confirmed
bachelor, and Stacy was as guileless a girl as Andrea had ever
met. It wasn't very hard to see why Lucinda was worried about
the relationship.
Andrea searched for some words to take the pain from the
young duke's eyes. When none came, she prayed. She was still
praying when he thanked her kindly for her assistance and
made his way for the door.
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of London, he let down the wall for a brief look back and was
stunned that the anguish of their affair could still cut so
deeply.
But in the midst of this agony he was amazed to see
someone else's pain. He saw Stacy as she thudded to the
ground from atop her horse, and then her eyes when they
opened as she lay so pale on the couch at Featherstone. He'd
known that her head hurt. Yet she made no word of complaint,
only looked at him in tenderness before brushing the hair
from his brow.
Tanner's chest rose with a deep sigh. He was ready to